Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Good Friday

I think it was around December when I really started turning my mind toward the task that lay before me.
I didn't know anything about giving birth other than the obvious and I knew what the words epidural and induction meant and I had so often heard the word pain associated with contraction that in my mind any woman with the cajones to go through labor unaided by modern medicine was akin to Wonder Woman and need not be messed with in this life.
 
So, when I picked up this book on the shelves at my local B&N (totally on a whim mind you) I was not prepared to have my mindset about labor and delivery take a 180 degree turn four months before I was due, but it did, and I am so glad that it did.
 
First off, I hated my experience with my OB/GYN. For baby #2 I will be hunting down a midwife. There are somewhere in the neighborhood of 12 doctors in the OB/GYN practice that I used and you are "rotated" through all of them so that whoever happens to be on call the day that you deliver is the doctor that you end up with. I saw only one doctor more than once and I NEVER saw the doctor who delivered my baby until about three hours before the pushing began. I felt like a number on a chart and each visit was like checking in to a factory to insure that the machine was up and running.
 That said, by around February I knew I wanted a midwife, but I'd already swum halfway across the pool with the OB/GYN and decided to tough it out till the end.
 
Back to the book...
I think the things that became so important to me as I read were the author's deep explanations of the process of labor, what is actually taking place inside a woman's body, why you are feeling what you feel and the power that a woman's body has to deliver a child into this world when it is allowed to do what it was created to do naturally.
She took the fear out of childbirth for me.
I'll admit the closer I got to my due date the more I was scared of the journey that I'd have to go through to give birth to this little baby.
Understanding the process and reading the first-hand experiences of other women helped tremendously and really knowing that there was no reason to be fearful kept me focused on the goal.
 
The other huge help was page after page of explaining how medical intervention interferes with this process. Now, having said that, I understand that there truly are instances where medical intervention is absolutely necessary and has indeed saved the lives of precious babies and mamas that would otherwise not have been saved.
 
But I made a choice in December to do this the old way, to trust that what was happening to my body was not only desirable, but necessary, that it served a higher purpose and that the pain associated with each squeeze did not require the fight or flight response, but instead deep, focused breathing.
 
So, on the morning of Good Friday, sometime in the middle of my fifth trip to the bathroom, I was absolutely shocked when my water broke sometime around 7:30 am.
The thought ran through my mind, "I'm having a baby today."
I had packed my bag the day before, so me and hubby made our way to the hospital, my mom in tow laughing at the first baby in our family to ever arrive early.
"It's not Monday, baby girl, it's not Monday!"
 
I found myself bearing each contraction with my forehead leaning against one of my teammates (sister, husband, mother...whoever happened to be standing within arm's reach), a deep breath in through the nose and a low hum as I let it out. (Yes, this is a team sport.)  
 
There were only two contractions that I thought my body would not be able to handle and those because of the uncontrollable nausea that swept over me. I could hear my sister's voice encouraging me to hold on, ever watching the monitor as the contractions peaked and slowly tapered off.
 
My mind was so engaged in the process and I found myself standing as each contraction rushed over me, swaying gently from side to side and trying to visualize the baby's head moving down and closer to being out.
 
I remembered the words I had read about working with the contraction, using the power and force to speed up the labor and I did just that, walking the halls, pacing the room, floating in a tub, and finally sitting on a medicine ball.
 
At 7:49 pm, roughly 12 hours to the minute from when my water broke, baby Rosa made her entrance into the world, all pink and angry. She grabbed the scissors the doc was using to cut her umbilical cord and he had to pry them from tiny fingers.
 
I've never done anything so absolutely draining and so absolutely rewarding all at the same time.
Suddenly the sharp jabs I'd been feeling in my ribs for two months became feet and the weight I'd carried in my belly was now lying on my chest.
I burst a ton of capillaries in my face pushing (note to self, next time don't push through face!) and looked like some kind of measles victim for a few days after.
 
 
 
But, oh, was it worth it.
I've been a Mama now for 11 days and that work has been almost as hard as the labor, but each day that passes becomes more rewarding.
I think of the relationship I have with my mama and I'm looking forward to the rest of my life with this little one.

 
Welcome to the world, baby girl.



34 comments:

  1. Congratulations she is so beautiful!

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  2. she is adorable, well done, enjoy every moment as they grow up quick, mine are now nearly 16 and 13, and i wish i could go and do it all again,

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  3. Marcie, I am misty-eyed at your beautiful words, recounting the story that is as old as time, yet new and unique with every birth. I wish you wonderful days ahead as you and your daughter learn to be a great team!

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  4. Congratulations with your beautiful daughter!!
    I wish you, your husband and little Rosa all the happiness in the world.

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  5. Es un bebe precioso ... enhorabuena!!!

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  6. Congratulations...she is adorable.

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  7. Yay!! Loved reading about your experience. Thank you for sharing it with your friends!! She is absolutely breathtakingly beautiful. I am so thrilled for you!

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  8. Marcie,
    Gracias a Dios! A healthy baby and a healthy mama. I am so happy for you. My grandson was born 10 months ago. It is truly a wonder and a miracle. The very best of wishes to your family.
    Alice Howe

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  9. Let me wipe the tears of joy from my eyes first... oh my goodness! I am so excited for you! What an amazing journey into motherhood, Miss Marcie! I am so happy to hear your story. Each story of each birth is totally unique. You will cherish those memories and they will get sweeter with each retelling. Welcome to the world, lovely Miss Rosa! We are so glad you've come!
    Enjoy the day. Erin

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  10. Congratulations on your beautiful baby girl! I am so very happy for you and this precious gift that God has given to you!

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  11. Congratulation!!! She is so cute and beautiful! Enjoy every minute, because she is going to grew so fast. I have two daughters. They were babies yesterday, today they are 10 and 6 years old. I have no idea how come!

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  12. Congratulations! She is gorgeous :)

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  13. Felicidades, es una de las mejores experiencias de la vida, disfruta mucho de ella que crecen deprisa. Besitos.

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  14. Congratulations! You´ve done a good job - she is the most beautiful of your creations!

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  15. Welcome to the world beautiful Rosa. Thank you for sharing your experience. It brought back lovely memories of the birth of my own babies. It's an exhausting time of life but oh so full filling. Enjoy!

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  16. Congratulations! Beautiful story, beautiful baby!

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  17. Welcome, Rosa! And what an encouraging post for all mamas-to-be!

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  18. Congratulations!! She is beautiful and I love her name!!!

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  19. Congratulations Marcie - she is beautiful! Thanks for sharing your experience. You will be a terrific Mom. I loved how she grabbed the scissors. Sounds like she wants to be crafty!

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  20. Congratulations Marcie....she is so cute!! What a precious gift you have!!

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  21. Wow, she's here already! How time flies, huh? She is absolutely beautiful, Marcie. Congratulations. Oh, and we could have talked about going natural for the labor and delivery! All natural for me, too. I do agree with you, I couldn't imagine pushing without being able to feel those contractions! I'd love to talk birthing stories the next time I see you! :)

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  22. Congratulations! She's just beautiful!

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  23. Oh, Marcie, congratulations!!! What a gorgeous little package. Thanks for sharing!!

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  24. Congratulations Marcie! Your daughter is beautiful! I love how perfectly the color of her clenched little fist matches her purple hat ... already stylin'! =)

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  25. Congratulations! What a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing!

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  26. Congratulations on your beautiful little girl! Way to go, Mom!

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  27. Congratulations on your beautiful little girl!!! Welcome to motherhood!!

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  28. I just love the way you said that "I've been a momma now for 11 days" - for me that seems to encompass all the wonder, joy and happiness of being a mother. For me it's been 7 years and 115 days (I just counted!) and it is amazing. Congratulations!

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