My super-long, super-late, super-complicated birth story!

Well, my son is 2 months old today, and I have been on a bump-hiatus since before he was born! I went back to work this week, so I have some time now to post my birth story

I found out on May 9th while at the dr. that THAT was my actual due date. Not my supposed due date of May 6th (long story). I was trying for a VBAC, so they were willing to let me go to 41 weeks, and if I wasn't in labor by then, then they were going to do a gentle induction. Fast-forward to my next appointment at 40 weeks, 5 days. My non-stress test and sono all looked great, and my little guy was very happy just hanging out inside! My amniotic fluid however, was very low, and my doc was concerned enough to suggest that we induce the next day. Dispite my birth plan which included not wanting an induction, and few medical interventions, I agreed obviously as I wanted my baby's perfect health to remain so.

We showed up the next morning at our scheduled time of 6 am. They spent some time taking all of my info into the computer, and getting me set up with hospital garb and an IV. My doc came in and talked to me about the plan. Since I was a VBAC, they wanted to start me on VERY low dose pit and increase it every half hour by only half of the dose that they would give a normal induction. I would be on the pit for 8 hours and then they would take me off, and let me eat and sleep. Rinse and repeat for every day after until we had a baby. She warned me that because it was a slow induction, we may not have a baby until the weekend possibly. It was Tuesday The first day, the contractions only started getting uncomfortable the last 2 hours or so. I didn't really have to breathe through them or anything, but I definitely felt them. I was checked that night and was 1 cm and 50% effaced. I entered the hospital at 1 cm and 20% effaced. I was told that the pit was doing it's job my effacing my cervix, and they weren't as concerned with dilation yet.

The next morning, I went on the pit early, and the last few hours of it, the contractions were a little stronger than the day before. I had to breathe through them, and I found that getting up and moving around was much better than being in bed. Doc came in to shut the pit off, and we decided to insert a foley bulb to help dilate my cervix that night. They could barely get the bulb in as I was still only dilated to 1, but they got it. That night I rolled over, and felt a pop, which I thought was my water breaking. I woke DH next to me, and called for the nurse. She thought it was my water too, and told me it was clear. I told her I had a foley bulb in, and she said that might be what had broken. My doc came in and confirmed that I had broken my own foley bulb. Great.

Back to pit the next morning. They were increasing the dose now, and I found myself either pacing and swaying through the contractions, or rocking on the ball to ease the discomfort. I was in pain now, but nothing that I thought I needed medication for as I was able to be up and moving. This helped so much. I have no clue how people labor med-free in bed! I would not be able to! Side note: I chose to not get the epi if at all possible because it made the chances of a successful VBAC less likely. I called my doula and asked her to come now because I felt like I needed her support and suggestions for positions I could get into to manage the pain. Eight hours later, I was exhausted as they turned off the pit. My body was having contractions on its own at this point, but they weren't coming as regularly. I was checked and I was 3 cm's and 80%! I was thrilled! That night the plan was to insert laminaria sticks (sticks of dried kelp which slowly absorb water and expand to further dilate my cervix) overnight.

They next morning, the laminaria was taken out and I was checked. The process of the laminaria being pulled through my cervix was literally like someone stabbing my insides with knives. It was so much worse than any contraction or pain that I have ever felt! I am pretty pain tolerant, but I just laid there and sobbed as they did it. I was still only 3 cm's and 80%. Back to the pit. It was the full dosage now. I called my doula right away, and she came and was my savior as I swayed and worked my way through waves of the worst contractions yet.

What came next was the turning point. I had been having this pain shooting down my right leg from my pelvis for the past day or so. As I got up to go to the bathroom, an unbelievable searing pain shot down my leg and across my lower abdomen. I gasped and grabbed my stomach. DH and my doula were concerned, as we called for the doc and explained what had happened. The baby's heartrate had remained perfect through the entire induction, so he was fine. Doc said it didn't sound like uterine rupture, and that everything appeared to be ok. She said that we could continue on but we did need to re-evaluate things at the end of the night because I hadn't made any progress in 24 hours. Then she left so we could discuss what we wanted to do. Something was not right, and I felt it. My doula said that she had seen the concern in my eyes. I knew a c-section would be the best thing. I didn't know why, but I knew that's what we needed to do. DH and my doula agreed. My doc came back and told us that she would try to get us in for the section that evening, but there were several sections scheduled ahead of me, and as long as both the baby and I looked ok, we could rest until it was time.

I felt such relief after they turned off the pit. The contractions were still coming, but not as frequently now. They filled the tub and I relaxed in the warm water until they told me it was time to go. After 4 days of pitocin, a foley bulb, laminaria, no pain meds and no sleep, I was ready to be done and meet my son. My doc and doula and the midwives told me they were so proud of me, and that I was making the right decision. I had given it my all, but motherly instincts were kicking in and I knew something wasn't right. I looked at myself in the mirror before I left my room, and didn't even recognize myself. The bags under my eyes were huge!

I was able to walk to the operating room. Something I could not do with my first as I had gotten the epidural. It took a few tries to get the spinal in, and I just let the numbness take over.  I asked my doc how my incision on my uterus looked, and she said it looked strong and great. As they pulled him out, I heard him scream, and they said "oh he has a black eye!" "WHAT???" I yelled. DH went to look at him and was talking to him as they sewed me up. He said he looked like his older brother, and that he was perfect. I was convinced that he was going to weigh 10 lbs, but was only 8 lbs 6 oz! Almost a pound smaller than his brother!

His face was covered in bruises, and my doc explained that he was over in the right side of my pelvis and was a face presentation. Every time I would have a contraction, his face would slam down into my pelvic bone. My doula said that it would have taken days of different excercises to get him into position, and he still probably would not have come out. I was so grateful we made the decision that we did. Trust your instincts mama's! I was able to breastfeed right after getting sewn up, which was not something I got to do with my first. He latched right on, and my doula helped me hold his head up as I was shaky from the anesthesia.

It was a bit of a rougher recovery that my first, but after a week in the hospital, we finally got to go home. Let's just say that if we try for a third, and I don't go into labor by my due date, I will more than likely schedule a c-section this time! Congrats all my fellow May mommy's, and you deserve a reward if you read the entirety of this insanely long post!