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Natural Birth Story and PIP

Temp67694062501186Temp67694062501186 member
in 3rd Trimester
I didn't post much, but I followed the board regularly and thought that I would come back and share my birth story and some pictures of our daughter.
 
On Thursday, Aug. 20, DH and I went in for my 38 week OB visit.  The week before I was 3-4cm dilated, 0% effaced.  I didn't know what to expect at this visit, but I hadn't felt much more than verrrrry light period-like cramps thru the week.  After the internal exam, my doctor said, "Well, you've got two options... head over to the hospital across the street right now, or go home and pack up what you need and get back here this afternoon."  Ha.  I was 5 cm dilated and 80% effaced.  Baby was at station -2, but my water bag was bulging - doc said  that the outer layer of the bag was already frayed and would go at any time.  She didn't want me waiting.
 
We headed home, called family - my parents live 15 hours away ... they jumped in the car immediately to head down - packed up and were back at the hospital for 2pm.  At 4pm, my doctor broke my water and the contractions started (or rather - they became regular and I actually started to feel them).  I wanted to go as all natural as possible - no pain medication or pitocin.  I compromised enough by allowing my water to be broken.  I still did not become uncomfortable until about 9pm when I was 8 cm.  Before that I walked around the room, talked and laughed with family thru contractions and was generally comfortable.  Mostly what I felt was nothing more than hard period cramps.  DH stayed by my side and helped me to breathe thru any tough ones, but at 9pm, I asked that family leave the room as it was getting pretty intense.
 
Unfortunately I was confined to the bed a lot so they could monitor the contractions and the baby, but when I could walk around I was much more comfortable.  I did a lot of moaning thru the contractions (which surprised me) but it was better for me than just breathing - as that made me lightheaded and added to the nausea I was feeling - I did dry heave several time, but never vomitted.  By 11pm, I was watching the clock as each contraction came - the hardest part of each lasted exactly a minute and watching the second hand move and saying out loud "30 more seconds, 20 more seconds, 10 more seconds...." etc helped me get through each one.
 
At 11:30pm I was feeling the urge to push.  My doctor was called and I started pushing.  I suppose there was a feeling of relief with each push, but I was so weak that each time it became harder and harder for me - I never really felt that relief.  The pushing itself wasn't at all painfull tho - or at least I didn't percieve it that was - it was just HARD WORK.  I had been awake since 6am that morning and had had nothing to eat since we arrived at the hospital so I'm sure that added to it.  I had a nurse holding each leg and DH was sitting behind my back pushing me forward.  I did not use a mirror, but I did feel the baby's head and that was a cool experience.  I don't remember crowning (the ring of fire - whatever) hurting as bad as people described to me - if anything I knew that whatever I was feeling meant we were almost thru to the end.  My doctor was great at talking me thru the entire process and answering any questions I had about different things I was feeling and my DH was amazing at keeping me calm and cool during each recovery period (I was hyperventilating and honestly freaking out).  He was a great coach and took what we learned in our class very seriously. 
 
At 12:40 am on August 21 Gabrielle Scott B. was born!  She shares a birthday with my DH - happy 30th birthday, Daddy!  7.5 lbs and 19.5 inches.  After her head came out, I could feel her shoulders twisting/turning in my lower pelvis - no one had told me about that!  That was a weird (not painful) feeling.  We were team green so this was what we had been waiting for.  :)  I had a small tear (a "brush burn" my doctor said) and was stitched up.  My uterus had trouble stopping bleeding and I will tell you that the massaging after the delivery of the placenta was by far more painful than the birth.  I screamed through that.  Yuck.  At that point they gave me pitocin and (I think..??) cervadil to help it out.  I did lose more blood than my doctor would have liked, but nothing terrible. 
 
My recovery has been pretty easy.  I did take some pain medication after the birth to help with the soreness, but only for two days.  I have been up and about since the very next morning after her birth.  I have lost 22 of the 30 pounds I gained during pregnancy.  Gabby is doing very well!  She's a perfect baby.  It's been a breeze so far (at 12 days in), aside from the lack of sleep.  :)  I am breastfeeding as well and it's going ok.
 
I am extremely proud of myself for going all natural.  Even though I said to DH during the delivery "I don't know if I can do this," I never once asked for the epidural and having DH's and my doctor's support really made all the difference.  I know it's not for everyone but I am glad I got to experience it this way and will go natural (as long as it's possible) for any future births.  I am quite happy and fulfilled with how Gabby's birth went.
 
Good luck to all of you! 
 
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