Hi all! Pics are forthcoming (having some tech difficulties ), but I wanted to share Lyra's birth story! UPDATE - pic! (I can't get it to re-size, but if you right-click, you can open in a new window. Sorry!)
Well, once I posted on Thursday afternoon about my water breaking, I headed over to my midwives' office. In the taxi on the way, I started having timeable, but not painful, contractions 3 minutes apart. When I got to the office, they did what my friend likes to call an "idiot check" just to make sure I was really in labor, and then sent me over to the hospital. Since it was only 2 blocks away, I just walked over to L&D. At this point, I called my husband again to let him know that it definitely was my water breaking, and I hadn't peed myself. So he scooted out of the office, brought our dog over to the kennel, and headed over to meet me at the hospital.
WELL. Apparently that old wives' tale about storms bringing babies is true, because L&D was PACKED. When I got there about 15 mins. after leaving the midwives' office, my contractions were getting closer together and stronger, so they checked me into triage; I was 3cm. I had to get an IV of antibiotics, since I never got a chance to do the GBS test, but at that point I kind of didn't notice it much.
Just when the contractions were getting painful enough that I needed help, my husband showed up (he apparently had to flag an off-duty cab - when he told the driver his wife was in labor, the guy said, "Dude, get in! Is this, like, a run red lights kind of situation?? How fast do you need me to go??"). It had been about 2 hours since my water broke at this point, and my contractions were strong and about a minute apart. That's when the fun part started, where I would get sick in between contractions, and the pain started to move around to my back because of Lyra's position. They checked again, and I was only at 5cm, so I basically called it on going natural and asked for an epi, thinking it would be several hours of back labor until she was born. Since I was still in triage, they couldn't do it there, but there were still no rooms, so they moved us to recovery (sorry, all you ladies who were recovering and having to listen to me yell from behind the curtain).
I was basically squatting through every contraction at this point, and when the anesthesiologist showed up, they checked me again because I suddenly started feeling like I needed to push. Well, ladies, just over 4 hours after my water broke, I was fully dilated. So it was too late for the epidural, and I went natural after all! I pushed for about half an hour, and out she came!
Lyra Jane was born at 8:55pm, weighing 5 pounds, 11oz, and 17.5 inches long with an APGAR of 9/10. She stayed on my chest keeping warm for about an hour, and we nursed a little. It was amazing to meet this little person that I felt like I already knew - to see the feet that were kicking me, and touch her head.
And then I made DH bring me a turkey sandwich, oreos, and lemonade while they examined her and did the vitamin K, etc. Let me tell you, that was the best turkey sandwich I've ever had. We came home yesterday, and now we're just figuring out what to do now that we're in charge of this little person!
Re: Lyra's Birth Story (long!)
#1: Congrats!!!!!!!!!!
#2: Based on your description of logistics---taxi, midwife, 2 blks to hospital, can I ask if you were at SLR in NYC? The expectant parent we are matched with is planning to give birth there and I'm just curious about the friendliness of midwives etc!
DD born 12.21.09, conceived w/ injects and IUI
TTC#2 since Nov 2011
BFP 2.6.12 m/c 6w5d | BFP 5.25.12 c/p
-Back to the RE-
3 medicated IUIs, all BFN
-Taking a break from treatment-
BFP 11.20.12 ~ EDD 7.28.13
My Chart
I am in NYC, but I delivered at Methodist, in Park Slope. I've heard good things about SLR, though - I just didn't want to get stuck in traffic on my way to the hospital
good job natural birth
I lost my angels 07/2010, 04/2017, 10/2017
Meimsx no more
DD's Food Allergies: Peanuts and Rice, Outgrown Dairy!
8/09 Dx PCOS & Hashimoto's
BFP #2 12/13/11. Missed M/C at 11w5d, measured 8w6d. D&C 2/1/12
Never in my arms, but always in my heart.
So far, so good. I had a 1st degree tear, so I have a couple of stitches, but I'm not in much pain (that dermaplast spray is amazing). I actually feel pretty good, considering I was up every 3 hours nursing her last night! There's definitely a nap in my future, though...
Married: 4/5/13
"You know that place between sleep and awake,
that place where you can still remember dreaming?
That's where I will always love you.
That's where I'll be waiting."
~Peter Pan
*TW*
BFP #2: 10/29/17 MMC dx @ 9 weeks
BFP #3: 2/2/18 MC 2/7/18
BFP #4: 3/2/18 MC 3/9/18
RPL testing and hysteroscopy: all normal
BFP #5: 4/1/18 MMC dx @ 14 weeks ----> genetically normal girl
Hysteroscopy to remove scar tissue 9/28
BFP #6 11/5/18 EDD 7/20/19
BFP #7 12/8/2021 EDD 8/22/2022
Congratulations! I'm glad you were able to have the pain med free birth you wanted and that it went so quickly for you!
Welcome, Baby Lyra!
LOL this is exactly the expectant mom's fear.
Congratulations!
I'm in Park Slope and delivering at Methodist too. I also have the same due date that you did - although I have a feeling I'll have to wait another couple of weeks. Hopefully not too long, though!
Best of luck to you and little Lyra!