Birth Story of Mason Jude

On May 28 I was one day shy of 39 weeks. I went to the chiropractor and he informed me that the baby was in the best position to be born and that if I was in labor and needed adjusting he'd come to the hospital-any time of day or night- to help me out. (I really, really wish I would have not only remembered but been brave enough to take him up on that offer!) After that I immediately headed to my OB appointment-and he also informed me that the baby's positioning was 'perfect'.
The next morning, Saturday the 30th, I was awakened at around 5 AM with contractions. I had been sleeping on the couch the last few nights because the hourly trek up and down the stairs to the bathroom had been killing my hips. I tried to fall back to sleep but was too anxious/excited for that. I headed upstairs at about 7 because I just had to let Eric know something might be happening- and of course about that time the contractions disappeared.
I went about my normal Saturday, taking time for a couple short hour-long naps. I eagerly offered to mow the field hoping it'd get the contractions started back up, and it did the trick. They weren't at all regular but around 6 PM I asked my sister to come stay the night 'just in case'. By 9 or so I knew these were the real thing-unfortunately the baby was posterior and even from the beginning I couldn't relax through the horrible back pain this caused. By the time Jennifer showed up- at 10 or 11 I think?- I was more than ready to be at the hospital, because comparing the pain I was in this time compared to with Kolby I had to at the very least be dilated to a 7.
The nurse at the hospital was amazing. She knew I wanted a natural birth and was willing to go along with whatever I wanted. I signed a form stating I didn't want any monitoring and agreed to be checked for dilation. Imagine my surprise when I was only at a 5. I got hooked up to the IV for Strep B and finally around 1 AM or so I was able to head to the tub. I was able to relax a little bit, but it was too warm so was probably only in there an hour. I asked to be checked again around 3 AM and was at a 6-7. I told Eric I'd give it until 4 AM and if there wasn't anything happening I was getting the epidural. We were both exhausted by this point and a bit disappointed that labor wasn't going as fast as it had the last time!
I climbed back into the tub and this time it did the trick. I was able to relax almost completely and around 5 AM I was told I was almost fully dilated. This woke us up and we began to look forward to the birth, sure there'd only be a half hour or so left.
The only position I found bearable to handle the contractions was floating flat on my back bracing the bottom of the tub with my feet. This put me into a predicament when transition hit and I needed to throw up. That was probably one of the most painful things ever- having to sit up during a contraction. I headed back into the room where the nurse was busily setting up the equipment. And there I stayed-dilated to a 9.5. Once out of the tub I couldn't find any position to make the pain of the contractions bearable, let alone relax through them. The nurse said I could try push past the lip of the cervix but I was too tired and in too much pain to give more than a half-hearted attempt. During this time there was a shift change and the baby's heartbeat was checked for the first time.
At around 7:30 AM I gave in and asked for Stadol which took effect immediately. (At this time they also gave another dose of the Strep B antibiotic since 8 hours had passed.) Eric and I both instantly fell asleep for a solid 20 minutes. From then until the baby was born things were a blur to me because of the after effects of the Stadol and the agonizing pain. (I sound like a wimp, don't I?:)) I know I asked to have what was left of my water broke, and then finally, finally, the baby turned and I got the urge to push and was given the go-ahead. After a couple pushes, the baby was born at 9:10 AM and I announced to the room that I had had another boy. Mason Jude was born May 30th, 2010 weighing 7lbs 11oz and 20" long.
The OB was insistent about immediate skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding, especially because I was declining the PIT that's routinely given after birth.
It was amazing how the pain immediately disappeared and how quickly I felt like myself again. This was my first epidural-free birth and, even with the pain, it's the way I hope to birth any future babies. It was so nice to be up walking around right away! Mason was also my first baby that didn't need the NICU and it felt good to head home the very next morning.