I wanted to share the story of my second birth. I have a very rare birth defect. I was told at 15 years old that I would never be able to have children. When I became pregnant, I was a medical mystery. I had to see many
specialists. The thought was that I would need a scheduled c-section. And yet, I had a natural birth with both my son and daughter.
The day that I went into labor with my second, I looked at my husband and he looked at me and we knew we had this. When my husband and I arrived at the hospital, our nurse looked at my leg and said something rude and discouraging. But I knew otherwise.
When we arrived at the hospital I was still in the very early stages of labor. I came as soon as I thought I was in labor because of my birth defect. When I could no longer sleep, I woke up my husband and we walked around the room. I got in the shower for a bit. At that point I became nauseous, so I asked my husband to help me out. I walked back to my room and through a big contraction. When I got back to the room, my labor started to intensify quickly. Through every contraction my husband held my hand and stroked the hair out of my eyes. It felt so calming, just like something my mom used to do when I was a little girl. He whispered in my ear, "You got this... We get to meet our daughter in a little bit," and my favorite, "Your body is strong enough to do this."
When it came time to push, I felt like the second time around I knew exactly what to do. Two quick pushes and she was out. When I had my first child I felt as if it was just dumb luck that I had done it. With my second I felt as if it was not dumb luck but something that even my different body was meant to do. I felt so beautiful as my little girl was put on my chest. She barely cried once she got there. Then just like he had done for me, he whispered to our new baby "Welcome, you should be so proud of your mama."
The odds were stacked against me, but I did it with my own body and mind.
*The things that helped me was having a good labor coach, my husband was the picture of calm and love. When every person that is an "expert" is telling you one thing, it is nice to have someone who really believes in you.
The day that I went into labor with my second, I looked at my husband and he looked at me and we knew we had this. When my husband and I arrived at the hospital, our nurse looked at my leg and said something rude and discouraging. But I knew otherwise.
When we arrived at the hospital I was still in the very early stages of labor. I came as soon as I thought I was in labor because of my birth defect. When I could no longer sleep, I woke up my husband and we walked around the room. I got in the shower for a bit. At that point I became nauseous, so I asked my husband to help me out. I walked back to my room and through a big contraction. When I got back to the room, my labor started to intensify quickly. Through every contraction my husband held my hand and stroked the hair out of my eyes. It felt so calming, just like something my mom used to do when I was a little girl. He whispered in my ear, "You got this... We get to meet our daughter in a little bit," and my favorite, "Your body is strong enough to do this."
When it came time to push, I felt like the second time around I knew exactly what to do. Two quick pushes and she was out. When I had my first child I felt as if it was just dumb luck that I had done it. With my second I felt as if it was not dumb luck but something that even my different body was meant to do. I felt so beautiful as my little girl was put on my chest. She barely cried once she got there. Then just like he had done for me, he whispered to our new baby "Welcome, you should be so proud of your mama."
The odds were stacked against me, but I did it with my own body and mind.
*The things that helped me was having a good labor coach, my husband was the picture of calm and love. When every person that is an "expert" is telling you one thing, it is nice to have someone who really believes in you.
