McKenna M. Maloney

My labor with McKenna was completely different. I woke up at 5:30am on Sunday, February 28, 1999 with cramping and back pressure again – but NOTHING like the intensity I had with Nathan’s labor. I woke up Ken and then I showered. He fixed pancakes for me.

We ate and labored for about an hour and Ken decided we probably wouldn’t make it to church that day. So he took some papers, reports, lesson plans to church. He returned home at 7:30am. While he was gone I sat in a chair with pillows all around me, but it was too uncomfortable. I was much more comfortable lying on the floor. Actually, I hated every contraction when Ken was not with me because I felt alone and scared.

When he came home, he saw I was working pretty hard, so he called my parents to come watch Nathan (age 2) who normally woke up at 8am. I labored on the toilet again, but this time I faced the usual way with pillows behind my back and head. When a contraction came, I would lean back, close my eyes and completely relax my bottom. It was magical the difference in this labor! I loved every minute of it! While on the toilet, my mucous plug exited (messy!), so I didn’t want to move off of the toilet until I had to.

Shortly after my parents arrived, Nathan woke up. In between contractions, I would talk with him and tell him what was happening – our baby would be here soon! He left me in the bathroom and went to the kitchen for breakfast. Ken then suggested that we leave for the hospital. I said “WHY? I’m not nearly as close as you think – it doesn’t hurt at all!” Ken didn’t agree with me, so I said, “Let’s wait for Nathan to eat, then we’ll all go”.

Two contractions later, Ken put my shoes on and told me we are leaving NOW. He said my contractions are lasting 95 seconds and that I was starting to vocalize or grunt at the peak of each one. He said he was the coach and even though I teach this stuff, I needed to listen to him now! I said I was fine, but would go anyway. We kissed Nathan and told him to come as soon as he could. In the car, I could feel my contractions changing and told Ken to drive faster.

We were about ½ mile from the hospital when I had a very painful contraction – it felt like the baby was kicking during the contraction – so I screamed OOUUCCHH! Ken said I was not allowed to scream like that! He encouraged me to talk to the baby and tell the baby what I needed. So I did, and the next contraction wasn’t as bad – but I did whine a little! We pulled into West Paces Ferry Hospital and when I stood up to walk my water broke and I announced I had to push. I was quickly wheeled backed to Labor and Delivery and, when my sweat pants were removed, McKenna was crowning!

She was born in two more pushes! We arrived at West Paces at 10:05am and she was born at 10:11am – six minutes later! (Thank goodness I listened to Ken when he insisted we leave – whew!) She weighed 9 lbs. 14 oz. and was 21½”. My doctor missed the birth! She was not there in time, so the labor-delivery nurse caught McKenna. When my parents brought Nathan at 10:30am, they were shocked that they missed it, too! All during my pregnancy, Nathan was certain that our baby was a girl – his sister. So I had the pleasure of announcing to him that he was right – our baby was a sister.

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