Melanie Renee' Butcher

My son James was born in 1988. I was 36 weeks along when my water broke. I was told that I had "24 hours, one way or the other". After 19 hours of induced labor, I had a c-section. James was sent to the special care nursery where he spent a week.

With my second son, Michael, I was told by the doctor,"you couldn't deliver a 6 pound 6 ounce baby, what makes you think you can deliver a full term baby?" Unfortunately I believed him. After a very long pregnancy with many iatrogenic problems, I had another c-section.

After I had my son, Michael, I became a Doula and a Bradley(R) instructor. When I became pregnant, I knew that what had happened before was NOT going to happen again. Being very much against the medical profession at this point, I went to a midwife for my care. That was one of the best things I could have done. My pregnancy was fantastic.

Then on June 28, the day before my due date, my water broke. This time, however, Leslie told me that something generally happens within 24-72 hours if left alone. The only thing she wanted to check was that the baby's cord hadn't prolapsed. After a 30 minute drive to the office, she confirmed that baby was doing just fine and to go home, eat dinner and go to bed for a good night's sleep. I left the office at 7 pm diliated to 1 cm. I went home, ate, showered and labored beautifully in my bedroom with my sons coming in to check on me frequently.

After notifying my Doula, we left for the hospital at about 9:15 the same night with my sons in tow, they were in the labor room with us. We got there at 10:00pm and went straight up to the labor deck. I was now at an 8 between contractions and a 9 during. I felt invincible. About 20 minutes later I took a deep breath in the middle of a contraction and grunted very loudly. After the contraction ended, I open my eyes and told Leslie that I had to push. "So push", was all she said to me. After a scant 6 minutes of pushing, she told me to put my hands down and I could finish delivering my baby. She guided my hands under my baby's arms and I finished delivering Melanie Renee' Butcher. She was welcomed by her Daddy and big brothers.

I had no medications and no IV. I didn't have an episitomy, but I did tear a little bit, 6 stitches worth. There was a tremendous amount of healing that occured with her birth. I would do it all again in a heartbeat, if we only had a bigger car.

Heide