While I was pregnant with Robyn, the big question in my mind was what her birth would be like. Everyone has a birth story and I wondered what mine would be. Each birth is so different. There are so many variables and possible scenarios, and no way of knowing any of it until the time comes... When would she be born? Would I be induced? How long would I be in labor? How much would it hurt? Would I need an epidural? Would there be complications? Would I need a c-section? etc., etc. I spent nine months wondering what my story would be and playing out the different scenarios in my mind. But despite all of my daydreams, the way it happened was a complete surprise.
On Friday, March 6, 2015 I went to the hospital for my 41 week prenatal appointment. Robyn was exactly one week past her due date and we were getting very anxious to meet her. At the appointment the midwife did a membrane sweep and told me because of it I would have cramping all afternoon. But she said to ignore these cramps because they were not contractions. She said if the sweep was going to put me into labor it would probably be 12-24 hours later.
On Friday, March 6, 2015 I went to the hospital for my 41 week prenatal appointment. Robyn was exactly one week past her due date and we were getting very anxious to meet her. At the appointment the midwife did a membrane sweep and told me because of it I would have cramping all afternoon. But she said to ignore these cramps because they were not contractions. She said if the sweep was going to put me into labor it would probably be 12-24 hours later.
That afternoon, sure enough, I was in a bit of pain. But the cramps came and went quickly so I didn’t think too much of them and tried to continue my day as if they weren’t there. By evening they were getting more intense and coming at consistent intervals. With all of my reading and preparation for childbirth you’d think I would’ve caught on that these intense-pains-coming-at-consistent-intervals were more than just cramps. But I was being diligent to the counsel of my midwife. By dinner time they were to the point that I had to stop whatever I was doing, breathe hard, and brace inwardly until the pain passed. It was enough that I started to let myself think that maybe, just maybe, I might go into labor that night. I figured I’d had my membranes swept around 2:00pm, so 12 hours after that would be 2:00am.
By this point I was feeling pretty tired and miserable, and I didn’t want to start labor being tired, so at 8:00pm I told Josh I was going to bed. The pain that hit after I laid down caught me completely off guard. I finally realized I should start timing these “cramps” to see if they were more than just cramps. The first two Josh and I timed were 7 minutes apart, then 6, then 5, then 4, then sub 3 minutes. We had started timing right at the turning point. But I was still in denial over the fact that I was in labor. After a while I hesitatingly told Josh, “maybe you should pack the remaining items in our hospital bag… just in case.” Still hesitant a little while later I told him, “maybe we should change out of our pajamas… just in case.”
After almost an hour of intense 3 minute apart contractions, I tentatively told Josh he could call the hospital. I was still having a hard time wrapping my head around the idea that the moment we’d been waiting for, for nine months was actually here. My contractions were increasing in intensity so quickly though, that by the time he finished the phone call I finally knew I was in labor and knew I wanted to go to the hospital… ASAP!
But the midwife’s response had been to take a bath to see if the contractions would go away. Aaah! The contractions were to the point that I was moaning and dry sobbing through them. They weren’t going away with a bath! I made it through two more before I declared “we’re going!” Then put on my shoes and waddled as fast as a pregnant lady in labor can go down three flights of stairs. The next one came right as I got to the car. I leaned up against it sobbing and that’s when my water broke. Josh helped me into the car and drove as fast as he could to the hospital. Thankfully we lived only 10 minutes away, but it was a miserable 10 minutes.
Josh dropped me off at the hospital doors and hurried to park the car. The parking lot isn’t very close to the entrance though, so I had to wait for what seemed like an eternity until he came back. Since it was night there was a security desk we had to check-in at before going up to the birthing center. I will always hold a grudge against the ridiculousness of that security desk. I stood sobbing and wailing with my head on their desk for a good 10 minutes, blood and fluid running down my legs, while strangers gave me sidelong glances and passed me in line. No one said a word to me the entire time. When Josh finally arrived, we scrambled to get our IDs so we could rush on our way. But the security guard took his time “IDs please,” looks them over slowly, “where are you headed tonight?” LABOR AND DELIVERY HELLLOOOOOO?!?!?! “Fill out this info and sign your names.” I was ready to die. Don’t they give a break to sobbing ladies with huge bellies?
In between contractions we headed to the elevators and up to the fourth floor. As we walked through the doors of the triage department I suddenly felt the urge to push. The nurses had slowly been getting up from their desks to help me but as soon as I said I needed to push they started scrambling. They got me on a stretcher and checked the baby’s position – which wasn’t hard to do because she was already at a +2 in the birth canal! They kept telling me not to push as they wheeled me away, but I couldn’t really help it and at that point I didn’t care.
This whole time I had no idea that I was close to delivery. I thought I still had a few hours left like a typical labor. On the way up to the delivery room one of the nurses said “I hope you planned to do this natural because you’re not getting an epidural!” I had to ask her what she meant because I was blown away.
The pushing was the most painful part for me. It took about 20-30 minutes which isn’t very long compared to average, but it felt plenty long to me. The midwife asked Josh if he wanted to catch the baby, but when the time came I had a death grip on his arm and I wasn’t letting go. So she caught the baby, which was probably best because Robyn had herself all tangled up in the cord.
Robyn was born at 10:40pm. 6 lbs 4.4 oz and 19 inches. Less than 2 ½ hours after I first decided to time my “cramps.” It was such a relief when she finally came. They put her up on my chest, this slimy, wide-eyed beautiful baby. Her eyes were so big and alert. She just laid there calmly staring up at me. I had the most overwhelming feeling of happiness and peace. I couldn’t stop looking at her. She was better than I had ever hoped or imagined. Josh and I were both in complete awe.
All in all it was an amazing experience. The labor and birth, though a surprise, went much better than I ever expected. I am so lucky and blessed. Robyn brings so much joy and I am incredibly grateful for her!
All in all it was an amazing experience. The labor and birth, though a surprise, went much better than I ever expected. I am so lucky and blessed. Robyn brings so much joy and I am incredibly grateful for her!
