When Plans of Natural Childbirth Don't Pan Out

Filed in archive Childbirth on May 15, 2008

When I delivered my first child, I wanted to go through labor medication-free. I was optimistic, confident and convinced that I would be doing my baby good if I opted for as natural a childbirth as possible. I thought, millions of other women were able to do it, why can't I?

It turned out that I had excellent support from the hospital staff, particularly the midwife assigned to me. With their assistance and words of encouragement, I reached full dilation without having needed medication for labor pain relief.

However, things took a wrong turn. The baby's head was in the wrong position, leaning towards his left shoulder rather than chin down, and wouldn't progress through the birth canal. That was the end of my medication-free labor. From that point on, I was given shots for muscular pain, a drip to stop the contractions, an epidural dose, and finally another drip to re-start the contractions. If my baby didn't come out when he did, I would have had to have a Caesarian section.

Was I disappointed when my plans of a natural childbirth were foiled? No. I have my baby, he's healthy and normal, and I made it through. What is there to regret?