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Chelsea Finch's Birth

Braxton-Hicks feel a lot like menstrual cramps, not painful, just quite a bit
annoying. My husband (Fritz)  and I were watching television when I realized
the "practice" contractions were not going away this time. I suppose it was
about 11pm when we finally decided to retire. I felt that sore achy feeling in
back as I always did late in the evening. I guess everyone would feel it if
they carried around an extra 50 lbs all day. I remember thinking as I drifted
off to sleep that night, "How much longer can this child possibly stay inside
of me?" My belly was an enormous size and my chest definitely lacked nothing!

I guess I was in bed an hour before I felt the tugging tight ball in my belly
again and as soon as it came, it went away. In the childbirth classes that we
took, we were told to ignore labor as long as we could and if we started
getting anxious, we would wear ourselves out before the real work began. So,
Fritz held my hand, and while I slept between contractions and trips to the
bathroom, I could tell they were getting stronger and gradually closer
together.

At 10am, I finally realized that my body had such a goal that no matter how I
lay or how much I tensed up, it was going to do its job. At that discovery, I
let go. I relaxed my face, my hands, arms, back, bottom, thighs and further
down to my toes. I envisioned my baby's head moving down, and began to feel
more comfortable with each wave of pressure. Amazingly, the less I fought, the
more relief I felt.

Fritz and I met the Midwife at The Birth Center around noon.  Just being
around Cathy gave me the extra surge of energy I needed to continue with the
job of birthing my baby. When she checked me I was so afraid she'd say "not
much progress, go on home for a while." Well, I was both delighted and
relieved to find out I was 8 cm dilated. Only 2 more to go.

To tell you the truth it was the pushing that had always frightened me the
most, but at that moment, I just couldn't wait to be able to assist my body
instead of feeling helpless, and at the mercy of nature.

During the time I worked with the final opening of my body, I relaxed in the
whirlpool, I walked, I squatted with contractions, and leaned on Fritz while
he rubbed my back. At around 3:30pm something changed. When a contraction
came, instead of being able to surrender and take slow deep breaths, my breath
caught and I heard a deep groan. (I think that sound came from me, but I had
never made such a sound before!!) When I bore down, I felt amazing pressure,
an intensity beyond anything I've ever felt before, but no pain! Pushing,
although I had feared it before was the most invigorating work I had ever
done. It was like the rush that a hiker gets when they reach the top of a
mountain.

I climbed into bed to push and had Cathy pull the full length mirror to the
foot of the bed so I could see what was going on. Tired and cold between
contractions, I lay my head back pulled the covers up to my neck and actually
started to dream while I waited for the next cramp. I pushed with all of my
might and was like an animal, I gave no care to what was going on in the room
or the world around me. I could feel my baby moving down and when I looked in
the mirror, I could see the top of its head. Seeing the baby's head gave me
the motivation to continue. I touched the head and was amazed it was so close.
I looked at Fritz, it was the first time I noticed that he was still there,
holding my hand, wiping my face with a cool rag, and pushing right along with
me. My mother was standing in the doorway. Cathy occasionally got in my way of
the mirror to check the baby's heartbeat and I'd  scream at her to "Get out of
the way!!" (I think they all got a laugh out of that though) Everyone was
saying very supportive things that urged me on.

After 45 minutes of pushing, I decided this is it; I'm getting this baby out
NOW! I remember the last contraction so well. Maybe you could call it an out
of body experience. I felt as if I was over the bed watching. I saw myself
push and push and with a final groan, I felt burning as I saw my baby's face
push past my perineum. It was almost over. 

Cathy checked to be certain the umbilical cord was not around the neck and 
then said "Your baby is here, if you want to, reach down here and pull her up
to you."  So, with the next push, I reached for my baby and once the shoulders
were out, I pulled her  up onto my belly.

 "IT'S A GIRL!!!!" We all shouted at the same time. Then I heard her first cry
right along with my own, Fritz's, and my Mother's. This baby was perfect....
healthy and beautiful!

What astonished me was that I did not feel tired and I did not feel pain. AlI
I felt was pure joy and accomplishment. Giving birth naturally, feeling the
power of nature, and being  aware of what was going on with my body was the
most empowering experience of my entire life!

Chelsea Finch
born 11/29/92 @ 4:29pm
7 lbs 14 ozs