The day I gave birth is the day I became a labourer.
My birth story for my first-born son was an experience that no one can never prepare you for. I was a full 40 weeks and a couple of days overdue from my EDD, so my OB/GYNAE suggested that I get induced for labour. I had no idea what that meant and what to expect, it was all so terrifying.
It was 5am, the morning of my scheduled date of labour induction I was filled with so much anxiety but kept my calm, driving to the hospital I knew that I would be coming back with an entire human being that would be fully dependant on me and that was a lot. My husband tried making conversation with me to ease my nerves and I was not having it, I am already not a morning person and now this daunting task ahead of me added to the sombre mood. However, I fully trusted in my heavenly father Jehovah God who would take care of everything and give me the strength needed to conquer this day.
Arriving at the hospital having to do so much paperwork with a scrambled brain was also another stressor. Eventually after all of that, we got to the labour ward. I was warmly welcomed and introduced to the nursing staff and taken to my room. It was then when reality struck. I was given a changing gown, asked to change into the gown with my underwear only which was a bit uncomfortable for me. Which was such a minor thing to be uncomfortable about because I was still yet to push an entire human out of vagina, lol.
They put a drip on me and had a belt on my abdomen that had a small machine that monitored my contractions and the child's heartbeat. Everything was still ok, and I was a lot calmer and felt in control of things. Until the Doctor came in and advised that he would be inserting something inside my vagina that would assist with inducing labour that was when I was oh goodness me, there we go! I hated the follow up appointments where he inserted his hand inside my vagina, so I cringed and became very tense. The nursing sister could tell that I was very tense so after the Doctor left, she then gave me small talk woman to woman, haha. She said: "You see today, you are going to be a labourer. You know a labourer works in the field the entire day, sweating, crying and under very excruciating conditions. But at the end of the day, the labourer joyfully reaps what he has sown. So, today you are a labourer, you will be sweating, crying and in excruciating pain. But at the end of it all you will be joyful with your baby in your arms. So, when the doctor says open your legs, you must open your legs".
I immediately became sober minded and relaxed my tense muscles and my anxious spirit. The doctor then came to check how far I have dilated, and he said, "you are still posterior closed" I wondered what that meant. He continued by saying, "we might have to do a c-section". Oh no, I thought. Few hours later, I was having contractions and asked for my epidural which was the most painful injections done down my spinal cord. I was dilating very quickly and before I knew it, I was pushing the baby out with paralysis on my lower extremities and did not even know how to push the baby out without any sensation. But there it was, with just 3 pushes our dear Amari was out. I was in pain, torn vagina that was being sutured, paralysis and just feeling dazed. It is when I held my baby when I knew that I was indeed 'A LABOURER!'
An experience of a lifetime that cannot compare to anything in this world and labouring alongside my husband made it all worthwhile.
Treasure your experience as a labourer mama, it is a once in a lifetime.
With Love
Your OT Boy Mamma Kat
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