Haley's birth story (sorry I'm late)

mamasmurf12 · February 2013

The day after my due date (which was 2/11), my OB scheduled me for induction. I was on an emotional roller coaster about agreeing to it, but I said "yes" anyways. Then, after making peace w/ it, the hospital kept bumping us all day which made me really anxious to go into labor on my own. They told us to come in at 6am (again) on Wednesday morning, but of course called us (again) at 5:30 am to say they had no rooms. After being so emotional and anxious the day before, I was determined to stay relaxed so I went back to bed and made a point to ignore my family's criticism of the hospital and the situation. Before I got up, I noticed I was having mild, period-type cramps. I also woke up with the urge to organize (which could have been me trying to get my mind off of things). The cramps stayed fairly mild and non-rhythmic all morning, but I think now I was in early labor. Around 12pm, while my parents were out to lunch (they took DD w/ them, thank goodness) the hospital finally called and said that they had a room. All the uneasiness I had had about a non-medically necessary induction flew out the window. I was ready to meet our second daughter, and I no longer felt like I was going against my body's timetable b/c I knew what I had been feeling that morning was the beginning...and that, since I was already 4cm, there was a good chance all that cramping was leading to something anyways. Sure enough, when we arrived at the hospital I was at 5cm, 90% effaced w/ baby at 0 station! My OB broke my water and hooked me up to the Pitocin sometime between 1:30 and 2 pm. I remember being very disappointed that the nurse would not let me out of the bed to use a birthing ball or anything like that. I had planned on going med-free (partially out of necessity b/c we had discovered that epidurals don't do squat for me b/c of previous back surgeries). DH had the "labor music" playlist he had made (mostly praise & worship...w/ a little Jack Johnson and Norah Jones mixed in), and my sister was there for support since she has had 3 kids, 2 med-free (one breech...crazy super lady, lol). I had DH on one side of the bed holding my hand through my contractions, and my sister on the other rubbing my back. From about 5-7cm, I was able to talk and joke through my contractions (or at least between them). I used the music DH had picked as a focal point and tried to sing/harmonize when they started getting more intense. I can't remember what time it was (maybe 4pm), that they checked me and I was still at 7cm but almost completely thinned and baby had not moved down anymore. I was getting discouraged, at that point, b/c the contractions had picked way up in intensity. They kept telling me I would be ready when the doctor came back in after she went to her 4:30 appointment, but I didn't see how. At that point, I was still trying to sing through my contractions but it felt like the pain and pressure were constant. It took everything I had in me not to push, even though I knew I wasn't dilated far enough to do so. DH had been putting clean, cold washcloths on my forehead and I started grabbing the cloth w/ my teeth and pulling it tight to keep from pushing down. I actually remembered something from the Ina Mays book about talking to your baby and your body, and during one of the contractions started telling Haley it was time to move down. A little while before the doctor came in, the nurse (who was nice but not my favorite) checked and said the baby had moved down but I was still 7cm. I was so disappointed! Then, a few contractions later, the doctor came in to check me. She had me roll onto my back to check and yelled "You rock! You're a 9! Break down the bed, we're having a baby!" I was totally confused since all I could think was "I still have a cm to go, what are they doing?". Apparently I had jumped to a 10 pretty quickly. They put my feet in the stirrups and I felt a contraction coming on and heard them say "it's go time". I said "I can push?" and they said "yes ma'am". My sister said I had the goofiest look of relief on my face. I grabbed both of my legs and pushed and heard them say "There's the head!" and pushed through the next contraction and out she came!! She nursed immediately after, and latched on like a champ. Haley Nicole was 8lbs, 8oz and 19 inches long, born at 5:22pm on February 13. She looks SO much like her big sister, and her Daddy and I have had our hearts stolen for the second time!