My husband has 2 boys and I have a boy, both from previous relationships, so this was our first child together and we were rooting for a girl. At my 20 week ultrasound, the tech confirmed that we were indeed having a girl.
Everything went very smoothly throughout my pregnancy, no morning sickness, textbook heartburn and swelling, but nothing out of the ordinary. That is, until I was 38 weeks, and my blood pressure shot through the roof. I was sent to the nearest hospital to test for pre-eclampsia. After two hours, it was determined that I did not have pre-eclampsia, but rather, I was just doing too much. My midwife heard of all the cleaning and organizing and meal-making I had been doing and shook her proverbial finger at me. However, my midwife needed the approval of the Obstetrician on duty at the hospital to release me, and he was in surgery performing C-sections for four hours before I finally had enough and checked myself out. During those four hours, two resident doctors came in to check on me, and tried to convince me to stay and be induced. Their reason: simply on the basis of my high blood pressure... I politely declined the first time, then not-so-politely declined the second time as well. They tried scare tactics such as 'you could have a stroke,' to which I replied that anyone on the planet, at any given moment could have a stroke. So, being the rebel that I am, I signed the 'Against Medical Advice' release and drove myself home.
Another week went by before early labour set in. Three days of tiny, little, ignorable contractions (this was definitely the most frustrating stage). And finally on Monday, April 29, just before dinner, the REAL contractions started. My mom came over to make dinner and my sister-in-law came over after work to help out with the kids.
The midwives came to check me and I was 3cm dilated. I laboured long into the night and at 3am, the midwife suggested we go to the hospital, as my contractions weren't all that strong, consistent or close together at that point, to get a dose of a labour-enhancing drug. I cried, because I really didn't want to go to the hospital. I liked being in my house, surrounded by my things and my family. I asked her to just give it another hour, to see where things went and when she checked me again a little bit after 4am, I was finally 10cm dilated! She told me to go have a couple of pushes on the toilet, then we could get comfy on the bed for the finale. I hobbled over to my master bathroom, sat on the toilet and after the second push I felt her head come way down. I freaked right out, thinking she would fall out right into the toilet, so I hobbled back to my bed, screaming 'SHE'S COMING!'. I leaned back against my husband, one midwife braced one of my legs and my mom braced the other.
And then I pushed through two contractions and SHOT MY DAUGHTER OUT LIKE A CANNON. Lol the midwife was telling me 'Don't Push!' but it was like stopping a freight train, my beautiful little girl was born at 4:35am on April 30th. She was perfect and healthy, with ten tiny fingers and ten tiny toes. Thanks to the skills of my amazing midwife, I didn't tear at all. She was 7 lbs 12 oz and 20" long. It was immediately decided that she looked like my husband.
A few days before I went into labour, I watched a VERY interesting documentary by Ricki Lake, called 'The Business of Being Born.' It will totally change how you view hospital birth, home birth, doctors and midwifery. I highly suggest watching it, even just for the educational benefit of it.
As far as hospital vs. home birth goes: every woman should make the decision that is right for her. But, seriously, I had my son at a hospital with a doctor and it was a completely different experience than having my daughter at home with a midwife. I totally enjoyed my home birth experience, well, as much as a woman in pain can enjoy things, I guess. I felt empowered. Kind of like: 'I am woman, hear me roar.' There is nothing that really makes you feel like a true woman than overcoming the pain of childbirth and having that perfect little present in your arms as your reward.
