Vegan Birth Stories

Please read our collection of birth stories. If you'd like to submit your own, please submit your story here. Vegan or vegetarian birth stories are welcome.

Carrington

My story begins with one stubborn little girl. My daughter was in breech presentation my entire pregnancy. At 35 weeks I began to contract on a regular basis. I was in and out of the hospital a few times with shots of terbutaline to stop the contractions. I was put on bed rest by my doctor and given a referral to see the high risk OB doctor. I had a great visit and got a video recording of the ultrasound. The doctor tried turning her a little bit to see if she would resist or not. She seemed willing to play along. I was sent home on bed rest for another 2 weeks until I was 38 weeks and full term. What a long and boring 2 weeks. I've never been so tired of TV or lying down!

Finally I hit 37 and 6/7 weeks and was back at the high risk doctor's office. He told me he would turn her tonight and send me home, turn her the next day, or wait until Monday. I called my OB doctor and since he wanted to induce me after the turning we scheduled it for 4 p.m. the next day (Friday). I got to the hospital on Friday and was nervous and excited to meet my daughter in just a short time. Since there is a risk to turning babies that you may need an emergency c-section, I was given an epidural immediately. All the doctors arrived and I was loaded up on medicine. I've never had anything more painful than having her turned. The doctor only tries 3 times, then it's an automatic c-section. She wasn't as willing to turn today. My parents were praying in the corner and my boyfriend didn't leave my side. On the third and final try, she decided to turn around. I was so happy! I later found out she had a 3 minute decel (drop in her heart rate). That really freaked me out. She perked right up though. The epidural didn't wear off for about 4 hours and it really freaked me out. I had such a massive dose that I was crying and was thinking that I'd never feel my legs again.

My doctor examined me and I was 1 centimeter dilated. I labored all night without much pain or the medicine. The next day I was exhausted and hungry. The doctor broke my water at about 11 a.m. and I did 2 and 1/2 hours of hard labor with contractions every minute apart. He checked me and I was only 2 centimeters. I asked for the epidural to be turned back on to take some of the pain away. I really didn't want the epidural, but I am so glad I had it. I slept for the next 2 hours and it felt so good! I woke up and told my nurse that I had pressure in my bottom. She checked me and I was fully dilated and ready to go! She couldn't believe it! Another nurse checked me and agreed. No one could believe that I progressed that quickly on my first baby. The doctor was called and I began to push at 4:15 p.m. I felt every time I needed to push even with the epidural. I pushed for 30 minutes and at 4:45 p.m. Carrington Sophia Tedford-Donahue was born. I did have to have an episiotomy. Her daddy, grandma and great-grama were all there when she made her grand entrance. She was put on my chest and I couldn't believe that I'd really done it. She was beautiful! Daddy cut the cord and was walking on air. She is such a good baby. She hardly cries and only gets up 2 or 3 times a night to nurse. She is just beautiful and I thank God every day for her!

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