Living the Neie Life: February 2012

Evelyn Grayce Neie

January 10, 2012 @ 9:38 am

7lbs 11oz, 19.5 inches

I don't believe in having induced births. It is unnatural and against nature, interfering with the biological way our bodies are meant to function. However, being overdue by 4 days, I unhappily agreed to go into the hospital and have my baby. I was already dilated 3cm, having plenty of Braxton Hicks contractions, and I knew that within a few days that my baby would arrive on her own. I will always regret my decision to cut short her incubation. That being said, the birth was exciting and fast and a happy time nonetheless. I requested a birthing bar to be attached to the bed since I was unable to wander during labor due to the monitor wrapped around my belly. I absolutely refuse to have an epidural (also an interference with nature) so I needed something to help me through the pain. My contractions were erradic and tolerable, so at 5cm (to "help speed things up" as my OB put it) I allowed my doctor to break my water at 9:19am. HEL-LO LABOR!!! That did the trick and I immediately went into hard labor. Daniel is an amazing Lamaze partner and he helped me breathe through each contraction, never leaving my side, coaching me through. I let go of the bar and chose to labor on all fours in the bed, rocking back and forth. At one point we couldn't hear the heart rate of our little girl, so the doctor had me lay back so he could check everything. I remember saying to Daniel, "Don't make me do this," to which he replied, "You got this." His response was firm and full of confidence, and I knew that I had done this before and could do it again. I lay on my side, gripping the bed rail and focusing on Daniel, breathing. Suddenly I felt it, that familiar burning and I cried out "Ring of fire! Ring of fire!" This received a puzzled look from Daniel and it took him a few moments to comprehend that I meant I felt the baby coming. (the burning sensation around the opening is referred to as the ring of fire. Daniel tells people that I was singing Johnny Cash to help me through labor.) During the 19 minutes I was in hard labor (and it really was only 19 minutes), my mother and husband kept warning the doctor that I deliver quickly. He, like the doctors and staff at my previous two births, did not believe them. So of course when he checked my cervix and said it wasn't time but a couple of minutes later the head crowned, he was not prepared and the nurse caught our precious baby girl as she made her fast entrance into the world at 9:38am. I also don't like the cord cut immediately, as it is still pulsing and pumping blood to the baby. However, Evelyn gave us a little scare and came out blue...not breathing. The doctor told me he had to cut the cord so they could work on her. I said only if Daniel does it, which they allowed. She was quickly placed on the table instead of in my arms and I waited to hear her cry. My mother turned to me and said, "She's getting pink" and I exhaled. Evelyn gasped and moaned and we relaxed. They then laid her in my arms so we could be skin to skin, which was very important to me. What a miracle! I love it, every bit of pregnancy and birthing and babies. I can't wait to do it all again. After all, Ryan needs a little brother. =)