Hey! Before you start, I’m going to be discussing both of my birth stories here, the good and the bad. This might not be a good read for anyone who is squeamish about birth details. Please skip Soren’s birth story if you are sensitive to birth trauma or medical trauma. Soren’s American Birth (Not all the details, but a summary of the big issues for comparison’s sake) Soren was born two years ago, precisely on his due date. Like most first births, his birth was longer and harder than average, because your body has never done it before. Even by those standard’s, Soren’s birth was a lot. I went into labor after a membrane sweep the night before his due date. I got an epidural when I was 3cm dilated, which wound up being quite early, especially considering I wasn’t allowed to eat. I labored for 26 hours (with epidural for 13 of them), and pushed for 3 hours. By the end of labor, Soren’s heart rate was dropping and the birth team began interventions. He was born by vacuum a...
Expat adventures and commentary of an American in Finland