XP: Hunter finally arrived!! (long birth story & heavy PIP)

CourtneyRenee9109 · May 2011

After going through over 3 weeks of prodromal labor and making multiple trips to L&D within that time, I was very hesitant to go into the hospital AGAIN even though I was one day past my due date.
The contractions started after FI and I did the deed so I didn't think much of them. However, they quickly got to 5 minutes apart and VERY painful. LO had been posterior for a few weeks as well, so the back labor was worse than the contractions themselves...I tried to walk them out but soon realized that I couldn't even stand up through them. I delt with them for about 2 hours and simply couldn't deal with the pain any longer. FI was at work so I had my mom take me in at about 3:30 a.m.
We arrived at the hospital and they checked my cervix soon after. A few days before I was 80% effaced & 3 cm dilated. I was now 4 cm & 90% effaced. They wanted to have me walk around the hospital to see if it helped things along. I walked for about 15 minutes...and simply couldn't take it any longer. I went back in and soon had me admitted into a birthing room.
I got my epi at about 5:30 a.m. which ended up slowing down my contractions. (but boy, was it amazing!

After hours of waiting, they decided to administer pitocin. I'm not sure about times after this point...it was a long labor. The contractions finally sped up and when I was checked the next time I was 7 cm & 100%. They then proceeded to break my bag of water.
In order to break my water, they had to put me on my back. This position had been making me incredibly nauseous all night. (And earlier, when I had attempted to lay on my left side, LO's heartrate had suddenly dropped so we were trying to keep me on my right side.) So obviously, I got incredibly nauseous and vomited as they tried to break my water.
The next thing I know, I have an air mask on my face & there are about 10 nurses & doctors in my room. LO's heartrate and dropped from 150 to 60 in a matter of seconds. They put internal monitors on the baby and I, one to monitor my contractions and one to monitor his heartrate. The doctor started talking to me about an emergency C-section as they did this. They had finally put me on my right side at this time and LO's heartrate had finally started to return to normal. It was the longest and scariest 15 minutes of my life...and I was so relieved when LO's heartrate returned to normal and continued to stay there.
Everything went pretty smoothly with labor after that. A few hours later, I was finally dilated to 9 cm. And soon after, I was 10 cm and feeling TONS of pressure! They had me start pushing soon after.
The actual delivery was very stressful as well...the pushing immediately started moving LO but soon, his heartrate started to drop with every push & every contraction. They continued talking to me about the possibility of an emergency C or other methods to help "assist" my delivery. Basically, if I couldn't get LO out ~quickly~ then they would have to do something to help him come out.
I pushed as hard as I could & tried my hardest. The doctor had to reach in and reposition LO's head because he was LOP. Everyone was very on edge the whole delivery process...But within 45 minutes, I pushed LO out without any assistance or interference

They let FI take my son immediately after birth and place him on my chest. It was such an emotional moment for us all.
Hunter James Keith was born on May 15, 2011. He weighed 6 lbs 5.8 oz and was 20 inches long. He is healthy & absolutely perfect. I don't think I could be any more in love with him

He is breastfeeding like a champ. We had a rough first couple of days at home but ever since my milk has come in, he has been an absolute angel.

Thanks so much for all your support over the last few weeks ladies!!