My Birth Stories- Child #2

      When my son was about 5 months old, I became part of a mother's group at my church. Many of them had had all natural births, so I decided I would shoot for that. After all, if they did it, I could too. So, when my son was about 9 months old, we decided to start trying. 3.5 months later I found out I was pregnant. We were thrilled!! I was due January 18th.

   The pregnancy was pretty good. I had one bleeding episode that put me on bed rest from 30 to 36 weeks. I didn't go into preterm labor again! I ended up having her exactly one week before I was due.

   Labor began with one contraction in the morning at my mom's group. It was one, and it hurt like hell. I had to breathe through it. One of my friends was sitting there and it really freaked her out. Some of us still laugh at that situation. We told her it was no big deal, probably just a Braxton-Hicks. I thought that myself!!

  Now, my oldest was 20 months old, my husband worked 45 minutes away, I had no car or license. Good times! Imagine my horror when I really go into labor right after my husband left for work. Contractions, about 8 minutes apart begininng around 3pm. My adorable son is trying to reach out and comfort his mommy. I got in the tub to see if they would slow down. That didn't happen. So, I called my mother. I think it was about 4:30 when I called her. She grabbed my sister and stepdad and they made their way down here. It was around 6 when she got to the house. She knew I wanted a natural birth, so she completely supported me in it. We paged my husband (pager days, lol) and left for the hospital with my sister watching my son. Hmm, maybe seeing that peek at labor is why she's not in a hurry to have kids, lol, I've scarred her!

   Upon arrival at the hospital, nobody really did anything. I got checked and was already 6cm. My mom helped me breathe and focus. When my husband arrived, my mom decided to step out of the room so we could just be together. At some point, I guess she heard me scream and came running back to the room. About 8:30ish, I was complete and ready to push. 20 minutes later, I held my firstborn daughter in my arms after a completely natural birth. She was known at the hospital for looking like a doll. I would have nurses pop in just to see her.

And the doctor was pretty clinical. At the time, I was pretty offended, but it did NOT make or break my "experience". With my oldest, that doctor was the same way. Maybe they had chips on their shoulders about young moms, I don't know or just maybe they don't get personally involved.