Just wanted to share our baby girl’s birth story. The Mindful Birth class helped a bunch and I was able to go through a medically necessary induction with no pain medications/epidural and I think the class helped a lot with accomplishing that. So even though I didn’t have the exact planned birth that I had in mind I still was able to do it without pain medications like I wanted!

Maya Luna Day
6lbs 14 oz / 19 & 3/4 in

So it all started when we went to our scheduled weekly obgyn appointment at Parkside OB on Thursday the 24th, and when I got there they tested my blood pressure and it was high. Since that was the second time my blood pressure was high, they came in and said I should have my baby that night via induction. I was shocked and overwhelmed so I asked for time to think about it because I haven’t had high blood pressure at home, and I was getting a cervical exam so I was anxious and thought that could cause the high blood pressure. We decided to be safe and go to the hospital with the plan to be induced.

When I got to Patewood, they put me into triage to run some tests, and my blood pressure had gone down. They were full that evening and really busy so they were going to send us home since my blood pressure had gone down. They decided to do a few more tests just in case and my urine came back with really high protein levels indicating preeclampsia so they said just kidding you need to stay and have this baby!

I was already 1 cm dilated when we went into the hospital and they started me on cytotec every four hours. Unfortunately after four doses that only dilated me to 1.5 cm but they said it helped soften my cervix. They gave me a break and a chance to shower and eat since with inductions you’re tethered to a baby monitor and blood pressure cuff then later an IV. So it was a lot. After my break, they inserted a foley balloon to manually dilate my cervix which was definitely not comfy. Thankfully it didn’t take long to work and fell out a little over 2 hours later meaning I had dilated to around 4 cm.

They started me on pitocin at that point which got my contractions going. It was tough because of the pitocin they were all over the place time wise. They started the pitocin around Friday evening and said they planned to break my water in the morning depending on how I was looking. They did a cervical check and I was at around 5.5 cm dilated and then my water broke!

Man, the intensity after my water broke was out of this world. That’s when I started to doubt myself if I could do this but I had an amazing support system in my husband and doula, Ali Teeslink. We used what techniques we could while I was tethered to monitors and iv and I actually found some relief by telling them I had to go to the bathroom and just taking my time sitting on the toilet laboring. It was nice to get a break from the monitors for a second. At that point I felt drunk and in a trance. I couldn’t really talk and let out a guttural moan every contraction. Since my water broke the contractions stayed at about a minute apart which was really tough with how strong they were. I just kept reminding myself “it’s only temporary” and “you can do anything for a minute or two”. About 2 hours after my water broke my body naturally began pushing and I yelled out “I’m pushing!!”

The doctor, Dr. Bizaro, came in to check me and said she could see the baby’s head and to stop pushing until they get everyone in the room. Stopping pushing was not what my body wanted to do lol. Thankfully everyone flooded in and in three waves of pushing she was out and in my arms! I only had to push for 5 minutes which they said was crazy for being a first time mom.

Definitely the most intense, challenging, but rewarding experience of my life. And I gave birth to my healthy baby girl. Over a 38 hour experience from start to finish all the hospital, so not exactly what I pictured but honestly I’m so proud of myself and what my body was able to do and go through. Women’s bodies are incredible. I see myself through a different lens now.