by Grace Fox

Created on: January 25, 2009

On Friday, September 19th, I woke up just before 7:30 am. As I got up from my bed, I felt a gush, and instantly knew that my water had broken. It wasn't a big gush, and since it was my first pregnancy, I doubted myself. I called my sister, who is also a doula, and she recommended that I call the Birth Center and have them check to see if it was indeed my water that had broken. I called the Birth Center and made an appointment for 8:30 am. I took a shower and prepared myself to go into labor. I was extremely excited and could hardly contain myself! My mom went with me to the appointment, and we were both elated when they confirmed that my water had broken. I was dilated 2 cm, and was instructed to go back home and wait for active labor.

I did have a bit of concern, though, since the Birth Center (in order to keep their doors open) requires you to be in active labor within 24 hours of when your water breaks. This can put a lot of stress on a soon-to-be-mother!

I headed home and called my husband. I told him he didn't need to leave work just yet, but I would call him if I was having regular contractions. Some time passed and I tried to start contractions. I walked, did Bradley exercises like squatting, tailor sitting, and pelvic rocks. Still, my contractions were not coming very strong or very regular. I called my husband and told him that if he could get off, to go ahead and do that so that he could help me through first stage if it ever progressed.

The midwife had instructed me to call at noon to check in and let her know what was going on. I informed her that my contractions came only as I was walking or moving, and stopped as soon as I sat or lay down. She told me to take castor oil, and take it again in two hours if contractions were not strong & regular. After downing the awful stuff twice, I called the midwife at 2:30 that afternoon, and since my contractions still had not started, she gave me the "ok" to start taking Black Cohosh. I took ten drops every two hours for a total of four administrations. Still, not much happened.

But by 7:30 pm, I was actually beginning to see the signs of first stage labor. My contractions were coming a little more regularly and stronger, even when I lay down. As we had been instructed, we prepared to go to the Birth Center and meet with the on-call midwife, who would perform a non-stress test to see exactly how active my labor was becoming. Almost as soon as we started to drive, my contractions stopped, and did not start

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