Luke Thomas finally arrived 4/14/14. Birth Story! (very long)

kimberpoo · April 2014

Hi ladies! So excited to finally have a quiet moment and say hello to you all again. It has been a crazy couple of weeks. My LO finally arrived 4/14/14 (he must have a thing for numbers) just two days shy of our induction. I thought I'd type up his story since I loved reading everyone else's!

After a week of trying everything under the sun to start labor, spicy food, walks, all the old wives tales, I decided to try nothing. Doing nothing was the only thing I hadn't done! It was sunday 4/13 and I was scheduled for an induction on Tuesday, which I desperately wanted to avoid. My doc was using the 4/6/14 due date from the 12 week u/s, but my original edd was 3/25/14, then 4/10/14 (from 7 wk u/s) then, 4/4/14 (from 20 wk a/s) so any way you cut it I was at least a little overdue. Turns out that just relaxing worked for us...my water broke in the bathtub that night! Convenient, right? It was a slow but obvious leak. Got to the hospital and measured 3-4 cm, and although the machine said I was having contractions I couldn't really feel anything. They kept us since I was GBS+ (bummer since I wanted a completely med/intervention free birth, like, no IV) and the nurse hooked up the line to give me penicillin. I asked her to put the line in my forearm so it would be out of the way but she blew out my vein, so I ended up with it in the back of my hand. yes, I was a huge baby about the IV but it legit hurt. anyway, I was SO stinkin zen about labor for the first 7 hours. The nurses had said that if I didn't progress fast enough I'd get Pitocin since my water broke, but I got on the birthing ball and bounced and got myself to progress enough that they didn't bring it up again. DH even napped next to me while I was bouncing because I was so comfortable and chill. After I hit around 6-7 cm, shit got real. The contractions went way beyond what I imagined they would be like. I had wanted to try the Jacuzzi tub so bad before coming to the hospital but after getting in it wasn't helping at all because I was too far along but then I was hurting so bad I had a hard time getting out! The only thing that felt good was that birthing ball, so I sat on that for another few hours. By around 7 am everything was sooo intense that I gave in and asked for a bit of IV meds to take the edge off. I felt awful because I really wanted to go med free but I just couldn't focus anymore. The nurse checked me prior to administering them and I was 9 1/2 cm and ready to start pushing! so no meds for me. On the inside I was all like "NOOoooooooooo owwwieeee" but in the end I was glad we were forced to move forward without them. It took two hours of pushing in every possible position to get him out. The ways that helped move him the most were the birthing chair and being on all 4's, but the only way I was comfortable was on my back (to my surprise!) because I could let my muscles relax more in between pushes. The only way to describe those last two hours is: FREAKING INTENSE. I had no idea it would be so seriously intense. That's the only way to say it. Not exactly painful, but not not painful....so much pressure. you girls know exactly what I mean. I envy the ladies who said pushing was a relief...I didn't get any of that feeling!

anyway, somehow managed to push out this big guy at 10:58 am 4/14/14 at 9lbs 4 oz, with his arm and head coming out at the same time. (superman style!) I was still hurting so bad that after he came out my DH had to force me to open my eyes and see him. But he is perfect!! soooo cute, with steel grey eyes and dark hair. so in love with him! If you made it through that long story, here are some pics for your effort: