Totally Natural Back Labor and Birth

Oops, this is longer than I thought it'd be. It's mostly straight forward though.

So to start this off my mom had five sunny side up babies, and awful back labor for all of us. I brought this up a couple of times to my doctor, since there's a good chance I inherited her probably weird shaped pelvis, but I got brushed off. I was told there's no way to tell, and my labor will probably be totally normal! 🙄

All through the last trimester I had moderate back pain, but that's normal and I really didn't think about it. At 38 weeks I woke up in the middle of the night to the worst lower back pain, and after an hour I realized it was coming and going in waves. I got into this rhythm of heating a rice sock for minute, falling asleep with it at my back, and then waking up 10 minutes later to another 'contraction', and repeating.

I'm not sure what a contraction is supposed to feel like, but I think it's supposed to be in your belly, waist, or pelvic floor? I never got any of that, it was just straight up knives in my lower back. Anyway, by like 10 in the morning they tapered off to only one and hour or so, so I thought it was false labor. This is when I should've finished packing my hospital bag and didn't...

The next night I got out of bed at about 10, got my rice sock and settled into my chair, since the contractions were back with a vengeance.

At midnight I woke my husband up so I could tell him how absolutely miserable I was, and called the doctor. She said if my water hasn't broke, I shouldn't be in a rush. So my husband drew me a bath (a very shallow bath because our apartment's water sucks) that he put pots of stove hot water in, while I groaned and cried every 5 minutes. I only had like two contractions in the bath before I heard a pop, and knew that was my water.

I grabbed a towel, wrapped up in it, threw a sweatshirt on, and told my husband to get in the car. And then he freaked out. Asked my if I needed clothes, my hospital bag, a hair tie, anything! And I told him calmly no, get your butt in that car now. So I went to the hospital with nothing but a damp towel and a dirty sweatshirt.

The parking for the delivery ward at my hospital is on the third floor, attached to a parking garage. As my husband drove up the spiral to the top, I had another contraction and puked out the window... 😬

When we got to the front desk they asked if was sure I was in labor, so I showed them my towel skirt and they gave me a room 😅

And then I was butt naked for the next five hours! I labored for a while in the shower they had (it felt amazing, my husband says I was in there for a long time). At each contraction I'd brace against the wall and tell my husband to press into my back with his thumbs. By press I mean push as hard as he humanly could, he had bruises on his hands and the pads of all his fingers after, and I had deep bruises on my back.

At some point someone tried to give me a saline drip or something, but after they tried twice I waved them away. I honestly forgot that meds were an option, I was so focused on making it through.

When I got to the bed (still completely naked, though I'm pretty sure I was offered a gown several times... Like I said, I was focused) I got on all fours and grabbed the back rail. Then I alternated between leaning forward and resting on my heels. I was in full on survival mode, and a number of times bit my own hand to distract myself (more ugly bruises, and in two cases broken skin). I was offered ice by lovely nurses, who apparently thought I was so nice it was cute. My husband said later I said please and thank you through everything, and would apologize if I snapped. I don't remember any of that 😐

When my daughter crowned someone told me to reach down, and feel her head. I said no thank you, I'm busy! But a hand guided mine down and as I felt her we both pushed, and I pulled her under my body to me. She looked perfect, and so calm, and I just snapped back to reality.

I realized I was still on my hands and knees, and didn't know how to turn around with a baby. I said, um, I need a little help... And heard a chuckle before someone took my daughter so I could lie down

for the first time in 8 hours. Of course Ruth was in no mood to rest, so she sat in my arms and tried to be a part of everything. Someone tried (futilely) to cover me with a blanket. I had a small tear, but I wasn't paying attention as they stitched it up.

She was perfect, and I was so pumped, I told my husband I wanted to go on a hike! I had been so tired my whole pregnancy, and this surge of energy I suddenly had made me want to dance down the halls!

I definitely left a thing or two out, but that was the gist of it. It was honestly the most empowering thing I've ever done.