I remember when I was pregnant with my first baby, Christa, I wanted to have a drug free experience at her birth. Everett and I joined this natural birthing class, and there we went learning the hee-hee-hoo, he-ho, heeeeeeee-hoooooooooo breathings depending on where I was in the labor intensity.
How fun it was pretending in my mind to have this baby; to prepare to, no matter what, have her without the aid of drugs. I would imagine myself happily breathing as I held my husband's hand and proudly enduring the pain of childbirth in a stoic and dignified portrait of womanhood.
HAHAHAHAHA!!!!! The day came and as my contractions happened closer and closer, we headed to the Santa Teresa Kaiser hospital all the way from Monterey. That was the closest Kaiser at the time. My baby was in a hurry to be born and as Everett was speeding trying to get us there sooner than later, I began to realize that the pain with each contraction was becoming unbearable.
We were told that our first baby would be most likely coming to the world in a slow fashion, that we would have plenty of time to rest, eat and chat at the hospital. As the intensity of my pain got increasingly worse, I realized I had changed my mind and wanted as many drugs as possible.
After all, I was only in the beginning of my labor and it was already immeasurably painful. God wasn't kidding when He said it would be so in childbirth as part of the curse. I decided then and there that I couldn't take any stronger pain without screaming in a horror movie-like manner, and that I would politely request for pain medication as soon as I got to the hospital.
"What is taking soooo long???!!!!? I want to be there now!!!!"
"Almost there, hang on, let's do the breathing together...he-he-ho-heeee-hoooo- we are at the hospital!!"
My sweet hubby found a wheelchair for me and as the automatic doors opened I yelled as loud as I possibly could: "Drugggsssss, give me drugggsssss, anything you haveeeeeeeee, pleaseeeeeeeeee!!!!! I could almost feel Everett's big eyes behing me wondering what has gotten into "all naturelle" wifey, but this was my pain and I was done.
When the nurse was done checking me, she indicated that drugs were not an option because I was in transition and the baby was to be born right now, as they quickly wheeled me to the birthing room. Immediately my whole perception changed, my pain subsided the moment I realized this was as bad as it would get; not being at the beginning of labor as I thought I was, but at the very end. I braced myself to push and have this baby, the excitement of her soon coming blocking everything else.
The point I am trying to make is that as my perception of the situation changed so did my whole outlook. Same pain, however now bearable due to a change in my way of looking at it. Our thought process is highly dominated by our feelings and perceptions and by changing the way we think, we can change the way we feel.
By the way, after our sweet baby was born I informed Everett to enjoy her because she was the only child he was going to get (by me at least). Two boys later, I am glad I had all three drug free. What's childbirth without pain anyway?
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2 comments:
I took the drugs...but I was in labor a VERY long time (over 24 hours) and pushed for over 3 hours with Nick. It was his Charlie Brown sized head (my side of the family) that held everything up. Jared flew out...I had no time for drugs.
I appreciate what you say about perception. Our minds are very powerful in dealing with life.
I have similar stories. I always thought that I was a wimp; I simply hate pain. Getting my blood drawn was a big deal for me!
My first came a month early. I had no contractions at first but my water broke. I felt no pain for several hours, as I skipped down the hospital with my IV pole. (since I was so early I was forced to have an IV) Other pregnant moms thought I was crazy, as they grimaced and paused as they walked the halls trying to pass time and hoping that their exercise would hurry the labor along.
When the contraction finally hit, they were horrible. Truly horrible. I was told that the typical first birth was at least 12 hours long.... so I was anticipating things to get a whole lot worse! I also asked for drugs and they told me it was too late for drugs, I was having the baby NOW.
One would think that I'd get smart with the other 2 but the same thing happened with them. Nothing until the last hour or two and it was severe but I am convinced anyone can handle that much pain for a short amount of time. I think when it is for a longer period of time drugs become something that is perhaps necessary for most.
All I know is that I'm a wimp and I did it but I had no choice and one knows it's temporary. (and rewarding!)
The bad part? 1. I had so much adrenaline in my system (naturally) I could not sleep. Just so excited! 2. I made them discharge me less than 16 hours after giving birth..... why? Because I had a picnic to attend and I did not wish to stay there longer or they'd take a blood sample again and....... Yep... I hate pain!
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