XP: (warning long) sharing my birth story

RedLucia · September 2013

Thank you for being a great online support.

I’d like to share my birth story.

Thursday September 5, 2013 at 10:53AM Baby Siena Kathleen was born (7 lb 8 oz, 19.5 in). There was new moon and a thunderstorm.

2:45AM: I woke with contractions too hard to sleep through. I walked around thinking they would subside.

4:30AM: I told DH, “I think I may need some help. You should get up.” I asked him to get my yoga mat and birth ball so I could try some relief positions. While he was getting those things, I timed a few contractions. I had not yet timed any because I thought they might be BHs. They were at 2 to 3 min apart and lasting for a minute. I thought…”Am I timing the right thing?...and I’m supposed to time it for an hour…” I told DH to pack the last minute things for the hospital bag.

5:00AM: I heard a “pop” and my mucus blood and water burst spraying onto at least a 3X3 foot area of the floor. The “blood” in the show was very well in tact. I snapped a picture on my phone and asked DH to call L&D. I took a few steps and about ½ additional cup poured out. A night call person took our number and we packed up the hospital bag while waiting for a call back.

6:00AM: We were checked in at the birth center. They hooked me up to the external monitor and monitored baby’s heartbeat and my contractions for 90 minutes before agreeing I should be admitted. They couldn’t get the amniotic fluid test strip to turn green so I had to wear a pad until more dripped out. The nurse asked me if the contractions were getting more severe. I was standing next to the bed and breathing through them.

7:30AM: Finally a clear cylinder of mucus came out and I said, “Test this.” Nurse says, “OK but it could just be vaginal discharge.” Hoorah…it showed amniotic fluid. They said I should stay and DH called the doula. They hooked up the IV for antibiotics for GBS. I said, “This is more intense than I expected. I’d like an epidural too.” Nurse says she’ll get the CNM to check my cervix (my 1^st cervical check). “Your 5-6CM dilated. Perfect time for an epidural.” We will be back soon.

8:00AM: They are back to start the epidural and the antibiotic drip. Meanwhile, I let out an “ehhhhh grunt” during a contraction and the nurse asks, “Are you feeling an urge to push.” I reply, “Yes, but maybe it is too soon. I’m supposed to have the antibiotics for 4 hours before I push out the baby.” “Let’s check you again before the epidural.” …”You are completely dilated and at stage plus 1. Too late for an epidural. Let’s have a baby.”

8:30ish: I am asked to get on the bed to be monitored as I start to push baby. Something happened with me switching positions…pressure on the cord or baby distressed from hard contractions. The baby’s heart rate was below 100 beats/min. for too many minutes. They told me I may need an emergency C-section or vacuum assist and they rushed me to another floor to an OR room and gave me oxygen between contractions. By the time I got to the OR, baby’s heart rate went up to the 130 range and stayed there for a good while.

10:30ish: I feel at a stand still pushing and with each contraction the baby just doesn’t quite get born, because my perineum just won’t stretch or tear. The CNM was also pulling on the perineum with each push and it just would not budge. I asked for some sort of help.

10:50: CNM offered an episiotomy and I enthusiastically said yes.

10:53: With the next push baby was born. They cleaned the meconium off her and she wailed. She quickly latched and stayed alert nursing for the next 4 hours before sleeping. I got stitched up. We were kept for 48 hours because of monitoring for infection and all was all right. We brought the placenta home to plant with a fruit tree in the backyard. We also did painted tree prints with it.

So I had a vaginal birth without pain medicine in the OR, which the staff thought was quite awesome. I felt I was in good hands, but was truly worried being rushed to the OR room and given oxygen. I kind of liked the OR room because they had pictures of blue sky with clouds on the ceiling and I could see a reflection of baby crowning the whole time in the light at the end of the bed. Paying for a doula, though, was a waste because she could not be with us in OR. I had so many stitches, but they say it was 2^nd degree, not 3^rd degree tear. Baby had not dropped until the water broke and I didn’t really think I was truly in labor until that point.