Experiencing labour pain is perhaps the toughest part of the entire pregnancy for most mums. It’s the ultimate test of patience as you endure extreme pain to bring your baby into this world. However, it requires extreme strength and presence of mind to remain calm and take the right decision when you are in labour.
That’s what exactly happened with this 18-year-old mum.
The young, single mum battled through intense labour pains to deliver her first baby–at home.
Sharing her story with theAsianparent, the mum said that while she didn’t plan on giving birth alone at home, the circumstances forced her to have an early delivery.
The Mum Didn’t Realise The Duration Of Stages Of Her Labour
Image courtesy: File photo
She was originally due for delivery on April 30, 2014, but the baby decided to come 20 days earlier on April 10.
Describing her childbirth journey, the mum said that her labour started the day before she was to give birth. But she didn’t realise that her water broke that morning because it felt like pee to her. The entire day she didn’t feel any contractions.
However, she started experiencing some pain in her back and also muscle tightening around her abdomen by the evening. Her torso and the pelvic area also began to hurt. She felt as if she was about to have her period, but there was no blood.
It didn’t take long for her to realise that she was in labour. Luckily, few of her friends advised her on the natural ways to ease the pain such as squats and some breathing exercises.
These did help, but being a medical student herself, she decided to time her contractions as well, so that she wouldn’t have to rush to the hospital too early.
Dilated by just 4cm
However, the mum still decided to go to the hospital to check on the status of the baby. She wanted to know how the little one was doing before her delivery.
She says that she asked her mum to wake her dad up at around 1 am to head to the hospital.
Knowing that his daughter was in labour he hurried to her room. But the teen mum assured him that there was no need to rush and he could get ready and come. By this time, her contractions started getting closer and painful.
The dad got his daughter to the emergency room prepared with all the baby’s stuff and the maternity bag, just in case she needed to be admitted. When she entered the ER, one of the doctors–after an internal examination–found that she was around 4 cm dilated.
Ideally, the cervix is fully dilated at about 10 cm.
Returned Home As She Didn’t Want To Wait At The Hospital
At 4 cm dilated, the mum knew there was still some time left for her delivery. She wanted to go home because she didn’t have the confidence of walking around the hospital with labour pains.
So she signed a waiver stating the hospital was not liable in any case of unforeseen events while she was on her way back home. Her dad asked her why she came home and noted, “You might give birth at home.”
But she assured him that there was still time and she could go to the hospital around 6 am. As she was walking towards her home, she felt her contractions get more intense. When her mum opened the door, she went straight to the bed and lied down for a while.
“I could feel the baby’s head”
One at home, the teen mum first felt like peeing and then wanted to defecate as well. She couldn’t use force it out and tried to use her fingers to get it out. After cleaning herself with water and soap, she could feel the head already.
Her mum in the meantime shouted for help from her neighbours but it was 2:00 am. Her mum asked her to get ready in order to head to the hospital. But the latter refused because she could feel her baby’s head and she knew that if she stood up, it could just fall off the ground.
How The Delivery Happened
Image courtesy: File photo
On hearing the cries for help, few people came forward, including her aunt who was a nurse but not in practice. The ambulance arrived and the driver asked her to push as the head was coming out.
The baby arrived in the next push.
She had to be taken back to the hospital, where they cut the baby’s umbilical cord and stitched her up.
The mum also shared that she felt something in between her legs when getting out of the hospital. It was her placenta. Obviously, her decision of going home upset all the nurses and doctors. The ER staff took her to the delivery room, and she had to wait for another hour for the midwife to stitch her up.
Although, it was all well in the end, this teen mum wanted to share her story to inspire other first-time to not be afraid of enduring labour and take the right precautions.
She says, “At the end of it all, it will feel worth it when you hear the first cries of your baby.”
While we are happy that this mum had a safe delivery, we cannot help but notice that she also took a big risk by not following the instructions of her doctor.
All expecting mums are required to take the guidance of a hospital to properly monitor the baby and prepare of delivery. The first few steps in doing so successfully is knowing the duration of the stages of labour.
Duration Of Stages Of Labour
Image courtesy: File photo
For your better understanding, here are the three main stages of labour.
First stage: In this stage, contractions make your cervix gradually dilate. During the initial stage, when the contractions are not strong, it’s a good idea to have something to eat. You will need the energy as labour progresses.
Doctors also recommend a warm bath, massage and breathing exercises to ease the pain during this stage of labour.
Second stage: The fully dilated cervix marks the second stage of labour. It stays that way until the birth of your baby. Your midwife will help you find a comfortable position, which can help you to give birth.
For instance, if you want to sit, lie on your side, stand, kneel, or squat. This requires hard work but don’t worry, your midwife and birth partner will be there to support you.
Third stage: This is the stage when your baby is born and your womb contracts and the placenta comes out. After the placenta has come away from your womb, your midwife will pull the cord. It’s attached to the placenta and the midwife will pull the placenta out through your vagina.
It mostly happens within 30 minutes of your baby being born.
This article was republished from theAsianparent Philippines with permission.
Source: NHS
ALSO READ:
Pain Relief During Labour: Best Ways To Manage Labour Pain
Simply Holding Hands Can Help Ease Labour Pain, Suggests Study