Madeleine Noelle's Birth

Let me first begin with this: I am not one to willingly accept pain, I don't believe anyone is, so an epidural was something I was definitely in favor of. However, as I found out: THEY DON'T ALWAYS WORK!

I was told I was having a normal pregnancy; except for being extremely tired, extremely sick and a lot of back pain. Normal, huh? Well, I couldn't wait for March when the baby was due. I wanted the pregnancy over.

March finally arrives! Her due date was March 25th, according to the ultrasound. According to my menstrual cycle her due date was March 14th. Madeleine arrived on March 14th. I started labor at about 4:30 p.m. on March 13th. I was eating dinner and started to have some cramps as if I was starting my menstrual cycle. I realized they were contractions when they didn't go away and kept getting stronger. Tbey were also becoming more frequent.

I decided to go to the hospital at 3:30 a.m. on March 14th. My contractions were four minutes apart. I was examined and told I was four centimeters dilated. Great! I was then admitted to the hospital. We were took to our room. After a few more contractions I was aware I was in need of an epidural. I had wrote on our birth plan that I wanted an epidural. I was having a terrible backache labor. I was told to try a shower first and maybe some acupuncture. I listened to what I was told, thinking they knew best. I took a shower, and then tried acupuncture. Still no help. I was told to try some nitrous oxide gas and oxygen. All the time I was thinking "Are they going to give me an epidural? I put it on my birth plan and have told them several times already." My spouse reminded them also that I wanted an epidural.

So, I tried the nitrous oxide gas and oxygen. It made me very dizzy and light-headed. It only took the strong edge off, but I was still in massive pain. Also, I was starting to get quite upset with not having an epidural when I was clearly asking for it and had it on my birth plan.

At about nine o'clock a.m. I was given an epidural, and they broke my water. Something wasn't right, I was still feeling the same pain. I explained to them the pain and where it was, etc. Well, my epidural didn't work. I don't know why and wasn't told why when I asked. They couldn't give me another epidural because I was too far dilated. So, I continued with the gas and air while having the epidural to try to receive some pain relief. All the while the contractions became stronger and more intense.

At 3:14 p.m. March 14 Madeleine Noelle was born. Thank God she was out!!! She weighed 7lbs 1oz and was 19 inches long. What a relief.

My suggestion to anybody wishing to have an epidural is to ask, ask, ask and ask questions. Find out everything you can about what they can and can't do. Also, have a back-up plan if your epidural shouldn't work.

I was later told by an attending midwife that nothing is 100 percent, and not to expect an epidural to always work 100 percent. I sure wish I would have known that before labor.

Thanks for reading our story, and I hope it can help you in some way!