Welcome Liam - Only a week late (long)

epowens10 · March 2014

Liam Drew was born March 11 at 2:22pm. He weighed 8 lbs, 10 oz and was 21 inches long. He arrived via (mostly) natural birth and is doing great.

I was admitted to L&D at 9pm on Monday to start Cervidil. OB was worried about some dizzy spells / BP issues I was having and recommended induction. This wasn't what I wanted, but after falling and cracking my hip on Sunday (due to dizziness) I was game. Cervidil was placed and within 2 hours I was experiencing full blown back labor ... in a room with broken A/C!! It never got below 83 degrees in my room and ice chips were not doing it for me.

I had prepared for natural birth. I took classes, read books, downloaded affirmations, joined discussion boards .... but nothing could have prepared me for constant back labor with muscle spasms. Everything I thought I knew went out the window - along with my birth plan. My mother was invited into the room to help DH massage my cracked hip when the spasms started. They were constantly running to get ice chips and cold rags to try to cool me down. I remember very little of those early hours, but I do remember after 7 and 1/2 hours breaking down and asking for an epi.

The anesthesiologist came in and tried twice to place the epi, but because of my scoliosis was unable to find a good spot. So I was back to Plan A. I am told I progressed very quickly for a FTM. The OB came in at 6am to break my water but didn't start Pitocin because I was moving along on my own. By 12:05 I was ready to push. And push I did. Forever. After an hour, DH needed a break. My mom took over and told him to walk out of the room for some water and air. In that brief 2 minutes Liam's heart rate started to plummet. I was shoved an oxygen mask and told to flip to my side. DH walked back in the room and was told an emergency c-section was in order. They even started to shave me - until DH got in my face and told me to breath like my life depended on it. I guess I just needed his help to focus and all the readings got back to normal. We asked my mom to leave (we wanted to greet the baby by ourselves). I continued to push for another hour but knew I was waning fast.

Eventually the OB decided it was too dangerous for Liam to stay in the birth canal and asked for the vacuum. I was given two shots and an episiotomy first. They attached the vacuum to Liam's head ... but it wouldn't stay. He had too much hair! The pump actually broke at one point in the doctor's hand. Then the decision to use forceps was made. DH and I were terrified it had come to that but knew I could not deliver my baby without assistance. After 3 pushes with the forceps, Liam Drew was born screaming and peeing on everyone.

Even with all that chaos, delayed cord clamping and skin-to-skin was still on my mind. DH made sure I got those. Overall, it was the most stressful experience of my life but I would do it again. I was up walking within an hour and Liam started breastfeeding without a problem. We are now home and falling into a nice routine. I am so blessed!

wearebirds · March 2014

What an entrance little man!! So glad everything came out okay!! Congratulations.

jennybean80 · March 2014

Glad everything turned out okay! Congratulations!!

akflutterby · March 2014

Congrats!

Aturl · March 2014

Wow congrats momma! Way to get that little/big man here!

theluckiest9 · March 2014

Congratulations! Our babies have the same birthday and are only separated by about an hour and a half! (Almost the same size, too - 8lbs 14oz, 21.5 in). Hope you're healing well. Episiotomies stink.