Birth Story of Chelsea Finch

Chelsea Finch
November 29, 1992 @ 4:29pm
7lbs 14ozs

Braxton-Hicks feel a lot like menstrual cramps, not painful, just quite a bit annoying. My husband (Fritz) and I were watching television when I realized the "practice" contractions were not going away this time. I suppose it was about 11pm when we finally decided to retire. I felt that sore achy feeling in back as I always did late in the evening. I guess everyone would feel it if they carried around an extra 50 lbs all day. I remember thinking as I drifted off to sleep that night, "How much longer can this child possibly stay inside of me?" My belly was an enormous size and my chest definitely lacked nothing!

I guess I was in bed an hour before I felt the tugging tight ball in my belly again and as soon as it came, it went away. In the childbirth classes that we took, we were told to ignore labor as long as we could and if we started getting anxious, we would wear ourselves out before the real work began. So, Fritz held my hand, and while I slept between contractions and trips to the bathroom, I could tell they were getting stronger and gradually closer together.

At 10am, I finally realized that my body had such a goal that no matter how I lay or how much I tensed up, it was going to do its job. At that discovery, I let go. I relaxed my face, my hands, arms, back, bottom, thighs and further down to my toes. I envisioned my baby's head moving down, and began to feel more comfortable with each wave of pressure. Amazingly, the less I fought, the more relief I felt.

Fritz and I met the Midwife at The Birth Center around noon. Just being around Cathy gave me the extra surge of energy I needed to continue with the job of birthing my baby. When she checked me I was so afraid she'd say "not much progress, go on home for a while." Well, I was both delighted and relieved to find out I was 8 cm dilated. Only 2 more to go.

To tell you the truth it was the pushing that had always frightened me the most, but at that moment, I just couldn't wait to be able to assist my body instead of feeling helpless, and at the mercy of nature.

During the time I worked with the final opening of my body, I relaxed in the whirlpool, I walked, I squatted with contractions, and leaned on Fritz while he rubbed my back. At around 3:30pm something changed. When a contraction came, instead of being able to surrender and take slow deep breaths, my breath caught and I heard a deep groan. (I think that sound came from me, but I had never made such a sound before!!) When I bore down, I felt amazing pressure, an intensity beyond anything I've ever felt before, but no pain! Pushing, although I had feared it before was the most invigorating work I had ever done. It was like the rush that a hiker gets when they reach the top of a mountain.

I climbed into bed to push and had Cathy pull the full length mirror to the foot of the bed so I could see what was going on. Tired and cold between contractions, I lay my head back pulled the covers up to my neck and actually started to dream while I waited for the next cramp. I pushed with all of my might and was like an animal, I gave no care to what was going on in the room or the world around me. I could feel my baby moving down and when I looked in the mirror, I could see the top of its head. Seeng the baby's head gave me the motivation to continue. I touched the head and was amazed it was so close. I looked at Fritz, it was the first time I noticed that he was still there, holding my hand, wiping my face with a cool rag, and pushing right along with me. My mother was standing in the doorway. Cathy occasionally got in my way of the mirror to check the baby's heartbeat and I'd scream at her to "Get out of the way!!" (I think they all got a laugh out of that though) Everyone was saying very supportive things that urged me on.

After 45 minutes of pushing, I decided this is it; I'm getting this baby out NOW! I remember the last contraction so well. Maybe you could call it an out of body experience. I felt as if I was over the bed watching. I saw myself push and push and with a final groan, I felt burning as I saw my baby's face push past my perineum. It was almost over.

Cathy checked to be certain the umbilical cord was not around the neck and then said "Your baby is here, if you want to, reach down her and pull her up to you." So, with the next push, I reached for my baby and once the shoulders were out, I pulled her up onto my belly.

"IT'S A GIRL!!!!" We all shouted at the same time. Then I heard her first cry right along with my own, Fritz's, and my Mother's. This baby was perfect.... healthy and beautiful!

What astonished me was that I did not feel tired and I did not feel pain. AlI I felt was pure joy and accomplishment. Giving birth naturally, feeling the power of nature, and being aware of what was going on with my body was the most empowering experience of my entire life!

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