My Labor Story

Here is me right before they broke my water
Ready to rumble
Right after William was out and Umbilical cord cut
Getting moved to my resting room
Ready to rest and recover!!
So, I know it has been a few days since I gave birth - eleven days actually. I think I am now ready to sit for awhile and tell the story. . .

It was Thursday morning at about 5:30 a.m. when then phone rang. It was the hospital telling us that all the birthing beds were full and I would have to wait until later that day to come in. I was all ready to go, mentally and physically. I was orginally scheduled for 7am, now it would be moved to sometime after 9am. I decided to go back to bed and rest since I was all ready to go. The rest, I believe, was crucial. It was truly a blessing to have a few more hours of sleep before the event. Anyhow, at 9am we called the hospital to see if any room was available - it was! They said come over whenever I wanted. We quickly dropped the kids off, and we were on our way to to hospital.

As we were driving to the hospital I felt so strange. I felt great - no pain or anything. I thought how strange it was that I am feeling great now and I knew I was going to be going through torture in just a matter of moments. I was so anxious, yet very calm. I had also made my decision to do without an epidural. I was going to do it, I had to do it.

We got to the hospital, checked in, and I got all hooked up for my induction. For about 2 hours I lay in bed able to talk and even laugh through what I thought were some pretty good contractions. I started thinking, heck this is not so bad, I am going to be fine, great, strong! Then suddenly - no more laughing. Pain, lots of pain!!! I thought of my no murmuring idea, and then I thought of some choice swear words - that is what came out. : ) I felt like my body was being pulled to peices from the inside, and I have NEVER felt such great pain in all my life. I used to watch a baby story show on TV, I would watch as the women would scream bloody murder and be riduculous. I though they were such wimps, that they should be able to control there screaming and moaning. I am a fool. I have never screamed, sworn, and made horrible noises like I made while going through the "transition stage". That is when the baby is working its way to the grand finale. I remember everyone around me was chatting about the weather and things and I wanted to yell, "Shut up!" Everything bothered me. I just kept thinking the doctors should be doing something for me, helping me. Charles was trying to help me, he tried to get me to breath and I coud barely do that. I was a total basketcase. I did not cry, I screamed. I was trembling, and I felt pain that I never knew was possible to feel and live through. But, I did.

Once we got to pushing time I was in so much pain, I had no idea how I was suppose to push. They instructed me to "push through the burning" which is exactly what I was feeling. As I was pushing the doctor gave me an episitomy - ouch. I could feel eveything, every pain was felt at full capacity, no numbing. It only took 4 good painful pushes and William entered the world. I was so happy to see him, and I felt immediately better. I was trembling really badly, but I was not in such great pain as I had just been through, any little pains felt good in comparision. Then I had to push out the placenta - ouchy. The worst was the stiches as the doctor sewed up the cut. I could see and feel everything he was doing, and he was teaching a student what to do. A student who was LDS and went to the singles ward. I felt silly having him there.

Anyhow, William came out. It was amazing. I am alive and well. I may just do it again someday. : ) Even without an epidural. I did it once and lived - I could do it again. After having gone through such great pain, I feel nothing is impossible and most things that are difficult are nothing in comparision. It was a really empowering feeling.

Well, I better go now. My lovely Will Turner is calling me for some grub. Argh matey!

Lots of love!

Mari