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October 2011 Moms
alison2379
member
My slightly early arrival! (birth story & pic)
alison2379
member
Claire Elizabeth, born 9/27/11 at 12:49 pm, 7 lbs 2 oz, 19.5 inches
(A few thoughts on what to bring to the hospital at the end of this)
I was 38 weeks, 1 day, and sitting on the couch on Monday around 8 pm and heard a faint pop and felt a trickle of fluid. It was enough to soak a pad - maybe 1/3 of a cup? And pink. I called my husband who was still at the office and after maybe another 1/4 cup, called my doctor, who suggested I come in to L&D. We packed up the car in a very calm manner (I put on some Depends, and kept feeling small gushes of fluid, but nothing dramatic), and about an hour later left for the hospital. After a false negative or two, they confirmed my water had broken, and I was admitted and told I would be having a September baby. We watched some Monday Night Football, and they gave me an Ambien, which turned out to do nothing for me as I didn't sleep at all Monday night. I was having no contractions I could feel, but on the monitor I was showing small contractions at regular times, but was only 1 cm dilated. I just could not fall asleep, so my husband passed out on a cot they gave him, and I just fidgeted until about 3 am, when I started feeling what basically was like menstrual cramps. They intensified and I never slept, and by daylight, I was having real contractions, but they were not timing out regularly and varied in intensity. They were no joke either - I was having to really concentrate on breathing through them and was kind of forgetting how to regulate my breathing and needed my husband to coach me. They started me on Pitocin around 7 am (since my water had broken nearly 12 hours prior, they needed to move things along). By I guess about 9 I was 4 cm, and I started begging for the epidural (which had always been a part of my plan due to my own preferences but also my severe pubic symphisis dysfunction). Note to ladies who want one: it takes a while for it to show up, and my hospital required me to go through a full IV bag of fluid before getting one. I was about a 5 or a 6 by the time they I got the epidural. Also, it only helped my left side for about 45 minutes, so there was a lot of adjusting before I felt relief, which I guess was around 10:30 am. (Editorial note: the epidural is the BEST THING IN THE WORLD and I don't know how you unmedicated birth ladies do it). At that point, I hadn't slept in 24 hours, and was finally pain-free, so I caught 90 minutes of sleep, which was more like a blow-dart kind of nap, I was so exhausted. We had kept asking them when they thought baby was coming, and the estimate was by dinner time. When I woke up, my husband went to go get lunch with the nurse's permission, and then around 12:30 after another check, they started getting the room ready for birth in a hurry, and told me to call him back up. I guess while I'd been sleeping, my contractions had gotten really intense and the 12:30 pm "check" showed a little head already peeking through and ready to come out. I started pushing between 12:35 and 12:40 (again, blissfully pain free), and my little one was born at 12:49 pm.
Things are going great! I have what I'm told is a second degree tear, but nothing I can't handle (or anything that I wasn't prepared for in the Postpartum section I read on www.lucieslist.com), and I think I was just surprised she showed up early and how fortunate I was with my labor and delivery process. However, I totally underestimated the power of 2nd stage labor contractions, so that would be the only thing I would say that I maybe was not as mentally prepared for. I can not say enough good things about my epidural experience - maybe I'm just not made of strong enough stuff, but the pain I experienced in those several hours of early and mid-labor was serious business, and I did not feel that I missed a thing by having my pain managed. (That's more for you ladies on the fence about epidural vs. not - for those ladies going med-free, I am in awe and you definitely have one up on me.)
All of the stuff that I thought seemed a little silly to bring to the hospital but I did it anyways has turned out useful. My own fluffy (dark colored) large towel, my own birthing/excercise ball (in short supply at my hospital and oddly small), my own pillows and pillows for my husband, and lots of snacks (homemade pumpkin bread!). I am an avid reader but am so entertained by my daughter, my husband, and reading all of the emails from friends that I wouldn't plan on needing much entertainment. I am wearing my own clothes today - nursing tank very useful, and a knit bathrobe is key. I'm wearing yoga pants. I wore two hospital gowns for the first 48 hours - one in front and one in back. I also highly recommend bringing all your own toiletries (Bliss shampoo for my first shower in two days was lovely this morning). And I was that vain girl who brought my hair dryer and used it - but less for vanity and more because wet hair doesn't feel good.
I consider myself very fortunate for having such a positive experience. Claire (who I keep calling all of her nicknames she got during my pregnancy - old habits hard to break!) is nursing well and I just can't stop looking at her. My husband and I are having a ton of fun and my parents arrive this afternoon to stay until Sunday. I'm tired but maybe some mommy adrenaline is kicking in since my broken 8 hours in 48 hours is totally making me feel rested.
Oh, and pregnancy woes are already gone - I was in a great deal of pain (and had not been working for 10 days as a result) and today I STOOD while blow drying my hair and generally am so much more mobile already. So, immediate relief really is possible for those of you in a lot of discomfort (but I make no promises, of course).
I'm lurking mostly by iPhone but can't wait for a flurry of birth stories, and yes, late October ladies... I will be reading yours!!!
ETA: And don't forget your Boppy! (Pictured above.)
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Re: My slightly early arrival! (birth story & pic)
Awww! Congratulations! What a doll baby!
ETA: Just read the entire story - Very comforted by your praise of the epi. I'm made of the not so strong stuff either and am glad to hear that it worked so well for you! Post more pics when you can!!
My BFP Chart
Becoming a better role model for my daughter, one day at a time
Congrats. She looks great!
As for the epidural, from what I hear pitocin contractions are a totally different thing than natural ones. I had a natural birth with my first but don't think I would plan on it if I had pitocin this time.
BFP Chart
OCT 2011 Moms Blogafter anovulatory diagnosis and TTC for 1 1/2yrs with several medicated cycles and one chemical pregnancy, we have our first bundle of joy!
IT'S A GIRL!
#2 EDD 2/5/13 dx with anti-BIG E antibody, seeing a MFM
I don't take one single minute for granted.
Congrats! She's a real cutie!!!!
"You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life."
~ Winston Churchill
Congratulations!!! She is adorable, the name is perfect, and I appreciated all of the details.
Can you believe you're not pregnant anymore?!
Keep the pics coming, and good luck during the first days of parenthood!!
Congrats, she is beautiful!!!
And I TOTALLY HEAR YOU on the epidural. Seriously, best thing ever.
BFP 1/18/11, EDD 10/1/11. Born at 37w5d on 9/15/11.
***BFP Chart***
"There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning.
DS born via unplanned C-section at 40w6d
My Blog
Baby Girl #2 is on her way!
Congratulations! She's adorable!
I agree with the PP's that the birth stories are helping me prepare (as much as I can) for what's in store.
Allison - she is the cutest thing ever! Congratulations!
I am happy to hear that you feel more like a normal person after delivery and that a lot of your preganancy aches and pains subsided.
Best wishes to you, YH and cutie Claire!
Congrats, she is adorable!!!
Well, I hope to join you soon in motherhood - not that there are any signs of that yet....