My labor and delivery was completely text book

by Lucky Lady
(Ontario, CA)

My labor and delivery was completely text book. I am the kind of patient doctor’s love to see coming. I was healthy and had an uneventful pregnancy. And when I first went into labor, I didn’t even realize it was labor. Luckily, I had a doctor’s appointment early that afternoon anyway, or I may have waited too long to go to the hospital. What I was feeling only felt like typical menstrual cramps so I shrugged it off as nothing, especially since I wasn’t due for another three weeks.

Once I arrived at the doctors office for my exam, I was informed most positively that not only was I going to have a baby that day but that I was already dilated to 4cm. When he informed me that I should go directly to the hospital, he seemed surprised that I asked if I would have time to run a couple errands first, since I hadn’t planned on being in the hospital that afternoon. (I had my sister-in-law and her cat with me). I was directed, in no uncertain terms, to proceed directly to the Obstetrics floor of the hospital. So I did.

Once I arrived there, they completely bypassed triage and put me into a room. Being forced to lay down for labor is the worst possible thing modern medicine has done to women. Nothing is more uncomfortable or more difficult. Walking and standing is the most helpful and easing thing that can be done. I labored for a few more hours, at which point they broke my water. Once that was done, the pain increased significantly. The most irritating thing about the entire experience was that all the medical providers kept pushing pain medications on me. I refused, but they continued “offering” even after I had said no over and over. I delivered my child approximately 45 minutes after my water was broken. I was in the hospital a total of 3 hours or so before I had my child. Like I said, text book.