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Hawaii Babies
My baby boy is here!
Hello ladies! I can't believe I'm a mommy. Hank Mason was born on 10/20/2010 at 10:31AM, weighing in at 7 lbs 3.1 ozs and 21 inches long. The short story is that I ended up having him via c-section. This has been a HUGE learning experience for me. Read on for the details....
At about noon on 10/19, I went to the restroom to pee and noticed I was bleeding. I had a complication-free pregnancy with no bleeding whatsoever so I knew something was up. I called my OB and she asked me to come into the office to get checked. I felt my 1st contraction right before we left for the doctor's office and they continued to come every 5-15 minutes. My OB checked me and I was 3 cm, 100% effaced, -2 station. She said to start heading over towards the hospital since it was a weekday and rush hour traffic would be starting soon.
We ended up at a park near the hospital and walked around a bit, hoping it would help my labor progress. We also visited with my SIL and her husband who also live near the hospital. We were only there an hour when the contractions started coming every 3-5 minutes. It was time to go to the hospital.
By 6PM, we were in a triage room and I was 4 cm. I asked for the epidural around 9PM when I was 5.5 cm. It was a tough decision. I ended up getting the epidural sooner than I imagined, but given the pain I was in at only 5.5 cm, I couldn't imagine progressing much further without it. I think I also let myself be swayed a bit by my nurse. I didn't really care for her bedside manner and she kind of made me panic by telling me there was only one anesthesiologist that night and that it could take over an hour for him to get to me if other patients were also getting epidurals. So this is where the guilt begins.
And when my birth "plan" started rapidly changing.
After I got the epidural, MH crashed out (he had been working long hours) and I tried to get some rest. I don't think I slept one wink, though. My OB came to see me shortly after getting the epidural and said that I should be delivering a sunrise baby. I'm not too sure about the details after this point. Wish I had written it down.
I think by about 2AM, I had only progressed to 8 cm and they decided to break my water. When they did, they saw meconium. Then I spiked a fever and had to be given 3 different antibiotics through my IV. They checked me again at some point and I was only at 9.5 cm and was stuck there for a couple more hours.
By about 8AM, my OB came back to see me and it was time to push. She already had a feeling I might need a c-section because of how my labor stalled, but she wanted me to try pushing. I pushed a couple of times and she was happy with how I was pushing and told me we would continue for a couple of hours. After 2 hours of pushing, baby had not budged.at.all. He was stuck at +1 station the entire time. We had a discussion about our options at that point and I tearfully decided a c-section was best.
In the end, everything went well and I have much to be thankful for. I was reminded that the goal of my pregnancy was to have a safe delivery and healthy baby, not to have a vaginal birth. We have our baby boy here with us. Hank is thriving and I've had a complication-free recovery.
The baby blues were rough, though. OMG! I've already messaged with a couple of you and appreciate your support and encouragement. I think people mention the baby blues, but you have no idea what it's like until you go through it yourself. I've felt so much guilt/doubt/fear/anxiety/panic, had so many irrational thoughts and was just weepy and overwhelmed all the time. I started to feel better this past Monday, though. I guess my hormones are leveling out and we're adjusting to our new "normal". As I type this, MH has Hank on his chest and they are both passed out. Although we're still adjusting and I feel overwhelmed at times, I can't imagine life without our little boy.
At about noon on 10/19, I went to the restroom to pee and noticed I was bleeding. I had a complication-free pregnancy with no bleeding whatsoever so I knew something was up. I called my OB and she asked me to come into the office to get checked. I felt my 1st contraction right before we left for the doctor's office and they continued to come every 5-15 minutes. My OB checked me and I was 3 cm, 100% effaced, -2 station. She said to start heading over towards the hospital since it was a weekday and rush hour traffic would be starting soon.
We ended up at a park near the hospital and walked around a bit, hoping it would help my labor progress. We also visited with my SIL and her husband who also live near the hospital. We were only there an hour when the contractions started coming every 3-5 minutes. It was time to go to the hospital.
By 6PM, we were in a triage room and I was 4 cm. I asked for the epidural around 9PM when I was 5.5 cm. It was a tough decision. I ended up getting the epidural sooner than I imagined, but given the pain I was in at only 5.5 cm, I couldn't imagine progressing much further without it. I think I also let myself be swayed a bit by my nurse. I didn't really care for her bedside manner and she kind of made me panic by telling me there was only one anesthesiologist that night and that it could take over an hour for him to get to me if other patients were also getting epidurals. So this is where the guilt begins.
And when my birth "plan" started rapidly changing.After I got the epidural, MH crashed out (he had been working long hours) and I tried to get some rest. I don't think I slept one wink, though. My OB came to see me shortly after getting the epidural and said that I should be delivering a sunrise baby. I'm not too sure about the details after this point. Wish I had written it down.
I think by about 2AM, I had only progressed to 8 cm and they decided to break my water. When they did, they saw meconium. Then I spiked a fever and had to be given 3 different antibiotics through my IV. They checked me again at some point and I was only at 9.5 cm and was stuck there for a couple more hours.
By about 8AM, my OB came back to see me and it was time to push. She already had a feeling I might need a c-section because of how my labor stalled, but she wanted me to try pushing. I pushed a couple of times and she was happy with how I was pushing and told me we would continue for a couple of hours. After 2 hours of pushing, baby had not budged.at.all. He was stuck at +1 station the entire time. We had a discussion about our options at that point and I tearfully decided a c-section was best.
In the end, everything went well and I have much to be thankful for. I was reminded that the goal of my pregnancy was to have a safe delivery and healthy baby, not to have a vaginal birth. We have our baby boy here with us. Hank is thriving and I've had a complication-free recovery.
The baby blues were rough, though. OMG! I've already messaged with a couple of you and appreciate your support and encouragement. I think people mention the baby blues, but you have no idea what it's like until you go through it yourself. I've felt so much guilt/doubt/fear/anxiety/panic, had so many irrational thoughts and was just weepy and overwhelmed all the time. I started to feel better this past Monday, though. I guess my hormones are leveling out and we're adjusting to our new "normal". As I type this, MH has Hank on his chest and they are both passed out. Although we're still adjusting and I feel overwhelmed at times, I can't imagine life without our little boy.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: My baby boy is here!
awwww nicole.. *hugz* for the baby blues. hang in there! i know a bunch of people, including my sister who have gone through that...
thank you for sharing your birth story. i have to consider c-section and so this really helps me out to just hear this kind of stuff.
hank is very very cute and i am sure you are a wonderful momma!
hawaii 10.2008 plan ;P married bio ???
Nicole, I'm so sorry that your having the baby blues. Even with a beautiful baby, the hormones can get the best of you. I think I've had a case of baby blues this whole pregnancy, my hormones are nuts! I cry at completely random times in random places. I know you'll make it through, hang in there. Coupled with the guilt that your feeling and the lack of sleep, I'm sure those aren't helping. I'm glad your DH is helping with little Hank.
OMG what a precious little boy! He's adorable. Congrats and enjoy all the little moments with him, they pass SO fast!
Congrats on a beautiful boy! I love your siggy.
I'm sorry you went through the baby blues. It seems like so many of my friends had them as well. I'm glad you're feeling better and hope you're enjoying life as a new mama!
{planning bio} {married bio} {baby blog}
| Olowalu, Maui ~ August 6, 2008 |
| Family of 4 ~ April 2, 2011 |
| Family of 5 - October 24, 2012 |
Congratulations!!! Your little man is so beautiful!
I understand fully about the baby blues. Being a new mom is so rough!
Congrats! Hank is beautiful!
And hugs for you, mama! Baby blues are rough....I've definitely been there, and still am some days, though it's less and less. I can say, though, that my guilt over my c-section is completely gone after three months. It just doesn't matter after a little while how he got here....so long as he did!
Congrats on your gorgeous little man! (Looove the sig pic!)
I understand about the stress of birth plans changing...but in the end, you did what you needed to do for your health and Hank's, and there is nothing bad about that.
And I know exactly what you mean about feelings afterwards...I didn't have PPD but I did have some crazyass baby blues. I was so incredibly overwhelmed - I really can't even think of words to describe just how overwhelmed I was. Message me if you need to talk or ask questions or just want to vent some of those crazy emotions. (((hugs)))
Congratulations again - I'm SO happy for you and Brian!
Nicole - Thank you for sharing. Big tight hugs....baby blues and PPD are nothing nice. I had it for some time after Kai was born. It happens and the sleep deprevation doesn't help.
Your son is so so handsome and I love his crocheted hat and bottoms. I also love the name Hank!!! Congratulations and Welcome baby Hank!!1
Congratulations on your beautiful baby boy!
Sometimes I really think we all need to hear (especially in the beginning) that we are doing a great job! I'm glad you are getting to talk with others about BBs, as it's unbelievably hard what your hormones can put you through!
Thanks for sharing your story. I'm sorry you felt pressured by the nurse - that sucks, but I felt that way too (although mine was more of the "keep pushing, you're almost there" route, when he really wasn't going to fit and so I needed the c-s). You're in such a vulnerable state there in labor!
I hope you are getting some rest when you can.
He's beautiful!!
congrats nicole! he is precious (and tall!)
i am glad that you've reached out and found some support - the baby blues are tough and sometimes you wonder if it is just you or if it is normal/hormones!! i was a complete mess and crying all.the.time those first few weeks....i think most people turn a corner around 2-3 weeks which sounds like that's when it happened for you too. the sleep deprivation doesn't help either
and, i wouldn't feel bad about the c/s. it doesn't make you any less of a good mother. i didn't feel guilty about my c/s, but i just wish i didn't have to have one, just b/c my recovery from the surgery was so rough. in the end all that matters is a happy, healthy baby!
Jaime & Brent
Oahu, Hawaii | Sept. 9, 2005
My Food Blog - Good Eats 'n Sweet Treats
I'm a little late but just wanted to say congrats again! Hope you're feeling better. The first few weeks ARE tough but it just gets better and better.
I still haven't made peace with the fact that I had a c/s but I agree that we should just be happy to have healthy babies.
Hope to see you and Hank next time we're in HI!