Michelle and Trent's Birth Story
- Feb 6, 2016
- 3 min read
Shared with permission
When I got pregnant with my second child, I was determined to avoid any unnecessary medical interventions (induction, epidural, and episiotomy). This was all in my birth plan for my first child, but I ended up with an epidural and episiotomy. I decided I needed a doula to help me achieve my goals with this baby. That is when I contacted the amazing Caitlin Guillory. I also read many natural birth books and watched birth videos. My husband, Trent, was so supportive and made me confident that I could have this birth go as planned. Well my due date came and past, still no baby. My doctor said he would not let me go past 41 weeks. Since I wanted to avoid being induced, I started trying all of the tips to put myself into labor. Caitlin came over and made me red raspberry leaf tea, massaged Cleary Sage essential oil on my feet, and pushed all of my pressure points. I took Cleary Sage baths and diffused it in my room every night. I guess baby was not ready to come out because the dreaded induction day came. Although I did not want to, I arrived at the hospital at 1 am. The pitocin started around 2 am. I was 2 cm and 50% effaced when I arrived.
The pitocin seemed to kick in pretty quickly. By 4 am the contractions were getting uncomfortable and were 3 minutes apart. Caitlin came to the hospital. As they got more intense, I leaned over the bed. Caitlin massaged my legs and back which helped take my mind off of the contractions. She suggested we ask the nurse to turn down the pitocin since I was in a steady labor pattern already. The nurse checked me and turned the pitocin down! Whew, this helped! Contractions were uncomfortable but still manageable. When the doctor came in at 9 am, he turned the pitocin back up. Things got intense very quickly after this. At this point we were not talking anymore. I would tell Caitlin and Trent when I was having a contraction, and they would push on my lower back and squeeze my hips. The contraction intensity kept escalating. I was really starting to doubt if I could get through this, and I started wanting pain relief. The nurse checked me, and I was 7 cm. I decided I wanted the epidural. She said I had to get through a full bag of IV fluids first. I started vomiting, and Caitlin came to the rescue with peppermint oil. I was starting to get vocal with each contraction. The IV bag was finally empty! The nurse made Caitlin leave the room while I was getting the epidural. She checked me one last time because she suspected I was close based on the way I was acting. I was 8-9 cm. My husband told me to keep going since I was almost there, but my mind was already made up. While the anesthesiologist was giving me the epidural my water broke! It was so hard trying to stay still through the contractions. When he was done and Caitlin came back in, she was excited to hear I was 8-9 cm and my water broke! The nurse checked me again 15 minutes later, and I was 10 cm! The baby was still high so I didn't start pushing for another 45 minutes. Caitlin was so helpful in recommending positions to help baby come down. One good thing about me getting the epidural so late was that I was still able to move some. I lifted my legs on my own to put in the stirrups, and I could feel some pressure to know when to push. I pushed for about 30 minutes, and baby girl was born!
Although my birth did not follow my birth plan, the outcome was wonderful. God reminded me once again that I cannot plan everything in life, and he blessed our family with a healthy baby girl who we love and cherish so much. I am so thankful for my doula, Caitlin, and my husband, Trent, for my wonderful birth experience. They encouraged me and helped me get as far into labor as I did without pain medicine. They did not judge me or make me feel like a failure when I decided to get pain relief. I felt so supported the entire time, and my birth room was filled with nothing but love.
- Michelle
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