Baby Rachel's Arrival! Not so AuNatural...but great!m

Lauren5841 · December 2009

Hi everyone,

?? ? Last Friday our world changed and Rachel Maya came into our world weighing a nice 7lbs 14oz. Here's how it all went down---NOT so Bradley way (like we had planned).

?? For 12 weeks we took the Bradley Method courses in an effort to go "natural" and that kind of flew out the window when we went for a size ultrasound last Wednesday and discovered the baby was a great weight, but there was low fluid. Our doctor recommended inducing due to the low fluid. So...I was stuck to a monitor the whole time (which made being on the birth ball or walking around or rocking in a rocking chair a pain in the tush) and it was definitely challenging.

?? ? They started cervadil at 3pm on Thursday until 1am on Friday. They began pitocin at 1:30am. At 5:30 they upped the Pitocin AND broke my water. I had NO breaks between contractions from that point on. I kept breathing and repeating, "I will trust in my body" but no matter what visualizations I did or breathing I did, there was no relief. After enduring non-stop contractions I requested the epidural because I was only 3cm and knew we had a long way to go. In my mind I had to weigh the risks vs. benefits and the benefit would have definitely win over the risks.?

?? ?At 7am they did the FIRST epidural (it only numbed my left side) and then around 8:30 they did the SECOND epidural--which was then complete relief and I became myself again. I hugged my husband, re-introduced myself to the great nurses and slept for a couple hours. My doc rolled in at ?10:30 and I was 9cm! 45 minutes later I was complete and we started pushing about 11:20....35 minutes later Rachel was here! One teeny-tiny snip and one stitch and I was feeling great.?

?? ? Recovery has been great. I was up and moving around about 10 minutes after delivery and the next day I was pretty much pain free aside from my shoulders being sore. Anyways, we're home and happy. Breastfeeding has been challenging and we have to supplement with formula, but now she is full and happy and sleeping for 2-3 hour stretches and we're all happy. Good luck to the rest of you!!?

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