My water broke at exactly 37 weeks. I was not expecting to go into labor early but I’m glad that I had finished the Push Lab course at that point. I grabbed my journal with all of my notes and scrambled to finish getting my hospital bag ready. When we arrived at the hospital is when my contractions started.
The most challenging part of my labor experience were my contractions, and the waiting. For the first 5 hours of labor, I was only having steady contractions when I was up and moving around. If I sat down, they would slow down considerably. I was exhausted but what got me through this stage of labor were my birth mantras. I knew that each tiring moment was bringing me one step closer to meeting my baby. This helped keep me calm and not try to rush my labor.
The Push Lab helped me in all aspects of my birth experience beginning with education. I had taken free birth courses before but the Push Lab makes it easy and clear on the stages of labor, pain management, and partner support. I went into the hospital to have my baby three weeks before my due date, but I was prepared and knew what to expect. I felt that I had more control over my experience with knowing all of my available options.
Another way that the Push Lab greatly prepared me was by teaching me exactly how to breath through a contraction, and how to properly push. With my first labor, I pushed for five hours! With my second labor and help from the Push Lab, I was able to push properly and efficiently and my baby was out with only a few effective pushes.
I also loved that the Push Lab showed how my partner could be active in my labor and delivery. It was so refreshing having someone there who knew exactly what to do when I needed it during a conteqction.
What surprised me most about my birth was how much of a positive experience it was. This was my second labor and with my first, I had a very traumatic experience which left me with a third degree tear and a lot of depression and mourning over my experience. This time around, I was prepared not only for the physical aspect of labor, but also the mental aspect. The Push Lab taught me how to navigate my labor with being co sinus of my baby and my body. It helped me be in control of my choices.
Meeting my baby for the first time was the best feeling in the world! There is nothing that compares to having g your freshly delivered newborn lay on your chest. I felt so much gratitude and relief for my positive birth experience and that my daughter was healthy. It is true when you go from one to two children, you don’t need to share the love in your heart; the love multiplies.
If any expecting mothers want an empowered experience, my advice is to be well educated for your labor and trust your body. I truly believe that the Push Lab helped change my original experience of a traumatic labor and delivery into the best experience of my life the second time around.