Griffin's birth story (Loooong and PIPs)

Sparty On · September 2012

Okay, here's the good stuff first:

And for the details...

At 12:30 Wednesday morning, I woke up to pee and thought I peed in the bed a little. I stood up and fluid came gushing out, so I quickly realized my water broke. An hour later, we were in triage and I was dilated to 1.5. My contractions were irregular in intensity and frequency. After 2 hours without progress they gave me a pit drip. The pit definitely did it's job and the contractions got quite painful so I had nubane (sp?) added to my IV. That didn't do a darn thing and I was able to get an epi around 6 am. I think I would have been able to last longer without it if I was able to walk around, but since my water had already broken I had to stay in bed the entire time.

After I got the epi things were much better and I was able to get some sleep for about 45 minutes at a time. They were gradually upping the amount of pit, but had to back it off a couple times because the baby didn't like it. Between epi doses, MH coached me through breathing and contractions until it was time for more. I was shaking a ton pretty much the whole day, even when I was completely relaxed from the epi.

Since my water had broken, they didn't want to check my cervix due to risk of infection. Around 1:30 or 2, I was feeling a ton of pressure like I had to take a huge poop. I told the nurse but they said I probably wasn't dilated all the way yet since it hadn't been that long. Around 2:30 I insisted that they check me or give me more drugs because the pressure was insane. My OB checked, and much to her surprise I was at 10 and ready to push!

I hadn't had any drugs in while so I was able to push effectively and, unfortunately, feel pretty effectively too. That whole "ring of fire" thing is no joke, even with epi drugs in my system. The women who do it completely naturally are superheroes in my book.

After pushing for 45 minutes and an episiotomy, Griffin Richard was born at 3:30 pm weighing 7 lbs, 11 oz and 20.5 inches long. He is perfect in every way and I cannot imagine loving anything more. He is a pretty calm baby and we are adjusting well to life as a family of 3.

Thanks again to my LB Beans for updating the board, and to all of you for your congrats and well wishes. And if you actually read all that, here's a prize.

ETA: tried to make a it a little less long. Btw, hopefully the chest hair gives it away but Griff is on MH in that pic, not me