~Meet Thea~


I was getting questions about who all *could* send in their births.  This series was meant to focus on unmediated births, but I knew that if the story was right I could make an exception or two. :) Thea wrote this in her email, which is why I chose to add her birth story into the mix:

“I was going for a planned hospital VBAC with a CNM. This time DID NOT plan for natural delivery due to never having had it before. I expected I wouldn’t go into labor on my own [bc of a previous c-section]…dumb. I arrived at hospital at 7cm, the hospital had me signing forms! Lame! I freaked out around 8 cm and got the epidural at 9 – pushed twice and Levi was born…are you kidding me???  I should have skipped the epidural…my only regret.”

Please enjoy Thea’s birth story. Although not an unmedicated birth- I think it does help show how she was so close to having that natural birth & had she not been distracted by signing forms and annoying nurses & had better support and mentally prepared for a natural birth, that epidural wouldn’t have been necessary. :)

Since 36 weeks I was about 1 to 2 cm dilated and that’s all that was happening. I was worried the my baby wasn’t going to move down or that something was wrong (cord wrapped around him, etc). When I went for my 39 week appointment he was still high and I was 1-2 cm still. Then I went for a follow up the following Tuesday just 2 days prior to my EDD. I had been contracting more but didn’t believe much was happening. She said I was almost 3 cm and she stripped the membranes. I left feeling good and encouraged.

The contractions had been coming at night and had woken me up but always fizzled out for about 2 nights in a row. That night I went to bed hoping for the best but not expecting much. We had waked all around Jamestown that day and spent the day out with kiddos and my mom. That night I woke with a few painful contractions but they seemed really spaced apart so I figured they were nothing real and went back to sleep. Around 6AM they seemed to be in a sort of pattern or more regular so I was going to take a shower but as soon as I got up they seemed to calm down so I went back to bed.

Around 7 I couldn’t sleep anymore so I just got up and showered and they kept coming. By 7:30 I told Eric to get ready and tell mom to get ready…they were closer and more uncomfortable. By 8 I got nervous about how much I could actually get done (ie: hair, etc.) feeling the way I felt. I got ready nontheless and we left by 8:30 at which point I was unable to do anything but breathe through the contractions which were about a minute long or so. Olivia came into the bathroom while I was getting ready and asked me what was wrong. I told her my belly hurt because baby brother was getting ready to come out. She said “Mommy, can I pray for it?” I teared up and she put her hands on me and said “Dear Jesus thank you for mommy and mommy’s belly, help for it, in Jesus name amen” and went along playing…she asked me if I felt better :) talk about precious.

We got in the van and I sat in back so I could lean over the back of the seat. This was the only position I could funciton in. The drive was a good 45 minutes or so and I was really feeling the contractions now about 4-5 minutes apart and lasting a good minute or longer. When we got to the hospital I was near tears and things were really intense – I stopped for 2 contractions as we walked to the L&D area and I knew they were closer than before.

They took me to a room and tried to get me hooked up to monitors but the ctx were too intense for me to lay down or sit. I was greeted by a woman who wasn’t a nurse (her name badge was hidden in her pocket and I didn’t know who she was…kind of annoying) she got nervous when I had a contraction because they were intense so she left and got a nurse. The nurse asked “who’s gatorade is that?” I said “It’s mine” and she informed me I could have ice chips only…I think she had bad timing because I made it quite clear that I would have it if I wanted and she could call my midwife if there was a problem. That was the end of that.

Just a sidenote…since when do you walk into a room, notice a woman in transition and ask who gave her permission for gatorade…seriously!

At this point I was really hurting and wanted an epidural – I wasn’t prepared and felt rushed and overwhelmed…too many people, too many questions, all very fast. They then presented me with a c-section consent form “just in case” which I thought was rediculous – who has time or attention to read that in labor?? I asked them if they really expected me to read it and told them they’d have to wait through contractions so I could…that seemed to be a surprise. My guess is nobody reads. Nobody offered it at pre-reg. I signed it and moved along…as much as I wanted to I couldn’t read it and focus on it. They tried to start an IV but not much luck – probably because I was struggling with contractions while sitting down. They put it in my inside of my wrist then which was uncomfy but hey – success! I’ll take it. I wanted the epidural at this point and they checked my cervix to find I was 7 cm…how’s that for monitors?? At least they now believed me that I was indeed in labor. :) .

Finally they walked me over to a regular room and I leaned over the bed while Eric rubbed my back and the contractions became more intense. I found myself very fearful…that I wasn’t prepared, wouldn’t get an epidural and would have a difficult pushing experience. I kept thinking “I NEED a doula…I NEED a doula…go figure, first time I didn’t plan a natural delivery and I’m so close to having one” I had unruptured membranes and was afraid my water would break meaning quick delivery…I had to pee but wouldn’t because the extra space could mean baby would move down more quickly. It was NOT a fun place to feel stuck. My midwife arrived and rubbed my back and brought me a birth ball – this was like a soothing relief to me and increased my confidence.

I remember watching that bag of IV fluid go down and crying between contractions because they hurt so badly; no doubt much of my pain was due to the stress and mental strain going on internally. I was getting angry even, imagining that the unavailable anesthesiologist was really having a late breakfast lol.

I started to say things like “I can’t do this anymore” “Jesus please help..”I need a break” “This hurts too much…” “I don’t want to do this” and recognized all the hallmarks of transition but I was afraid to finish it for the pain of delivery. Hmm…hadn’t considered this possibility before and this was the firsttime I planned on an epidural. Go figure.

FINALLY the anesthesiologist arrived and my midwife held me through contractions while I received a spinal/epidural. 1 more contraction then one at half strength and done…feeling pressure and contractions but no pain. My BP did drop, they game me a little ephedrine and we were on our way. I sat up in a Taylor sitting position and still no ruptured membranes…I could feel him very low and knew I was likely fully dilated but wanted to labor down as long as possible and since nobody was bothering me, I just relaxed. Eric plugged in the aromatherapy with lavender and peppermint.

No throwing up, no adverse reaction (itching) to the epi…this was nice. I had a few moments of quiet with my family and then they broke my water and inserted a pressure catheter (not necessary but hey- I’ll take it over pitocin). Shortly thereafter the m/w checked and I was fully dilated. I pushed through 1 contraction and everyone got wide eyed. Then they got ready really fast and the room flooded with nurses – holy cow, was I the only one delivering today??

The same nurse who tried to refuse me gatorade walked in the delivery room & told me I’d be pushing in the supine position. I told her I’d be pushing on my side and didn’t need assistance holding my leg! Annoying but hey – minor price to pay in a hospital in the south. I pushed through one last contraction and felt his head come out…then one more push and out came his body. Wow! FAST! Mom snapped photos, Eric watched & loved on me, I cut the cord, the midwife cleaned up baby and suctioned his mouth and nose then put him on me. He sounded very wet still in the lungs and when they took him he ended up needing catheter suction which was terrible to watch but there was A LOT of fluid – in fact, I’ve not seen a baby suctioned in the past where there was this much fluid so while it was hard to watch I was glad he’s ok. Once he was wiped down, suctioned, etc. they weighed him and measured him – 8lbs .09oz and 21″ long! :) They wrapped his little self up and brought him to me. I unwrapped him and put him belly to belly on me covered with lots of blankies and he nursed immediately. Go Levi!! :)

We hadn’t named him yet but knew he’d be either Levi or Shepard. I was disappointed to discover he had a scratch on his head from the pressure catheter but it went away by the next day. The nurse came back after an hour or two and brought items to bathe him in our room as we had requested, which we were grateful for. Mom and baby were healthy so baby snuggled with Daddy and I hopped in the shower and then we moved to another room. I was surprised how good I felt at this point. Moved into another room and spent the day resting – Levi was born at 12:49PM!! :) So, from active labor to fully dilated was probably right around 4 hrs.