HOT YOGA MAMA

Last weekend my 11 year old asked me what it was like to give birth to her. She was my first born and frankly, I remember each birthing experience like it happened yesterday.

I thought I’d share as one day, she’ll read my blog and feel special that I had shared with everyone who visits my blog.

First of all, my pregnancy was pretty uneventful.

I weighed probably 89 or 90 pounds at the time I found out I was pregnant. I was 27 years old.

I gained probably 10 pounds in my first trimester and I remember wondering if this was okay because I read that most women only gain a few pounds (if any) in the first 12 weeks.

It seemed to even itself out though because in my second trimester I only gained about 4 pounds.

By the time I got to last my appointment before I delivered Michal, I had gained 27 pounds. Just the right amount for my size (I’m only 5 feet tall).

She was due on December 12th 1997.

My husband (now ex) and I went to watch a movie on November 28th. It was the Friday after Thanksgiving. I can’t even remember what movie it was. When we arrived home I felt some Braxton Hicks contractions (known as practice contractions for the real thing but nothing to be alarmed about).

I drank about 4 ounces of grape juice and went to bed.

I woke up at about 4:50 in the morning – I remember looking at the clock on the wall in our bedroom. I felt like I wet the bed. So I went into the bathroom and found “bloody show” in my underwear. Definite sign that I was in labor.

I said to PJ, “Uh, I think my water just broke”. He got out of bed and asked, “Are you having contractions?” I said, “No, but they’ll probably start soon”. He jumps into the shower and I’m thinking, .’Hmmm, this baby is coming early. Good thing the bag is packed. We better put the carseat in the car.’

Then it hit me. A REAL contraction. ‘Good Lord almighty, that’s the real thing’. I had to brace the couch as I could barely breathe. I could feel this huge wave of tightness throughout the lower part of my body. I could barely keep myself up on my legs. It was so intense. Then it was gone. I think it lasted like 20 seconds.

Since PJ and I had attended birthing classes, we assumed for our first time going into labor and delivery, that we’d be hanging out at home for a while. He gets out of the shower and asks me, “How far are your contractions?” I answer, “Uh, like a few minutes apart.” He says, “Should we call the doctor already?” I say, “I don’t know. It’s only been about 25 minutes since I woke up”.

Each contraction is still only 3-4 minutes apart but they are so intense I can barely breathe. I have to hold onto something or lean up against a wall because I feel like my legs are going to give out from underneath me.

I change into some sweats, deciding I don’t want to take a shower and accidentally slip. I call the doctor and get a hold of an on call person since my original doctor was in New Mexico. They suggest I go to the hospital since my contractions felt so strong.

We left the house at about 5:30 in the morning.

We lived about 25 minutes from the hospital. PJ is so nervous he could barely keep my timing right for the contractions. They felt like they were about 2 minutes apart and I say, “This is happening so fast. Why is the baby early?!”

We pull into the hospital parking garage and start walking towards the emergency entrance since it was barely 6:00 in the morning. About 20 feet from the doorway I find myself in a serious contraction, again, barely able to breathe through it. I have no where to hold my body up against, so I ended up taking a semi squat position (yogis and yoginis – think Utkatasana – chair pose).

I yell, “PJ – I feel like there’s a head coming out”. I swear my underwear feels wet, like more amniotic fluid keeps coming out at each contraction. Between each contraction, I’m hauling ass to get my body to the check in counter.

I’m in another contraction and have to wait before I can talk. I explain to the ladies at the desk that I had preregistered. I gave them my name and they told me they will get a wheelchair for me. I have to hold myself up against the counter to get yet another contraction over with.

When the wheelchair arrives, I’m thinking, ‘Are you kidding me? It feels like the head is coming out and you want me to sit down?’

I literally keep my butt off the seat by lockingout my arms and push off the handlebars.

They’re booking it to the maternity wing and I can’t believe how fast these contractions are coming. I tell the nurse, “My contractions are back to back, I feel like this baby is coming out”. She says “I can tell. Let’s get you in Triage and see how you look.”

Once we get in the Triage room I hastily get into a hospital gown thinking, ‘This baby’s head is about to fall out. I just want to push.’

The nurse examines my cervix and announces, “‘You are fully dilated! This baby is ready to go, are you ready?” I say, “Yes, let’s go. Where’s my husband?”

PJ is in a state of shock. He can’t believe we’re ready to deliver already. Everything happened so fast. They wheeled me into a room, where a few people were ready for me. One nurse is at my side, trying to coach me. PJ totally just stands by, not even knowing what to do at this point.

I am trying to breathe as the nurse and doctor tell me not to push yet. I’m like, ‘You’re kidding right? I’m pushing whether you want me to or not.’

So I am ready to go – I’ve got a couple nurses pushing down on my knees (as I have assumed the position). I push. OMG – it hurts like nothing I have ever felt before in my life.

I push again. The head is right there! And hell yeah – I am feeling it! Ever heard of the rim of fire? Yes, that’s exactly what it feels like – full in effect (as my best friend Glody would say) – the burning sensation is out of this world.

I’m pushing and they’re telling me to take it easy. Someone in the room announces the baby’s heart rate is going down. The nurse on my right side says to me, “Honey, let’s get this baby out.” I push. They say take a breath. ‘I don’t want to. I want to push.’ So I push, and the head is out.

The doctor says, “One more push, and the shoulders will come out.” I push again, and she’s out all the way.

My daughter Michal, my first born was born at 6:20am on November 29th, 1997.

They placed her on my chest as they started to clean her up.

Meanwhile, the doctor tells me to push again. I’m thinking, ‘Are you f***ng kidding me? She’s out, what the hell do you want from me now?‘ Ah yes, the placenta needed to be delivered. Got that over with.

The labor and delivery happened so fast that I had to get stitches. That part was terrible. Then I discovered witch hazel worked wonders.

They let me nurse Michal right away and it amazed me that she ‘knew’ what to do. She latched on to me right away. I loved nursing her.

Later on PJ told me that he felt nauseous. I hated that he saw me in a way that probably plagued him forever.

Since Michal was born 2 weeks early, she was on the small side. She was only 5 pounds 12 ounces and 18 1/2 inches long. She had a full head of hair and a round sweet face. I was so in love with her the moment I saw her.

To sum it up, I loved having a natural childbirth. That’s what I originally planned for, but I never suspected it would have happened as fast as it did.

How lucky was I.

Namaste.