Late and long... Genevieve's natural, fast birth!

MrsP7309

Backstory: On Tuesday, April 16 I went in for my 39 week appointment.  I was 2 cm and 70% effaced.  I also had high blood pressure, swelling, and a headache.  I was sent over to triage for 2 hours for monitoring, but my blood pressure stayed low the whole time at the hospital. I could see contractions on the monitor, but I couldn't feel anything.   Nonetheless, my midwives recommended I start maternity leave that day, and sent me away with orders to take a 24 hour urine sample.  I turned that in the next day, and was told my results would be back the next day (so Thursday).

I woke up at 2:45 AM on Thursday, April 18 (39 weeks, 3 days) feeling a small cramp.  I went to the bathroom and discovered some brown blood on my pantiliner.  Since I'd had a cervical check at my NST, I didn't think too much of it, and tried to go back to bed.  I had a few more cramps though, and as I started to time them, I realized they were coming 7 minutes apart, lasting for about 30-40 seconds.  They didn't feel like the wrapping surges that people had described though... just localized discomfort on the underside of my belly.

Around 4:00, I got in the shower to see if things would keep going or stop.  When the hot water ran low 40 minutes later, the cramps were lasting longer and coming between 5-6 minutes apart.  I got out of the shower and blow dried my hair because I was now about 90% sure I was in labor, and I wanted to have pretty hair when I met my baby.  Yes, I thought of this.  I also did my make-up.  I was pretty calm at this point.

At about 5:00, I went to my living room to walk around.  The walk down the stairs was pretty intense.  When I got downstairs I started timing contractions again on my iPhone app.  They were coming at about 4.5 minutes apart, and were now creating a lot of pressure in my hips, and were radiating down the front of my thighs.  At this point, they were about a minute long.  I had to lean over the sides of the couches and moan "OUT" to get through them.  I decided to wake DH up at 6:00.  I told him I was pretty sure this was the real deal, and I needed his help to get through things, so could he do a few last minute things around the house and help me through contractions?  I told him I'd like to go to the hospital once he was done with the hospital bag.  Contractions had moved down to 4 minutes apart.  I was still half covinced I was somehow fooling the app, though.

Things had gotten pretty painful, and the same coping technique wouldn't work from one surge to another.  DH would squeeze my hips and it would be great, then it would be awful the next contraction.  Counter-pressure?  Yay!  Counter-pressure?  Boo.  DH got through 3 words of an affirmation before I told him to never read me another one again.  We finally got out of the house at about 7:20, apologizing to the dogs about their lack of walk.  The ride to the hospital was awful. I couldn't sit, so I knelt over the passenger seat.  The worst was taking turns during contractions... trying to stay tight so I wouldn't fall into the driver's seat, and stay loose through contractions.  I was doing Hypnobirthing, so we listened to Rainbow Relaxation, and I started screaming in rage when she mentioned "Smooth, easy, comfortable birth."

I literally jumped out of the car when DH parked.  I walked into the hospital and told the concierge I was in labor.  She asked if I wanted a wheelchair, and I told her no since sitting hurt.  A surge hit at this point and I leaned over the chairs and breathed while DH did the talking.  A nurse took me to triage and told me to lie down while she checked me.  She then looked at me in shock and said, "Wow.  You're gone.  You're fully dialated with a lip.  Get the on call midwife!"  They convinced me to lie back down, my midwife, Paula, came in, and they wheeled me to the nearest room.  I moved onto the bed, they strapped on the monitors, and Paula checked me again.  The lip was gone, and she broke my water.  I flipped onto my hands and knees and started pushing... 3 pushes and 11 minutes later, Genevieve Maren arrived at 8:07 AM!

She was 6 lbs, 12 oz and 18.5 inches long.  I had a 1st degree tear, and got a few stitches, plus a shot of pitocin for the bleeding.  Genevieve started crying, so they put her on my chest and she started feeding really fast. It was so surreal, and just wonderful.  They also told me at that point BTW... your urine results came back, you don't have pre-e!

The nurse who checked me later told me she was stunned, because I had only looked uncomfortable when I walked in! It was an amazing birth.

Julie21613

Congratulations!  So happy your birth was so fast!

jadeboiling

Congratulations

RedPeppah

I gave you a "love it" because that is a birth to envy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

mrsblueeyes

Congrats, great birth story

AndrewnEdna

You are my hero! Lol love this birth story! Especially the part where you did your hair and make up! Haha priceless! Love it!

HarleyKins

Great job! I went in at 4pm and wasn't feeling anything. I was just tired of leaking since my water had broke at 1230 pm. My contractions were 3 mins apart! Our lil miss was born at 9:39 drug free!

daniellemuchata

Congratulations