Birth: Putting Things Into Perspective

Two different Pregnancies, Two Different Outcomes

By Kylee

Even before I was pregnant I knew I wanted to have a midwife take care of me and my baby, I also knew I wanted a natural water birth. I know, sounds crazy, why would someone deny pain medication? I don't have a reason except, maybe; I wanted to test my pain tolerance! When I did get pregnant I soon learned that a natural birth would still be possible but there would be a good chance it would not happen, and it didn't. I was pregnant with fraternal twins and developed pre-eclampsia, I was put on bed rest and then at 37 1/2 I went to the hospital for a scheduled induction. My blood pressure was through the roof which then indicated I would have a c-section. I was ready to meet my boys and done being pregnant, hence I wasn't too heart broken by my "plan" not playing out. An hour after arriving at the hospital my twin boys were delivered and very healthy, I on the other hand was in a daze and in a lot of pain. I had a doula, a midwife, nurses and my husband plus two new babies coming at me in recovery and all I wanted to do was yell "stop" and slow everything down. Too many people, too much going on! The recovery of the c-section was hard and very painful, what hurt the most was I couldn't even get out of my bed to hold my babies.

Five years later we welcomed another little boy! When I got pregnant with Emerson, I was certain about having a VBAC, the same midwife, and no doula. This time around I didn't have my heart set on a plan, I knew the different birth scenarios that could be played out and with the Grace of God what was mean to happen would happen. Throughout my pregnancy I was calm and patient and knew that he would come when he was good and ready, and he did. A day before his due date I went into labor in the wee hours of the morning, by 5am I decided it was time to wake my husband and head to the hospital. I was blessed with a wonderful nurse and midwife that coached me through the contractions and up until pushing it was quiet and boring. At 11:51am our third boy arrived into the world and I had done it, a vaginal birth after a cesarean and without any pain medication! Shortly after I WALKED (could not do that for 5 days after C-Section) to the bathroom and sat in the Jacuzzi tub with my little man, my mind was clear and it was definitely not the whirlwind that the C-Section was. It was amazing and most of all I felt amazing. The pain was minimal and it was the birth experience I had envisioned.

I know that not everyone's experience is what they envision, I experienced both. I can only hope that by sharing my two experiences, a mother-to-be or an after birth mommy will be happy with their experience for what it was. For me it was my faith in God that guided me through both my experiences and more importantly, I have three very healthy boys which is the end result that really matters

**Please let me know if you would like to share your birth experience and be apart of my blog series, "Birth: Putting Things Into Perspective" Feel free to contact me via email at 3menandalady06@gmail.com. This will not only give someone the opportunity to have a voice, but to educate someone on their options as a woman and mother.**