My experience took place in the delivery room while giving birth to a ten pound baby. I went into labor on New Year's Eve (early morning). I was six centimeters dilated when I reached the hospital, and quickly progressed to eight cm. My labor continued for many hours after I reached eight cm. but without any more dilation after that point. While in labor, I was given an epidural (including several re-doses) and medication to induce my labor, to no avail. After many hours the hospital staff changed shifts and at that time it was discovered by a nurse who came to examine me that my baby was in fetal distress. The staff immediately rushed me to the delivery room, where I thought they were going to perform a C-section, at which time I was informed that they were going to deliver my baby using forceps. The entire delivery was a nightmare from beginning to end.

First, the delivery was being performed by a resident doctor who in my opinion seemed to be more panicked than I was, which frightened me more than I was initially. She was being told what to do by a second doctor who was also very anxious. Secondly, for reasons unknown to me the staff asked my sister, who was in the delivery room with me, to leave. This is when my experience took place. I remember screaming very loudly and being told, "Don't scream, don't scream!" During this time the first doctor was using the forceps pulling on the baby while the other doctor was behind her with his hands on her elbows pulling with her as to be guiding her movements. I have told every one it was so traumatic it was like they were playing tug-of-war. The entire gurney was rocking, I was screaming because my epidural had worn off, and the staff was  definitely  panicking.  Suddenly, things went black for a very short time. 

Then almost immediately I was awake inside what appeared to be a stainless steel or silver tunnel. There was very bright light in the tunnel, it seemed to be yellow light because it was too bright to be white. I was lying on my back with my arms at my side, eyes open, and I appeared to be screaming but I heard absolutely no sound, felt no pain. I was being sucked as If I were inside a vacuum just sliding down this shiny steel cylinder. Although the light I saw was at the end of the tunnel, it was so bright it appeared to light the entire tunnel. I don't know what happened to me, but I was not in the delivery room at that time. I did not hear nor see the doctors/staff, the room I had been in, or anything else I had seen in the delivery room until I returned to a normal state. I have no sense of how long this may have lasted, but when I returned, I was screaming just as I was before my experience. The doctors, delivery room staff, equipment, sounds, everything was all back.

Alicia C ADC 1795OBEThe doctor never mentioned anything about me losing consciousness, and my son was finally born. They did not allow me to see him immediately after delivery, they rushed him to a warmer and began to suction and bag him. They brought him to my room six hours after he was delivered, after I asked for him several times. My first question was, is he alright? and they assured me he was. When they finally brought him to my room he looked like a perfectly huge and healthy baby, but he had a hematoma and bruising on his head from the forceps. As a sad final note, my baby went into full cardiac arrest a day after delivery and was placed on life support, where he remained for two and a half months. Although I'm omitting what took place after this very long situation, I find it very ironic and important to state that after my child stayed in the hospital, comatose for two and a half months, when we finally decided to put him on a no resuscitate order and he was declared legally deceased, I was at the hospital with him, holding him and that same yellow light I saw when I was in labor with him appeared over his body.

Any associated medications or substances with the potential to affect the experience?     Uncertain            The only medications I was aware of, other than having had an epidural, was Pictocin to induce my labor, which was given to me hours before the delivery.

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words? No      

At the time of this experience, was there an associated life threatening event?          Yes     My son was being delivered VERY forcibly with forceps.

What was your level of consciousness and alertness during the experience?           I'm not really sure, it seemed like I was traveling through space. But I was very alert prior to experiencing this.

            Was the experience dream like in any way?   No, not really.

Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?     Yes     I could see myself being sucked or pulled and screaming, but I didn't hear nor feel anything.

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            Sad and afraid.

Did you hear any unusual sounds or noises?           No, which was very weird because prior to experiencing this, there was all kinds of sounds/voices in the delivery room.

LOCATION DESCRIPTION:  Did you recognize any familiar locations or any locations from familiar religious teachings or encounter any locations inhabited by incredible or amazing creatures?    No           

Did you see a light?           Yes     The light was very bright and appeared to be yellow or a very, very white light. It illuminated the entire tunnel like rays of light all around me, and was more concentrated by my feet where I was being sucked.

Did you meet or see any other beings?           No      

Did you experiment while out of the body or in another, altered state? No      

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later?          No      

Did you notice how your 5 senses were working, and if so, how were they different?          Yes     I could only see what appeared to be a very shiny (like silver) or maybe steel tunnel, my body, and light. None of my other senses were working.

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?   Yes     It looked like my body was being sucked through a vacuum, I seemed to be moving pretty fast. I don't remember feeling any movement or pain, I could only see myself moving and screaming.

Did you have a sense of knowing, special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?    No      

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?             Uncertain      I'm not sure because I was inside a tunnel, moving down the tunnel towards a very bright light but I don't think I ever reached the light before I became alert.

Did you become aware of future events?       No      

Were you involved in or aware of a decision regarding your return to the body?       No       Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience that you did not have prior to the experience?   No      

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?   Yes     I felt very strongly that this was some kind of message, like I needed to change my life in some kind of way. I also feel like I was dying while having this experience and delivering my son, and was given another chance to live.

How has the experience affected your relationships? Daily life? Religious practices? Career choices?       I truly believe most things happens for reasons that far surpasses our understanding. I believe there are some things that we will never have an answer for and I'm okay with that, because I know Christ holds all the answers. It has made me more inquisitive about spirituality and more determined than ever before to fulfill my purpose on earth.

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?         Yes     See #22 and #25

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes     I think most were shocked/touched. Some may have thought I was delusional.

What emotions did you experience following your experience?  Peacefulness, spiritual growth, curiosity, very blessed, empowered.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?      The best part happened after it was over, because it has made me a more attentive person in so many areas of my life. I've grown and continue to grow spiritually, and I've learned to take absolutely nothing for granted. The worst part was during my experience because I felt lost/afraid. I didn't know what was happening and that frightened me at the time.

Is there anything else you would like to add concerning the experience?        No

Following the experience, have you had any other events in your life, medications or substances which reproduced any part of the experience?         Uncertain      Two and a half months later, when my son was legally declared deceased, I was holding him and I experienced this feeling of not really being aware of my senses. Although I was holding him, I couldn't feel him and it seemed if though everything was standing still. And as I looked at him I saw that same yellow light I saw when I was in the tunnel two months earlier.

Did the questions asked and information you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?               Yes     I left out more detail about what took place after my experience/delivery of my baby during the time he was hospitalized, leading up to his death because of the time it may take, but I think it plays an important part in my experience.

Please offer any suggestions you may have to improve this questionnaire.    No, I am very thankful for the opportunity to share my experience with OBERF, and as many people as I can.