I am inspired to share my experience with future moms after watching a lot of television shows that do not exactly depict the birth of a child. A lot of these shows are dramatised for the drama effect so I cannot exactly blame them. But to those who think that it’s terribly scary to give birth, please read on.
I have three children. The first two were naturally delivered. The third is by caesarean because the placenta did not migrate well away from the birth canal. The doctor advised that if I did not have caesarean section then I would have bled to death.
My first experience was not too great. I do not have anyone whom I know well enough to talk to so it went pretty horrible because I didn’t know what to expect. Anyway I was a total 'blur' at this point so I am relating more on my second birth.
I consider my second experience the best because I think mainly I got a midwife and because she is very experienced, she was able to give me some tips throughout the process.
For some reason I did not use epidural for the first and second birth. I stuck to painkillers and gas only. Like I said before I cannot remember my first too well. Maybe my brain has selected to diminish most of it for my own good.
However maybe because I am more matured, I was more confident and well prepared for the second birth. The labour pains came at about midnight. I remembered that I made sure that the pains persisted for half hour before calling the nurse to send me to the delivery room. I was already hospitalised to be monitored at that time. So the labour pains came when I was in my third day there.
The labour pains continued for 4 more hours. I was using gas and it helped a lot. The midwife checked on me and because I was not fully dilated, she told me that I have to call her when I felt that I had to move my bowel. Funny that I do not remember this at all with my firstborn.
Anyway the pain came and it felt totally like I have to pass motion. I called her and the process began.
Because I have read about the pains from the first birth, it was only now that I felt that I experienced it fully. The pains came and went and when it came I was to push.
The midwife saw that I did not know quite how to push and she told me to grab my ankles and lung myself towards. With my husbands help I did it about 3 times and the midwife saw the top of the head of my baby at last.
The pains went out again and when it came I gave a final push and she was out!!
It was so great I cannot describe it. Everything went well after that including that my stitches didn’t hurt. I hope I will live to tell my daughters about this.
I cannot guarantee that your experience will be like mine because everyone has to make decisions on which hospital and whether to take on a doctor or a midwife. That second time I didn’t have much complications so I decide to take on a midwife. It turned out better when I had engaged a doctor with my firstborn.
My third delivery went well also despite the operation. I heed on every advice and take my meds religiously and when it is time to stop, I did. Most times you just have to listen to your instincts and that will take care of you.