My Birth Story

When I got pregnant with my first child, I was so excited. He was due in September, and I found out that I was pregnant in January. It felt like an eternity until I would be able to meet him. I wished that I could speed along my pregnancy, because I was so anxious to meet him.

During my pregnancy, I read up on having natural births and I became very inspired to have a natural labor and delivery. I tried to prepare myself by exercising and following prescriptions laid out in the natural birth books that I was reading. My son was due for September 19th, and my husband and I eagerly anticipated the day. Then the day came and went. We were crestfallen. On the 23rd we went to the hospital after I had had contractions for a couple of hours, but then they sent us back because I hadn't dilated enough.

I waited at home until the contractions were at least 5 minutes apart and then we went back to the hospital. This time I was 5 centimeters dilated, and we were so excited. I looked forward and was excited about being in labor, and couldn't wait to start pushing. But, I remained at 5 centimeters for 5 hours, and my son passed meconium ( poop), and they were afraid that he would inhale it. Plus, I wasn't progressing fast enough for him to come on out, so they said that I needed a C-section.

I cried, because I was handling my contractions well, and I did not want a C-section at all. But, out of fear, I succumbed. When they showed me my baby, I was beside myself. I couldn't believe it, and was so excited. He was my baby. This little person had been in my womb all this time! It was the most amazing thing in my life up to that point.

My second birth pretty much followed the same course, except I knew that I was having a C-section. I was so excited about giving birth to a girl, that I almost didn't care that I had to have a C-section. My excitement outweighed my fear of having another surgical delivery. When I saw my daughter, I was overjoyed and anxious to hold her.

Meeting my children for the first time were the best and most exciting things that ever happened to me. They are such blessings from God, and I am so thankful that He chose me to be their mother.