[Deb]

Dear Deb,

I sent a general announcement but just wanted to follow up with a few yoga-
relevant details on the birth. It went great! As you recall, I'm sure, I was
2-3 cm and 70% effaced before I felt active contractions. I had cramping all
day Monday but then by about 7:30pm they were clearly contractions at about 20
minutes apart. By 9pm they were 10 minutes, and so we called everyone. My
contractions were really disorganized, like I'd stand up and walk around and
they'd come every 6 minutes, but if I sat on the ball they'd remain between 9
and 13 or so. So once Deborah arrived, I started walking to get things going
and we ended up going to the hospital at about 1am. They kept me in triage
FOREVER (like an hour) and finally admitted me at 2am. I was 6cm by that
point.

The best thing about having a doula was that going through each contraction
was really about the present, just doing one at a time, and she kept me
supported through each one. My husband held up my arms alot for support, and
rubbed my lower back. It felt better to stand partially frankly, than sit on
the ball, and definitely the bed. I used ALOT of things that I practiced in
your yoga class -- I even imaged myself sitting in yoga class betweent the
contractions somettimes, to get peaceful. In between, I tried to remain calm
and not afraid and anticipate, which I had also practiced in class,
remembering it was temporary.

Anyway, when the doctor arrived at about 2:30, he offered to break my waters,
and at that point I went through some panicking. I was vomiting and shaking
even though I was still at 6cm, and doubting I could get through without the
epidural. I guess I was scared of the waters breaking, making the labor more
intense. But by the time he came back in at 3am to check on the waters
decision, I was already at 8 cm. So I just powered through and frankly, it
was just marginally more painful then than at 6, I think because I calmed down
and kept my mind peaceful. I was pretty determined. The other really hard
part came at about 4, when he told me to start bearing down a bit, as the baby
was still at -1. So then it really hurt AND I had to push into it, and that
made me panicked. Once I was ready to push, I pushed through one contraction
sort of panicky and focused on the pain, and then the doctor and Deborah
helped me to re-empower and sort of remind me it was just about done. The
next contraction, like 5 minutes total, I was done pushing!

It was amazing. I'm really glad I did it without medicine, and I feel much
better afterwards this time. I'm up and cruising around pretty much without
pain this time after 2 days. Anyway, hope that's not too much information,
but I was psyched it went so quickly, and really glad I did so much
preparation in yoga!

Talk to you soon,
Erin