Some Random Birth Thoughts

I have some close friends that have enjoyed the experience of giving birth at home, unassisted. I also have a lot of friends that have had babies without the use of medication. The idea of these things appeals to me, but when it comes right down to it, I am just a wimp.

I had great expectations of giving birth to my boy without using an epidural. I had an unusually strong epidural with Jader and I wasn't able to feel the pressure when I needed to push her out, so it took two hours of pushing to birth her. It took forever for me to feel my legs again, and it took even longer for me to be able to sleep (over three days of sleeplessness postpartum, in addition to two days of prior sleeplessness due to labor). I had a whirly-swirly sensation in my head every time I laid down to try to sleep. It felt like I was being flushed down a toilet. I hated the sensation, and really wanted to avoid it with my next delivery.

Fast forward almost three years, and I'm in labor. I've had three very long hours of very intense contractions, and really felt like I was going to start bawling like a baby. I needed pain medication...STAT!

I asked for an epidural, and had to wait very patiently through a failed epidural (he hit a blood vessel and I cursed at him for taking to long) until it finally started working and taking the edge off. Three hours later, I had a son, with only twenty minutes of pushing. This epidural was a lot different than my first because I was still able to feel things.

BUT, so much for trying to be a strong woman and following my birth plan. And, I still had three days of sleeplessness. I just can't sleep. I'm sure it's a combination of the epidural drugs and the adrenaline.

Now, when it comes to giving birth at home, my husband would never support it, and I would never suggest doing something that he wouldn't be 100% behind. Another reason for choosing to birth at the hospital is because my children have a tendency to swallow their poop when they are born. I am two for two. The meconium isn't in the bag of waters, but actually comes out when the baby comes out. They have to take my babies and suction their lungs. Potentially, this can be a very serious problem.

Thankfully, the doctors are able to get all the gunk out, so I have never had to experience a baby in NICU due to Meconium Aspiration Syndrome. Still, very, very scary.

I have a lot of respect for mothers from generations past. If I were a pioneer, I would have likely died giving birth to my son because he was breech. Don't get me wrong, there are some doctors that still deliever breech babies, but it is so rare. They usually just schedule a c-section. Have I mentioned how grateful I am that I didn' have to have surgery. Every time I run up and down the stairs (now seven days postpartum), I am thankful that I didn't have to get cut.