Shia's Birth Story
- Valorie
- Mar 28, 2019
- 3 min read
All week, I had prayed for solace and peace no matter how this story played out. I had hoped I could get into labor on my own, but as I got closer to my due date, the thought of having an induction was not only possible but making more sense. Because I was trying to have a vbac, I was told I couldn't have an induction, however my cervix was just perfect on this day. So I packed up my go-bag, got my labor team together and headed to Henrico Doctor's Hospital.
I was a flurry of emotions and not having a clue what might transpire in the next few hours but I was determined to go with the flow and accept whatever happened.
At around 3 pm, my doctor said she was going to break my water and see what would happen. We were all hoping that breaking my water was just the spark to light the flame...and what a wild fire it was...
Contractions started within 15 minutes. I had never felt my water break before so of course this time I was so glad to have experienced it and the amazing way my body just kicked into action. Labor started out with just simple breathing exercises and I thought I would be scared by how much pain I would be in soon. But I tried to knock each contraction out of the park. My mom, Krissy, and my nurse Sandra all helped me get through each one. After an hour of laboring, I was throwing in the towel. I knew what I was going to be able to handle and I was very close to it, so I asked for an epidural around 5 pm. I was set up for the epidural and the doctor that was supposed to give it me...disappeared .Each contraction was getting stronger with only a minute of rest in between. Labor began to get so excruciating that I was screaming and completely unable to keep my focus and breath. Another hour of the most incredible unfathomable nightmare of pain, I was begging for death and panicking until finally I was given the epidural.
Once the epidural kicked in, my doctor checked me again and I was 8-9 centimeters!! I was shocked and so in awe that I was able to "make it" that far. I could still feel my contractions only that now I could breath and concentrate through them and even start pushing. I had never gotten to this stage of labor, but I was so ready for it. I didn't even care that literally every gross thing happened during the pushing phase. I was in the zone and my sisters and mom helped me power through each round of pushes.
It was so much more exhausting than I ever imagined but after over 2 hours, seeing my baby crowning gave me a surge of energy and determination. He was born at 10:07 pm, I reached down and pulled him to my chest myself, my mom cut the cord, and he barely cried. Everything was so surreal, like a dream. I couldn't keep my eyes off of him, we were both so happy to finally be together. This experience was amazing, I'm so glad my sisters and mom were there to share it with me and now I can say that I've experienced both a c-section AND a vaginal delivery successfully. I am so overwhelmed with happiness and will never forget how lucky and blessed I am.
" I think of what the world could be A vision of the one I see A million dreams is all it's gonna take A million dreams for the world we're gonna make"
Songwriters: Benj Pasek / Justin Paul
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