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… in 2003
THE CHILDBIRTH EXPERIENCE
... in 2003 Louisa Richards
Having a baby is probably the single most life-changing experience a woman will have, and usually one of the happiest. However, finding out you are pregnant causes a mix of emotions, from sheer delight and excitement, to constant worry and, for some, the utter terror of childbirth. Unfortunately for the pregnant public, most of the labour stories we hear about are the long and painful ones. No wonder most women break into a cold sweat at the thought of giving birth. Most of us are scared of the unknown, and because labour isn’t an exact science – every one is different – nobody knows what their own labour will be like, making it a terrifying prospect. This is such a shame, because if it were not for the pain, childbirth could be the most enjoyable experience of our lives! When I was pregnant, I blocked the birth from my mind. I thought ‘there’s no point thinking about it because every birth is different; there’s no point dwelling on the pain, because whatever happens, it will hurt.’ So I ordered a TENS machine and put the birth to the back of my mind. The midwives considered my labour to be ‘normal’. I came in at 10 pm, and by 10 am I had given birth to a healthy boy. Easy! But for me, my labour had started 24 hours previously when my contractions had started. They were so pathetic, however, that I wasn’t even sure they were contractions. They weren’t coming regularly, or getting stronger, and they weren’t very painful either – just twinges that made me take a sharp breath. I decided it was false labour and would probably stop. After 18 hours I rang the hospital and was advised that if it was ‘real’ labour, a bath would bring it on. And it did. As if someone had flipped a switch, the contractions came stronger and the pain hit. By the time I had eaten a sandwich and driven to hospital, I was doubling over with each contraction, unable to talk. People have compared it to period pain, and that is exactly how it felt – just really bad period pain. I felt great though, pleased and relieved I was about to have my baby. My contractions were strong and I was coping really well with the pain. I was then told I was only two centimetres dilated and everything went downhill. Suddenly the fact that I hadn’t slept for 24 hours kicked in. It was midnight, I wanted to sleep, but my contractions didn’t allow it.
Louisa with her son, two hours after the birth.
My husband wired me up to the TENS machine which took our minds off the waiting and the pain. It was the strangest feeling; I could still feel pain but it was different, like a sharp tingle in my back. I was then wired up to a monitor so I could see the contractions coming, to give me time to prepare. More importantly, I could tell when they were going away again! With contractions coming every few minutes, I didn’t have time to think of anything else. They were all-consuming; pain was all I could think about, constantly dreading the next contraction. When will it come? Will it be even worse? How long will it last? How many more will there be? I was uncomfortable, the gas and air made me feel light-headed and sick, and all I wanted to do was sleep. As the contractions got stronger, the TENS machine made less difference and by 3 am I was so tired that I was drifting in and out of sleep between each contraction. Then they started coming back-to-back and not very efficiently, so I requested an epidural and it was the best decision I made all night! I was not keen on the injection in my back, but it was a small price to pay for complete pain relief. I got the shakes, but the pain disappeared and I was able to sleep. Four hours later, I started pushing. As I couldn’t feel anything, it was actually quite an enjoyable, even funny experience! Forty-five minutes later I was handed a beautiful little bundle, and in that instant all the pain was forgotten. The only thing that let me down that night was my lack of sleep. I know it is hard in the final stages of pregnancy, but my advice to others is to keep your sleep topped up every day, just in case!
Louisa Richards has one son. Before giving up work to have her baby, she edited a home interiors magazine.
WOMEN’S HEALTH MEDICINE 2:4
7
© 2005 The Medicine Publishing Company Ltd
... in 2003 Louisa Richards
Having a baby is probably the single most life-changing experience a woman will have, and usually one of the happiest. However, finding out you are pregnant causes a mix of emotions, from sheer delight and excitement, to constant worry and, for some, the utter terror of childbirth. Unfortunately for the pregnant public, most of the labour stories we hear about are the long and painful ones. No wonder most women break into a cold sweat at the thought of giving birth. Most of us are scared of the unknown, and because labour isn’t an exact science – every one is different – nobody knows what their own labour will be like, making it a terrifying prospect. This is such a shame, because if it were not for the pain, childbirth could be the most enjoyable experience of our lives! When I was pregnant, I blocked the birth from my mind. I thought ‘there’s no point thinking about it because every birth is different; there’s no point dwelling on the pain, because whatever happens, it will hurt.’ So I ordered a TENS machine and put the birth to the back of my mind. The midwives considered my labour to be ‘normal’. I came in at 10 pm, and by 10 am I had given birth to a healthy boy. Easy! But for me, my labour had started 24 hours previously when my contractions had started. They were so pathetic, however, that I wasn’t even sure they were contractions. They weren’t coming regularly, or getting stronger, and they weren’t very painful either – just twinges that made me take a sharp breath. I decided it was false labour and would probably stop. After 18 hours I rang the hospital and was advised that if it was ‘real’ labour, a bath would bring it on. And it did. As if someone had flipped a switch, the contractions came stronger and the pain hit. By the time I had eaten a sandwich and driven to hospital, I was doubling over with each contraction, unable to talk. People have compared it to period pain, and that is exactly how it felt – just really bad period pain. I felt great though, pleased and relieved I was about to have my baby. My contractions were strong and I was coping really well with the pain. I was then told I was only two centimetres dilated and everything went downhill. Suddenly the fact that I hadn’t slept for 24 hours kicked in. It was midnight, I wanted to sleep, but my contractions didn’t allow it.
Louisa with her son, two hours after the birth.
My husband wired me up to the TENS machine which took our minds off the waiting and the pain. It was the strangest feeling; I could still feel pain but it was different, like a sharp tingle in my back. I was then wired up to a monitor so I could see the contractions coming, to give me time to prepare. More importantly, I could tell when they were going away again! With contractions coming every few minutes, I didn’t have time to think of anything else. They were all-consuming; pain was all I could think about, constantly dreading the next contraction. When will it come? Will it be even worse? How long will it last? How many more will there be? I was uncomfortable, the gas and air made me feel light-headed and sick, and all I wanted to do was sleep. As the contractions got stronger, the TENS machine made less difference and by 3 am I was so tired that I was drifting in and out of sleep between each contraction. Then they started coming back-to-back and not very efficiently, so I requested an epidural and it was the best decision I made all night! I was not keen on the injection in my back, but it was a small price to pay for complete pain relief. I got the shakes, but the pain disappeared and I was able to sleep. Four hours later, I started pushing. As I couldn’t feel anything, it was actually quite an enjoyable, even funny experience! Forty-five minutes later I was handed a beautiful little bundle, and in that instant all the pain was forgotten. The only thing that let me down that night was my lack of sleep. I know it is hard in the final stages of pregnancy, but my advice to others is to keep your sleep topped up every day, just in case!
Louisa Richards has one son. Before giving up work to have her baby, she edited a home interiors magazine.
WOMEN’S HEALTH MEDICINE 2:4
7
© 2005 The Medicine Publishing Company Ltd