My Childbirth Experience!

Moms, I want to share with you my first pregnancy and childbirth experience.  I am a mother of five girls. Two by birth, and three by adoption. Pregnancy was a fear that I grew up with, and it stayed with me throughout my growing up years and first pregnancy.

It is very hard to describe a person’s fear to others, but one thing for sure, it is a feeling of uncertainty. So, I would like to share my thoughts and experiences with you.  I welcome your thoughts and feedback in hopes that it will help inspire someone out there that is having those same feelings.

I cannot tell you where the fear came from, but I can say, “It was genuine, and it was terrifying”. I grew up in a large family. Five girls and three boys.  So, pregnancy and having babies were nothing new to me, as my siblings were all older and had experienced the pregnancy stages.

Ladies, you know how we can be as women, we are protectors by nature, and we do not like sharing our painful or unpleasant experiences with others. Childbirth is a natural part of life. It is a painful process that cannot be avoided. Childbirth is something that every life that enters into this world will come through an act of childbirth.  So, Women, we are blessed to be the one that have been given that charge.  Yet, I think every woman will experience a hint of fear, yet we don’t share that with other women.  Why do you think that is so?

Well, At the age of 23, I was faced pregnancy, and the fear of having a baby.  I was excited about the possibility of bringing this little bundle of joy into the world and in my life. I was fortunate to be married, and shared this enthusiasm with my husband. Yet, the pregnancy fear itself, I had to carry that burden alone. I had no clue of how it all would happen.  My thoughts were flying all over the place, “How could a big baby come out of little ole me?”, Then, other thoughts came through my mind. Suppose I am alone when I go into labor?  Suppose, suppose, suppose???  Then fear set in, and later it turned into worry. We know that if fear is not dealt with, it can turn into depression.

So, I decided to read books and talk with every mom I came in contact with.  None of these moms wanted to discuss their pain. They told me about their desire for different foods, swelling in their legs. outburst of tears, and difficult nights of sleep, but no one said, “Let me share with you about my delivery nightmare.  So, I was convinced that this might not be so bad after all, and maybe it would be a piece of cake.

As my body got bigger in my 7th and 8th months, I began to experience all the different symptoms these moms had shared with me. It was helpful knowing that these moms had already experienced what I was going through. So, I kept telling myself, if they could do this, so could I.  So, in the midst of my discomfort, I kept focusing on the little bundle of joy ahead. Amazingly, I think what got me through this was the relationship I had developed with these three moms who knew I was pregnant and needed their support. They became my lifeline.

I thought I was prepared, but later realized that I wasn’t. It was a frightening and painful experience. I was in labor for 22 hours, and I screamed until I could not scream anymore. It could have been much worse. My sisters tried to prepare me at the last moment, but, It was too late. I did not know when the labor pains would lighten up. They came one after the other, and more intense.

When we don’t have adequate understanding and knowledge of what childbirth is all about, it can be a terrifying ordeal. This experience taught me the more we know about any given situation, the more we talk about it to others who have had that experience can sometimes make the experience easier to go through. Whether you are suffering from and illness, loneliness, depression, a broken relationship, death of someone special, finding that solace with another person can make all the difference while going through it. So ladies, lets come out of isolation and join the fun in sharing our lives and stories with one another.

My message is to every mom, let’s start talking to one another in a comfortable environment about life experiences.  Whether it is pregnancies, deliveries, childhood fears, or whatever it may be. It is so much easier when we have a good idea of what to expect. Most of all, It can be so helpful to many girls that are becoming moms.  We must continue to pass our experiences down to our children, and grandchildren.

My husband and I were both new at this thing, and any information given at that time helped us tremendously. That is why I have chosen to share my experiences as well as encourage other women to share theirs as well.  It is healing and helpful for the next generation.

I welcome you to join me in this endeavor by joining my team.