The Birth of Kathryn
Anna Kell
Kate was born on November 3, 2001, but the story of her birth began months earlier. I had no dangerous complications with the pregnancy, thankfully. But I seemed to experience almost every uncomfortable symptom in the book, and those through all four long months of summer. By early August I was having many mild Braxton-Hicks contractions each day. On one hot Friday I clocked over 15 moderate contractions in a single hour, so I paid an emergency visit to Sandy. No dilation or other signs of pre-term labor at that point, and extra rest and more water helped calm things down a little. But any exertion in the heat and humidity of the remaining summer weather sent them into overdrive again. Kate's due date was in the last week of October, and since labor with my first baby started 15 days early, I (foolishly) hoped for a break this time, too. By mid-October the baby felt lower, and I had a lot more difficulty just getting around. Each day the Braxton-Hicks contractions grew progressively stronger and longer. In retrospect I feel that labor began in August and lasted three months! Each day as 10/25 came and went I thought, "Surely soon?" Several internal exams and a non-stress test showed mom and baby as healthy as should be expected, and the midwives kept reassuring me that birth could begin any old time. I passed a mucus plug (twice), and reached several centimeters dilation--still nothing. Eventually we set a date for induction. I dreaded the thoughtóa dose of pitocin to ìget things goingî with my last delivery had led to a series of interventions and a lot of disappointment for me. Nancy suggested for the second time that I take a dose of castor oil to prompt the onset of labor (at my disgust she reminded me: ìWhich would be worseóthe castor oil or the pitocin?). The next afternoon I took the nasty stuff. Once it worked its magic with my digestive system, I actually felt better than I had in months! Too good, in factóI ate a huge supper, which I had the pleasure of seeing again later at the hospital. Thank goodness I went to bed early that night, because at midnight I woke up seconds before my water broke. My husband, John, and three-year-old son, Kristopher, had had only an hour of sleep. At first, contractions were not much harder than the Braxton-Hicks the day before. I told my husband, son and sister (who was my official labor partner,m John was Kristopher's partner that night) not to worry and rush, it was still going to be a while. We reached the hospital around 2 a.m., and by that time contractions were significantly harder (and nauseating), but I could breathe through them well enough. Hospital procedure, hospital gown, blah blah blah, I was deep enough into labor that everything except the contractions seemed to me to be happening through a fog. Most of my (hospital) laboring took place in the rocking chair with my eyes closed. At about 3 a.m. several things happened: I had one very strong contraction that I couldn't manage using just breathing techniques. I think the fear and pain in my voice at that moment, plus sleep deprivation and boredom were finally too much for my three-year-old, and I gave my husband permission to take him on a walk (ìGo ahead, it's still going to be a while.î). The nurses moved me to the bed, then began to get the tub ready, while Gretchen checked me to see where things stood. Lo and behold, no time for the tub: I was almost ready to push! For two hours I had been breathing through hard contractions and telling myself to hang in there, it would get a lot worse soon enoughóand the whole time I was working through second stage. Hallelujah! I found out later that about now the staff started searching the hospital for John and Kristopher to make sure they didn't miss the birth. I pushed for only one-half of an hour, most of which was easier than I had prepared myself for. Only one more intensely painful momentódelivering the baby's shouldersóI know now why it's sometimes referred to as the ìring of fire.î When Kate was born, Gretchen placed her on my chest right away, and what a huge sense of pleasure I felt: great, great relief that the pregnancy was over and great, great joy at having my little girl in my arms. What helped turn a yucky pregnancy into a beautiful, empowering birth experience? 1. Going with the midwives and with JDMH. If you've been anywhere else, you know what I mean. If you haven't, lucky you. The midwives, Sue, their library, the Catholic hospital, the sweet nursing staffóit's all good. 2. Private childbirth class with Jan Mallak. She especially helped me to learn to listen to my body for cues on how to handle contractions. 3. Having an experienced, loving hand to hold (my sister's) during the process. 4. My 3-year-old son Kristopher was my pregnancy/labor/birth buddyówhat a privilege to share that work and joy with him. |
