Aubrey’s Birth story: “When I used to think about giving birth, my biggest concern wasn’t the pain, but rather, that I would panic. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to cope with the fear and anxiety that I assumed accompanied childbirth. At the suggestion of a friend who successfully had four unmedicated births, my husband and I spent months preparing for our daughter Aubrey’s birth by taking Bradley Method classes, paying attention to nutrition (LOTS of protein!), going to the chiropractor for Webster technique adjustments, and staying active. We are both athletes, and our familiarity with strength training, building stamina for physical events, and the incorporation of yoga and flexibility for all of life’s movement was a foundation of this pregnancy. The Bradley classes taught us that fear was also a choice- and that giving birth, while intense, can be a beautiful and spiritual experience. I am so grateful that we had the opportunity to be educated about our birth choices, exposed to positive birth stories, and encouraged to stay tuned into our bodies during this process. Not only did the classes help us practice managing the physical and mental exertion that we’d be going through, but attending weekly classes gave us the space to consider and share ways we were proud of each other, to check in with each other, and to offer each other support through difficult moments. My pregnancy went smoothly, in large part, I believe, to following the nutritional guidelines from class, staying active, and being diligent about positive affirmations and meditations. I experienced nausea and morning sickness for the first several months of pregnancy, but other than that had no complications and no high blood pressure. In the weeks leading up to my due date, I had had Braxton-Hicks, and took the 3 days before my due date off from work. I know the “due date” is more of a “guess date,” but, after spending 9 months fine tuning my awareness of my body, I sensed that things were starting to change and happen! The morning of October 5th, I woke up to actual contractions. I knew that I didn’t need to be afraid of them- this was the first of many instances during our delivery where, without Bradley classes, I truly believe I would have panicked. I anticipated that, at the first sign of pain, I’d think that something was wrong. However, our classes did such a thorough job preparing us for what to expect in each stage of labor- physically, mentally, and emotionally- that both Andy and I were able to recognize the sign posts and act appropriately rather than emotionally. I enjoyed my early stage of labor, in the bathroom with lights low, breathing and stretching and knowing my body was about to do something powerful, until contractions were 5 minutes apart, and we called the hospital and headed in. By then, it was 6 am and it felt like we were going to work for the day! After checking in at Highland Hospital, we went to triage where both the baby’s and my heart rate were monitored. This was one of the hardest parts of the entire delivery for me, because it required me to stay stationary in the bed for 20 minutes! When I was finally able to move off of the bed, Andy and I utilized many of the positions that we learned in Bradley class- and we did this without too much thinking. Bent over the bed while he massaged and pressed my hips; me hanging from around his neck in a squat; etc. These positions came easily because we had practiced, and were able to direct our focus to my body rather than be distracted by fear. The hospital staff was very supportive of our birth plan preferences, and were impressed by my deep breathing during the peak of each contraction. They offered pain medication and told me it would continue to be an option if I chose. At times, I’d think, “Ok, one more contraction, then I’m going to have to ask for an epidural.” But then the contraction would end, and the in-between time was fine! No pain during that time! In this way, I was able to get through contraction after contraction, one step at a time, without ever taking any drugs. I had denied cervical checks in the weeks leading up, but did get checked at the hospital. I was only 4cm dilated, and the doctors said that if I didn’t dilate soon that I could potentially go back home. I felt that my contractions were getting pretty intense quickly, so I visualized my cervix opening. When I had dilated from 4cm to 5cm in an hour, we were moved to the delivery room (with a tub!) The tub felt great between contractions, but it was hard to maneuver in during contractions. I actually found that sitting on the toilet during contractions was the most comfortable. After about two contractions in the tub, the contractions started to change. Not worse, but a different wave type feeling, and I realized that my body had started pushing! We called the nurse in and they were taking their time because I had not been laboring very long. Andy helped support me in a squat position by the bed, and that’s when I felt something start to come out of me! The doctors had me move onto the bed where I started on all fours. I was fully dilated, but my water hadn’t broken. The doctors said that they would have to break it- but then, on my next contraction, it broke and I moved into the side lying position to push![My Husband] and the staff encouraged me as I pushed to deliver Aubrey, who was immediately placed on me for skin to skin, and then delivered the placenta. I was so overcome with relief that the pain was over, and moved as [my husband] and I looked into each other’s eyes, so full of pride. It was 11 minutes in total of pushing, and I was able to walk around in the room after and enjoy a long awaited Leo’s sub later that day. The doctors told us multiple times that they wished they had filmed the birth so that they could use it to teach people! Once we were in the thick of things, some of the preferences we had on our birth plan didn’t seem as important as I thought they’d be. What was important was, leading up to the delivery, communicating to my doctors my preference that we could have a conversation at each juncture, and showing them that I had worked hard to keep my pregnancy low risk. I felt that this helped in them taking me seriously. I also forget that not everywhere in the U.S. has medical facilities like Rochester, NY. I feel lucky and grateful to live in a city where the hospitals are progressive and already implementing some of the choices that Bradley encourages (like immediate skin to skin and delayed cord cutting). I feel lucky and grateful to have had the resources we did to help us be informed for the past 9 months. I don’t think there is anything more I could have done to prepare. My wish is that more new parents have access to classes like Bradley to empower themselves on the birth journey and strengthen their relationship to each other. When I advocate to my friends and family the benefits of Bradley Class, I tell them that the class helped us understand that the experience of birth would be intense, but that, by preparing mind, body, and spirit, an unmedicated birth was absolutely possible (and absolutely empowering!) I also express that the Bradley course helped my partner and I bond and become closer. The affirmation that I anchored into during labor was “I am safe.” Without the tremendous amount of knowledge imparted to us through our classes, I would not have been able to believe this statement so wholeheartedly through every stage of labor and delivery. When I look at [my husband] now, I see a man who is profoundly proud of his wife, and awed by the feat he witnessed. I see my partner in a new light- the person who was able to advocate for me when I listened to my body, who trusted me over medicine, who remained steady and was solid in his role, who was able to really see me. When I look at Aubrey, I am so proud of the hard work she put forth coming into the world. I am positive that her and I worked together to achieve a beautiful experience for all of us on her birth day.” (Annie, 1st time Mom)
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Fairport March 13th - May 15th, 2024 Wednesday evenings, 7 - 9:30 pm
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