In every OB visit the conversation was the same, “Are you sure you don't want a c-section?”, “Yes! I am sure”.  I didn't even want pain medication, much less a major abdominal surgery that would take 6 weeks to recover from.  I knew very well the risks associated with both a vaginal breech birth vs. a c-section.  I had taken a lot of time to research and think about my options, something I had learned from my Bradley® classes.  I had already had an amazingly beautiful birth with my first two, there was no way that I would miss out on one of life's most rewarding experiences, childbirth.  My OB did get a little concerned for a few weeks when the baby was in a footling breech position, with one foot tucked under his bottom with the knee down and the other one up.  This position poses a higher risk than the average breech.  The OB wanted to force the baby to turn, but I did not feel comfortable with the risks of the procedure.  I decided to trust in nature and sure enough, his foot did move all by itself and he was in a frank breech (both feet up) position for the last 2 weeks.

I had several starts and stops to my labor for a few days, but this was normal for me.  The day finally came when my contractions didn't stop.  On Monday March 19th, at about 10:00am my contractions were coming frequently enough that I timed them.  They were about 3 minutes apart and I had to stop moving and talking through them.  The weather had been cold and snowy for months but that day was warm and we decided to go miniature golfing with our boys.  I had to stop quite often while we were golfing, but it still felt good to walk when the contractions were over.  We didn't even make it to the 9th hole before we had to leave to get home and pick up our things to go to the hospital.  We arrived at the hospital at about 3:45 pm.  I was 3cm.  I was not surprised.  I usually don't dilate very much until the very end, especially with a breech.  When I went through admitting and checking in, my contractions slowed down a bit and got less intense for a little while.  By about 7pm though, my contractions were back in business and taking all of my attention.  My husband was by my side every moment, helping me through my contractions.  We walked for a little while and then I sat on the birthing ball.  I felt my contractions in my back quite a bit so I stayed off the bed as much as possible.  My favorite place to labor was in the tub.  Warm water is very soothing for me.  My husband would rub my back in between contractions and that really helped to ease my discomfort.  My contractions became quite hard and intense.  It was just like doing a very difficult physical exercise, but it was not painful.  It was just hard work!  I was about 7cm the next time I was checked.  After laboring for just about another hour or two I started to feel a lot of pressure and began to feel the bag of waters bulging.  I got up one time to go to the bathroom, thanks to my husbands suggestion, and my water broke.   I quickly got back to the bed where I planned on pushing.

I was 9.5cm dilated with just a lip of cervix.  I had an urge to push.  I just gently leaned into my contractions for a couple of minutes and then the urge got stronger and I was good to go.  Pushing was very intense, my body just took over and my son born about 5 minutes after I started pushing. When he was born, he was placed on my chest immediately.  He was perfect!  I felt the most amazing sense of relief.  I put my baby to my breast almost instantly.  He nursed vigorously from the beginning.  My son was awake an alert for 2 hours after his birth.  Nathan weighed 7 lbs 14.3oz and was 19 ½ inches long.  One of my absolute favorite things about natural birth is that my recovery was so great.  I felt fantastic, not just good, really fantastic!  The nurses could hardly believe how well I was doing.  I did not even have a tear.  I was able to completely focus on bonding with my new baby. 

Natural birth is the absolute best gift you can give to your child and yourself.