NIGHT FROM DAY!

It had always been my desire to have as natural a birth AS possible. Thus, when I found myself pregnant with my first child, I was determined to find a midwife who would give me the natural birth that I wanted. I found a midwife 45 minutes away from me and love her.

My daughter, however, had other plans. I went into labor on a Thursday morning with contractions two to three minutes apart from the start. Since we were 45 minutes away, we decided to go to the hospital. After arriving at the hospital, we soon found out that our daughter's heartbeat was not normal and I would not be able to have the water birth I desired. It took me a full day to go from a fingertip dilated to 4 cm at which time I finally consented to an epidural. I finally gave birth to our daughter on Friday night. I was beyond devastated after I birthed her to know that I had gotten morphine, nubain, and epidural, and I also received an episiotomy. However, I knew that her heart was more important than all of that and it was imperative that I birthed her quickly so that they could examine her heart.

Two years later, upon finding out I was pregnant again, I knew instantly that this time I wanted the water birth. Most people were shocked to find that out after I had already experienced an epidural birth. However, I did not enjoy my epidural and really wanted to try and deliver this baby in the water. There was always a part of me that was slightly worried that I would ask for the epidural as I knew the pain of labor and knew the relief that an epidural brought.

When it came time to deliver my second daughter however, I had no time to ask for one, nor did I want to. I went into labor with her early on a Tuesday morning. I actually had no idea I was truly in labor so I avoided waking my husband up from his sleep. I was determined that I would also wait this child out at home for as long as possible, in order to have a natural birth. We again went to our midwife who was 45 minutes away. By the time we got to the hospital, I was 4 cm dilated and it did not take long at all for me to feel pushy. The contractions were extremely manageable for me and I never once asked for pain medications. I was able to get into the tub and 10 minutes later, I delivered our second beautiful little girl. After only four hours of labor I was able to have the water birth I so desperately wanted.

I literally enjoyed every moment of the water birth.

VANESSA JACOBSON

Fergus Falls, MN USA

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