Twelve things Lucy's mother loved about her birth in a hospital
by Sara
1. I loved that I (and my midwives) waited patiently for my labor to begin at 41 weeks, 5 days. I was starting to doubt that my labor would ever begin, so feeling myself go into labor gave me faith in my body and its abilities, and reminded me that our children have minds of their own.
2. I loved having our doula come to our home during early labor, to help me cope with contractions and to help us determine an ideal time to go to the hospital. Her presence was so reassuring. My favorite moment was when she arrived and walked into the bathroom, and I said, "I think I'm in labor." And she said, "I figured as much, seeing as how you usually don't greet me with no clothes on!"
3. I loved arriving at the hospital and finding out that I was 6 centimeters dilated, and getting to go into the tub soon after, where I stayed until I began pushing.
4. I loved when my doula put cold water and peppermint oil on a washcloth and laid it on my forehead while I was in the warm tub. It felt heavenly!
5. I loved opening my eyes between contractions and seeing my husband and doula kneeling lovingly in front of me with their hands grasping mine, and my midwife kneeling in the opposite corner with a peaceful smile on her face.
6. I loved eating a whole box of popsicles!
7. I loved thinking of my daughter going through each contraction with me, and thinking of all the other women birthing that day. It made me feel less
alone.
8. I loved that my water stayed intact until I pushed it halfway out.
9. I loved when the midwife checked me and said, "I'm going to call it complete." Even in the haze of labor, I was so proud I had been able to get to 10cm without medication. I hadn't believed I could do it.
10. I loved when I saw the midwife put on her scrubs and say, "Let's have this baby!"
11. I loved the feeling of my daughter moving down and out of my body. I saw her emerging from me and thought to myself, "Who brought this baby in here?" Then I realized that it was me who had brought her here. I can still remember her warm, wet body on my tummy after birth, and being in awe that a real live human being who hadn't been in the room moments ago had now joined us, and that she was all ours.
12. I loved seeing my husband cry with joy when she was born. It was a beautiful birth.
by Sara
1. I loved that I (and my midwives) waited patiently for my labor to begin at 41 weeks, 5 days. I was starting to doubt that my labor would ever begin, so feeling myself go into labor gave me faith in my body and its abilities, and reminded me that our children have minds of their own.
2. I loved having our doula come to our home during early labor, to help me cope with contractions and to help us determine an ideal time to go to the hospital. Her presence was so reassuring. My favorite moment was when she arrived and walked into the bathroom, and I said, "I think I'm in labor." And she said, "I figured as much, seeing as how you usually don't greet me with no clothes on!"
3. I loved arriving at the hospital and finding out that I was 6 centimeters dilated, and getting to go into the tub soon after, where I stayed until I began pushing.
4. I loved when my doula put cold water and peppermint oil on a washcloth and laid it on my forehead while I was in the warm tub. It felt heavenly!
5. I loved opening my eyes between contractions and seeing my husband and doula kneeling lovingly in front of me with their hands grasping mine, and my midwife kneeling in the opposite corner with a peaceful smile on her face.
6. I loved eating a whole box of popsicles!
7. I loved thinking of my daughter going through each contraction with me, and thinking of all the other women birthing that day. It made me feel less
alone.
8. I loved that my water stayed intact until I pushed it halfway out.
9. I loved when the midwife checked me and said, "I'm going to call it complete." Even in the haze of labor, I was so proud I had been able to get to 10cm without medication. I hadn't believed I could do it.
10. I loved when I saw the midwife put on her scrubs and say, "Let's have this baby!"
11. I loved the feeling of my daughter moving down and out of my body. I saw her emerging from me and thought to myself, "Who brought this baby in here?" Then I realized that it was me who had brought her here. I can still remember her warm, wet body on my tummy after birth, and being in awe that a real live human being who hadn't been in the room moments ago had now joined us, and that she was all ours.
12. I loved seeing my husband cry with joy when she was born. It was a beautiful birth.