My Labor Story (Part 2)
So we checked into the labor and delivery department at 6pm on January 4th, 2006. Doug and I were sent to a room where I was instructed to change into hospital clothes.
What happened after that proved to be the most unique experience I’ve ever gone through - I’ve read the books, but nothing can prepare you from the experience of labor and delivery. I’ve gone through intense pain, pain that I didn’t know how to handle, went on the verge of hyperventilation, been through intense fear and back. Now as I look back, I feel that I will be able to better prepare for the pain if or when I deliver my next baby. My contractions started at 2:15 am in the wee hours of January 5th, peaked at about 5 am, and lasted till about 8 am. Some time in between 5 and 8 am I had the epidural. It seemed none of the nurses were expecting me to go into labor so fast, and as I was screaming in pain, they were frantically trying to page the MW.
At about 8:30 am I was instructed to push. Let me tell you, pushing is different from having contractions. In a way it is more painful because you have to feel that pain in order to push effectively. If you are under painkillers there was no way you can push right. And when the baby’s head tears through you, OMG, you just push with all your might in the hopes that the pain would not last that long. After all, you couldn’t just say “OK, I give up, I’m not pushing any further”, coz the baby HAS to come out, right? I tried to focus all I had on the pushing and visualizing Rebecca coming out. Every 30 seconds, for about 2 hours, my husband, 2 nurses, and the MW would hold my legs up, and tell me to push with all I had. I had no idea when this would be over, but eventually it was - Rebecca was born at 10:03 am. After you manage to get the head out the body just slips right out - THANK GOD! Imagine having to endure the pain for the WHOLE BODY to pass through.
After Rebecca was born the nurse began to bathe her, clean her up, weigh her, etc etc, while the MW proceeded to remove my placenta, and sew up my tears. I got to hold her, which was a special moment. I can’t believe the whole 8 pounds of her was squashed inside my stomach, its like magic! Precious little girl.
Ok so that’s my labor (of love) story. This should be great reading material for the first day of the (Chinese) New Year. Yea right.
What I would do different, knowing what I know now:
ONE: Get a birth plan ready. I didn’t really know what the significance of that was before, but now I see it as an important step to make your delivery smoother if you plan it beforehand.
TWO: Try not to get the epidural - it should be a last resort, coz there might be complications for you and the baby.
THREE: Focus more on controlling the pain, not flailing about like I did and screaming like a banshee.