Birth Story of Adam

Adam
1970
Complete Breech
7# 7 oz.
21" long
36 cm head (14.2")

5 Days past due, first pregnancy, first baby, attended LLL meetings, where we were encouraged to prepare for alert & aware birth. I also took Lamaze classes. Husbands were not permitted to attend, so mine would not attend CB classes, either ("What's the point, since I can't be there?") I hired a nurse to be with me during labor (the only alternative to ensure steady companionship at that time.) I was confident about myself & birth and wanted some help. My OB Dr. had predicted that a vaginal breech birth might simply take a little longer because a soft butt was less efficient than a hard head. I ardently practiced pushing as best as I could without pressure. I attended La Leche League meetings regularly.

The evening before the birth, I thought our friend had the most uncomfortable easy chair -- I simply could not get comfortable in it! When I awoke at regular intervals to move my bowels, I began to realize that I might be in labor. I tried to do crossword puzzles & to note times in the margins, as my mother had done for my (also 1st, breech labor), but sitting was not the right position for me. I tried to "prep" myself ahead of time by shaving my own pubic area, but I couldn't see it below the baby-belly, so I gave up, partly shorn.

When I got to the hospital, labor stopped cold until I became acclimated. My husband went home to sleep & my coach arrived. There were blood tests, and IV, & shaving. When a check revealed that I was at 8 cm. already, my IV and I were rushed to x-ray to ensure baby's head would fit and was in a good position. Whenever I had a contraction, I would hold up a finger and everyone would patiently wait as I breathed & massaged through it.

All contractions began like the need to defecate, then radiated up my back to my sides. The biggest surprise was that there was a feeling of "panic" that accompanied each contraction. I was alarmed, and began to "bargain" with my labor. I laid on my back and held very still, convincing myself that I could thereby get a chance to "rest." I was offered medication many, many times. I always asked, "Why, aren't I doing all right?" I was asked many many times if I wanted circumcision. I always said "No, thank you." No one ever actually conversed with me. Even though I had reported to my "coach" I was feeling so tired. (No one reminded me that I could really rest after the baby was born!)

Apparently in an effort to speed things up, the doctor (whom I'd first met in labor) broke the bag of waters. (Fortunately, the cord did not wash out & waters were clear.) I soon discovered I was having a son, who defecated upon the labor bed. I began to feel a strong urge to push, so we were taken to a delivery room. I was given a "saddle block," a generous medial episiotomy, and forceps were used. I was in the lithotomy position, although they did not strap down my hands (at my request and Dr.'s "permission.") My coach told me informational reports, such as, "Now you will feel pressure, try panting.")

Afterwards my OB (who hadn/t been "on" for the birth) teased me by saying, "Hey, lady, you sure walk funny." I wasn't so amused, and began to notice that the other mothers on the floor apparently moved more easily. I took a mirror and looked at my stitches, discovering that they went across muscle & had to be sat upon. No wonder I was more tender! The mirror check made me more confident to move my bowels, which I had been fearing.

There was a cheering section during contractions, during which I held my breath, curled up, and pushed for all I was worth to the chant of "PUSH! PUSH! PUSH! PUSH!" There was lavish praise throughout. After the work of delivering his body, then there was his 36 cm. head. After his head emerged, I was flooded with tremendous relief and joy! My warm, miraculous, 7# 7 oz. 21" long son was placed upon my abdomen. He was then whisked away as a nurse read off the seconds. After 1 min. he breathed & pinked up, soon to be waving about the measuring tape. He used to love hearing that he peed on the doctor's foot on his way out! My son Adam was born 4 hours after I'd arrived. I still remember the joyful "high" that permeated our next few hours together. He was alert and breastfed in the recovery room, where his dad was at last welcome. We went home on the fifth day as an experienced nursing couple. (only 25% of all babies were breastfed that year, I have since discovered.)