Induction without pain medication at 40 to welcome our boy!

Finally getting to write Zachary's birth story! He's almost 3 weeks old as we speak and it's taken me some time to process it all.  My first was born 19.5 years ago, so suffice to say, the details of labor and delivery have been muted a little by time.  With that birth, I had a vaginal delivery and a late epidural due to augmented labor. My original plan had been to go unmedicated then, but my young age and vulnerable state led me to give in.  I was determined this time, at age 40, to go unmedicated if all worked out for a vaginal birth.  I have really always wanted a truly natural birth experience and would have loved to do this at home, but I am in the medical field (a physician) and truly feel safest when I am in a hospital, surrounded by the capability of quick intervention if needed.  I understood natural hospital birth is a rarity and that I needed to surround myself with people that would assist me in making this happen. I used a hospital based nurse midwife for my pregnancy and hired an experienced doula. We discussed my birth preferences in detail. 

Of course, not everything always goes as planned. My pregnancy was completely uncomplicated, but the day Zachary was born, I had a headache and a few isolated high blood pressures.  Not preeclampsia, but only hypertension by itself.  There was a consideration to induce and I agreed.  I was one day shy of 41 weeks and was dilated 2cm and fully effaced, so fairly favorable. I was disappointed at losing my intervention free birth, however.  This is why surrounding yourself with a good team is so important.  My midwife suggested using a Foley bulb to induce and very low dose pitocin to start me going.  I agreed.  My hospital has Bluetooth remote monitoring and this allowed me to be active and moving throughout the entire labor.  I rocked on the toilet, bounced on the labor ball, walked.  The Foley fell out at 5 cm dilated and my water spontaneously broke.  I loved that I wasn't confined to one space or position.  My doula was amazing at providing massage, aromatherapy.  I had dimmed lights and soothing classical music playing in the background.  I was allowed to drink and eat as well.  The pitocin was kept on the lower end for most of the labor and I know that this must be because my own labor kicked in.  I progressed very quickly at this point.  I took some time resting in bed and am so glad I did.  Transition hit me very hard.  Looking back now, I'm almost embarrassed at how animalistic I became.  I moved from the toilet to the bed to hands and knees on the floor.  I did reach a point where I begged to be "knocked out," was sure I couldn't go on, felt I couldn't breathe.  My nurse and doula appropriately recognized this as transition and I was checked to see if I was fully dilated, which I was.  I rested a bit until I had the urge to push, which came on quickly.   I had always envisioned pushing in a squatting position or on all fours, but in the end, I actually felt most comfortable and able to focus when on my back.  I could concentrate the pain on pushing more effectively. Pushing was no more than 15 to 20 minutes.   Low and behold, he came out posterior, meaning face up.  Perhaps this also contributed to the types of labor pains I had been experiencing. Zachary Michael was born about 7 hours after the initiation of my induction, without pain interventions.  I had no vaginal tears.  Zach cried right away and was placed on my chest for over an hour of skin to skin and breastfeeding before being weighed. Then I was up and walking in my labor room without assistance.

It IS possible to have a hospital induction without an epidural if you truly want it and surround yourself with supportive people.  Yes, by birthing in the hospital, I left myself open to potentially unnecessary interventions, but for my own safety and sanity, I believe it was necessary.  I can't say that all would have gone the same way had I been more traditional and used an Ob for my care.  And this is coming from a medical professional. All in all, it was an amazing experience.