Birth Story: Amber & Romy
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
They say giving birth is like running a marathon,
and I have to agree. I am very proud of myself for what I have accomplished and would do it all over again! I am usually one who does not handle pain or needles well so I was worried I might be in for it. However, my experience was pleasantly and surprisingly the complete opposite of that. Although I was nervous and worried at times during my pregnancy, labor and birth; I look back to a very content, even maybe lucky, birth story.
A big surprise during my pregnancy ultrasound
The first few months of my pregnancy flew by. I was “bumping along” as they say and after reading a variety of old wives’ tales about gender, we were convinced we were having a boy! I was carrying low- check. No morning sickness- check. Not a skin blemish in sight, in fact, my skin was glowing! I was having headaches and I definitely craved salty foods over sweet so we thought it was a sure thing that we were having a son. To our surprise, at our ultrasound, our little one showed us otherwise. We were having a girl!
My traditional approach to birth
My birth plan from the beginning was quite simple: to deliver our baby in a hospital. After taking a birthing class I felt confident that I wanted a straight forward birth. Some might even classify my wishes as a more traditional approach to birth.
Home births, water births, saving my placenta and/or doula support were not for me. I also didn’t want to see what was going on during my birth, because I knew I just couldn’t handle that. I was always open to medical possibilities (pain relief, Cesarean) if we needed to consider them as things progressed because safety was my first and highest priority.
Six months into pregnancy, I was diagnosed with Placenta Previa
Around the 6-month mark during my pregnancy we ran in to a condition called Placenta Previa. Placenta Previa is when the placenta covers a portion of the cervix. I was reassured by my healthcare professionals that Placenta Previa is common and in many cases the placenta will shift prior to labor. As with most pregnancy complications, this meant I had more frequent appointments to monitor the progress of my placenta’s movements and a hospital delivery was recommended as a safety precaution. I was thrilled to get more ultrasound glimpses of my daughter, plus having a guaranteed option for a hospital birth was right in line with my wishes, but I dreaded the thought of my birth ending in a Cesarean! Luckily, we were one of the fortunate cases of Placenta Previa. My placenta shifted just weeks before the delivery allowing for a vaginal birth.
My hospital labor and delivery in OLVG Oost
The best way I can describe the start of labor is feeling like a heavy elevator dropped from my stomach to my uterus. ‘Contractions’ are the medical term for this feeling, but I think a falling elevator really sums it up. It was midnight and even though I tried I could not go back to sleep. I was also not able to sit and relax. My body was telling me I was ready to go to the hospital. As the contractions progressed we headed to the hospital to find I was 3cm dilated.
Hours passed and hospital shifts changed. My doctor approached me informing me it was time to make some decisions. The hours were passing yet I was not dilating further. The conclusion of our conversation was that I opted for pain relief (I needed a break) and I gave my consent to have labor initiated further by having the doctor break my water. The pain relief was a dream, while it lasted...
Counting pushes helped me during the birth of Romy
Within a few hours of the doctor breaking my water the delivery of my baby began. After 45 minutes and 10 pushes (yes I counted, it may sound odd, but it really helped me) we met our Romy. I remember nothing before as I held her for the first time.
The importance of support during my pregnancy
Still today, one of my fondest memories during this time in my life is the support I had throughout my pregnancy. I joined mama groups, read blogs, had friends, family and healthcare professionals support me with the strength, encouragement and acknowledgement I needed to become the strong momma I am today. Two years later, we are so happy to have our healthy and energetic little girl in our lives. We had such an incredible experience this first time and can only hope for the same when we try for a second child!
Story and images provided by Amber van der Sluis.