Macy Lee Snead
Macy Lee's birth began with the classic pregnancy dread: my water
broke in the grocery store! Just like everyone said it wouldn't do and
that I shouldn't worry about such stuff! Anyway, my husband, in his
infinite husbandly wisdom asked, "Are you sure you didn't pee on
mistake?" and when I said I was sure, he took off running out of the
store and left me standing there with a cart full of groceries!
By the time I got out of the store he had pulled the car around for me
and we went home. This was about 7:00 pm. I wasn't having strong,
painful contractions: they were painless, like Braxton Hicks, although
they were coming regularly, about 10 minutes apart. We decided not to
call the doctor yet because we felt that they would tell us to come
right in, and I really felt that I would rather get some rest first
since I was not uncomfortable. We did call our parents, who totally
freaked out because we hadn't called the doctor, and both sets of
grandparents-to-be set up a vigil to call us every half hour and bug us
(just a note: that's a good natured "bug"!) until we finally caved in
and called the doctor a little bit after 10 pm.
We left our home about 10:30, got to the hospital at around 11:30, the
doctor put me on an external fetal monitor, and after several hours I
still couldn't even feel my contractions, and the doctor concluded that
I was not in labor, and told me to go home. He said that if nothing
happened within the next several hours they would induce labor due to my
water situation. My husband and I, however, noted from the readout on
the monitor that my contractions were very regular, and about 5 minutes
apart by this time, so we were confident that things would move along.
We left the hospital at 3:00am and got home a little before 4 am. I got
into bed at 4:00 and was awakened at 5:00 with a whopper contraction.
(The moral of this story is do what YOU believe is best for you! I
could have been at home asleep and instead I sat up the whole night!)
Anyway, back to my contractions....They were very strong and regular,
still about 5 minutes apart, but I was unable to sleep so I went
downstairs, put on soft music, and meditated, trying to concentrate on
staying calm and relaxed. By about 8am, we left on the hour trek back
to the hospital.
Upon my arrival, they checked me and I was about four centimeters
dilated (I had been 3cm and 100% effaced for the past month). I was
very uncomfortable everywhere except in the bed, so I labored there the
whole time. My husband was wonderful. He stayed by my side the whole
time, mopping my forehead with a cool rag and sneaking me water with my
icechips when the nurses weren't looking! At about 12:30 I began to
feel the urge to push. I was checked again and was at 10cm. I pushed
for an hour and 10 minutes. Macy was born at 1:40pm. Her father cut
the cord. It was the most emotionally overwhelming experience of my
life. Nothing could have prepared me for what I felt when I held her
the first time. I cried uncontrollably, 1/2 laughing because my empty
belly was jiggling so! She was 9 pounds, 4 ounces and 22 inches long.
It was the happiest moment of my life.
I do have to mention that my husband and I took Bradley childbirth
classes and they were by far the best money I ever spent. I chose
Bradley because I knew all along that I wanted a totally unmedicated
birth if at all possible, and the information I learned there gave me
the strength and the knowledge I needed to go through with it and to
decline the drugs and epidural when they were offered.
The only thing I did not care for was that about 10 minutes before she
was born, the doctor gave me a surprise episiotomy, which I DID NOT
want, and I ended up with a painful third degree tear and about 15
stitches. (The moral of this story is make it very VERY clear to your
doctor if there are procedures that you feel very strongly that you do
or do not want!)
That was five years ago. I am now 3 1/2 months pregnant with our
second child. Macy told us that she knows God gave our family another
baby because He heard her praying for one. Wow. She went with her
father and me today and saw the ultrasound of her new baby sister/
brother. She is going to be a wonderful big sister. I'll write when
the baby is born and let you know how it turns out!
Macy's Mommy