Little one is here! Welcome Charlotte! (long post)

Missus123 · January 2012

I was due on Jan. 6 and had my little girl on Jan. 9, 2012. It's been a whirlwind of a week so I'm just getting around to detailing her birth story...here it goes:

I went into early labour early Sunday and started timing the period-like pains. Once they came every five minutes for a minute each for a little while we decided to go to the hospital. We don't live far so I got a shower, got my bag finished packed and went in around 11am. They told me at the hospital I had dilated another cm to 3cm total and 80% effaced. They suggested I go back home to rest up and labour some more until active labour started. The nurse wanted my contractions/pain to be more all-around my stomach instead of down low like they were.

Once home, I took some Tylenol and had a nap. Then, after eating a small lunch, I decided to go for a walk in a nearby park with SO but had to stop every so often to hold on to him to breathe through contractions. They were still down low in my stomach but coming stronger. I was out for about 1/2 hour and decided to return home. Around 5pm we decided to go back to the hospital to check and see how I was doing. They said I was 4cm dilated and the contractions were strong (I knew that!) so I was admitted. I laboured well and consistently on my own in hospital until i reached 7-8cm. The pain was still only low in my stomach and not all-over as the nurses suggested it would be. Plus I was getting really strong hip pain which I wasn't expecting. I tried different positions and the shower with warm water washing over me. Eventually the pain became really too intense and I asked for relief. I received Nubain around 9pm and was able to rest in between contracts and deal with the pain more effectively. My SO was a superstar and helped me through each one. I lost track of time but it must have felt like forever for him! As prepared as I thought I was, I really wasn't very prepared at all! Labour didn't feel like I thought it would - or like I'd read about - and it was lasting a long time.

By 1am was in a lot of pain and 8-9cm and asked for the epidural. That was a really different experience than I expected! The Dr. who administered it was really great and I didn't loose feeling 'down there' or in my legs. I just lost the majority of the pain in my hips and lower stomach. I could still feel the contractions right in my tail bone but it was manageable. I progressed slowly from there but was able to rest. I could feel the medicine wear off a few hours later and felt the sensation to push. Around 5am I started pushing twice for a count of 10 on every contraction (which were coming every 2-3 minutes). After and hour of this, the nurse said I had moved the baby but not very much. I kept trying and they kept monitoring me & baby...we were both doing fine. I wasn't pushing as effectively as I needed to though I felt like I was as strong as I could be at the time. I was just so tired and the pain in my hips made it really difficult to push effectively. I kept having to lower my legs after each push to get relief.

I don't know how I did it, but I ended up pushing for 4 hours! the doctors came in several times to tell me I had options like to continue pushing, trying vacuum/forceps, or opt for an emergency c-section. Since all our vitals were still really good and i wanted to keep trying for a normal vaginal birth, I kept pushing. at 9am the doctor said I no longer had a choice and that I would have to have a c-section or risk my health and the baby's health. It had been too long and I was exhausted. We got prepped and wheeled into the OR. It was so scary since I had never been in hospital before and now I was preparing to have a surgery I didn't want. But the baby's health and my health were priorities...not my feelings or insecurities.

At 11:04am on Monday, Jan. 9, our little girl entered the world and she was just perfect!

It turned out she was head-down and facing the right way but her head was turned enough to make her journey down the birth canal difficult. Plus she was a whopping 9lbs 12oz (and almost 2ft long!) and my pelvis was more narrow than could accommodate her. As soon as we heard her cries and the surgical team said she was OK we were so relieved! It was worth all the stress and having to go through surgery to get her here safe and sound.

Now we're home and getting used to our new life. I'm recovering well from the procedure and our little girl is growing...she's gained 9oz from her discharge weight since leaving hospital. We can't wait to learn more every day about our new addition!