After spending a couple of hours at home wondering if I was in labor, My boyfriend and I loaded up our 3yr old, got in the car and drove to the hospital. We arrived at about 10:45pm. We meet my boyfriends mother, and at the time 18 year old daughter on the way into the hospital. By this time the contractions were undeniable, but still very manageable. Upon arriving to labor and delivery I was told they had a full house and would have to meet my labor nurse in triage. I used the triage bathroom, peed in a cup, changed into the usually hospital garb, and immediately realized as I walked out of the triage bathroom that I’d forgotten my birth plan. Even knowing how some nurses and doctors laugh at the thought of following a birth plan, I still felt very vulnerable without, that is until I meet Michele, my nurse. She was a little older, perhaps 53, than the average L&D nurse at Mercy, yet I would say a lot wiser. Her energy was very good when she approached me, and even though she had routine, like most nurses I could tell immediately she was still inflexible.

I told her I forgot my birth plan, and she told me it was okay and to give her a run down. I told her, I didn’t want pain medication at all, even offered. I didn’t want to be continuously monitored and I wanted freedom of movement. I didn’t want to be checked often and I didn’t want an iv. Her reaction was that of excitement because in her own words, “Women hardly ever trust they can do this anymore”. She wanted me to have the natural birth I desired. She even went on to talk about her pregnant daughter and how she hopes she can deliver natural.

She then told me that I had to be monitored for at least 30minutes in triage, but she would cut it down to about 15minutes if she could get good tracings in that amount of time. She agreed to check me once, and then only again if there was a clear reason to do so or if more than 4 or so hours had passed. When she checked me I was 5cm. Once she saw I was five centimeters she stayed to observe me having a contraction and then quickly deduced that I was going to be trouble. She said I handled them very well and that it would be very hard for her to tell what stage I was going through, and that she had a feeling I was going to be the silent type until it was time to push. She thought she might have to catch the baby. She was joking around with me, but serious too, because she felt I wasn’t as vocal as most moms in active labor. Now was the time, in her experience, women were screaming or crying for their epidurals. I was telling her don’t even whisper the word.

The iv, she begged me to compromise on. She said, it was hospital policy and my doctors standing orders to have one. She didn’t want to give me, but ask that I at least get an hep lock. Then she said I could think about it for a while. And left while Rick (my boyfriend) and I talked it over. I really said yes, more because I liked her so much, and knew she really was looking out for me as well.

She didn’t make me stay in triage too long, and so I got up, walked around for a little under an hour..waiting for my room. And when I finally got it, she observed me and asked me how I felt. After a contraction, I told her fine, and then I had an urge to push. I told her and she said: “I told you, you were trouble!” She asked if she could check me, I was 9cm stretching to 10. She just gave me a wink and shook her head at me. If I wasn’t so uncomfortable I may have laughed at that.

Once the doctor came in, I reminded everyone, no directed pushing. And my nurse smiled at me. It was the warmest smile yet. I just loved her hands off, yet nurturing approach. I should note too, that my doctor was awesome. She didn’t hook my back to anything, she didn’t try and give me pitocin for management of the placenta delivery and she didn’t count once. I delivered my baby in a dim light room, with no noise, no beep, beep, beep of some machine. No cheerleading, no direction. My boyfriend whispered a few things in my ear and my wonderful nurse rubbed my arm. It was awesome, and a totally different experience than my other hospital deliveries.

Julia, Thank you for the work you do! Best, Jen

Paula, Thanks for your comment! I would love for moms in your area to be able to ask for you when they come in. What is the name and city of your hospital? Best, Jen