Looking back at my birth history

The realization of what I had accomplished didn’t set in until a few months after the birth of my fifth child. The birth “high” you get after natural childbirth is just the icing on the cake! After basking in the glow, I knew I wanted to share my story with other mothers. I wanted to encourage them, share my journey and show that you can have the birth you desire. So here it starts, my journey to natural childbirth, of finding a place in my life that turned it around completely.

To begin this journey, I need to give you a little background of my birth experiences.  My first four babies were born in the hospital with some type of medicated pain relief.  My fifth, sixth, and seventh babies were planned homebirths with midwives.

Year 1991: My first birth was long and I was approaching the 12-hour mark, from hospital admittance, with slow progress. My OB ordered morphine for relaxation. My nurse told me that it would only relax me and not take the pain away. During this birth, labor was extremely intense for me. I fought it the whole time, trying to gain some control of the pain. The morphine did relax me and I gave birth 4 1/2 hours later to my daughter.

Year 1993: My second birth I labored mostly at home until the contractions were too intense. Upon my arrival to the hospital I was found to only be 3 cm. I was very disappointed I thought for sure that this labor would be different from my first, at least faster. My nurse asked me if I would like some pain medication. I said yes only because I knew it would relax me and I would dilate. Sure enough I gave birth 3 hours later to my son.

Year 1995: My third birth I was induced with pitocin. Pitocin is synthetic oxytocin. Oxytocin is a natural hormone that makes the uterus contract. Since pitocin is not natural, the contractions produced may be longer, stronger and the frequency in between the contractions is less. They may come on hard and fast, not allowing the laboring mom to “get on top” of the next contraction. This can cause decelerations in the baby’s heart rate, imagine going underwater and coming up for a breath only to be pushed back down again. I did not know the risks of pitocin when I agreed to induction. So after 4 hours of pitocin contractions, my nurse talked me into getting the epidural. After another 4 hours of labor with the epidural, I delivered my second son.

Year 1997: My fourth birth, I was 4 cm and 80% effaced for a few weeks. Three days before my due date, my OB wanted to get things rolling by breaking my water. I agreed, not knowing the risks of artificial rupture of the membranes. After 3 hours of walking around trying to get labor started, my OB said to start the pitocin. The contractions came on very hard and fast. After the first 15 minutes, my OB asked me if I wanted my epidural, and I said yes. This was the most intense labor I had out of all my births. I waited for almost an hour for the epidural, shaking uncontrollably with each contraction. I fought my body, instead of working with it. As I look back now, I was in transition and didn’t realize it. I was not checked for dilation before receiving the epidural and forty minutes later, I gave birth to my second daughter. Looking back at my first four births, I realized I didn’t really plan or prepare myself for labor. I had attended a childbirth class (a six-week hospital based class) with my third, hoping it would help me “go natural”. I knew unmedicated birth was better for me and for my baby, it’s what I wanted. The class taught patterned breathing, and I had practiced the breathing but not very often. I read a few books but nothing really explained what caused the pain of childbirth. I assumed that it was a “curse” (biblically speaking) and it was just something a woman had to endure for the birth of her child. I didn’t know any other coping techniques or non-medicated ways to deal with labor. I fought my body during labor, instead of relaxing and releasing tension and allowing my uterus to work to open my cervix.

Year 1998: When I found out I was pregnant with my fifth child, I was so excited. I knew I wanted this birth to be different. I wanted a completely unmedicated birth. The narcotics given to me in my first and second births just made me feel out of it. I never wanted to feel that way again. The epidural was great, but I didn’t know the risks associated with it. I was in pain and the anesthesiologist was going over the risks, it was just a big blur…. I just wanted him to shut the heck up and get on with it. With both of my epidurals I was confined to bed. Being immobile was very frustrating for me, I prefer to move about during labor, not being hooked up to wires and tubes. I had a “regular” epidural (completely numb from waist down) with my third, so I couldn’t get up anyway, but with my fourth I was given the “walking” epidural (still had feeling in my legs). Even though it was considered a “walking” epidural I was still confined to bed. I had to have internal fetal monitor attached to the baby’s head because the external monitor wasn’t picking up baby’s heart rate. I knew I didn’t want a repeat performance with my fifth baby.

So began my quest…of higher education

I began my quest by researching what options I had for birth and looking to really prepare myself for an unmedicated birth. I read many, many books, and found out why there is pain in childbirth and why there doesn’t have to be… or at least a reduction in the pain experienced. I truly believe that pain doesn’t have to be a part of birth. I believe through education a woman can greatly reduce the amount of pain she feels, and for some completely remove it. My eyes were opened while reading, all the information was a bit overwhelming at first, but I wanted to know, I wanted things to be different. The first book I read was The Joy of Natural Childbirth by Helen Wessel. It’s a Christian book but is based on the principles of Dr. Grantly Dick Read, the author of Childbirth Without Fear. Dr. Dick Read talks about the fear=tension=pain cycle. If we have fear of childbirth (you know the horror stories), this will increase tension. This tensing of the muscles makes the uterus work harder to open the cervix, which creates pain. (*hands on exercise: take a clothespin between your forefinger and thumb, now repetitively open and close it. What do you feel after 30 seconds? One minute? Can you take anymore? Is muscle tension causing pain to radiate up into your arm?) So you can see how this made perfect sense to me. Two other books that were very helpful in explaining the pain of childbirth were Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way by McCutcheon and The Birth Book by William Sears. Now that you have an understanding of how the uterine muscles work to create pain, let’s get back to the fear=tension=pain cycle. I knew I fought my labors, making it harder for my uterus to work. It made my labors very painful and long. Then it hit me, after doing my reading and researching, I realized that relaxation was the key. When you relax and work with your body, you’re allowing your uterine muscles to work the way they’re suppose to, opening up the cervix, without any added resistance of tension. What I mean by relaxation, I mean a true deep relaxation.

Relaxation through yoga & water therapy

During my quest, I came across the book Active Birth by Janet Balaskas. Janet wrote about using upright positions during labor, which I found very interesting. Using an upright position would help to make an easier birth, I’m all for that! For a quick explanation, laboring in an upright position your uterus works with gravity instead of having to push “uphill”, so to speak, in a non-upright position. It was also this book that revealed to me the benefits of yoga for pregnancy and water therapy for birth. I began to practice yoga around my fourth month, it really helped me to get to the root of tension. Instead of going to a class (wish I could have, but too many little ones under foot) I used a book of yoga exercises called Easy Exercises for Pregnancy by Janet Balaskas. I practiced yoga a few times a week, and at the very end of each session I had a practice of good tension release. I found that learning to relax takes practice. Something, in my opinion, takes quite awhile to master. I started to practice other relaxation techniques in my fifth month, using a relaxation tape (guided imagery & autogenic stress release). Just 15 minutes a day with the tape was all I needed. After a few weeks I started to notice how easily I would fall into a relaxed state, faster and deeper each time I practiced. Active Birth had peaked my interest in water therapy, so I started to research water therapy for labor, also called the “midwife’s epidural”. I wanted to know what the effects were on the laboring woman. I found the book Water Birth by Susanna Napierala, and after I had read it, I knew this was going to be the way to labor for me. If you think about it, doesn’t one like to relax in a bathtub or Jacuzzi?

Some of the benefits of water for labor and/or birth:

· Greater mobility to change positions to help with the decent of the baby.

· Greater level of comfort. Helps to reduce fear and stress.

· Deeper relaxation. Labor becomes more efficient.

There are many more benefits to water therapy, too many to list. You will find more information on water birth in Gentle Birth Choices by Barbara Harper. During my birth, I found that laboring in water was most effective for me along with deep vocalizations during contractions. Releasing my tensions through “birth noises” helped a great deal. It’s something that I never did with my other births, I had this fear of being too noisy and bothering other people.  This is a thought that came to mind while I was reflecting about my birth… I compare labor to love making, if you’re vocal during love making, letting it all go…. doesn’t it feel better?

Emotional Release or dealing with my “issues”

I discovered emotional release when my midwife gave me the book Pregnant Feelings by Rahima Baldwin. This played a big part in my preparation for birth, along with the relaxation practice. What I had found in this book was dealing with ones emotions and how they can effect labor and birth, which was fascinating to me. I never knew emotions could have such an impact on labor… not getting into a good rhythm, stop and go contractions or even stalling out a labor. As I worked through this book, it helped me to deal with any emotional issues I had or carried over from prior births. I was able to work through them and release it all. Working through your emotions, whether it is fear or prior birth experiences or negative stories you may have heard, will help in your preparation for birth. My recommendations for reading are Creating a Joyful Birth Experience by Lucia Capacchione and Sandra Bardsley, Birthing From Within by Pam England and Rob Horowitz, Pregnant Feelings by Rahima Baldwin, and An Easier Childbirth by Gayle Peterson.

This IS my cup of tea

Throughout my research, I stumbled across many books and websites. There was mention of different herbs, but one particular herb stood out. Red raspberry leaf, what was it, why take it, and what are the benefits? When I would visit online pregnancy chat rooms I found there to be a common misconception about Red Raspberry Leaf Tea (RRLT), that it will induce labor. RRLT is not an oxytocic herb, like Blue Cohosh. It does not cause the uterus to contract. It is a uterine toner and a wonderful herb for women, pregnant or not. One of the benefits of RRLT is that it tones the uterus, this in turn will make your contractions more effective when you go into labor. It is also a great source of vitamins and minerals that are easily absorbed into your system. RRLT also helps with easing labor pain, possibly because it has calcium (which is in its most absorbable form). I also read that a lack of adequate calcium in pregnancy had been associated with intense labor and after birth pains. Having experienced after birth pains before, I would do anything make it easier this time around. I drank a cup of tea each day during my second trimester and 2-3 cups each day during my last trimester. One particular book stated that when labor does begin, to make a strong infusion of RRLT (1 oz of rrlt to 1 pint of boiling water, steep for 30 minutes, strain it). This will help with an easy labor and delivery. Even though I didn’t make the infusion, I did drink RRLT through out my pregnancy and believe it helped during my labor.

Professional Labor Support a.k.a The Doula

Did you know that *studies have shown that by having a doula present can shorten your labor, decrease the chance of a cesarean section, decrease the need for pain medication, help fathers participate with confidence and increase success in breastfeeding? Now you ask what is a doula? A doula is a woman, who has been trained to provide professional labor support. She is knowledgeable in the process of birth, and provides suggestions of coping techniques and comfort for the laboring mother. She also provides support for the father and knows when to step back when couples need time by themselves. She does not take away from the father’s role.

Here is a quote from a father on the role of a doula:

“The doula plays a crucial role almost forgotten by the medical community. Unburdened by the legal and technical requirements of hospitals, multiple patients, and the medical establishment, the Doula can focus on providing support and guidance to the mother and partner as they journey together through education, labor and delivery. Her knowledge of the physiology of pregnancy, birth, standard medical practices and procedures enable her to present and explain the couples’ desires to the doctor or midwife. The relationship of trust that develops with the laboring mother or couple allows her to help them make choices during labor with minimal stress or confusion. Her greatest asset is her freedom to bring to the labor and birth a relationship that is totally dedicated to educating and supporting the mother or couple in making well informed decisions, and making their labor and delivery an uplifting and empowering experience.”

~ Bruce A. Moore, Father, Mechanical Engineer (no relation to author)

I think that just about says it all! I hired a doula for my fifth birth. She was with me during my pre labor, a whole day of consistent contractions, I truly thought it was time, but the contractions stopped. They kicked in 3 days later and labor went really fast and she missed the birth. I’ve since had two more homebirths with doulas in attendance. I wouldn’t birth without one again. I feel every expectant mother needs a doula. This is the end of my journey, or I should say an end to a small part of it. I believe everything I did to prepare myself for natural childbirth paid off. I eased my fears by educating myself on the birth process and working through my emotional issues. I informed myself on what causes the pain of childbirth. I practiced relaxation techniques through yoga and deep breathing. I educated myself on different coping techniques, from massage to water therapy to aromatherapy to uterine preparation through herbal teas…all that I did in preparation to ease labor had worked! My fifth birth was nothing like my previous four births. It was easy, fast and very tolerable. I never dreaded the next contraction like with my other births. The pain of contractions, I can’t really call pain. It was like a menstrual ache, not cramps or not even a tightening in my abdomen. The aches were very low in the belly not all over like with my others. I worked with my body this time and allowed it to do what was needed. My experience this time around was very empowering and positive! My journey still continues today, I am constantly learning through my experiences as a doula to other expectant mothers. If you are a pregnant mama, I wish you the very best in your birthing journey and always remember that you can do anything you put your mind to, trust your body and trust your baby, but most of all believe in your ability to give birth naturally!

*Information was obtained from studies recorded in Mothering the Mother: How a Doula Can Help You Have a Shorter Easier and Healthier Birth, Klaus, Kennell, and Klaus(1993).

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