It’s already been a week since our sweet Ruby girl came into this world 11 days late. Last week at this time I felt overcooked, exhausted, so emotional and done being pregnant. Induction wasn’t what I had planned but it seemed like our best option as my doctor didn’t want me to go past 41 weeks pregnant. I on the other hand wanted one of those natural peaceful childbirths that appear calm with a touch of “bad ass I-am-woman-hear-me-roar” sort of vibes…. well I definitely got the roar part down.
So here is how it all happened in the way it was meant to be.
We drove down the freeway in the middle of the day on July 23rd, driving the speed limit in no real rush, happy to be skipping peak traffic hours. We had waited 10 days past my due date for labor to begin on its own, but it just seemed like our baby girl was happy to stay put for a while longer. My doctor didn’t feel comfortable letting me go on being pregnant any longer and honestly I was okay with that. I was so ready to meet our baby girl. Sam and I talked about how weird it was to be driving to the hospital to have a baby while not in labor. I was calm but still a little nervous about induction. The last time I was induced was 6 years ago when we had our oldest at 36 weeks and that was because of a placenta abruption so things were very uncertain and scary. Labor and delivery is a unique experience every time so I took comfort in knowing that this time would be different and that the choice to induce was the right choice.
Part of me (a very small part) was sad that my body didn’t go into labor naturally like somehow it didn’t know how to do it this time and then another part of me (the much bigger part) was happy to know that we would be starting a new chapter in our life holding a healthy baby soon.
Once we received our room at the hospital we got situated and met the midwife who checked my cervix and told me I was at a 4.5! Woohoo I thought this will be easy. At 7:00pm I started getting 1 drop of pitocin an hour and quickly worked up to 14 drops an hour until my water broke at 2:30am. Before I go on I need to explain that this time around although nervous for the unknown I was much calmer and had the best support system with a doula named Annely Allen (thebumpcoach.com), Sam and my mother.
Annely made our hospital room smell like a sanctuary with essential oils. I held a peppermint scented washcloth that helped keep nausea at bay and she helped me remain comfortable during those early labor contractions. Even though I was laboring on pitocin I was able to rest a bit and sleep during some contractions while we rotated my body hugging a peanut ball in-between my legs to help open up my hips for birth. I can not recommend the assistance of a doula enough.
On July 24th at 2:30am my water broke and immediately I felt a ton of pressure and my contractions became very painful. I had my doula, mother, and husband Sam pressing into my legs to relieve some of the pain. I endured about 4-5 of these intensely painful contractions and after my nurse checked me and said my cervix was at a 6 I felt like giving up. I cried and said I can’t do anymore and that I wanted an epidural.
The anesthesiologist came after what felt like forever. I had endured almost 4 more huge contractions while boisterously asking, “where the heck is the anesthesiologist!” No really I was the woman you do not want to hear while checking in but seriously there was no quieting me down at this point. I had to choose one person to stay with me so I chose my doula and my mom and Sam left the room. At this point mentally I was fearing the contractions and pain and Annely was the one I trusted most to get me though it…after all she’s the birthing professional.
The next few moments were animalistic in nature. I assumed the epidural stance on the bed and held as still as I could waiting for the sweet numbing relief to wash over my lower half but it never came. Instead I held onto my doula through grunts and groans, trying to remain still. After several attempts to get the epidural in place we called it off since the anesthesiologist said my back was too tight. I’d never been told that in my previous births (I’m pretty sure I was cursing her in my mind), but things moved so fast during Ruby’s labor that I didn’t know I was in transition at this point.
Transition is the shortest but most intense part of labor. I have felt it before but only under the influence of an epidural. I had no idea that my nausea, fear, pain and irrational thoughts meant my baby was ready to come. I assumed I had hours left of hard labor but my cervix opened from a 6-10 in probably 30 minutes. Those moments of transition felt unbearable mostly because of the need to hold still for the anesthesiologist… I was relieved when she stopped trying because then I could do what my body wanted to do and that was push my baby out!
My doula noticed my symptoms of transition and said to my nurse “glove up” this baby is coming. My nurse looked quite frightened at this thought since they were the only two people in the room. Sam and my mom were no where to be found and at the moment I could care less if I was the one to pull her out. I saw the season 2 finale of Handmaid’s Tale ha ha!
I laid back down on the bed and over the course of just minutes my husband, mom and the midwife ran into the room and Ruby was born. Sam said he could see her head crowning when he came back into the room and he wanted to remember our last birth so he grabbed the camera and shot some pretty incredible photos. My mom held my hand, my doula grabbed my leg and I don’t even remember really pushing I just felt her arrival. She was finally here. I didn’t cry at her birth like I thought I would. I tear up now writing about it because I’m so happy to be through with that journey and so proud of myself and my body for what it accomplished. I did something I never thought I could do.
In complete honesty natural childbirth isn’t for everyone and if this was my first child I’m not sure if I could do it again this way. But the pain was temporary and my recovery has been a lot smoother.
I’m the mom that will always tell you you are a bad a$$ however you give birth or become a mother: c-section, epidural, surrogacy, adoption, unmedicated….it’s all a miracle and you are amazing mama!
Ruby weighed 8 lbs 5.5 oz and was 21 inches long. We struggled finding a name for her for quite some time and then Ruby came to us and it felt right… Jean was my grandmother’s middle name and we loved how it fit with her gem of a first name. We are so blessed to have completed our family on July 24th 2018 with our sweet girl Ruby Jean Powers.
14 Responses
Awww, these pictures make me want to cry!!! There is nothing more powerful than that experience of birthing each baby. It is such a gift. Pitocin, is no gift, though. Holy moly. I had a very similar experience to your story with our first. He was late and induced because of lack of amniotic fluid. As soon as my water broke I was begging for an epidural, but by the time he came in, I was ready to push. A few minutes later Donovan was in my arms. But oh, Lord.. an induced labor is NO joke. Had both of the girls after, naturally and it felt like a walk in the park compared to my first. Super Momma, you did it! She is just beyond precious. Love the name Ruby Jean! She is perfect and your family is complete. Cheers!
Loved reading this Chrissy! It’s anazing how different everyone’s birth story is. Loved the Handmaids Tale joke too. So happy for you guys, she is beautiful and the one picture of you where you are intransition and the look on your face…. super mom!!!
Chrissy, what a beautiful story! I’ve never had pitocin, but Lucille was born 1.5 hrs after my water broke, so I understand the intensity! Ruby is beautiful, and your Grandma would be so thrilled to have her great granddaughter take her middle name.
I had our first baby girl in September of last year and your story is very close to mine except for I didn’t even have the option of an epidural because it happened that fast! I was pretty traumatized and questioned having more kids, but like you said the pain was temporary and healing was much better than it could have been! Enjoy those sweet baby snuggles !
Oh Chrissy, this just gave me goosebumps to read!! You are awesome! I just had our 2nd baby 5 months ago, and was also expecting to have an epidural (like I did with my 1st), but the baby came way too fast!! I think it is the fear of “I can’t do this!!” that is so intense, even though deep down you know you can! I should use that doula, I am also in North County, and I think it would help a lot with our next one! I don’t know if I trust myself not to get an epidural next time, the pain is so overwhelming! But my recovery was SOOO much better!
Rad
Love this , so sweet and totally relate. my baby was born 2 weeks late (and I as well thought of having this super natural childbirth) but things just went how they did and it’s ok! He’s amazing and I wouldn’t have it any other way because that’s how it was meant to be for my baby boy. I love birth stories, thanks for sharing! and congratulations!
Chrissy,
Congratulations on your daughter’s birth. You’re right we are all super moms. The gift of child birth is such a beautiful blessing from our Heavenly Father. I’m deeply thankful for my three beautiful gifts . They are so uneek in their own way.
I thank you for your gift to blog so much on here. I enjoy reading your experiences. Take care and enjoy your beautiful gift that was born on my special day! Love to all in His Mighty Name Jesus our Lord .♥️
Hi Chrissy! I got teary reading your story. Still amazed you have the energy to write all this down and edit photos and post everything so soon. I (am American) but live in Holland where home births are the big thing and epidural’s are frowned upon. I had natural birth’s with both of my boys and it was hard and I haven’t forgotten how hard. But I did it with my second as well. I’m proud of you for making it through! Everyone’s story is different and special and however we bring a baby into this world, it is a feat to be honored and worthwhile and the right path for each of us. Having gone through the birthing process without drugs does give me so much respect for the women I meet in rural Africa on my work travels for what they go through during childbirth. Already they are amazing, strong women, but no drugs, no doctors, no beds, no backup…just women supporting women who’ve gone through it before. It’s a magical world. ?
Congratulations. So excited for you!
Thanks for sharing your birth story and this real proctored! I just loved reading it. You can be so proud of yourself.
Sending you warm greetings all the way from Germany.
Thank you so very much!
Chrissy, it seems like lightyears since I met you at Kendal and Anthony’s wedding, but reading this made it feel like it was just yesterday! Birth stories are my FAVORITE!! What a beautiful little girl you have! You’re a rockstar, Mama! Enjoy the sweet newborn snuggles!
Ah thank you so so much for reading it! You’re so so sweet!