Monday, October 24, 2016

Following Other's Advice (My Labor Story)


***Slightly Graphic Post Ahead***

My Pinterest is filled with all manner of pregnancy and baby-related pins that I might like. Pinterest labels them "Picked For You". Recently, this particular pin popped up as something I might be interested in and it worried me. See, the whole basis of this person's post is that you can recognize the different stages of labor. And I don't think most people can. I went through childbirth classes where we went over the different stages and how you would know what they were and what happened in each stage. We even had different breath exercises that would supposedly work best in each stage. Now having gone through childbirth, I can say that none of that was in my mind while in labor and I wouldn't know the stages even if someone had told me at that moment which stage I was in currently.

Now, I know my labor story is not yours. Everyone goes through something different. I also recognize that laboring at home can be less stressful; you can eat, you can move around. But, sometimes things can move quickly and that's what worries me about people urging others to labor at home as long as possible.

My water broke around 4pm. I didn't know that's what it was though. I was 36 weeks and 2 days pregnant with twins. I had been to the doctor that morning for my weekly bio-physical profile, non-stress test, and exam. Nothing had changed. The doctor seemed to think the babies would stay put at least another week. I had been one cm dilated and almost fully effaced for weeks now and I had been having Braxton Hicks contractions for about ten weeks. After my appointments, I met my husband for lunch, gave him the (non) update and went home to lay down. So, I was laying down in bed resting after my morning of tests and when I sat up, I felt a flow of liquid escape, not unlike if I was on a heavy period day. My first thought was I was bleeding and quickly checked, but it was clear. Now, I know what you're thinking. How could I not know it was my water breaking? Well, lots of disgusting and horrible things happen to your body while pregnant and I hadn't had my "bloody show" yet, so I thought about it and then rejected the idea, but it kept coming back. After all, in childbirth class they said that very few labors actually started with your water breaking. They made fun of the TV shows and movies that depicted labor happening that way. I texted a nurse friend and she told me to go to the hospital if I thought my water had broke. So, I called my husband and while he was on his way home I took a shower and finished packing my hospital bags. I foolishly packed not only a book, but a movie as well. See, I had read all the articles and knew that labor is a long process. I was in no hurry to get to the hospital. I had heard all the stories about false labor and getting sent home from the hospital to wait. Even when we checked into labor and delivery and I told them I thought my water had broke, they seemed very laid back about the whole thing. It was right about 5pm. As I changed into my hospital gown and fluid continued to run down my legs, the nurse seemed to think she wasn't going to find anything. But as soon as she lifted the sheet, it was obvious and my fears were confirmed. Baby A's water had broke and I was officially in labor. Huh? These were the same contractions I had been having for ten weeks. I was at the doctor that very morning. There were no immediate warning signs. Not only that but I was three cm dilated. They wheeled me into a labor room and less than an hour later I was at 4 cm. And then even with the stress of the hospital and the flurry of activity as my doctor was called, and the staff readied for twins, even with the epidural, both things I was told would stall labor, all of a sudden I was at nine cm. Within the space of a few hours from checking in, I was being prepped to push.

As with all unsolicited (and solicited) advice, including my own, please take it "with a grain of salt". Obviously some people choose to not only labor, but also deliver at home, but I'm talking to the people who want to and know they will be delivering in a hospital. I know if I had waited any longer to go to the hospital, I would've regretted it. There are good reasons to labor at home, but there are good reasons to labor in the hospital too. We are fortunate to live about 15 minutes away from the hospital and they have a policy that they'll administer epidurals right up until it's time to push. But, if we lived further away, if there was traffic, if you got there too late for the pain medication, then it might make for a good story, but it's terrifying enough going through labor, especially the first time, why add to it?

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