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Reflections on Giving Birth in Holly Mann's Words
Joshua Tyler Mann born January 16, 2005 · 2:38 pm · 6 lbs 13 oz · 19 1/2 inches
I went into labor on January 15th - which was one day past my due date. I started having contractions and I
stayed at home until they were between 3-5 minutes apart. Then I called my sister Melissa - my birth coach -
and she came over and we went to the hospital. I was 3 cms dilated when I first arrived and I tried everything to
move things along. I spent some time in the whirlpool hot tub, I walked all over the place and I also used the
birthing ball. The pain began to increase with each contraction and the next time the nurse checked, I was 4
cms dilated. I was ready for that epidural. After given it, I felt GREAT! I was looking at photos, chatting with the
nurses and joking around.
The next time the staff checked, I was still at 4 cms, so I was given Pitocin to speed up the process. That caused
severely painful contractions - even with the epidural. The machine I was hooked up to for the epidural had a
button that I could press to administer myself more pain medicine whenever needed. It only gives you a certain
amount in a 15 minute time period, but I kept pressing it and pressing it, trying to get more. So, I called the
nurse and asked for them to give me some more - I could feel the contractions and it felt a lot worse than even
before I was given the epidural. So, things were better after I was given more medicine and the next time the
doc checked my cervix, I was a whole 9 cms dilated! I was thrilled to hear the news.
Then, I began to feel extreme pressure and I literally felt the baby moving down more and more. I told my sister
and mom that the baby's coming soon and I'm going to have a short pushing session and he's coming out very,
very soon! So, we called the nurse in and she checked and said he wasn't far down enough. I was shocked, but
decided to just try to relax and wait for my doc to come in and check me again. By this time, I had been in the
hospital for 12 hours (I had arrived around 2 AM on the 16th) and I was exhausted and hungry. I had thrown up
numerous times while there, and my body was drained. Although I continued to feel extreme pressure of the
baby pushing down, I just laid there and drifted off to sleep.
I continued to feel the contractions and I would wake up every time, but I was so relaxed that the rest really
helped me. I also had music playing in the background and that seemed to help the situation even more. The
next thing I knew, the doctor entered to check my cervix and boy did he seem surprised. He said that the baby's
ready - it's time to push and he's coming out VERY soon! I was thrilled to hear it - but I was still afraid of the pain
of pushing him out.
Melissa told me to expect everything to change when it was time to push - and to not be surprised if there were
dozens of people suddenly in the room. Surprisingly, that did not happen. My bed converted and some
equipment was taken out, but my doctor and nurse were the only people in the room still. I listened to what my
doc said, as far as breathing goes and pushing- and it only took 11 pushes in 30 minutes for adorable Joshua
to be born!
The most unbelievable thing is that I did not feel one ounce of pain. Now, two weeks later, I am feeling pain from
it - but I was very fortunate to have not felt it then. Thanks everyone for your prayers - they worked!
Holly Mann- January 28th, 2005
Joshua Tyler Mann born January 16, 2005 · 2:38 pm · 6 lbs 13 oz · 19 1/2 inches
I went into labor on January 15th - which was one day past my due date. I started having contractions and I
stayed at home until they were between 3-5 minutes apart. Then I called my sister Melissa - my birth coach -
and she came over and we went to the hospital. I was 3 cms dilated when I first arrived and I tried everything to
move things along. I spent some time in the whirlpool hot tub, I walked all over the place and I also used the
birthing ball. The pain began to increase with each contraction and the next time the nurse checked, I was 4
cms dilated. I was ready for that epidural. After given it, I felt GREAT! I was looking at photos, chatting with the
nurses and joking around.
The next time the staff checked, I was still at 4 cms, so I was given Pitocin to speed up the process. That caused
severely painful contractions - even with the epidural. The machine I was hooked up to for the epidural had a
button that I could press to administer myself more pain medicine whenever needed. It only gives you a certain
amount in a 15 minute time period, but I kept pressing it and pressing it, trying to get more. So, I called the
nurse and asked for them to give me some more - I could feel the contractions and it felt a lot worse than even
before I was given the epidural. So, things were better after I was given more medicine and the next time the
doc checked my cervix, I was a whole 9 cms dilated! I was thrilled to hear the news.
Then, I began to feel extreme pressure and I literally felt the baby moving down more and more. I told my sister
and mom that the baby's coming soon and I'm going to have a short pushing session and he's coming out very,
very soon! So, we called the nurse in and she checked and said he wasn't far down enough. I was shocked, but
decided to just try to relax and wait for my doc to come in and check me again. By this time, I had been in the
hospital for 12 hours (I had arrived around 2 AM on the 16th) and I was exhausted and hungry. I had thrown up
numerous times while there, and my body was drained. Although I continued to feel extreme pressure of the
baby pushing down, I just laid there and drifted off to sleep.
I continued to feel the contractions and I would wake up every time, but I was so relaxed that the rest really
helped me. I also had music playing in the background and that seemed to help the situation even more. The
next thing I knew, the doctor entered to check my cervix and boy did he seem surprised. He said that the baby's
ready - it's time to push and he's coming out VERY soon! I was thrilled to hear it - but I was still afraid of the pain
of pushing him out.
Melissa told me to expect everything to change when it was time to push - and to not be surprised if there were
dozens of people suddenly in the room. Surprisingly, that did not happen. My bed converted and some
equipment was taken out, but my doctor and nurse were the only people in the room still. I listened to what my
doc said, as far as breathing goes and pushing- and it only took 11 pushes in 30 minutes for adorable Joshua
to be born!
The most unbelievable thing is that I did not feel one ounce of pain. Now, two weeks later, I am feeling pain from
it - but I was very fortunate to have not felt it then. Thanks everyone for your prayers - they worked!
Holly Mann- January 28th, 2005
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