I had a very positive first birth experience – an unmedicated, hospital birth.
Here is our story…
Our baby boy was due on December 31, 2022. Mark and Felicia excitedly anticipated his arrival, and even before his due date, Felicia tried to naturally get labor going.
She had been two centimeters dilated for a week or two, and Mark and Felicia wondered if they’d make it through Christmas. They joked that hopefully they’d be able to enjoy all the yummy food before labor started. If not, they figured people would save them a plate.
They did however make it through Christmas.
On January 3, at 12 AM, Felicia had her first contraction. She immediately thought it was labor, but for some reason, as it continued, she started doubting. She wondered if they were just cramps due to the spicy tacos she’d eaten for supper. This better not just be spicy red pepper…it hurts so much! she thought.
Mark was able to get an hour and a half of sleep, but Felicia couldn’t sleep a wink. She went back and forth to the bathroom, feeling very uncomfortable. When Mark awoke, he was pretty sure Felicia was in labor, even while she was still uncertain. She tried eating something but couldn’t keep it down. This was probably not just cramps. She was able to have one or two more bites later on, but that was it.
Mark read some Lord of the Rings to Felicia, as they’d been going through the series together and were on the last book. He also read some Bible passages that Felicia had printed off. Felicia listened to some worship music from her birth playlist and tried different positions she’d read about. It really hurt to move, and Felicia just wanted to lay on her side and try to sleep between contractions (though that proved impossible). But she instead tried to keep moving every little while.
Felicia’s friend had told her breathing was what had helped her. She’d tell herself “Just five more breaths, and this contraction will be over,” whether or not it would be. Focusing on breathing helped relax the body and take her mind off the pain. Felicia did this pretty much the whole time, using the method from Bridget Teyler’s video.1 This really helped.
Felicia preferred Mark not pushing on her back or squeezing his hand. Rather, she wanted him to just be with her and tell her she was doing a good job. Mark began timing the contractions, as their doctor had told them at what point to come in. It seemed that each time, Felicia had one big contraction and then a small one that followed.
She tried going in the shower and bathtub, and the water maybe helped a little. At one point, while Felicia was squatting, she began to panic. “I want to go to the hospital!” she wailed. Mark quickly agreed, and Felicia told him what else needed packing.
They left for the hospital at 6:30 and texted Mark’s mom to pray. In the car, Felicia told Mark she’d still like to try to give birth naturally, though she didn’t know if she’d be able to handle much more. She’d also started to groan throughout contractions (which may have been when she was fully dilated).
Felicia wanted Mark to come in with her rather than drop her off at the front door. When they walked in, they informed the front desk what was happening, and Felicia asked to not wear a Covid mask. They used the elevator and went up to the correct wing. Felicia had to stop once or twice and lean on Mark through contractions.
Her doctor wasn’t scheduled to be in for an hour or two more, but she was able to come in very quickly. It felt like no time at all until she arrived.
The doctor informed Mark and Felicia that Felicia was fully dilated. She asked Felicia if she wanted her to break her water. “What do you think?” Felicia asked.
“I would,” the doctor replied. “It’ll make it progress quickly.”
Felicia agreed. She didn’t feel much when this happened.
Felicia pushed in at least one or two different positions before they found a good option. They got her to go on knees and elbows facing backwards. They inclined the bed to a 45-degree angle.
“Can I push?” she asked.
“Push on the contractions. We’ll tell you when,” they said.
Felicia wasn’t quite sure even HOW to push, but they helped her through it.
“All we can offer you is laughing gas,” a nurse said at one point.
Felicia declined.
Overall the nurses were awesome and very encouraging. Felicia alerted them when a contraction was coming, and they counted to ten as she pushed three times. Though it was painful, it felt good to finally clench and push instead of trying to relax. Mark was very encouraging.
The doctor said it was normal for the baby to crown a little and then go back in. At one point, Felicia got to feel his head. Mark was able to see this. There was lots of blood.
Felicia pushed for about an hour. She wanted to ask how much longer but didn’t. If it was going to be a lot longer, she didn’t want to know. “One more push, and he should be out,” the doctor informed her. How exciting!
Sure enough, she had one more push. With a strong cry, the baby was out. They passed him between Felicia’s legs. This was their son!
The placenta came next.
“Wait! Careful!” they said. “We’ll tell you when you can flip around.” They helped Felicia turn over.
They turned to Mark. “Do you want to cut the cord?”
He agreed.
Felicia asked for a few minutes alone with Mark and their son. They called him by his name for the first time and prayed together. This was a sacred and special time.
Overall, we had a wonderful birth experience, and we are thankful to God for the gift of our son!
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