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Birth Stories
BeachBabe22
member
My almost perfect birth story
BeachBabe22
member
My water broke on Sunday at 11:30pm while I was sitting on the couch with my husband. I ran into the bathroom and wasn't certain if it was my water breaking or I accidentally peed myself. I told my husband and we decided to wait and see if I would start having contractions. I continued to leak throughout the night and around 9am Monday morning I called the nurses line so see what they suggested. My midwife told me at my last appointment that if my water broke, was clear, and didn't have a fever then I could continue to labor at home so that was the plan. I still was not having contractions but my husband and mom thought it would be best to go to labor and delivery and see what was going on. I was convinced that they would tell me it wasn't my water since I didn't have any other signs of labor. It was my water and I was admitted to the hospital around 10:30 Monday morning. I was 2cm dilated and completely effaced at that point. I went over my birth plan with the nurse and OB which pretty much stated that I wanted to do everything as naturally as possible. They explained that they like to deliver within 24 hours of your water breaking because the risk of infection increases.
I walked around and used the birthing ball for a few hours and nothing was changing. The OB (I didn't really like her) suggested pitocin several times and I declined and said I really did not want it. She suggested that I try the Foley Bulb to dilate me so I finally agreed to try that. After about an hour and a half I was 3cm and contractions still were not strong enough to get my labor going. I walked and bounced on the ball some more and then the night shift OB and nurse came in. I was frustrated because it was already over 12 hours from when my water first broke and nothing was happening. The OB was so nice and talked to me about pitcocin and she understood my reasons for not wanting it. I talked to my husband and mom about it for a while and after many tears I agreed to the pitocin.
At 8:30pm we started out with 2 units and I continued to rock on the birthing ball. My contractions were getting closer together but still not anything that would lead to labor so it was increased to 4 units then to 6 units. Things got really intense and my contractions were pretty painful. I didn't think they could get any worse but they definitely did. The contractions were back to back and the worst pain I could ever imagine. I really had no concept of time at this point but my back and tailbone were hurting so bad that I was in tears and moaning like crazy. My nurse brought in a bar to hang across the end of the bed so I wasn't on my back. My mom told me that I was using the bar for about 15 minutes and at that point I was feeling so much pressure and I swore I was going to die (my husband kept telling me that you can't die from pain but I swore I could). I felt like I needed to push so I sent my mom to get the nurse but she told me that I probably wasn't at 10cm yet and I needed to wait a half hour before they would check me again. I told her I couldn't wait and I needed to push now. The OB came in a sure enough I was 10cm and ready to push. I pushed for a half and hour and my baby girl was born at 3:45am Tuesday morning. Somehow I didn't tear which I am so happy about but it felt like I was ripping as I pushed her out. We did skin to skin and she latched on right away.
I was so upset about needing pitocin but looking back at the situation I feel like I would still be hanging around the hospital waiting for labor to start on it's own if I didn't get it. I am so proud of myself for sticking to my plan and not getting an epidural. It was the most painful thing I could have imagined times 1000 but it was definitely worth it. I'm not sure if it's still considered a natural birth since I received pitocin but at least I was able to work through the pain without an epidural. I definitely plan on trying to go naturally again when we have our next baby.
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Re: My almost perfect birth story
Haha, my username should read "3Girlsand1BoyMama"...with #5 on the way! (and then we're done.)
Me, 33, DH, 32 DDs 9, 7, 4 and DS 2. EDD #5 4-29-15
DD#1 December '12
DD#2 New Year's Baby '15
Married 07/09
This! I only made it an hour after pitocin so my hat is off to you! Pit contractions are a different kind of fierce!