The Birth Story
Thursday Night
I was having contractions every seven minutes, and I was SO tired of being pregnant, so I decided to go to the hospital to be checked. I called my kind friend Amy, whom my children adore, and she came over to stay with the kids while Az the Husband and I drove to the hospital.
It was a long, boring wait to have my dilation checked (only 2 cm – no change), the baby monitored, and my blood pressure checked and double-checked. Finally they told me to go home. The contractions had stopped and I was definitely not in labor.
I don’t like asking people for help, so when I did and it turned out to be a false alarm, I felt even stupider. Amy was very nice about it, but I felt dopey. I was DETERMINED that I would not go back to the hospital unless I was absolutely, positively in labor.
Friday Night
About 5 pm, contractions started again. They were again 7 minutes apart. They were stronger than the previous night. I waited. After almost two hours, I called Az and told him he needed to come home. I called my doctor and told him I was having labor pains, and asked if I should come in.
“Wait until the contractions are 5 minutes apart or less,” he said. “Or they will probably just send you home again. Or you can come in if they are so painful that you just can’t take it.”
Well. I had decided I would try for a natural birth this time, though I was not promising myself anything. I reserved the right to get that epidural at the last minute if I felt like it. So I kept my eye on the clock, and I waited.
Az came home and put the kids to bed while I showered. He called Amy to warn her we might be needing her again later that night. I sat in front of the computer and watched Eureka on hulu.com, half-moaning, half-singing through the contractions. Practice whatever breathing you like; nothing focuses my breath control like trying to maintain a tone.
Az sat next to me to watch the show with me. “Can I be by myself?” I asked. He did not leave. A contraction hit. “WOULD YOU JUST GO,” I said. He went downstairs.
Az decided to get some sleep while I waited out the contractions. This decision had my wholehearted approval.
At 11 pm, the contractions finally came closer. Within 10 minutes, they had ramped up to every three minutes. I called the doctor to say I was coming. I called Amy and she came over. I woke Az.
And that’s when they started to get REALLY painful. Once I was in the car with Az, I could not bear to sit through a contraction. My back hurt abominably. I tried to push myself up on my fists during the contractions. I was desperately grateful for the breaks between contractions.
We got to the hospital. Because it was after 10 pm, we had to be buzzed in by security. “I’m in labor,” I barked as unemotionally as I could. “Let me in.” They buzzed us in.
The hospital is under construction, so despite having had three previous babies here, it is easy to get lost. The first elevator we got on was shut off. We stood there for a while, then tried another.
I was moan-singing every three minutes. We made it to the ninth floor where maternity triage is. Despite the fact that I was “pre-registered,” they still made me sit down and sign forms and answer questions – the exact same forms and questions I had done the night before. I said I was in labor. The nurse told me to move around or do whatever I needed to during the contractions.
A hard contraction hit, and I felt like an alien was trying to bore its way out my back. I stood in the hallway, moaning. No singing now – just howling. I walked and howled and shouted OH GOD, which may have been a prayer, but if so, one on a much more elemental level than I have ever prayed before.
In mid-howl, my water broke in the hallway.
The nurses sped up a little then. One held a form while I scrawled an illegible signature in four places, and another brought out a wheelchair.
“Do you want to walk or ride the chair?” she asked.
“How far is it?”
“It’s a hike,” she said, apologetically.
A contraction hit and I howled. “The chair,” she said.
She sped me down the hallways to the delivery room while Az followed, carrying my bag. I entered the room and another nurse asked me if I wanted an epidural.
At that point I had been in labor for five hours. I did not think I could do another five hours without pain relief. “If it’s not too late, ” I said.
They tried to help me into bed. “Let me wait until between contractions,” I said. The alien was still trying to eat its way through my tailbone. The contraction let up and I climbed into bed.
“The baby is RIGHT THERE,” one nurse called out. Everyone rushed around the room, getting equipment. “No time for that epidural, hon,” she said. “You just need to push.”
The rest is a little blurry. I had worn my glasses so I could watch the delivery in the carefully-positioned mirror, but in the new room there was no mirror, and I was in much too much pain to want to watch anything. Someone said, “The baby is breech. You need to push anyway.”
I screamed, I pushed, I howled. Twice I shouted, “I can’t!” Everyone said, “You can!” Az said, “You almost have!” He held my hand.
It was a three-minute delivery, start to finish. She came out butt first, and Az said the doctor reached his hand in to ease her hips out. There was no time to turn this baby. If I had arrived at the hospital a few hours earlier, they would have delivered her by c-section. As it was, it was sudden, intense pain and effort, but there were no complications, and I needed only one tiny stitch when it was over.
The nurses put the sticky, goopy baby on my chest and began to towel her off. All the staff had rather dazed expressions on their faces. “We don’t deliver babies breech anymore,” one nurse confessed. “This was a first for me.” They all looked very relieved. Several of them commented on how “controlled” I was. Since I felt that I had behaved like a raving lunatic, I was flattered by this. “Oh no,” one nurse said. “Women who go through what you did are usually so loud you can hear them throughout the hospital.”
The nurses cleaned and vaccinated and warmed the baby. I was shaking violently from all the adrenaline, so I asked Az to hold the baby until I felt in control of my limbs. He cradled and adored her, walking around the room for almost thirty minutes, while I gradually settled down enough to hold my new, fair-haired, 9 lb 4 oz girl.
The pediatrician saw her today and says she must have been in breech position for a while, because both her hips are dislocated. This happens sometimes to babies who spend time in the womb with their rumps facing south. There may be lengthy physical therapy in her future, but for now we are happy just to have our girl, safe and sound.
And I am very happy not to be pregnant anymore.
suburbancorrespondent
Don’t you feel light as a feather?
And breech! Congrats! That’s amazing! So glad things went right.
Karen
wow, congratulations to all of you – including the stunned nurses! Sounds like you were amazing.
What an amazing story, I hope you are all recovering well.
Mrs Lemon
Wow! You are amazing. Congratulations!
JulieC
Wow! Just WOW! Not only did you have a drug-free birth, but it was a drug-free BREECH birth! Wow! Great story! I love that you dazed the staff. Way to go! Congratulations again!
Elle
Awe–just sheer awe. Welcome newest member to the toddled dredge legacy.
Kimberly
Well, they do say that “frank breech” is the way to do it….once the bottom comes out, the rest slides out.
My dad was frank breech, my sister was frank breech, each of my paternal cousins has had a breech kid, my son was a transverse/footling breech, dang him. C-section for me.
But all those breech babies in my family are just fine. We will pray for your little tyke!
So happy for you to be finished with this pregnancy!
Leslie
OH, my stars! No wonder your back hurt so badly!! I’m so glad there weren’t any serious complications.
Congratulations!!
Sherri E.
Congratulations. I am SO pleased for you! And good for you for flouting (even if unintentionally) the breech-must-be-sectioned medical dogma.
Melanie
I bow to the woman who has any baby naturally, much less a 9 lb., breech baby. Many prayers for the months ahead as you chase 4!
jolyn
You are only the second woman I knew who delivered a breech baby naturally. The other breech baby is now a 28-year-old woman hoping to soon start her own family. You are an amazing, strong woman, and your baby will be strong, too, and just fine, physical therapy or no. Many congratulations.
Leann
Woman, you are a warrior…
bea
I was interrupted halfway through this post – just as the contractions went to three minutes apart. And as I put my kids to bed I found myself wondering how the story would turn out. I always expect DRAMA from a birth story, but (I thought) maybe yours would be an exception: go to hospital, have baby. Then I came back and read the ending. BREECH! My stars, lady. That is one heck of a birth story. (And how did you doctor miss it?)
Katrina (Callapidder Days)
Oh my. I’m sitting here next to my husband, squirming because I can almost feel your pain (very vivid post!), and he’s asking me what’s wrong with me.
Fantastic birth story, and fantastic job on your part!
Alison
That is amazing. So glad she is here with you at last.
Steph
I am so happy for you and your family! Congrats on your beautiful baby girl, so glad all turned out well, you deserve a medal!
ivymae
PastormacsAnn
Oh. my. word! Wow! and Ouch!
Glad it’s over and she’s here and your’re both safe!
Congrats! You’re amazing.
Dawn
Congratulations! Welcome sweet baby girl!
Beth at I Should Be Folding Laundry
Veronica,
Congratulations on your newest blessing. The labor sounds so intense, I’m so grateful all is well. Enjoy this time, as we all know, it goes so fast.
With Love,
Beth
Jamie
Congrats, Veronica, Az and girls! So happy to hear that mother and daughter are doing well — and a heck of a lot more comfortable now.
Connie Arnold
Wow, thanks for sharing the story of the birth! That was amazing and what a blessing to safely have that dear little girl in that way. Congratulations!
Tonggu Momma
Breech and nine pounds plus change… with no drugs… you, my dear, are an Amazon. Congratulations!
chaotic joy
Tears. WHY DO I HAVE TEARS? I’m just a sap for delivery stories. Congratulations. You did a wonderful job.
Becky
Many blessings and prayers as you celebrate the birth of your new little sweetie. September 6th is a great birthday. My “baby” daughter turned 24 today. Congratulations to all of you!
chickadee
what a birth story! congratulations! i know you’re so happy it’s done. (and so well done).
lyrl
So happy to hear your youngest is here! Congratulations to your family.
And thank you for sharing the birth story – I’m also a sap for them. What an amazing experience.
Carrie of Ceaseless Praises
Wow- you are the WOMAN!
That’s great that you were able to deliver vaginally and not have a C! And only one stitch-that’s pretty amazing. Congratulations!!! 
Jeana
Wow. Just…wow.
The Diaper Diaries
Besides the breech that is so similar to my second child it is freaky. I also used to be a pediatric PT and am still paying off the loans to prove it
Your daughter should love PT. We just come and play and they don’t even know they are working. Huge Congrats!! You are amazing 
Minnesotamom
9 lbs 4 oz breach!!! You go, Veronica! Hats off to you!
andrea_jennine
Congratulations!
Kelly @ Love Well
I love it. What a raw, intense birth story. You should be proud of yourself, Veronica. That’s a huge accomplishment.
And now she’s here — and you’re not pregnant. Welcome little one.
P.S. I haven’t been able to guess her name from your clues. Are you going to share?
Rocks In My Dryer
Seriously? A drug-free, breech delivery of a nine-pound baby? I hope they gave you a medal!
Lovely story, and I’m dying to hear the name. Will you tell us? Or is it secret? Congratulations!
seven
Wow, crazy! Congratulations… and yeah, are you going to tell us her name?
carrien (she laughs at the days)
OH wow, that is amazing.
Your first drug free labor and it was a breech presentation!!!?? that is amazing, and altogether rare in this day and age.
Good for you. You are amazing.
Congratulations on your little one. And if you ever have any more know now that you have in you all the strength you need to deal with a regular labor and delivery. After her it will feel like nothing at all I bet.
Razzler
Wow. You are amazing. Well done! I hope you both recover well. You are in my prayers.
gretchen from lifenut
My goodness! That is quite the intense birth story. I bet you were the talk of L&D.
Congratulations, again. Enjoy your newest little sweetpea.
JanMary, N Ireland
Hugs and prayers for all the family.
Adventures In Babywearing
This got me all teary! I am so excited for you and will be praying her hips are ok. My middle son broke his collar bone when coming out (I know, not the same thing but anyway) and it’s amazing how their little bones heal as newborns.
Steph
Beck
Birth stories always, always make me cry. I am so happy for you that your little – or not so little! Wow! – baby is now HERE.
For a Little Perspective « Life More Abundantly
[...] Ladies, If you want a reason to praise the Lord for your weekend, go over and read about Veronica’s. I know I’m thanking the Lord for laundry this [...]
jennifer tillman
WHAT A WOMAN!!!
Congratulations on your precious new one… and on not being pregnant anymore.
Heather
You are absolutely amazing! I am currently pregnant with my first child, and your labor experience scared the bejeezus out of me. I told your story to my husband and he is amazed as well. He said, “I certainly hope our birthing experience goes more smoothly!” But you know what, now I know that even if it doesn’t, it can be done. You’ve proven that! Congrats and many blessings on your family.
Happy Geek
You are superwoman.
Congratulations on your precious daughter.
Blog Antagonist
I love reading birth stories. Thanks for sharing and congratulations!!
SarahHub @ Oakbriar Farm
Oh, congratulations!
What a story! You are Wonder Woman!
Andrea
A 9 pound breech baby?! You are my hero!
Congrats!
Heidi
You, and baby, are amazing. Congratulations on the birth. YOU DID IT!
Melanie
Congrats! I am so glad that you and the baby are well. Rest up.
Pieces
That is the most astonishing birth story. God bless you and the new babe!
Big Mama
Congratulations! You are officially my new hero. So glad she’s here!
Emily
Wow. Just, wow. I’m so happy for you that you were able to deliver so quickly, and that you didn’t have to have a c-section. Good for the nurses, too, I bet they were a little freaked out to see a baby butt instead of a baby head!
Congratulations on your sweet girl, and do post pictures when you get a chance!
magpie
Happy congratulations to you and a big welcome to her! That is an amazing tale – big breech baby. Glad it went so well.
Sue
**SPEECHLESS**
A natural, breech, epidural free birth. Holy mackerel woman.
Jennifer
You did it! I knew you would. A woman’s body is far more powerful than those doctors give us credit for.
Lisa in Poland
I was almost crying reading about those contractions. My last labor/delivery was so awful. I could totally feel it in my back as I read.
You are amazing. I just followed the link on Sue’s blog and this is the first time I’ve been here, but this is really truly amazing.
Jennifer (Et Tu?)
Wow, WHAT a delivery. Congratulations!!
Robbin
Congratulations!
My mother delivered my brother breech in 1967. He’s the most athletic of the bunch of us, so don’t worry. She’ll end up being the track star of the family.
Expat Mom
Wow. I`m so impressed. I mean, obviously, you had no choice at that point, but still . . . that`s a big baby and to have her breech and only one stitch . . . just wow. My second son was 8 lbs, born the regular way and I had to have 10 stitches. :S
Jane @ What About Mom
Wow. Great story. Congrats on going so natural! Praying for baby girl’s hips to re-locate.
Melissa @ Anxious for Nothing
Wow, awesome job, Mama! Your body knew what it had to do even to get a breech baby out.
Jen @ The Short Years
I ended up having my third too fast for an epidural too. Amazing what we can accomplish when we have to, isn’t it? And you did it with a breech birth, too. Way to go! And congratulations on the baby.
edj
That is sooo awesome! I love this story! Congrats to all
nicole
congratulations! Praise God! You and your baby girl are so strong.
Melissa
You are amazing!!!!!!! I am all for the completely numb spinal block c-section combo with a little hint of morphine. Right now you rate right up there with She-Ra. Congrats! And physical therapy is a breeze I would totally not worry about it and enjoy your little loose-hipped newborn!
Melanie @ Beanpaste
Just, wow. Wow. You must be so proud. Best wishes and God bless you all.
My Mother and the Military
[...] weekend my darling fourth daughter was born (you can read about the drama of the birth here), and my mother drove up from her Texas home to help me for awhile. Her visit has reminded me of [...]
canadacole
You go warrior woman! I was nodding along, remembering my own labours, when BREECH! Yikes! As much as I admired you before, this is just AWEsome. Congrats on your sweet addition and on doing it so well.
Sarah at themommylogues
Holy cats! You will win all the birthing stories, hands down. So glad everyone’s ok.
Casey
Congratulations! I love reading birth stories, and yours was a great one.
Alpha DogMa
YOWZER! Good job!
What a story. I read it with bated breath.
sarah
GO YOU! That’s so awesome…and now you’re recovery time is going to be so much faster and easier. I hope that the little one is alright.
Zina
WOW. And congratulations. And WOW.
Aubrey T.
Wow!! Congrats!! I’m a (young) doctor who does deliveries and I’ve also never seen a breech delivery. And with such a big baby, too. I hope you, the little one, and the rest of the family are doing well.
Shalee
Blessings on you and your entire family! What a fantastic tale to tell.
Karen
AMEN! God surely is good – he gave you what you wanted – a natural birth! And a healthy baby to boot! Thanks for sharing your story – it brought tears to my eyes.
Heather
Congrats on your new baby!! And I too have been there done that except our baby wasnt breach, the adrenaline is something else huh!
poppy fields
Congratulations!!!
I just read this at work and I am trying not to cry in front of my colleagues…what an incredible story. Much love to you and your newest daughter,
Meredith
angela michelle
Oh congratulations! ( I guess I haven’t stopped by for a while.) Congratulations on avoiding that c-section, and on the wonderful goopy baby, and for DOING it!
Mrs. Smoochy
AHHH! THAT IS SOOOO COOL!!! I am so freaking excited and happy for you. Congratulations on your undoubtedly beautiful baby. And holy cow! That is one heck of a way to go natural! She was breech! WOW!
Natasha Becoming Something
Wow. How DID the doctor miss that?
I’m glad you only needed one tiny stitch. Amazing. But I’m sad to hear about her hips. Is that painful for her? I hope she doesn’t need therapy.
Congratulations. I’m envious. I love those first few days. But I can’t keep experiencing them FOREVER because they go away and then you have kids who WHIIIINE and FIIIIGHT. And I have as much of that as I can handle.
Mozi Esme's Mommy
Wow! Congratulations! You did amazing, and such a big girl, and everything turned out well! I love your account of the experience. Hope you are feeling better and baby is all settled in . . .
Kelly
Wowee. Sorry this congrat is late, but I was busy having a baby of my own.
A breech . .. . wow, you go girl! I am in awe! Congrats, again!
Chantelle
I have been a bit out of the blog world myself lately, but just popped back in and wanted to say CONGRATULATIONS!
Aimee
This great story was passed to me by a potential doula client just today. The timing couldn’t be better as another client is currently awaiting arrival of her frank breech baby, which she plans to deliver “the old fashioned way” too, and I know she will be inspired by your story. I’ve attended a small handful of these deliveries over the years, and they’ve all gone smoothly. I have to say I could not be more impressed at all you did without a doula –really quite on your own. I hope the resevoir of strength you tapped into is a delight to you and I know it will serve you well for all the days of your life. Congratulations. I’m so happy to hear of another woman who’s discovered her power!