I hope my birth experience can encourage and motivate other mothers-to-be, that birth is a positive event in most cases.

Let me start by saying that I didn’t worry too much or think about what could go wrong or what terrible things could happen to me during labor and that it hurts terribly. I was actually very relaxed, because I kept thinking, if everyone else can do it, so can I. It was important to me to be informed about the essential information and to get a general idea from other mothers’ stories of what to expect in the delivery room. Most importantly, I felt it was crucial to know what was happening to me during labor itself (stages of labor, contractions, pushing, delivery). It was also very important to me to know when to go to the maternity ward, how to recognize real contractions, and not to go too early. Of course, there were plenty of other useful tips: mucus plug, what to take to the maternity ward, raspberry tea, thanking the midwife, what the partner should do, bottle on the pacifier 🙂 etc…

And of course, because things don’t always go as you imagine, it happened a bit differently for me too. In the evening I couldn’t fall asleep for a long time, as the little one was obviously having some kind of party and was kicking very intensely the whole time. Now it seems to me like she was positioning herself. When I was watching TV until three in the morning and went to the bathroom, I saw that my mucus plug had come out—slightly bloody, brownish-colored mucous substance. And of course I was totally chill, thinking this doesn’t mean anything yet, it could mean I’ll give birth in two hours or in fourteen days. The body is just starting to prepare. And of course I lay back down on the couch and watched some more TV, and then went to read some birth stories online. Then I had to go to the bathroom again. When I stood up, I felt a few drops leak out. And of course I thought again, this still doesn’t mean anything. But at least I went to prepare my bag, because of course I didn’t have it ready yet, since I wasn’t going to give birth early anyway. I prepare the bag, take a shower, then lie back down on the couch, and when I get up again, a few more drops. Well, it slowly dawned on me that this might actually be it. And I go to the bedroom around half past four in the morning, lie down next to my partner, who asks me how I am, and I say I think something is happening. Then I lie in bed and feel mild menstrual cramps. When I get up again to go to the bathroom, quite a bit of water leaks out. So I knew we’d have to go to the maternity ward. My hopes of breathing through contractions at home, when they’d be five minutes apart and so intense I couldn’t talk anymore, were buried. Oh well, I had a good meal, my partner went to shave, and we calmly got ready and headed to the maternity ward. Here we go to give birth.

At 6 a.m. I was received by two friendly nurses. Together we filled out the paperwork, they examined me, one of them said I was 2 cm dilated. Then I settled nicely into the delivery room. 6. Slowly the pain in the form of menstrual cramps began to increase, but nothing terribly scary. Around seven I was taken over by an older midwife. A woman with 25 years of experience, kind and understanding. Honestly, lying on my side the whole time suited me best. I didn’t feel like getting off the bed at all. My body was shaking throughout the entire labor, like a leaf on water. When the midwife examined me, she gave me encouraging words, saying I was 3 cm dilated and that the baby was positioned perfectly, already very low, and that it would go quickly. At that moment, encouraging words that this labor would go quickly really suited me, as everything looked good. When around nine I started to feel quite a bit of pain, the midwife came to check on me again and asked if I wanted something for pain relief. I said I knew the options, but I hadn’t really thought about what I’d want, because I thought I’d give birth over the weekend when nothing would be available. Then she kindly suggested: everything looks great with you, take the epidural, because the anesthesiologist is available, you’ll give birth much more easily and quickly. I said my partner and I would talk about it and let her know. Then a few more strong contractions followed. And of course, if they offer you something to reduce pain during contractions, you don’t think too much and you take it :). Who wants to torture themselves. Well, then the anesthesiologist came and inserted everything nicely and said she’d come back in about an hour. It turned out there was no need, because I was already so far along by then. The epidural really took away the pain, so the contractions were very bearable. I then breathed through contractions for about an hour. Soon after, the pushing urge began. And so my voice changed too. The exhale was deeper and the feeling was like you need to push to have a bowel movement. You can really feel yourself opening up. Associations like: you’re opening like a flower, etc., went through my head. 🙂 . The midwife had the door ajar and when she heard I was already pushing, she came to encourage me, saying I was doing great. Another midwife came in and said ooh you’re already very far along, which motivated me again. The doctor also came in to ask if he could bring a student for the actual birth. The doctor also remarked that I was doing great and that from what he could see, I’d give birth in an hour. I of course agreed to the student. I could talk normally between contractions. But the whole time I didn’t think we were already that far along and that the baby would be here soon. The pain was bearable. When the pushing was that far along, the midwife said I should move from my side to the birthing position. Then we breathed through one push like that, then she said: let’s go five more pushes back on your side, after five we’ll give birth. And that’s how it was. During delivery another midwife came to help me, on the other side my partner held on heroically, and with six or seven pushes the baby was out. The delivery looked just like we practiced at the birth workshops, for which I’m very grateful. Because I had the epidural, I could save my strength for pushing, which really means a lot. When the little one was out, they placed her on me and my first words were : oh how beautiful she is…

And so my partner and I received a priceless treasure, for which we are grateful to all the good fairies, that she is healthy and that she came into the world so quickly and without complications.

Maybe one more thing at the end:

• A positive approach and focus on the end goal—your little one—should be motivation for all of you, that birth is just the beginning of a rich, colorful, and never boring life story.

Photo – random photograph from personal collection