Baby Rose was Born Safely at Our Positive Natural Hospital Birth!
Please always make decisions with your doctor or midwife for what is safest for you and your baby. All births are beautiful and children are a gift from God. Please make decisions on when to go to the hospital or call the midwife with you and your babies health in mind. A safe mother and baby are the most important outcome regardless of where it happens and the interventions needed. I hope you enjoy the story of our positive natural hospital birth!
The Backstory.
My husband and I were not sure if we could have children. After an extremely special Lent, we conceived Rose, our eldest daughter. There was a great hope in me that I was pregnant when my husband bought the pregnancy tests, and behind the counter at the pharmacy was a Padre Pio statue, and a Divine Mercy image! Sure enough those tests were positive, and we began our journey towards our positive natural hospital birth.
The Friday before Rose was born I went to daily Mass, worked a full teaching day, and parent teacher conferences. I was teaching in a Catholic School at the time and was hoping to make it through those parent teacher conferences. Exhausted and relieved, I went home late. It was Saturday night when my husband came home from work and I ate a huge helping of lasagna for dinner. His aunt told us a meal like that could initiate labor! Excited, full, and still exhausted we went to bed.
Delivery Day: Positive Natural Hospital Birth, Yay!
Rose was born on Gaudete (rejoice in Latin) Sunday which is the third Sunday of Advent. We call her our Christmas Rose because on this Sunday the priest wears rose colored vestments! She came at 38 weeks and her birth is filled with the Mercy of Lord.
It was 3:00am Sunday morning and I woke up with what I thought was a contraction. At 4:00am I lost my mucous plug. Contractions kept coming every 5 to 7 minutes. At this point, I was writing them down myself. Around 5:00am I woke my husband up to let him know and took a shower. The contractions kept coming. I was still not convinced this was real labor, but the contractions did not stop. At 6:00am there was more mucous plug and by 6:40am we grabbed the hospital bag and rushed over to…daily Mass!
Headed to the Hospital….but First Mass!
Now it is around 7:30am. We get to Mass and the contractions stayed the same, consistent not painful. However, during the Liturgy of the Eucharist the pain started. I kept praying and relaxing through them. I remember leaning forward in the pew, holding tight, with my head down. A great gift, I was able to receive the Eucharist every day Rose was in the womb! When Mass was over the priest, who happens to be very special in our family, came over and said “Is baby coming soon? I think it is a boy!”. He did not know baby was coming in a few hours!
Hospital, Here We Come!
We left Mass and headed for the hospital. It was about a 45 minute drive. On the highway the contractions really ramped up. I would lift myself off of my seat to get through them. It was not unbearable, but far from comfortable. By the time we arrived it was just after 9:00 am. Focusing on breathing through the contractions and calming my nerves was the goal!
Through all this I never called the hospital to let them know I was coming. They were very kind and checked me in right away. At 6cm dilated the doctor said “We are having a baby today!” and they set me up with IV. One nurse clearly shared our views on natural birth and was very supportive to hold back on unneeded interventions. She offered me the shower, allowed me to freely move, and did not push anything I said no to. After many contractions, kneeling at the bedside, walking around, deep breathing, and using the bathroom, they checked me again. At around 12:00pm I was 9cm dilated and they told me to get in the bed to be ready to push!
Some Interventions Were Taken…
Now reflecting on this, so many years later, I would have preferred not to lay on my back so gravity could help. At the time I did not know better and so never feeling the urge to push I pushed when told to. I ended up pushing for 2 hours which was exhausting! There was a crucifix on the wall and I held my husbands hand and kept repeating “Jesus I trust in You”.
Due to pushing for so long, the doctor decided to break my water. Babies head was stuck and so she also did an episiotomy (which expanded to a third degree tear). Interventions I again knew nothing about at the time! After several large pushes, it happened! It was 2 pm as baby Rose was delivered! The doctor stitched me up and I was placed with my baby where we nursed, and did skin to skin.
Now these interventions may or may not have been needed. I do not know. However, God allowed it and mom and baby were both ultimately okay. The hospital was also very respectful of 99% of our decisions as parents after Rose was born. We support parental rights and informed consent so this was another gift.
Short of breath for awhile after, I think from all the pushing, my husband ran out to the waiting room where our poor family and friends had been all day. He announced “It’s a girl!” and when we were ready they came into our room to celebrate (and bring food!).
This birth story was very different from our second natural home birth which you can read about here.
God was in control when I had no control over when baby would come, and what would happen when they did. He is always in control, He loves us, and knows what is best! We are so thankful for the birth and birth story of Rose. Thank you Jesus!
How do you feel the presence of the Lord in your pregnancy and birth stories? Let me know in the comments below!
Thank you, and I hope this post brings joy!
Stella Maris, Ora Pro Nobis!
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