Holden's Birth Story & Pics

Swede25 · August 2011

I went to the doctor on Friday, the 29th, for my 2nd 40 week appointment. We had an NST and ultrasound also scheduled, just to see how the little guy was doing. The NST went fine, but during the ultrasound we were told his fluid was a little low, but nothing alarming. My internal also showed no progress from the few days before-still 1 cm and 50% effaced. The doctor tried to "stir things up" to see if it would get things going, but we also started talking about inducing because of the fluid level. She said she would have to check the schedule at the hospital, but it could be any day and she would call and let us know in an hour.

A little while later, DH and I were in the middle of eating Taco Bell when the doctor called and said to head on over to the hospital. I thought I would throw up my nachos! At that time it was almost 6 and we needed to be there at 7:30. Funny enough, I did start having contractions on my own. They were mild, but coming about every 10-15 minutes. We managed to make it home, finish packing our stuff, feed the dog and cats, call my parents to let them know (they were pet sitting), let my in laws know (MIL then proceeded to blow up our phones every 5 minutes wanting updates...um, we were a little busy!), and then made it to the hospital by 7:30. Got checked in and all that, and even though I was contracting on my own, they put Cervadil in around 11 to get things going.

In the morning I woke up around 5:45 and was able to take a shower and eat breakfast. Heck, I did my makeup too! Pitocin was started around 8. I could still feel the mild contractions I was having but they steadily built in intensity over the hours. When they got to be a minute apart was when I was clutching DHs hand for dear life. THe earlier contractions built like a wave and then released, but now they were just jumping to the peak each time. At 11:30 I asked for an epidural and after seeing that I was 3 cm at that point they let me have it. When the anesthesiologist came in and began the procedure I had one of the biggest contractions ever, followed by about 3 more. The funny thing is that he kept talking to me right when I would have one and I was just like, "Can't talk right now!!!" Afterwards, I could still feel a little pain on my right side, so they had me lay on that side to move the meds down and that did the trick. After that, I was one happy camper! Kudos to every woman who does childbirth med-free!

The doctor came in and checked me around 3 and I was 5 cm-officially in active labor! I also had bloody show at that point and she broke my bag of water. She said I'd probably go 1 cm an hour, push for around 2 since it was my first baby, and deliver at 10 p.m. Well, when she came back at 5, I was 8 cm already! At 6:30 I was fully dilated but had to wait for the doctor as she was in the middle of a delivery. I began pushing at 6:50 and it was a little awkward as my entire left leg was SO numb compared to my right one. It felt like I had a log for a leg. I pushed for exactly 30 minutes and at 7:21 p.m. Holden was born.

I was surprised at how warm he felt and instantly fell in love with him. Then the doctor said he had the cord wrapped loosely 3 times around his neck. He wasn't breathing so they rushed him over to the warmer and a swarm of people went around him. I looked at DH and he went "Oh s***"" when he saw what they were doing/saying (he's a firefighter/EMT so he knows all the "lingo"). For about 30 seconds they had to assist with breathing using the mask and clearing his airway. Then finally we heard him cry! When I finally got to hold him and look into his eyes I felt the most incredible feeling of love and happiness and like nothing in the world mattered. He was 8 lbs 1 oz and 20.5 inches of pure perfection. Both DH and I took turns holding him while the doctor fixed me up. I had a 2nd degree tear and had quite a few stitches.

Being in postpartum was difficult for me because 1) I threw up on the way there, and 2)once my epidural completely wore off and I could feel everything, all the checks by the nurse I had first were not fun. I swear she must have forgotten that I had just given birth because she felt a little rough and kept commenting on how swollen I was. Ya think??? It was also hard having people constantly come in to check on you when all you want to do is go to sleep or hold your baby! The first nurse and nurse assistant I had also gave me a hard time when I couldn't pee 6 hours later, so I was given a catheter. The nurse didn't know what she was doing apparently and it hurt like hell, so she had to have someone come in and help her and being manhandled down there when you have stitches and are in pain is NOT fun. Once the 12 hours of annoyingness finished though it wasn't so bad, even though we were ready to go home.

Anyway, there's the birth story. If you would like to see pictures, here are some from our newborn photo shoot on Friday. Holden is in the August 2011 pictures (not sure if you have to "like" the page or not, but you can always "unlike" after):

https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Reflections-Captured-Photography-by-Samantha-McLaughlin/366273071810

Echloe · August 2011

Congratulations. So sorry about the bad nurses. Ugh. You are a trooper.

NicoleeBonsai · August 2011

congratulations on your sweet baby boy!

sounds like the aftermath was worse than the birth.

thanks for sharing your story and pics, he is so cute! i love the pic of him in the helmet.

tshott · August 2011

What an amazing story! Sorry you had to deal with all of the annoying people afterwards.

Those newborn photos are absolutely adorable. I'm going to be doing a session in December for a couple and the dad is a firefighter. That is a great idea for a photo.