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VBAC
Geekchick921
member
I had my VBAC!
Geekchick921
member
in VBAC
This is LONG, and I wrote it the night he was born so it's written from the PoV of Friday night
So I woke up around 2:30 this morning to pee, and started having contractions immediately, along with bloody show. I timed a few and woke up DH enough to tell him I thought I was in labor but that he could stay in bed for now. I went downstairs and had a bowl of cereal and timed some more. Most were about 6-7 minutes apart so I went back upstairs to wake up DH, labor in the tub for awhile then shower. I got out around 5 and had thought my contractions had gotten closer together, more like 4-5 minutes apart. I called my midwife while I was packing my bag and she told me to make sure I was eating and drinking and call her back when they were more like 3-4 minutes apart. I also called my mom and told her to come and get Sarah.
Once my mom got there around 6:30 we woke up Sarah to say goodbye. She was adorable because she said -she- had to take me to the hospital. We left but we got stuck in construction traffic on the turnpike. OMFG I thought I was going to die getting contractions in the car, as standing was my preferred way of coping with them at home. We finally got to the hospital and met Ronni, my CNM, at the front desk. She took me right upstairs and checked me. I was 4cm, 100% and 0 station. I was 2cm and 50% at my appointment on Tuesday, so that was some definite improvement.
They got me changed and on the monitors, took some blood for labs, and got me on birthing ball, which is where I labored for the first few hours at the hospital..
Ronni checked me again after about 3 hours but I was only about 5-6, so the next contraction she stretched me to 6 and broke my water. Things picked up immediately, and after about 90 minutes I asked her to check me again because I wanted an epi. My goal had been 6cm because that was where I stalled with Sarah, and I had reached it and more, since I was at least 7 when she measured me. She put in the order for the epi and the doc got there quickly. He was great, and even gave me a little lesson as he explained the epi to me once he found out I was a medical student. And he stayed till he was sure it was working right. The hardest part of the day was holding still through contractions while he placed the epi but it was heavenly. I also think it helped me progress because my contractions started to look better on the strip like my body had been fighting them before. The next she checked me I was 9cm and +2. Woot woot!
Ronni then had me labor down for awhile, then I started pushing at 3pm. At first they said I was doing great but it didn't feel like I was doing anything. One thing that was good and bad about the epi was that I could still feel pressure and some pain in my butt. It was unpleasant but it really helped me know when and how to push. Ronni and my nurse said I was doing great but the baby was very stubborn but handling pushing really well. We eventually had me flip onto my left side to push, which helped me a lot. The last hour was hell, though. I was so tired I was nodding off between contractions even though they were really starting to hurt. Ronni was a bit of an ass kicker while I was pushing but I really needed her to be. They put a mirror up for me and it was really motivating to see him sloooooowly work his way out, but after 3 hours of pushing I finally pushed out his head and Ronni pulled him the rest of the way out and put him on my chest. She checked and said it was a boy and DH and I were flipping out. His Apgars were 9 & 9. Ronni and my nurse said I was a rockstar. I can't believe I did it! I am thrilled I got my VBAC but after 3 hours of pushing I can definitely see the appeal of an RCS. Despite his pretty large head, because he took so long to crown, I didn't tear at all. I have 2 "skid marks" as Ronni called them, and she put one suture in each and they don't hurt YET but the peri bottle is a Godsend. They gave me some pit afterwards because I pushed for so long they my uterus to contract down but I didn't really mind it. My nurses and my midwife were great. In fact, all the staff here have been great. DH was a WONDERFUL support person. Way better than last time, but don't tell him that. 
.
Alexander Dominic was born at 5:56pm. He weighs 8 lbs. 6 oz. and is 20.5" long. He has some brown hair that I hope stays. Sarah is coming to visit us with grandmom as soon as she can tomorrow.
This is my favorite picture from when he was just born: https://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/298093_2445083169099_1312497545_2812950_769496646_n.jpg
I did it!
Wife, mom, Ob/Gyn resident
Sarah - 12/23/2008
Alex - 9/30/2011
"I say embrace the total geek in yourself and just enjoy it. Life is too short to be cool." - Shirley Manson, Garbage
Sarah - 12/23/2008
Alex - 9/30/2011
"I say embrace the total geek in yourself and just enjoy it. Life is too short to be cool." - Shirley Manson, Garbage
This discussion has been closed.
Re: I had my VBAC!
DS2 - Oct 2010 (my VBAC baby!)
HOORAY!! Congrats! I was waiting for your announcement. I am so glad that you had such a great experience with Ronni. Despite the rep. that the hospital has around town, I think they have such a great maternity floor too.
Enjoy that baby- so excited for you!
Thank you!
Ronni was amazing. Really. She doesn't let all the crazy schit that comes out of your mouth sway her from what she knows you really want. I would recommend her to anyone.
And yeah, I heard the hospital sucks for everything but maternity, but I loved the floor. Yeah, the building's old, but the staff is amazing. Every last person was so nice. Did you know the hospital has some partnership with Einstein now? They are building a new hospital and the current building will become a SNF or outpatient facility or something. I can only imagine the new maternity ward will be nice since I think they want to get a piece of that pie.
Sarah - 12/23/2008
Alex - 9/30/2011
"I say embrace the total geek in yourself and just enjoy it. Life is too short to be cool." - Shirley Manson, Garbage
Oh, and because I always like it when people include these facts...
Sarah was born via C-section due to a failed induction and fetal intolerance to labor. They induced me at 39 1/2 weeks because they thought my fluid was low. It turns out it wasn't. Then I stalled out at 6cm and because I was up to the maximum dose of pit by that point, she was having decels with every contraction I had.
Alexander also weighs about 2 oz. more than his sister, but was a little bit shorter (I forget right now if Sarah was 20.75" or 21.75").
Sarah - 12/23/2008
Alex - 9/30/2011
"I say embrace the total geek in yourself and just enjoy it. Life is too short to be cool." - Shirley Manson, Garbage
DC#2 born silent at 22 weeks 1.11.11
Dc#3 born vbac 1/2012 <bra DC#4 born VBAC 3/2014