Lesson 5: Exercising for a Better Pregnancy & Birth
"Anything I’ve ever done that ultimately was worthwhile…initially scared me to death."~ Betty Bender
introduction
For the average, healthy, low-risk pregnant woman exercise is recommended to maintain healthy weight gain, improve energy levels, help with common pregnancy discomforts and increase stamina in preparation for labor and birth. Exercising appropriately during pregnancy can even lead to a faster recovery postpartum! Sounds pretty awesome, huh?!
Let's learn more about daily exercises we can do during pregnancy to maintain good health, (with the approval of our healthcare provider), as well as specific exercises intended to prepare our bodies for birth and get your baby in the best position possible for an easier delivery.
Finally, and perhaps most exciting, this lesson now features an expert interview with Dr. Libby Trausch, D.P.T., a specialist in pelvic floor health and recovery. Be sure to watch the interview!!!
Let's learn more about daily exercises we can do during pregnancy to maintain good health, (with the approval of our healthcare provider), as well as specific exercises intended to prepare our bodies for birth and get your baby in the best position possible for an easier delivery.
Finally, and perhaps most exciting, this lesson now features an expert interview with Dr. Libby Trausch, D.P.T., a specialist in pelvic floor health and recovery. Be sure to watch the interview!!!
learning goals & focus guide
Right Click to Download & Print This Focus Guide!
After viewing and completing Lesson 5 - "Exercises for Pregnancy and Birth", students will be able to:
- Consider how exercise can help pregnant mamas stay low-risk, increasing their chances for a natural birth with less interventions.
- Identify 2 ways exercise can improve a woman's mental as well as physical health during pregnancy.
- Practice (with provider's approval) the proper techniques for the pelvic tilt, butterfly stretch, and wall squat.
- Evaluate if they feel they are a good candidate for kegel exercises after identifying 2 main indicators that a woman may have a weak pelvic floor in need of strengthening, as well as 2 indicators that a woman may instead need to work on relaxing her pelvic floor.
- Recall one major risk factor if you decide to do perineal massage, and offer 2 suggestions for proper hygiene and a more comfortable experience if performing perineal massage.
~ Practice performing "The Three Sisters" from Spinning Babies, after obtaining their provider's permission to do so.
- Consider how exercise can help pregnant mamas stay low-risk, increasing their chances for a natural birth with less interventions.
- Identify 2 ways exercise can improve a woman's mental as well as physical health during pregnancy.
- Practice (with provider's approval) the proper techniques for the pelvic tilt, butterfly stretch, and wall squat.
- Evaluate if they feel they are a good candidate for kegel exercises after identifying 2 main indicators that a woman may have a weak pelvic floor in need of strengthening, as well as 2 indicators that a woman may instead need to work on relaxing her pelvic floor.
- Recall one major risk factor if you decide to do perineal massage, and offer 2 suggestions for proper hygiene and a more comfortable experience if performing perineal massage.
~ Practice performing "The Three Sisters" from Spinning Babies, after obtaining their provider's permission to do so.
video lesson
The exercises suggested in this video are meant to prepare your body for labor and are considered safe for most healthy, low risk women. However, before starting any exercise regimen be sure to run it past your healthcare provider.
Audio Only:
Visual Aids:
Squatting with the support of a rebozo and partner. *NOTE- HER TOES SHOULD NOT BE POINTED OUT! FEET SHOULD BE PARALLEL! (You may want to begin building your strength with wall squats first!)
"The Three Sisters," From Spinning Babies:
"The Three Sisters" From Spinning Babies are specific exercises designed by Gail Tully of Spinning Babies, a famous pregnancy and birth midwife and advocate. These daily pregnancy exercises are designed to prepare your body for birth and help you be more comfortable during pregnancy. Please read the following links and examine the photos for detailed explanations of each of the Three Sisters Techniques. I recommend you begin doing these along with your daily exercises learned in our class video, (with your provider's permission, of course!).
The Side-Lying Release:
When getting the mother in this position, make sure her neck is aligned with her spine at all times. The PARTNER needs to lift her leg over the side of the bed, not the mother - doing so causes a small release in the pelvic floor!
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The partner presses gently on the hip and keeps the mother from falling. Stay in this position until the mother feels a very slight release in her hip.
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Notice how her top leg lays off the side of the bed.
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This is a slight modification of the side-lying release. The mother puts her arm over her head while the support person presses slightly upward on the rib cage.
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Make sure the neck is aligned straight with the spine!!!
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Rebozo Bicycling:
Lift the belly firmly to give the mother's back a break from holding the baby weight... then the partner starts a slight circling/bicycling motion with their hands.
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Forward Leaning Inversion:
Make sure the chin is tucked towards the chest, even more than in this photo. :)
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As Spinning Babies mentions, the mother only holds this position for 3 breaths before sitting upright to regain her equilibrium.
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resources
Exercises For Pregnancy
Public Health Image Library (PHIL), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
~ "Prepared Childbirth: The Family Way", By Debby Amis and Jeanne Green (Your Purple Book, pages 14-19, Bonus Activities on pages 99-100).
~ "What is the Evidence for Exercise during Pregnancy?", ©2012 Evidence Based Birth®, Blog Post By Rebecca Dekker, PhD, RN, APRN. Linked with permission.
~ I'm a big fan of squatting regularly during pregnancy, but it needs to be done correctly!!! Knees should be stacked or even BEHIND the toes, so that the hamstrings and glutes are engaged instead of the quads, with feet PARALLEL, (not heels in, toes out like most westerners do), and your pelvis centered over your hips. Most westerners squat with knees over toes and heels pointing in with toes pointing out...this can CLOSE the pelvis!!! Check out this article: http://www.motherearthnews.com/natural-health/a-right-and-wrong-way-to-squat-in-birth-zbcz1602.aspx
~ To Kegel or Not to Kegel?!? Read More Here! http://breakingmuscle.com/womens-fitness/stop-doing-kegels-real-pelvic-floor-advice-for-women-and-men
~ "What Is the Evidence for Perineal Massage During Pregnancy to Prevent Tearing?" ~ ScienceandSensibility.org, written by Rebecca Dekker, PhD, RN, APRN, of Evidence Based Birth®. See her related Blog Post: "What is the Evidence for Perineal Massage during Pregnancy to Prevent Tears?" ~ © 2012 Evidence Based Birth®, Blog Post By Rebecca Dekker, PhD, RN, APRN. Linked with permission.
"The Three Sisters" From Spinning Babies - Daily Pregnancy Exercises to Prepare Your Body for Birth & Help You Relax!
~ "What is the Evidence for Exercise during Pregnancy?", ©2012 Evidence Based Birth®, Blog Post By Rebecca Dekker, PhD, RN, APRN. Linked with permission.
~ I'm a big fan of squatting regularly during pregnancy, but it needs to be done correctly!!! Knees should be stacked or even BEHIND the toes, so that the hamstrings and glutes are engaged instead of the quads, with feet PARALLEL, (not heels in, toes out like most westerners do), and your pelvis centered over your hips. Most westerners squat with knees over toes and heels pointing in with toes pointing out...this can CLOSE the pelvis!!! Check out this article: http://www.motherearthnews.com/natural-health/a-right-and-wrong-way-to-squat-in-birth-zbcz1602.aspx
~ To Kegel or Not to Kegel?!? Read More Here! http://breakingmuscle.com/womens-fitness/stop-doing-kegels-real-pelvic-floor-advice-for-women-and-men
~ "What Is the Evidence for Perineal Massage During Pregnancy to Prevent Tearing?" ~ ScienceandSensibility.org, written by Rebecca Dekker, PhD, RN, APRN, of Evidence Based Birth®. See her related Blog Post: "What is the Evidence for Perineal Massage during Pregnancy to Prevent Tears?" ~ © 2012 Evidence Based Birth®, Blog Post By Rebecca Dekker, PhD, RN, APRN. Linked with permission.
"The Three Sisters" From Spinning Babies - Daily Pregnancy Exercises to Prepare Your Body for Birth & Help You Relax!
diving deeper
Want to Dive Deeper? Let's Go!
"Maintaining a Healthy Pelvic Floor for Birth and Postpartum Recovery", Featuring Dr. Libby Trausch, D.P.T.
This is an EXCELLENT Yoga & Daily Exercise Video from Our Friends at Spinning Babies. We HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!!!
"Gail Tully, midwife of Spinning Babies fame, along with Sarah Longacre, international prenatal yoga instructor and birth doula, offer a unique instructional video for comfort in pregnancy now, and flexibility for your upcoming birth. These daily activities begin balancing your pregnant body to make space for baby’s best birth position. You’ll get:
-Daily Activities: A gentle, 35-minute stretch into birth.
-Move Smart: Tips for walking, standing, getting in and out of the car without sparking sciatica, and more!
-Rest Smart - because Gravity works 24/7! Learn and play the flashlight game.
-Forward Leaning Inversion
-Sarah Longacre’s 28-minute Blooma Yoga Flow
Enjoy this amazing video — it’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen! 79 minutes."
-Daily Activities: A gentle, 35-minute stretch into birth.
-Move Smart: Tips for walking, standing, getting in and out of the car without sparking sciatica, and more!
-Rest Smart - because Gravity works 24/7! Learn and play the flashlight game.
-Forward Leaning Inversion
-Sarah Longacre’s 28-minute Blooma Yoga Flow
Enjoy this amazing video — it’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen! 79 minutes."
Web It! Resources from The Family Way®:
Kegel Exercise (page 16)
~ Preventing Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
~ Do the Kegel-the pelvic squeeze
ACOG Guidelines for Exercise (page 17)
~ ACOG Exercise in Pregnancy Pamphlet
~ Exercise in Pregnancy (support from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists)
~ Preventing Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
~ Do the Kegel-the pelvic squeeze
ACOG Guidelines for Exercise (page 17)
~ ACOG Exercise in Pregnancy Pamphlet
~ Exercise in Pregnancy (support from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists)
reflection opportunities
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Student Poll: |
Journal Entry:
Please visit the forum below under "Unit 2: Preparing Your Body And Mind - Exercises For Pregnancy & Birth" to reflect on the following question:
- Identify 2 ways exercise can improve a woman's mental as well as physical health during pregnancy.
- Identify 2 ways exercise can improve a woman's mental as well as physical health during pregnancy.
Please note you must log in to the forum at the beginning of each online session, even after you have already logged into the Class Portal. Click below on "Powerful Mamas Online Student Forums" to access this feature:
Inspiring birth stories!
"My third and final pregnancy sure was an interesting one. From the surprise of expecting, the first time experiencing nausea, knowing for sure it was a girl but being totally wrong, dealing with the emotions of gender disappointment, physically and mentally preparing myself for an all natural birth after two labors with epidurals, and lastly, a stressful third trimester. But nothing in life is simple, right?!
Despite the challenges, I enjoyed the last time being pregnant. I took my own maternity portraits, went to prenatal yoga, and had my sons really involved and interact with my baby bump. I researched and found encouragement on all natural childbirth. It was very important to me to give birth with no interventions this time. I also made sure to visit an amazing chiropractor that specializes in pregnancy and babies, to relieve the discomforts that I never had with my other pregnancies.
In my 37th week I was having tons of prodromal labor and discovered that baby boy was sunny side up (posterior). I had experienced this before, with my 2nd. Normally, I wouldn’t mind a whole lot about his position and whatnot, but my parents were leaving in my 38th week for vacation, and they were supposed to be our labor childcare. We didn’t have backup. We didn’t have other options (or so we thought). With that anxiety and stress, I was also worried about achieving my goal of laboring and delivering a baby with no medical interventions. With his posterior position, that might have really tested my strength, or I would have gone to 42 weeks and ultimately induced per the policy with my midwives’ office.
I had been talking with Mandee, our doula, about my concerns and stress. She understood that I had had a healthy 37 weeker before and knew I was worried about childcare. She gave me great advice on natural ways to attempt labor induction. She also recommended a friend of hers who was great with acupressure techniques to encourage the start of labor. So I contacted her one day and she came to our home that evening. It was a very, very nice massage but unfortunately nothing came of it. I visited my chiropractor again as well as checked out the website spinningbabies.com to find out if I could give him a better chance at turning to an anterior position and hope that would encourage my body to begin real, active labor. Those efforts were successful in turning him, but I did not have my baby before my parents left for vacation. You can imagine the sort of panic I was feeling at this point.
Then something amazing happened. People began to reach out to us. My mother in law offered to watch our boys if I were to go into labor while my parents were gone, and friends did too. Each one was available at different times, but it was a Plan B.
On March 31st I had my 38 week appointment, 11 days before my due date. That morning I found out that I was dilated to 4 cm already. It was nothing new with me. I was 5 cm with my second son before I was in active labor. I asked her if she would strip my membranes. I left still a little stressed and no hope, but also knew that this pregnancy was almost done. Before I knew it, I would have a baby in my arms and I needed to remember that I would never experience all of this again. And he would come when he wanted to.
I enjoyed the rest of the day with my kids. It was a very warm day. After school I told them to grab their bikes because they were going to ride them while I walked. We went exploring around the neighborhood. We went far. Mistakenly it was a little too far, probably. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was a mile. Contractions started again. Of course. But I brushed it off because I was used to it. They always came and went. When we walked in the house we were all sweating and out of breath. I sat down to drink a gallon of water and contractions dwindled.
Shortly later we left for soccer practice. And what do you know, contractions started again. I timed them like always, but not thinking much about it. They stayed through dinner but I thought, “Oh they’ll die off in an hour or so”. But four hours in, I started to wonder if this was the real deal. I was chatting with my doula about whether or not I should go to the hospital. I didn’t want to waste anyone’s time, lose sleep, and feel the disappointment. After we talked with my mother-in-law, we decided to go once she arrived at our house. We brought everything I had packed weeks prior, just in case I would be admitted.
We were sent to triage right away. Apparently at midnight we were the only ones there for Labor and Delivery. I was hooked up to monitors and examined. Steady contractions and 5 cm dilated. What?! I was just 4 that morning! Relief and excitement poured over me as I realized I was finally in active labor. I let my doula and birth photographer know that I was being admitted.
We settled into our birth and postpartum room and I sat on the bed while I was given an antibiotic for Group B Strep. My husband grabbed our bags from the car, our doula and birth photographer arrived, and I changed into my birthing clothes. I got into the Jacuzzi fairly early so I could relax and focus on myself now. Contractions were very mild but I knew they were there. I could tell they were slowly getting stronger. I remembered the relaxation and breathing techniques from prenatal yoga. I chatted with Mandee in the bathroom here and there. My husband at this time was able to come and go. I got out of the Jacuzzi to do various laboring positions – ball, swaying, and squatting. Mandee also gave me an awesome massage that relaxed me even more.
I kept thinking, “This isn’t so bad at all. I can definitely do this”.
After a few hours I progressed to 6 cm and stayed there. This labor wasn’t going as fast as I thought it would. It was stalling. My first took 10 hours and my second took 6 hours. I assumed my third would be even faster. The midwife was mentioning Pitocin. I looked at everyone in the room and said absolutely not. I knew this baby was coming at some point and I did not need Pitocin to make it go faster. I had a Pitocin induced labor with my second, so that was something I did not want to experience again. Knowing my goals and wishes, Mandee asked the midwife if we could walk the hallway first before any decision would be made.
After walking for about an hour I had only progressed a half centimeter. So they broke my water. I lay down with my husband and tried to sleep to gain back some energy, since it was dawn by now. Everyone was exhausted. I’m not sure I slept. Maybe I drifted off a couple times. Breaking my water proved to be just what my body needed because a few contractions after that the pain began and it was quickly getting stronger. I waited a while so everyone else could rest but when I was to the point of beginning to moan through the contractions I became restless and uncomfortable. I woke my husband and doula and asked if we could get up.
We walked the hallway again. It seemed it was every minute I was stopping for a contraction to pass. I was in so much pain by now. I held onto my husband while Mandee was giving me counter pressure on my hips. I did this for as long as I could. It seemed like an hour but it probably wasn’t. After taking another lap around and seeing my room, I told them I couldn’t walk anymore. Once we got back, my bed was raised up so I could lean onto it. During every contraction I tried to squat a little to encourage the little boy to move down. Again, Mandee was counter pressuring while my husband held my hands. It helped somewhat during the pain.
I knew I was in full force transition now and it was ugly. I felt like this wasn’t helping anything move along and I was going to be in this much pain forever. I then got on top of the bed to sort of be on all fours, which is another great laboring and birthing position. That felt like it was even worse. I was crying now. At every contraction I was saying “No, no, no, no, no”. It was very difficult to relax my body and accept the pain. And then the self-doubt came. I told everyone I couldn’t do it anymore. I asked for an epidural. Begged for it. This was the worst pain I’ve ever experienced in my life and it kept coming every minute. By this point I was checked again and I was barely at 7, possibly no progression since the last check! I couldn’t believe it. My midwife said something about the way my cervix was positioned it wasn’t allowing me to open up completely. She suggested I lay on my left side with the peanut ball to see if that would help. I said yes but I knew I wasn’t going to like it.
Within 2-3 contractions I felt something that I’ve never felt before, I had the urge to push. Mandee told me if I wanted to I could push just a little so I did. And to my surprise I felt the baby move down A LOT. The peanut ball was put away and what do you know, I was 10 cm! In a mere 5 minutes or less I went from 7 to complete. I stayed on my left side and inclined the bed a bit. As my midwife was fumbling to put her gloves on I yelled that I had to push. Everyone told me to breathe through the contractions until she was ready. It was extremely difficult to not give in to the urge! She finally got them on and I immediately gave a push. This was such a new sensation for me. I felt like I was using completely different muscles compared to my previous two labors with epidurals. I found it was easier. And apparently I was efficient because my sweet baby boy was out after the second push. He was immediately brought to my chest. I was in complete shock and I remember saying “Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god”. I looked over to my husband, who was crying, and we both had a look of total surprise. I then looked at Mandee who said, “You did it, Keely!”
Yes I did. I finally had my all-natural birth!
We bonded right away with skin to skin and breastfeeding…Our little guy has been an amazing addition to our family and we are so thankful for him! I’m especially grateful because without my little surprise I wouldn’t have had my natural birth and a successful breastfeeding relationship!
Ethan James was born on April 1st, 2015 at 9:08 am, weighing 7 pounds 7 ounces and 19 inches long." ~ Keely J.
Despite the challenges, I enjoyed the last time being pregnant. I took my own maternity portraits, went to prenatal yoga, and had my sons really involved and interact with my baby bump. I researched and found encouragement on all natural childbirth. It was very important to me to give birth with no interventions this time. I also made sure to visit an amazing chiropractor that specializes in pregnancy and babies, to relieve the discomforts that I never had with my other pregnancies.
In my 37th week I was having tons of prodromal labor and discovered that baby boy was sunny side up (posterior). I had experienced this before, with my 2nd. Normally, I wouldn’t mind a whole lot about his position and whatnot, but my parents were leaving in my 38th week for vacation, and they were supposed to be our labor childcare. We didn’t have backup. We didn’t have other options (or so we thought). With that anxiety and stress, I was also worried about achieving my goal of laboring and delivering a baby with no medical interventions. With his posterior position, that might have really tested my strength, or I would have gone to 42 weeks and ultimately induced per the policy with my midwives’ office.
I had been talking with Mandee, our doula, about my concerns and stress. She understood that I had had a healthy 37 weeker before and knew I was worried about childcare. She gave me great advice on natural ways to attempt labor induction. She also recommended a friend of hers who was great with acupressure techniques to encourage the start of labor. So I contacted her one day and she came to our home that evening. It was a very, very nice massage but unfortunately nothing came of it. I visited my chiropractor again as well as checked out the website spinningbabies.com to find out if I could give him a better chance at turning to an anterior position and hope that would encourage my body to begin real, active labor. Those efforts were successful in turning him, but I did not have my baby before my parents left for vacation. You can imagine the sort of panic I was feeling at this point.
Then something amazing happened. People began to reach out to us. My mother in law offered to watch our boys if I were to go into labor while my parents were gone, and friends did too. Each one was available at different times, but it was a Plan B.
On March 31st I had my 38 week appointment, 11 days before my due date. That morning I found out that I was dilated to 4 cm already. It was nothing new with me. I was 5 cm with my second son before I was in active labor. I asked her if she would strip my membranes. I left still a little stressed and no hope, but also knew that this pregnancy was almost done. Before I knew it, I would have a baby in my arms and I needed to remember that I would never experience all of this again. And he would come when he wanted to.
I enjoyed the rest of the day with my kids. It was a very warm day. After school I told them to grab their bikes because they were going to ride them while I walked. We went exploring around the neighborhood. We went far. Mistakenly it was a little too far, probably. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was a mile. Contractions started again. Of course. But I brushed it off because I was used to it. They always came and went. When we walked in the house we were all sweating and out of breath. I sat down to drink a gallon of water and contractions dwindled.
Shortly later we left for soccer practice. And what do you know, contractions started again. I timed them like always, but not thinking much about it. They stayed through dinner but I thought, “Oh they’ll die off in an hour or so”. But four hours in, I started to wonder if this was the real deal. I was chatting with my doula about whether or not I should go to the hospital. I didn’t want to waste anyone’s time, lose sleep, and feel the disappointment. After we talked with my mother-in-law, we decided to go once she arrived at our house. We brought everything I had packed weeks prior, just in case I would be admitted.
We were sent to triage right away. Apparently at midnight we were the only ones there for Labor and Delivery. I was hooked up to monitors and examined. Steady contractions and 5 cm dilated. What?! I was just 4 that morning! Relief and excitement poured over me as I realized I was finally in active labor. I let my doula and birth photographer know that I was being admitted.
We settled into our birth and postpartum room and I sat on the bed while I was given an antibiotic for Group B Strep. My husband grabbed our bags from the car, our doula and birth photographer arrived, and I changed into my birthing clothes. I got into the Jacuzzi fairly early so I could relax and focus on myself now. Contractions were very mild but I knew they were there. I could tell they were slowly getting stronger. I remembered the relaxation and breathing techniques from prenatal yoga. I chatted with Mandee in the bathroom here and there. My husband at this time was able to come and go. I got out of the Jacuzzi to do various laboring positions – ball, swaying, and squatting. Mandee also gave me an awesome massage that relaxed me even more.
I kept thinking, “This isn’t so bad at all. I can definitely do this”.
After a few hours I progressed to 6 cm and stayed there. This labor wasn’t going as fast as I thought it would. It was stalling. My first took 10 hours and my second took 6 hours. I assumed my third would be even faster. The midwife was mentioning Pitocin. I looked at everyone in the room and said absolutely not. I knew this baby was coming at some point and I did not need Pitocin to make it go faster. I had a Pitocin induced labor with my second, so that was something I did not want to experience again. Knowing my goals and wishes, Mandee asked the midwife if we could walk the hallway first before any decision would be made.
After walking for about an hour I had only progressed a half centimeter. So they broke my water. I lay down with my husband and tried to sleep to gain back some energy, since it was dawn by now. Everyone was exhausted. I’m not sure I slept. Maybe I drifted off a couple times. Breaking my water proved to be just what my body needed because a few contractions after that the pain began and it was quickly getting stronger. I waited a while so everyone else could rest but when I was to the point of beginning to moan through the contractions I became restless and uncomfortable. I woke my husband and doula and asked if we could get up.
We walked the hallway again. It seemed it was every minute I was stopping for a contraction to pass. I was in so much pain by now. I held onto my husband while Mandee was giving me counter pressure on my hips. I did this for as long as I could. It seemed like an hour but it probably wasn’t. After taking another lap around and seeing my room, I told them I couldn’t walk anymore. Once we got back, my bed was raised up so I could lean onto it. During every contraction I tried to squat a little to encourage the little boy to move down. Again, Mandee was counter pressuring while my husband held my hands. It helped somewhat during the pain.
I knew I was in full force transition now and it was ugly. I felt like this wasn’t helping anything move along and I was going to be in this much pain forever. I then got on top of the bed to sort of be on all fours, which is another great laboring and birthing position. That felt like it was even worse. I was crying now. At every contraction I was saying “No, no, no, no, no”. It was very difficult to relax my body and accept the pain. And then the self-doubt came. I told everyone I couldn’t do it anymore. I asked for an epidural. Begged for it. This was the worst pain I’ve ever experienced in my life and it kept coming every minute. By this point I was checked again and I was barely at 7, possibly no progression since the last check! I couldn’t believe it. My midwife said something about the way my cervix was positioned it wasn’t allowing me to open up completely. She suggested I lay on my left side with the peanut ball to see if that would help. I said yes but I knew I wasn’t going to like it.
Within 2-3 contractions I felt something that I’ve never felt before, I had the urge to push. Mandee told me if I wanted to I could push just a little so I did. And to my surprise I felt the baby move down A LOT. The peanut ball was put away and what do you know, I was 10 cm! In a mere 5 minutes or less I went from 7 to complete. I stayed on my left side and inclined the bed a bit. As my midwife was fumbling to put her gloves on I yelled that I had to push. Everyone told me to breathe through the contractions until she was ready. It was extremely difficult to not give in to the urge! She finally got them on and I immediately gave a push. This was such a new sensation for me. I felt like I was using completely different muscles compared to my previous two labors with epidurals. I found it was easier. And apparently I was efficient because my sweet baby boy was out after the second push. He was immediately brought to my chest. I was in complete shock and I remember saying “Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god”. I looked over to my husband, who was crying, and we both had a look of total surprise. I then looked at Mandee who said, “You did it, Keely!”
Yes I did. I finally had my all-natural birth!
We bonded right away with skin to skin and breastfeeding…Our little guy has been an amazing addition to our family and we are so thankful for him! I’m especially grateful because without my little surprise I wouldn’t have had my natural birth and a successful breastfeeding relationship!
Ethan James was born on April 1st, 2015 at 9:08 am, weighing 7 pounds 7 ounces and 19 inches long." ~ Keely J.