Owen's birth story - LONG

selenawrites · January 2012

Owen?s due date (January 8) fell right before the full moon, and I wondered if the myth of women going into labor during a full moon was true, but I also had a feeling I would go well overdue since my mom was two weeks late with all three of us. I?d had a super easy pregnancy and only in the week before my due date did I start feeling any real discomfort. On January 9, I went to my doctor appointment, anxious to hear whether I was making any progress, but the doctor said I was not dilated at all. I had an ultrasound, which showed everything looked healthy with Owen, and the tech guessed he would be 8.5 lbs! Later that night, I lost my mucus plug, but I knew that wasn?t necessarily a sign of labor. But at 5 a.m. the next morning, I woke up with strong cramps. I began timing them and they were about seven minutes apart. When DH got ready for work later that morning, I told him to keep his phone close. I laid in bed all day as the contractions grew more painful. DH called to check on me at 2 p.m., and I told him I was starting to get really uncomfortable and the contractions were five minutes apart. He rushed home and I called my doctor?s office, and they said to head to the hospital if the contractions get too painful. I toughed it out until 5 p.m. when the pain grew more piercing. It?s funny to think now, but as we got our hospital bags ready, I did my hair and makeup before we left. On our way in the taxi, I texted my mom and sisters to let them know we were heading in.

When we arrived, we had some paperwork to fill out, and it seemed my contractions were slowing down all of a sudden. I was checked by a nurse who seemed skeptical because I wasn?t doubled over in pain ? she said I should be ?mentally prepared to be in much more pain.? Then the on-call doctor checked me, and he said I wasn?t dilated at all ? I felt so defeated! He told me to go home and have a glass of wine and try to get my uterus to relax (and just how does one relax one?s uterus?). I texted ?nevermind, false labor? to my family.

When we got home, DH ordered us pizza and got a bottle of wine while I laid in bed, writhing in pain. The contractions were getting worse so I shifted around the room, leaned over the bed, twisted my hips?whatever I could do to get through them. After having a couple slices and some wine (which didn?t provide any relief, by the way) I moved to the rocking chair, where I breathed and moaned through contractions that came every five minutes all night long. I took two hot showers in an attempt for relief, but by 4 a.m., I was on the verge of tears and hyperventilating. I woke up DH (who really hadn?t slept because he felt so bad for me) and told him this was it, we are going to the hospital and they are not turning me away this time. We rushed there in another taxi, and this time I was wearing baggy pjs, my hair was a mess and I was grimacing in pain. The same on-call doctor checked me and ? hallelujah ? I was dilated to 4 cm. This was it, I thought, looking into DH?s eyes. Time to text the family again ? we are having a baby!

The doctor asked me if I wanted an epidural, and the look on my face was clearly a yes. I had originally wanted to attempt a med-free birth, but after 15 hours of laboring on my own, I knew I needed some relief from the stabbing pain if I was going to have the energy to deliver. After what seemed like forever, we were moved into a delivery room and I finally got the epidural at 9 a.m. The anesthesiologist had a hard time inserting the catheter, and had to call in another doctor to do it correctly, which was a little nerve-wracking. Within minutes, my contractions were no longer painful, but I wasn?t exactly comfortable either. Luckily, Dr. Sklar, the doctor who would be delivering my baby, put me right at ease and she told DH and I to rest up. We also had an awesome nurse who kept making little jokes to help us relax. Between 10 a.m. and noon, I progressed from 6 cm to 10 cm. At some point, Dr. Sklar broke my water, discovering the baby had meconium, which she said wasn?t serious but would require pediatricians at my delivery.

Dr. Sklar was concerned because the baby was still high up, and she thought he might be sunny-side up, which could delay things by several more hours, she said. Then a medical assistant entered the room with a new kind of ultrasound that showed us where the baby?s head was positioned in my pelvis. Sure enough, Owen was sunny-side up, so they had me lay on my left side to see if we could get him to turn. At this point, I was feeling painful contractions in my upper right thigh. The anesthesiologist topped off my dosage, but said there was nothing he could do for my thigh because the baby was pushing on a nerve deep in my pelvis. I put on some music as I laid on my side to try and get myself to relax. When they checked the ultrasound again, the baby had turned and dropped lower ? at 1:15 p.m., it was time to push!

Here?s where things got tougher than I ever imagined. As Dr. Sklar explained how to push, I realized that I could not feel the muscles I needed due to the epidural. DH held my left leg while a medical student (I gave permission for him to observe, didn?t realize he would be participating) held my right. With each contraction, I took a deep breath and pushed as hard as I could. It took about an hour of pushing before I could even feel myself push. DH did a great job feeding me ice chips and keeping my forehead cool with a washcloth in between pushes. For nearly two more hours, I used every bit of strength in my body, worried that if things didn?t progress I?d end up in a C section. I worried maybe Owen was bigger than 8 lbs and would get stuck. I felt as though I was running an endless marathon. As the pushing grew more exhausting, Dr. Sklar kept encouraging me, and asked if I wanted the mirror so I could see the birth. I decided I did, and with the last few pushes, we saw Owen?s head emerge and then the rest of his body at 3:52 p.m., 1/11/12. I immediately felt overjoyed as the pediatricians whisked him to an examination table next to us to clean the meconium and we heard him cry. I was also relieved to hear that after 26 hours of labor, I didn?t tear, so no stitches!

DH was the first to see Owen up close, and said he winked at him, and we were both in awe as the doctors placed him on my chest. His timing was impeccable ? within 15 minutes of being born, my mom and sisters arrived after driving all day to NYC from Maine and Boston. He has a perfectly round face, alert eyes, a cute little nose and beautiful lips. He has strawberry blond hair. We?re not sure what color his eyes will be, but for now they are grey. The pediatrician said he was ?stunning? and perfectly healthy at 7.3 lbs and 20 inches long. He took to breastfeeding right away and has been the sweetest newborn we could ask for. We are so in love, and our little family is complete.

selenawrites · January 2012

Owen's due date (January 8) fell right before the full moon, and I wondered if the myth of women going into labor during a full moon was true, but I also had a feeling I would go well overdue since my mom was two weeks late with all three of us. I'd had a super easy pregnancy and only in the week before my due date did I start feeling any real discomfort. On January 9, I went to my doctor appointment, anxious to hear whether I was making any progress, but the doctor said I was not dilated at all. I had an ultrasound, which showed everything looked healthy with Owen, and the tech guessed he would be 8.5 lbs! Later that night, I lost my mucus plug, but I knew that wasn't necessarily a sign of labor. But at 5 a.m. the next morning, I woke up with strong cramps. I began timing them and they were about seven minutes apart. When DH got ready for work later that morning, I told him to keep his phone close. I laid in bed all day as the contractions grew more painful. DH called to check on me at 2 p.m., and I told him I was starting to get really uncomfortable and the contractions were five minutes apart. He rushed home and I called my doctor's office, and they said to head to the hospital if the contractions get too painful. I toughed it out until 5 p.m. when the pain grew more piercing. It's funny to think now, but as we got our hospital bags ready, I did my hair and makeup before we left. On our way in the taxi, I texted my mom and sisters to let them know we were heading in.

When we arrived, we had some paperwork to fill out, and it seemed my contractions were slowing down all of a sudden. I was checked by a nurse who seemed skeptical because I wasn't doubled over in pain -- she said I should be "mentally prepared to be in much more pain." Then the on-call doctor checked me, and he said I wasn't dilated at all -- I felt so defeated! He told me to go home and have a glass of wine and try to get my uterus to relax (and just how does one relax one's uterus?). I texted "nevermind, false labor" to my family.

When we got home, DH ordered us pizza and got a bottle of wine while I laid in bed, writhing in pain. The contractions were getting worse so I shifted around the room, leaned over the bed, twisted my hips--whatever I could do to get through them. After having a couple slices and some wine (which didn't provide any relief, by the way) I moved to the rocking chair, where I breathed and moaned through contractions that came every five minutes all night long. I took two hot showers in an attempt for relief, but by 4 a.m., I was on the verge of tears and hyperventilating. I woke up DH (who really hadn't slept because he felt so bad for me) and told him this was it, we are going to the hospital and they are not turning me away this time. We rushed there in another taxi, and this time I was wearing baggy pjs, my hair was a mess and I was grimacing in pain. The same on-call doctor checked me and -- hallelujah -- I was dilated to 4 cm. This was it, I thought, looking into DH's eyes. Time to text the family again -- we are having a baby!

The doctor asked me if I wanted an epidural, and the look on my face was clearly a yes. I had originally wanted to attempt a med-free birth, but after 15 hours of laboring on my own, I knew I needed some relief from the stabbing pain if I was going to have the energy to deliver. After what seemed like forever, we were moved into a delivery room and I finally got the epidural at 9 a.m. The anesthesiologist had a hard time inserting the catheter, and had to call in another doctor to do it correctly, which was a little nerve-wracking. Within minutes, my contractions were no longer painful, but I wasn't exactly comfortable either. Luckily, Dr. Sklar, the doctor who would be delivering my baby, put me right at ease and she told DH and I to rest up. We also had an awesome nurse who kept making little jokes to help us relax. Between 10 a.m. and noon, I progressed from 6 cm to 10 cm. At some point, Dr. Sklar broke my water, discovering the baby had meconium, which she said wasn't serious but would require pediatricians at my delivery.

Dr. Sklar was concerned because the baby was still high up, and she thought he might be sunny-side up, which could delay things by several more hours, she said. Then a medical assistant entered the room with a new kind of ultrasound that showed us where the baby's head was positioned in my pelvis. Sure enough, Owen was sunny-side up, so they had me lay on my left side to see if we could get him to turn. At this point, I was feeling painful contractions in my upper right thigh. The anesthesiologist topped off my dosage, but said there was nothing he could do for my thigh because the baby was pushing on a nerve deep in my pelvis. I put on some music as I laid on my side to try and get myself to relax. When they checked the ultrasound again, the baby had turned and dropped lower -- at 1:15 p.m., it was time to push!

Here's where things got tougher than I ever imagined. As Dr. Sklar explained how to push, I realized that I could not feel the muscles I needed due to the epidural. DH held my left leg while a medical student (I gave permission for him to observe, didn't realize he would be participating) held my right. With each contraction, I took a deep breath and pushed as hard as I could. It took about an hour of pushing before I could even feel myself push. DH did a great job feeding me ice chips and keeping my forehead cool with a washcloth in between pushes. For nearly two more hours, I used every bit of strength in my body, worried that if things didn't progress I'd end up in a C section. I worried maybe Owen was bigger than 8 lbs and would get stuck. I felt as though I was running an endless marathon. As the pushing grew more exhausting, Dr. Sklar kept encouraging me, and asked if I wanted the mirror so I could see the birth. I decided I did, and with the last few pushes, we saw Owen's head emerge and then the rest of his body at 3:52 p.m. I immediately felt overjoyed as the pediatricians whisked him to an examination table next to us to clean the meconium and we heard him cry. I was also relieved to hear that after 26 hours of labor, I didn't tear, so no stitches!

DH was the first to see Owen up close, and said he winked at him, and we were both in awe as the doctors placed him on my chest. His timing was impeccable -- within 15 minutes of being born, my mom and sisters arrived after driving all day to NYC from Maine and Boston. He has a perfectly round face, alert eyes, a cute little nose and beautiful lips. He has strawberry blond hair. We're not sure what color his eyes will be, but for now they are grey. The pediatrician said he was "stunning" and perfectly healthy at 7.3 lbs and 20 inches long. He took to breastfeeding right away and has been the sweetest newborn we could ask for. We are so in love, and our little family is complete.