Nathan T. Maloney

With Nathan’s pregnancy, I was concerned about getting to the hospital too soon. I wanted to labor at home and be comfortable there for as long as possible. Ken and I discussed ways we could labor at home, and we discussed at what point we should leave for the hospital. Ken and I decided we would not leave for the hospital until I showed late first stage signs (“serious/do not disturb” attitude, showed signs of working hard and had contractions that were around 60 seconds long - we didn’t care how far apart they were – we wanted to focus on the other signposts).

When my labor began, it was 10pm on Wednesday, 11 Dec 1996. We usually went to bed at 10:30pm. So, that is exactly what we did! We didn’t know how long labor would be or even if this was really it. So we went to bed and slept until 2:30am. My contractions woke me up – it felt like a big backache or strong menstrual cramps. Ken took a shower (to wake himself up) and I went to the kitchen to eat something. I didn’t know how long this would be, so I decided to eat to give me energy (something light - bananas and pancakes). By 4:30am I was having painful backpressure with each and every contraction.

Until that point, I would just relax when a contraction occurred and in between contractions I could walk or talk. But now I needed to relax all the time – in between contractions, too. I did some pelvic rocks to get the pressure off my back and we labored for another 30 minutes until Ken realized that early morning traffic would be starting soon. He felt I had begun Late First Stage labor because I was not talking or moving as much (do-not-disturb attitude) and my contractions were lasting 75 seconds, so we left for the hospital at 5:30am and arrived at 6:05am.

I hated the car ride and Ken kept reassuring me we would be there soon. After we got to our room, all I wanted to do was get in the shower and let the hot water run down my back. I still was having painful back labor. So Ken helped me in the shower and he rubbed my back. Every time a contraction occurred, I would lean on him and get him very wet. After a while standing became too uncomfortable, so I sat on the toilet. But because of the need for Ken to rub my lower back with every contraction, I sat facing the back of the toilet. I put a pillow over the toilet tank, and one in front of my chest.

When a contraction came, I would lay on the pillow and have Ken rub my back. This labor position was wonderful, because I felt the need to go to the bathroom at the peak of every other contraction. I liked sitting there because I could completely relax my bottom and not “hold it”. It was now 8am and I was not able to relax on the toilet any longer. So Ken helped me to the bed. I sat up (like I was in a reclining chair) with pillows under my arms and knees.

I don’t remember much more because this was a very confusing time for me. I couldn’t remember if it was day or night or how long we had been at the hospital. I just remember telling Ken that I was all done – and that I was leaving – I couldn’t take anymore contractions! He lovingly reminded me of our goal to have this baby be safe, low risk and healthy, and that all I should do was close my eyes and listen to his voice. He reminded me of our goal of an unmedicated birth so our baby would have the best start! I started to feel shaky and nauseous – these were all Transition signs.

Ken told me I was in transition and that we would work together to make it through. He said, just take one contraction at a time, completely relax every muscle, pretend you’re floating on a raft in a cool pool, breathe deeply and slowly through your mouth, in your mind visualize the baby descending into the birth canal, we will soon be pushing, hang in there, breathe deeply and slowly, let it all go, help this baby by relaxing completely, visualize your strong and healthy uterus massaging our child – preparing for birth.

I did OK for about 30 minutes, and then I began to cry. I leaned up and hugged Ken. I told him I was sorry for not being able to do this, but I needed this to be over. I said, ”I’m shaking so much I can’t relax. Just make me stop shaking!” Ken said he loved me and our child, and admired my amazing strength and commitment. He said I was such a good mother doing all this hard, painful work for the benefit of our child – we knew the hazards of the narcotics in the epidural, so that’s why we prepared as thoroughly as possible and took The Bradley Method® classes. He asked me if I could hang in there for one more contraction. Let’s not abandon our goal of a healthy, unmedicated birth just yet. He gave me some cold water to drink and a cool washcloth for my face. I don’t know how, but we made it through another 30 minutes of Transition labor before I began to feel the urge to push.

The shaking stopped. I felt strong and in control again! I was more alert and remember the clock said it was 9:25am. I chose the squatting pushing position and pushed like that for 45 minutes. Then Nathan’s head was born and I sat back in the bed and pushed two more times. He was born at 10:22am. He weighed 11 lbs. 4 oz and was 23”. Oh boy, was he a big boy! He never fit into any of the newborn size clothes we had; he went directly to the 3 months sizes! I did not have an episiotomy with him; I did tear a little – but that tear healed so much faster than my friends who had been cut!

For more information on The Bradley Method^®, for an international listing of instructors, or to contact the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth^® directly, please contact: The Bradley Method^®, Box 5224, Sherman Oaks, CA 91413-5224 - (800) 4-A-BIRTH or (818) 788-6662 - www.bradleybirth.com