Labor began with my daughter in a completely different way, but it had a very similar ending. I began contracting with her at around 6pm and did so for a few hours before heading in to the hospital. Upon check-in I was already 4cm dilated -- enough to be admitted and considered "in labor." The contractions were not very painful. I could still talk through them, but they were less than five minutes apart. Once I was settled in my room I was given an IV and monitored for about 7-8 hours. The contractions increased only slightly in intensity during this time, but they never completely stopped. I thought I was the luckiest laborer in the world. . . until they checked me somewhere around 4am and I had not changed at all. I remember the resident asking me if I wanted to have a baby or go home. For many reasons I knew I wanted to have her, so they proceeded to break my water. Three hours later and no cervical changes. Pitocin was started and one contraction later: epidural time. This epidural was much better and I could still feel tightening and the urge to push. She was born approximately 3.5 hours after pitocin was begun.
I am now nearing the birth of our third child. This will likely be our last child, and throughout the pregnancy I have become increasingly more and more convinced that I want to try to have this baby on my own, without any medical intervention if possible. I have never felt a "real" contraction besides those useless back labor ones with my son. I have never felt the progression of labor in the way God intended. Certainly His design is better than our's, right? After all, when He made me a woman, He made me capable of growing and delivering a baby.
It's funny to me that in our current society medical intervention is the norm, not the exception. It is extremely rare to hear of a birth story that doesn't involve induction, a scheduled C, a pitocin drip midway through. . . and the ever-common epidural. My problem is not with the epidural. . . I loved both of mine and was very appreciative of them. I guess what my goal is with this birth is to see what my body will do on its own. Maybe going through things naturally will make the pain easier to handle. . . we'll see.
My best-laid-plans were tested this past Wednesday. I arrived at the hospital in a good pattern of contractions similar to the ones that I had with my daughter's birth. They were a solid 3-5 minutes apart, painful but not unbearable, and my doctor had even checked me a few times during the day and seen progress with these pains. When I arrived at the hospital, I was hooked up and monitored for a couple of hours. The contractions continued but did not increase in intensity or frequency. My cervix did not change while I was there -- similar to what happened last time. I was given a choice: break the water or go home. I'll admit, I was tempted, but I decided to come home. That was four days ago. Ever since I have had persistent, mild contractions which occasionally get regular and painful. I have also had a nasty sinus infection which would have made caring for a newborn misery.
I still believe that this will happen all in God's time. I am searching each day, each round of contractions, each little "sign" that labor might be imminent for patience beyond myself. I am not a naturally patient person. I am learning a bit about relaxing and going with the flow. After all, she can't stay in there forever. And when she's out, I hope I have a story of triumph about what God created my body to do -- on its own.
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