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Natural Child Birth

When my husband and I started thinking about having a baby I knew that I wanted to deliver all-natural but I didn't know anything about it or where to go to do it. Then I met someone who explained to me that she was a doula and that she couched mothers through all-natural childbirth. She then introduced me to my local birthing center and my midwife that would deliver my baby. After being sick for 9 months, and three weeks early, my daughter came to us!
The day of delivery I woke up from probably the only good night's sleep my whole pregnancy. I took my last test for my degree that semester and I was feeling pretty good! I decided to say hi to an old friend that day and spent the rest of the afternoon talking with her. When it came time for me to leave I said my goodbyes and took a step off her doorstep.... WHOOSH! My water broke.
My friend and I looked at each other and started laughing! I was afraid at first but then I realized that this meant my daughter was coming! I began to be so excited!
I called my husband out of a work meeting and we made our way for the birthing center. I wasn't feeling any contractions at that point but was just feeling a little 'crampy'. When we got to the birthing center my midwife told me that I was moving along slowly and to go home and call her when my contractions were 5 min apart. We left the birthing center but didn't go far because I felt like that baby would be coming sooner than later and I didn't want to be clear across town!
My husband and I took a walk, enjoyed some time together, had dinner, and went to the baby store to pick up some last-minute things. I still wasn't feeling any contractions but was just feeling really 'uncomfortable'. We decided to go back to the birthing center and settle in and begin my hypno birthing exercises. As the minutes went on I only began to feel more and more uncomfortable and I felt like I needed to pee so bad! I went into the bathroom and suddenly felt the urge to throw up but after 9 months of nausea I had learned to handle it and resist. I then realized that if I were going to listen to my body like I had planned for 9 months that I would let myself throw up. Weird I know but I honestly believe it was my body's way of cleansing itself and getting ready for pushing by opening my cervix.
My back had been hurting a little but that was normal for me at that point from my big belly until... I felt the urge to push! I looked at the ground and saw a drop of blood and suddenly all of my calmness turned into utter fear!
I thought that I had done something wrong and that the baby might be hurt.... and that is the only point in my entire labor that I experienced pain. It was because I lost my focus and excitement and let it turn into fear, tension, and thus pain. Up until then I had been extremely calm and excited that the moment was here, mostly because I was sick of being pregnant!
My pain was at it's peak when my midwife rushed in and announced, "You're complete! Let's get ready to push!" Right then all of my pain left my body and I let out one huge sigh of relief because she said my baby was fine!
At this point in my labor it had only been 5 hours since my water broke and up until about 5 minutes before this I had no pain whatsoever. I laid down on the birthing bed and pushed my daughter out in 27 min completely pain free!
Labor can be such a wonderful experience simply because you chose to make it one! I refused to have anyone in the room who was not happy and positive and to be honest didn't even tell my parents that I was in labor either! And because of my preparation and calm attitude I did not think of labor as stressful or painful. It is because of this that I did not feel any pain. I had hypnotized myself into believe I would be calm free for 9 months and I was! My labor was completely a bonding experience between me, my husband, and my baby which is exactly what we wanted. As soon as she came out my midwife handed her to me, delivered the placenta, and left the room for us to be alone. My husband and I sat in awe for what I thought was just minutes but had actually been 2 hours before my midwife came back in because she wanted us to bond with our newborn! It was the most spiritual, bonding experience I have ever had!

Hailey Erickson

14 is too young

My name is Gerty and here is my story. I am in my freshman year old high school and i was in 8th grade when i first found out i was pregnant. i was a straight A student that took collage corses in 8th grade and never really got in trouble. it was with my boyfriend of 2 1/2 years and we decided one day on his birthday i would give him the best gift i could... my virginaty. A few weeks later, i missed my usully punctual period. i called my best friend to help me make sure. I was scared when all 5 of the pregnacy tests were positive. i told my boyfriend and he promised to stay with me and he did. My parents we horrifyed but after about 2 weeks they helped me thorugh it. Now i am a sohpmore still an honors student and have a beautiful baby girl named sandra. My boyfriend is still with me and we plan on getting married as soon we get out of high school. I love my life and i dont regret anything.

Gerty

How Could You Not Know?

My name is Becca Roulen, and I had my daughter when I was 15 years old. The thing is, until I pushed her out, I had no idea I was pregnant with her.

I woke up at four in the morning with cramps, and I just ignored them. The pain continued to get worse and worse and an hour after the pain started, I was bleeding. My dad came in my room to check on me, and said I was probably fine. Then he went to work and left me home alone. I took an ibuprofen, but the pain got worse and worse. At noon, I was on the floor screaming, and I was delirious from pain. I crawled to the bathroom, and tried to get my cell phone. I ended up puking in the toilet, peeing (well, it was actually my water breaking) and bleeding everywhere. How could I be in so much pain? I thought I was going to die, and the pain began getting worse and worse. When my dad came home, he found me, and rushed me to the ER. The doctor said "Becca, could you be pregnant?!" I shook my head no. A half an hour later, still in unbearable pain, the doctor came back. "Becca, you are pregnant." My eyes could have exploded, and my dad looked like he was going to faint. Afterall, I was only fifteen! They wheeled me into the delivery room, and made me push, with NO pain medication. I tore, and I screamed. I pushed for about 20 minutes and soon the baby girl came out. At first, I thought about adoption, and I was so disgusted. But when the put her in my arms, I smiled, and I felt so happy and joyful. I named her Amalia Marie. I called her baby's father and sure enough, he adored her. I am now 17 and Amalia is the joy to my life. You probably wonder HOW I could not know that I was pregnant. I got a light period twice during my pregnancy, I only gained 8 pounds, and I never felt the baby kick. But I am so blessed to have Amalia, and I am so happy that I became pregnant.

Becca

I didnt know

One night, at midnight, i woke up with a stomach pain. i went into the bathroom and noticed a brownish, gooey, blood like substance on my pants and figured i was starting my period so i tried to go back to bed. No such luck. 8 o'clok rolls around and i get up to go to work. Throughout the whole day my stomach ache gets worse and worse. After my 8 hours, painful, shift ends, i leave and go to my boyfriends house for dinner. The pain got so bad that i was rolling around on his bed screaming. His mom was really scared and though it might be my appendix and wanted to take me to the hospital. Thats when it happend, my water broke. i had no idea what it was, being only 16 and knowing nothing about pregnancy or babies, and decided to go since obviously something was wrong. when i got to the hospital they hooked me up to the machine and the doctor turns to me and says, "well, your stomach ache has a heart beat." within about an hour i was in the labor room giving birth to my son, WITHOUT any medication.

It may be hard to belive, especially if you have ever had a baby, but i really didnt know. I only gained about 10 LBS the whole time, i NEVER felt him kick, and i didnt show. No one knew that i was pregnent, and neither did i. i had absolutlely no syptoms. Every month i was having a very light period which i found out is actually very common.i was so scared giving birth because i didnt know how far along i was. After he was born they said i was full term, and possibly even over
I kept the baby, and he is now 7 months old. He is the happiest baby i have ever seen. At 6 weeks old he was sleeping 6 hours at night. Now he sleeps about 11 hours straight through the night. He is a miracle, it has been hard being a 16 year old mother but i am doing it. i am pround of myself for staying in school, working, and taking care of my son. i love him so much he is a blessing.

Kelsey

birth of my daughter

i felt my first contractions at just gone two in the morning.i was in so much pain and they were 15 minutes apart so went up to the hospital,they checked me over and sent me home.within half an hour,they were every 3 minutes and rang my midwife,she told me to get to the hospital.i grabbed my hospital bag and car seat and went to the door,still talking to the midwife,i felt the sudden urge to push.i started screaming and couldnt move,so we rang for an ambalance and my midwife said she was on her way to my house.i got took to my sofa and lent over it so i was on my knees.my contractions was alot stronger and closer.within 20 minutes the ambulance and my midwife were by my side.my midwife examined me and said the baby was guna come so i started pushing,within 10 minutes my daughter was born.so within an hour my daughter was born.she hd trouble breathing to start with and if it were for the ambulance crew and my midwife,we had been told she wouldnt make it,so thanks to them shes here.shes now 2 and im pregnant again.lucky for me i have the same midwife so i know im in good hands.thanks mary and the albulance crew.

gem