Posted on 10/24/2006 9:02:36 AM PDT by gobucks
I was awakened by my wife saying, "Wake up". I shook myself awake and walked over to the bed in the birthing room at the hospital. It was 1am, and we were alone. "I want the epidural. I can't take it any more", she said, her voice sounding faint.
We had only been at the hospital 3 hours. We were told we had only progressed half way, 5 cm. This despite the fact we had stayed at home as long as reasonable. So, it being the middle of the night of course, I, the coach, failing to execute the Husband-coached Natural Childbirth techniques I had learned, fell asleep. I was only asleep an hour, when she awakened me.
Now, with little Mr. GoBucks, who was born a year ago on June 14, the Bradley Method seemed to be working. But we got to the hospital too early, and she 'got stuck' at 7cm. The white flag was raised (after mummurs of 'dysfunctional labor' and 'c-section' were tossed out there), the epidural went in, the pit was dripped, and an hour later, our little boy arrived.
We were pretty frustrated that all our Bradley prep work didn't bear fruit, but knew we would try again. During the hours of labor leading to little Miss GoBucks, my wife handed me the Bradley book, and reminded me the key insight of 'emotional signposts' within the Bradley Method. Sure enough, we left for the hospital when it was pretty clear she couldn't talk through the labor anymore. We had the external fetal monintor strapped around her middle, and then they left us alone. No epidural, no pain killers, no IV drip. Just the beep, beep noises, and quiet. The nurses and OB had read our concise, but firm, birth plan, and were willing to let two Bradley nut cases give it a go. (Though they later confessed that such birth plans often make them a little bit quick in getting the Csection room ready.)
Anyway, what I didn't expect was that my wife would let me sleep a little bit. When she awakened me, she was beside herself, saying it hurt too much. I looked at her and saw the 'transition' signposts.
I said to her "are you sure"? And, just like the Natural Childbirth books, she moaned, "I don't know, I don't know", which means birth was imminent. I read her a couple of Bible verses we had prepared ("All things are possible..." etc).
And right after that she made some grunting noises, and muttered "I need to push". I was shocked, and called the nurse. The nurse said, "well, 6-7 cm". I wasn't pleased with that, knowing the rule of thumb is 1 cm/hour.
But, through the contractions, she kept saying she felt like she needed to push, and I called the nurse in again a few minutes later ... she said, oops, totally open!. Within a few minutes, her water bag came out first, then broke, and then her head came out, and then, with almost a yell, my wife pushed her out and the OB caught her, and I was cutting the cord that was difficult to see through my watery eyes. It was unreal. The last 3 cm was in less than an hour.
Her head was perfectly round, as if she were born w/ a CSection; she cried, then she slept. And she has been a beautiful, normal, sweet angel in the 10 days since then ... (and it seems like 10 weeks ago.).
Anyway, I wrote up several 'My Pregnant Wife' threads before regarding little boy GB last year, including a Bradley thread, so this is just a follow-up. We do live in Epidural Nation, so it is silly to think this thread will make a dent into that, but one or two readers may have not heard of a positive testimonial so this is for them.
The Bradley Method works, and if one endures all the 'upsetness' that talking about it with others is certain to produce, then, I promise, it is more than worth it.
Pretty exciting stuff, Birthing those Babies, is as real as it gets. Good Job! Congrats!
My wife has given birth to 7.....I don't know of the "Bradley method"; we must be dinosaurs....lol. We used "LaMaze" (sp?). Anyway, natural childbirth IS the way to go. No epis, nothing, nada but breathing. Most of our kids were over 10 pounds at birth, I might add.
Congratulations on the little one; this is a wonderful thing. :)
Congratulations on your new arrival!
Ahhh, the joys of going from 5 cm dilated to 10 in five minutes flat. The look on the nurse's face almost makes up for the agony LOL*
*Speaking from experience, of course. Congratulations on your little bundle, and on your wife's Bradley success :)
Thank you for pinging me gobucks. I remember those threads before your son was born. Congratulations. Tell your wife she did great. With my two, I wanted to give up during transition, but things moved so quickly at that time that I made it through.
I really appreciate hearing your report.
You cannot control the sleeping through the night thing, every baby is different.
9lb, 8oz? Wowzo. Nice work (not you so much, but mom). :')
May the little lass eat like a truck driver and sleep like a hibernating squirrel.
May all your days be filled with joy and happiness....and wonder, through the eyes of one of God's best miracles.
Congratulations ..to both of you.
Many thanks.
You are quite welcome....; Bradley was pretty much spot on...I believe.
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