Birth ,story from a lurker :)

penguinem · February 2012

Hello ladies!

I infrequently posted on this board during my pregnancy, and I learned a lot from checking out posts almost daily. I am so thankful for the knowledge and encouragement recieved here; I figured the least I could do is share my story!

Last friday morning (at exactly 39 weeks) I awoke at 4:30 am with regular contractions, about 7 minutes apart, that I couldn't sleep through. I timed for a while and finally got up. I spent the day at home doing last minute things and getting things set as the contractions intensified and at 5:30, DH and I went to the hospital. When I got there, I was only 2 cm and my contractions had slowed a little, but I knew this was it (I'd been having very regular contractions for over 12 hours already), and I was bound and determined to stay, so they gave us an hour- we walked the halls and at the end, still 2 cm. They said they were sending us home, but I had to get on the external monitor for one more reading for 20 minutes. When the nurse came back in after about a half hour, I said, "I am so confused. If this isn't labor I have NO idea how I will know when it actually comes." She told me the contractions had intensified and checked me and I was 3-4, so I got to stay!

I should say that my plan all along had been a VBAC and I was lucky enough to be at a practice that fully supported me; I honestly didn't even know VBACs were controversial until I found this board! When I cried at my 6 wk check up for DD about having a C-section, I remember my doctor said, "it's okay, you can just have a vaginal birth next time", as casual as ever (which didn't help at the time, but now it's nice....). I delivered at a major medical center where VBACs are routine, and my C-Section was scheduled due to a footling breech baby, so I was the "perfect candidate". Plus, the stars aligned for me to go into labor naturally!

Anyway, we got into the L&D room and my contractions were getting strong, long, and intense. I labored on the ball for several hours (laying down HURT!) and tried to walk around the room, but they did insist on external monitoring, and honestly I didn't feel like moving much anyway. I was trying to go as long as possible, perhaps altogether, without an epidural, but I was open to the idea. As the contractions got closer and closer together, I couldn't really labor on the ball, walk, or do anything, and I started vomiting from the pain; the anesthesiologist came in and he and the nurse basically tried to convince me to get an epidural; we talked about options, how it could affect things, and he promised to be very sensitive to my concerns when administering it. I got re-checked and was at a 7, the nurse said she highly doubted labor would stall at the point given the speed and intensity, and I decided to go ahead. It turned out to be a good decision; the epi was very gentle, I could always feel my legs and shift around the bed, and I still had to breathe through the contractions- all that it did was "take the edge off", which is exactly what I asked for.

Shortly, I had dialated all the way. My nurse was great and helped me "learn" how to push. We did some practices, and then they asked me to labor down for a while. Once I felt how relieving it was to push though, it was really hard not to, and I wound up starting to push about 15 minutes later. The doctor came in, and it was just SO much more intimate than my C-section... only DH, the nurse, the OB, and I were in the room, and for a great deal of the pushing the doctor set at the foot of the bed. I was using a mirror, and finally as we got closer to crowning, they dropped the bed and put up the stirrups, but I couldn't really use them effectively so I never did. Several pushes later, and my son was born, placed right on my chest, and cleaned off there in the delivery room. It was so, so, amazing! We were able to do the "nursery bypass" and after we went to our mother/baby room, the nurse came in and did a bath with us, etc, and DS was with us the whole time! We left the hospital in less than 48 hours to be home with DD, and I am just thrilled with the way things turned out.

Unfortunately I have a third degree tear, and while I appreciate not having the issues an abdominal surgery brings, I'm not ready to sing praises of the recovery yet. For me though, the fact that I had the experience of a vaginal birth, something I'd looked forward to for years, is worth the complication.

Since my C-section, I always tell expectant mothers that I hope that they have the birth experience of their dreams; before that I never knew how precious that was. I am so happy that I was able to have mine, and I wish the same for each of you!!!

(edited to complete post after it posted too early.)

Jing22 · February 2012

Congratulations! Thank you for sharing. My first birth experience still makes me cry sometimes. I wish my ob was supportive of vbac like yours. Enjoy your baby!

fjaril · February 2012

Congrats!

cchill01 · February 2012

Congratulations! Thanks for sharing. Your doctor and medical center sound wonderful.

nosoup4u · February 2012

Hey, congrats! I'm glad you got to experience the birth you wanted .

I tore with my son also, and I felt significantly better around 2.5-3 weeks. I know I did sitz baths every night for awhile, and it seemed to help with healing. Oh! And freezing witch hazel in some big old-school pads was really nice, too.

Enjoy your new baby!!