Erica, Brian & McKynzie

On Tuesday, February 19th, I went to the chiropractor and was told that it would be best not to work anymore due to back spasms and hip pain.  She also claimed that many women go into labor shortly after leaving work, and since my due date was only a week away, I was excited by the idea of an early labor. So, after a note from Aszani, I had my first (and only) day off on Wednesday.  That night, just before the lunar eclipse, my water broke.  By 11pm , I was starting to have contractions every 8 min.  These continued throughout the night at the same pace.  I didn't even bother to wake Brian, since I knew he would need the rest.  However, I got very little sleep between contractions- I think I was also too excited and nervous.

We went to the birth center in the morning on Thursday.  Since I was not in active labor yet and everything seemed pretty normal, we went back home to continue early labor.  Contractions continued ALL DAY, anywhere from 3-8 minutes apart.  By about 6pm , I was in active labor, and by 9pm I was uncomfortable enough to go back to the birth center.  Anastasia welcomed us in.

Things continued in much the same way all night long.  I had very bad back labor, and it seemed that sitting on the bed and in the rocking chair with heat packs on my back were the only positions that I could handle. I tried getting in the tub for awhile, although I felt little relief. I was constantly amazed by Brian’s love and support, as he rarely stopped rubbing my back and never left my side. At some point I was offered a subcutaneous water block (four injections of saline) in my back.  I was warned that the injections are extremely painful, but that the relief is worth it in the end.  I have never in my life experienced a pain that I can compare this to.  It took both Anastasia and Minta to do the injections (2 needles at a time), and I remember reaching behind me in an attempt to rip the needles back out.  They were right, however, about the amount of relief, so I guess it was worth it.

At about 8am on Friday, I started to push.  I was fully dialated, but still had a lip on my cervix, and the baby was acynclitic (her head was coming out at an angle).  I pushed for 2 hours straight with virtually no response!  At this point, I had not slept in over 48 hours and was so exhausted I could barely push anymore.  So, Anastasia suggested that I take narcotics and a sleep aid and get some rest.  I reluctantly agreed that this would be best.  When I slept, I was positioned in a way that would hopefully help the baby to spin into a better position.

I woke up pushing 2 hours later.  Anastasia checked me, and, to all of our relief, could now see the baby’s hair.  She was definitely on her way out.  I pushed for almost 2 hours again, but this time made progress with each push.  McKynzie came out purple, and was delivered through a loosely wrapped cord.  Her shoulder was stuck behind my pubic bone, so I was quickly turned onto my hands and knees so that her shoulder could be delivered ("the Gaskin Maneuver").  As she lay on my belly, Anastasia and both assistants knelt over us and rubbed her until she regained some color.  She also needed some oxygen to start breathing on her own.  At this point, however, she became active and alert, and started to show signs of her instinct to eat.  She was nursing within 5 minutes of her birth. 

McKynzie was born at 1:57pm on Friday after 20 hours of active labor (and about 44 hours after my water broke and labor began).  She was 9lbs 4oz (no wonder she had a hard time coming out) and 20 inches long.  I had almost no tearing... no stitches at all (which Anastasia said was because I “let” her come down so slowly).  We chose to go home that evening, at about 9:30pm.  Every minute of my labor was agonizing, but every minute was worth it in the end.  McKynzie entered the world in a room filled with love and respect, just the way we had hoped.