- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Birth Stories
34w5d unplanned arrival
I had been having intense back pain. It was sharp pain that would last for like 20 minutes straight, then subside for a while, and return again for 10-20 minutes. I tried to "time" them in case they were contractions, but they were really irregular and too long to be contrax. I called the on call doc b/c I had a day full of the pain and he thought it was a strained muscle so I took Tylenol and went to bed. I woke up 2 hours later in such pain I knew I needed to go to the hospital. For an hour, I kept trying to talk myself out of it but I finally trusted my gut and went in (DH was on call that night and already up in the med center but working and not able to come meet me at first).
I was 1 cm dilated, 90% (!!) effaced, and station -2 when they first checked me. I was told that I would be having the baby sometime in the next week but they didn't think it'd happen tonight since the monitor was showing really infrequent contractions. Since I was 34.5 weeks and had no complications, they said they wouldn't stop the labor. After monitoring for a few hours, my OB checked me and said I wasn't going anywhere - I was at 3cm and fully effaced.
DH arrived and the next few hours were intense but then I got in the jacuzzi tub (awesome relief!) and got my epidural. I was totally comfortable. My water broke on its own at 1pm. Then everything stalled out (no progress). Started pitocin at 4pm. Still no progress up until 6:30pm. I then felt the worst I've ever felt in my life - baby had his feet pressed right against my ribs and I could barely breathe. I got overheated, nauseous, started vomiting, and a terrible headache set in. I was ready to talk about when we'd do a c section when the OB came in at 7:45pm, but I had gone from 3 to 10cm in an hour (no wonder I felt like crud) and it was time to push. Thirty minutes later, Aldon Travis was born.
There must have been 15 people in the room when he came
out between the OB care team and the emergency neonate team. I was
screaming for my glasses (I'd taken them off to push) so that I could
get a glimpse of him as I knew right away I wasn't going to get to hold
him. DH cut the cord and the OB immediately handed him to the NICU team
who took him behind a curtain in the room to care for him. I was
freaking out b/c he wasn't crying and telling DH to forget about me and
go be with our son (I still had to deliver the placenta etc.). They
brought him to me a few minutes later for a QUICK photo and then rushed
him to the NICU. DH went with him at my request and I was left in the
room alone for a moment. It's probably the most terrified I've ever
been, but this story has a happy ending.
I only had one tiny tear (two stitches). The reason for the back pain and premature labor? Apparently, I had a small placental abruption. Aldon spent 2 weeks in the NICU; there were a few days early on that we weren't sure he'd make it, but he's pulled through and is finally at home!
Reassurance: I didn't get to do ANY of the things that are recommended (skin to skin, breastfeeding right away, avoiding formula, no pacifiers, no bottle before breast, rooming in, etc.) and that I wanted to do for bonding and ensuring breastfeeding, and I can assure you that Aldon totally knows his momma, is breastfeeding fairly well even though we got a really late start, and I feel attached and adore my son. Don't stress! Trust your gut, pack your bag early (I had just done it that day, amazingly), and GL!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: 34w5d unplanned arrival
He is beauitful. totally!! i gotta have a repeat cesearian on thursday--i am totally anxious--i am not scared, EXCEPT for the epidural. My son, LC ( Logan Christopher) will be 12-13 lbs...but they said he is in perfect shape. I am cherishing this pregnancy and the newborn that god blessed me with.
Again, he is soooooooo beautiful!!!!