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Birth Story (obnoxiously long - but PIPs to make up for it)
It was Tuesday, March 23rd and I was 8 days overdue! With an induction scheduled for Thursday (the 25th), I was starting to get panic? On Monday I had my membranes thinned a second time. It had brought on consistent contractions Monday night and I was only able to sleep for a few hours. However, by morning they had spaced out again. I took care of some errands and went on a couple of walks. By afternoon my contractions had picked up again. That evening we got dinner and timed contractions? 7 minutes apart or so. I was pretty sure this was it, and I was surprised at how calm I was. We decided to try to go to sleep, since neither of us had slept much the night before. No luck. DH was too excited, and I was in too much pain! With contractions about 5 minutes apart, we decided it was time to head to the hospital. I took a shower and DH packed up our bags (which had been sitting out for 4 weeks, just waiting for this moment to arrive).
We arrived at the hospital about 2:15AM. My doctor was actually there, having just finished up another birth! I was admitted and my doctor came to check me. I was 95% effaced and at 4cm, with the baby at +1 station. As far as pain, I was doing ok. We had planned a medication-free birth and had attended Bradley classes, so we felt prepared. After monitoring the baby, I was free to labor on my own. The contractions hurt (A LOT) but the thing that was really wiping me out was exhaustion. At this point, I had slept maybe 3 hours of the last 30 or so and I was spent! David was tired, too, and as I went through labor, I found myself nodding off between contractions and just feeling so beat up as I went through them. We tried the tub, the birthing ball, laying down, standing up, walking around? you name it. I thought I was doing ok and at 4AM my doctor checked me again. Six centimeters. Not bad? I continued to labor, but was really feeling the exhaustion. Contractions were getting worse and I just didn?t have the energy to get through them. In the meantime, baby was not reacting the way they wanted her to. She was starting to get sluggish, probably because I just wasn?t drinking enough water (the contractions while having to pee were just too unbearable). I was checked again around 7AM. Still six. I had a feeling that would be the case. It was time to start talking about changing the plan.
My doctor offered to break my water to speed things along, but truthfully I knew I couldn?t handle the pain that would bring. We asked the doctor and nurses for some time alone to talk. I tearfully told David that I couldn?t do this, but that I was afraid of feeling regretful or like I had failed if I had the epidural. He told me I had done a great job and that I shouldn?t feel bad at all. We decided it was time. We told the doctor and nurses, and they got things moving. Having gotten the decision over with was such a huge relief. I think the hardest part now was dealing with the contractions while all the prep was happening (hey, I signed up to be done with this, right?). The anesthesiologist came in once the prep was done and got me all hooked up. As the epidural kicked in, my biggest worry was that I would lose the ability to move my lower half. Thankfully this wasn?t the case. I could move however the nurses asked me to, mostly unassisted - the only different was that the pain was gone.
The doctor came in, checked me again and broke my water. My contractions spread out to 7 minutes apart, but they got much longer (about 2 ? minutes each!). I don?t know how I would have handled them without an epidural!! For the next few hours, DH and I rested while my body continued to do it?s job. Some time around 1:30PM they checked me again. It was time to go! I pushed through about 10 contractions and Sophie No?lle was born at 2:42PM on Wednesday, weighing 7lbs 10 oz and measuring 20.5" long! They clamped her right away (unfortunately against our birth plan) because she wasn't moving enough. DH cut the cord and I got to hold her. Despite some serious conehead, she was beautiful! We commented on her ears, her lips, her eyes, and (surprise) her red hair... DH has some red in his mostly brown beard but we weren't expecting a red head. She was able to latch on pretty quickly and fed for a good 45 minutes.
I don't feel any regret having gotten the epidural, but I think I will
still try for a natural birth for #2. We now know that Sophie was OP,
so that probably was the cause for a lot of the pain and duration.
Also, we know that it probably would have been easier if we had both
gotten more sleep. I am SOOO in awe of those who were able to have med-free births! You women are amazing!
We came home on Friday and are doing really well so far. She is breastfeeding wonderfully and at her pediatrician appointment this morning she was only down 1 oz from her birth weight. The doctor said this means I don't have to worry about waking her at night to feed her anymore as long as she is eating frequently during the day (YAY!). With the exception of 2 or 3 sposies at the hospital, she has been cloth diapered from Day 1! DH even made the comment today that he likes all the special "stuff" that we have for CDing.
And now, for having made it through all that, here are some pictures from Sophie's first few days:
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Birth Story (obnoxiously long - but PIPs to make up for it)
Some Sort of Nonsense (My Blog)
Congrats!! She is so adorable! Thanks for sharing your story.
Cycle #11: BFP
Tales of the Wife
Congrats! She's beautiful. You did good momma.
Now...did you wear your gown?
Posts on cloth trainers/PLing
SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!
Congrats!
Awww..... beautiful baby!!!
While I was pushing out my sunnyside up baby, I told my doc that I was changing my birth plan to "Just get the baby out." It's just hard to plan for the unknown and it sounds like you did great!! Enjoy that little one.
Alisha your birth story is SO MUCH like mine. Horrendously long (37 hours here), epidural even after taking the bradley courses, exhaustion forcing the epi and even them not being able to wait to clamp the cord (but because he wasnt crying here).
I agree with your statement I am totally in awe of women who go natural. I truly wanted to, but the exhaustion was just too much. My body was trying to hard to fall asleep between contractions and it just couldnt. The epi allowed me and DH to get some rest and my body to do its job. I would definitely try too for a natural birth next time, but wouldnt hesitate to get the epi again if needed,
You have such a beautiful family, Alisha. Huge congrats, again.
((hugs))
Mother's Day, 2011
In this case it means Occiput Posterior (also referred to as "sunny side up). Usually it means a harder, longer labor.
I didn't wear the gown
I hadn't finished it because I was having second thoughts about the lack of softness of the material. As it turned out, I probably would have been annoyed by it after all. Maybe if I was doing a planned epidural it would have worked out, but not with laboring naturally.
Congratulations! You are one tough mama - I know how hard laboring through exhaustion can be from first-hand experience and I needed the epidural in the end with no regrets after. We do what we need to do to bring our babies into the world. You did an awesome job!
Sophie is just beautiful! I love the red hair. I'm glad to hear breastfeeding is going well. Enjoy your beautiful girl!