The Final Push : My Birthing Story

Jan 14
NabanitaDhar

The Final Push: My Birthing Story

My Water Broke

 

I had just published a post titled Meet the Greatest Man I Know—something deeply meaningful to me—when it happened. It was almost like a champagne cork popping, and I instantly knew the floodgates had opened. My water had broken, and our little one was on her way, a full two weeks early! Here’s my birthing story.

 

A Feeling Deep Down

 

That entire day, I’d felt unusually uncomfortable. Somewhere deep down, I sensed it might be my last working day before maternity leave. So, on a hunch, I packed up everything from my desk and brought it home. Strange, I know, but looking back, I think I somehow knew.

 

When I realized what had happened, I gently woke up S. For a brief moment, we just stood there, taking in the enormity of what was about to unfold. It felt like life slowed down for a split second. But then reality snapped back, and it was time to act. I called my OB/GYN, and she advised us to head straight to the hospital. It was time.

 

Nervous Moments and Last-Minute Forgetfulness

 

We loaded the car, the hospital bags carefully packed, but then S realized he might’ve forgotten to lock our front door. Back upstairs he went, only to come down realizing he’d also forgotten his belt. These were classic signs of nerves, and who could blame him? I reassured him, telling him to take his time. It was close to midnight, so traffic was light, and we’d make it to the hospital quickly. And we did.

 

The Hospital Admission: A Whole New Kind of Discomfort

 

As I was admitted and shown to my room, I couldn’t help but feel embarrassed and uncomfortable. Amniotic fluid was everywhere—leaving a trail wherever I went. Trust me, it’s anything but pleasant. And it was only the beginning of what I’d soon realize was the true experience of childbirth.

 

The First Contraction: Just the Beginning

 

On the way to the hospital, I felt my first contraction. It was manageable, and I momentarily wondered what all the fuss was about. But then I reminded myself, “This is just the beginning.”

 

Contractions must have been designed by someone with a grudge against women! #Childbirth Share on X

 

Once at the hospital, I was started on an IV, and it didn’t take long for me to understand why contractions were so dreaded. At first, there’s a gap between them, just enough to catch your breath. But soon, they hit without mercy. Breathing, talking, sleeping—everything becomes difficult with contractions. Every. Single. Thing.

 

Begging for Relief

 

Before this day, I’d never given much thought to birthing techniques or pain management. I just assumed I’d go with the flow. But as the pain increased, I found myself begging the nurse to help me. When my OB/GYN arrived, I practically pleaded with her. After hours of agony, they finally agreed to give me an epidural.

 

Not enough dilation means no epidural, which means no relief from pain. #Childbirth #BirthingStory Share on X

 

It was almost a tease. They wouldn’t administer the epidural until I was sufficiently dilated, so I had to keep enduring the pain. Finally, after nearly seven hours of pleading, they gave me the first dose.

 

Epidural: Not the Miracle I Hoped For

 

Did it work? Barely. Maybe it eased the pain for 15 minutes, but it was fleeting. By the second dose, I was in so much agony I could hardly think. I even begged for a C-section, but my doctor was determined to help me deliver naturally. She wanted to wait until I was fully dilated, and each time she checked, she’d say, “Just a little longer.”

 

Dilation progresses at the speed of a tortoise. #Childbirth #BirthingStory Share on X

 

The Final Stages: A Test of Strength

 

After hours of unbearable contractions, I finally reached the point where a normal delivery was possible. I found myself surrounded by nurses and doctors, each giving different instructions—“Breathe!” “Push!” “Hold steady!” It was overwhelming, and no breathing technique could make it easier.

 

It felt as if someone was pressing my abdomen with all their might while the pain kept surging. I wanted to give up. But then they said the baby’s heartbeat was dropping, and she was in distress too. That gave me the final push I needed.

 

The Final Push

 

With what little strength I had left, I gave it everything. The pain was excruciating, but as I managed that last push, the agony finally disappeared. Suddenly, the room felt quiet and calm. I was exhausted beyond words, but then I felt her—the warmth of my baby girl placed gently on me. The haze cleared just enough to hear, “It’s a Girl.”

 

If I had to describe childbirth in one word, it would be exhausting. Truly, profoundly exhausting.

 

Would I Go Through It Again?

 

Well, the jury’s still out on that one. But No!

 

To all the moms out there, I’d love to hear your stories. And dads, I’m sure you have a story to tell too.

 

 Birthing Story, Pregnancy, Labour

 

58 thoughts on “The Final Push : My Birthing Story”

  1. I think it's safe to say you've put off anyone planning to have a kid 😉 Having said that, I agree with the pain. It's like nothing you've ever experienced and is unbelievable in intensity. I wonder how they did it before hospitals. Those women deserve a medal and a shrine! But M makes it all worthwhile, right?

  3. Oh Man! You made me re-live my story. The feeling of relief as soon as the baby is out is just miraculous. Just as they show in movies…one moment you want to scream your lungs out and the next you have such a joyous and instant release with the words "Its a girl"

    Mine was something like that too and with the same words – Its a girl!

  5. Oh. The joy of motherhood can be seen on your face in that first photo, Naba. 🙂 Congratulations. When do we get to meet the li'l angel?

  8. You made me rewind my delivery experience. Congrats Nabanita 🙂 After delivery, there is only one thing in my mind – 'It's a boy' and nothing else.
    I too had epidural, pain reduced for 2 hours or so, but dilation didnt happen for long time and contractions were not strong enough and me, dead tired to push. So, had to undergo forceps delivery and the stitches, deep cut due to forceps made me suffer long time after delivery (3 months). Delivered second son by C section and it was smooth and i could enjoy happy moments with child immediately after delivery.

  11. Ok, this was as true as it gets and I agree with Shailaja that you have frightened any woman planning to have a baby. 😉 For me, the pain was intense. The water broke the first time around but beyond a point I wasn't dilating. It was already evening and I was exhausted and in terrible pain. That is when they decided to do C-section, gave me epidural which magically took the pain away. I was almost unconscious by then. I had endured so much pain and the nurse kept offering epidural and I kept refusing, Imagine! But finally they did the surgery and had the baby out in 15 minutes! 😀

  13. Oh my! This certainly brought back memories, not necessarily warm and fuzzy ones. Childbirth hurts like hell, no doubt about it. You described it so well. I could remember it all so clearly even though it's been 20 years.

    We lost our first daughter tragically due to her being in the wrong position and the doctor using forceps that caused her to die from a hemorrhage at 6 days old. No warning that anything was wrong either. She just died in her sleep. Devastating! I still think about her 24 years later and wonder about what might have been.

    I was a nervous wreck the next time around and didn't want an epidural in case it had contributed to needing the forceps. I had a TENS device which didn't help all that much, just numbed the pain but when my son came through, I felt every darn bit of it and howled in pain. I know why they call it the ring of fire!

    By the next son, I was calmer since it had all gone okay the previous time so I opted for that epidural which was great.

    Women are amazingly strong and resilient how we can do childbirth and keep doing it. Not sure men would do as well if it was them giving birth. It might help with the overpopulation problem!

  14. All Mommies deserve a medal, no two-ways about that! I went into my own flash-back scenes. I had an equally harrowing, maybe a worse time, what with being admitted twice for false labor pains and succeeding only the third time around, I spent five days of severe pains, yet not enough to be the 'real'ones! Uff! Congrats to you and your hubby!

  15. Congratulations! God bless you all! That photo speaks volumes about the joy you hold in your arms.

    I relate to your situation. I took the sabbatical 3 weeks early and had a restless week without work. Finally ended up playing literati on PC for three hours as I was restless, with a disturbed sleep to be woken at the early hours with an urge to use bathroom where the flow refused to stop and I made an emergency entry at the hospital and ending up with a baby 3 hours later.

    I don't remember the intensity of Pain but, the instance I held my baby is still fresh.

  17. A very honest, no mincing of words or feeling post from new mommy! Hats off to all the mother's in the world for bearing it all…Wow! Phew!

  19. Nabanita, you made me remember my first delivery. The only difference: my husband was out of the country at that time. Everything else remains almost the same. Just that I almost gave up when they finally helped me have a forceps delivery. But all in all, I don't regret having gone through it twice. The girls make it all worthwhile.:-)

  20. Ouch! So painful.. but good that you had a normal delivery. I had to have c-sections as I had no labour pains even after my baby was close to 10 months inside me. Doctors tried a a lot to induce pain, but no.. nada. It was worse than getting labour pains. So, lucky you for going through the process.

  23. Loved your honest post, Nabanita! It's true what they say about the pain…your memory of the pain is fresh as it was only yesterday. I re-lived mine too through your story and yet, having gone through it, I would still say that its every bit worth it when you have that tiny bundle of joy in your arms! The thrill of being a mother outweighs everything else. 🙂

  26. I m shitting my pants reading this 🙁 I may or may not b mentally prepared if and when the day comes
    Anyway hearty congrats to u both

  29. Oh my intention was not to put off anyone 🙂 Just wanted to talk about the pain, the experts and yes women do deserve a medal for going through this..

  39. AhhI wanted to take the baby out by going for a c-section when the pain was so so bad but thankfully my doctor chose to wait.. 🙂

  41. Oh Cathy, I'm so sorry about what happened with your first daughter… You are right, women are really strong & resilient to go through childbirth… I don't think men can bear so much pain

  42. Oh God! That must have been awful, Kala, the pain & that too 5 days of severe pains & not even the real one!

  46. Oh Rekha sometimes it's surprising how much strength we women have that we go through it and somehow remember it sans the pain 🙂

  47. Oh Lata, i have heard c-section is also very, very painful…the pain is something we just have to bear in both 🙂

  51. Thanks Afshan..I won't say it will be easy but I'll say this, we women have the strength to bear such terrible pain..somehow we just do 🙂

  54. Congratulations on your bundle of joy! Men are not even a patch on women. Incidentally, you made it read like a thriller!

  55. You told this so well, Naba. Someday, M will read this and appreciate all you went through to birth her. I'm sure she's worth every single bit of pain.

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