kks4471's Birth Story

kks4471 · June 2014

Short: Induced at 39w2d due to my type 1 diabetes. After about 32 hours, Colin Gregory was born 5/30/14 at 11:24pm. 6lb10oz, 20 3/4 inches.

Went to L&D on 5/29 at 4pm to begin my induction. I was only a fingertip dilated, and 70% effaced. Cervidil was placed at 5pm, and we sat back and relaxed. Twelve hours later on 5/30 at 5am, the Cervidil was removed, but I was only 1cm dilated. We began Pitocin at 8am to get the contractions going, which were regular but painless. Began bleeding at 9:30am, so that was a great sign of progress. At noon, my OB checked me to see where we at. I was 90% effaced, but still only 2cm dilated. The contractions were getting painful, so they actually scaled back the Pitocin then, hoping my body would kick in. I walked around the hall, sat on a yoga ball, and sat in a rocking chair for relief. At 3pm, I was only 3cm dilated, and my OB broke my water to help the process even more. I had high normal fluid on my U/S, and it was so weird to feel it all come out! At 4pm, I asked for a shot of pain medication. I don't remember the exact name, but I think it was a brand of morphine. It did help ease the peak of the contractions.

At 6pm, I felt like the pain medication was wearing off, so I asked my OB to check me so I could make a decision. I could either A) Get another pain medication shot,

Do nothing because I'm about to deliver, or C) Get epidural because it's going to be hours upon hours before delivery. I was only dilated 4cm, and knew I could not get through hours more of labor without the epidural. Anesthesiologist was there within 15 minutes, thank goodness. He had a hard time placing the cath, and kept asking me to lean even more forward. Kinda hard to lean forward during a strong contraction! My nurse teased him for being a guy, and "not understanding". It didn't hurt getting the epidural, and I very much appreciated the relief. A few minutes later though, baby started to have decels. I saw 70bpm on the screen, but it might have been lower because my OB rushed in a few minutes after that. I turned into different positions, and was told that if the decels don't stop, we're going to the OR. It was the most terrifying part of labor, I was in tears because I was so worried about baby, and was blaming myself for needing the epidural. After reading all the birth stories here, it sounds like it happens a lot! Finally got his heart back up to 150bpm, and we continued to labor.

At 8pm, I was 6cm dilated with very strong contractions on the monitor. At 10pm, I felt like I needed to poop! I literally asked my nurse if I could get up and use the bathroom. She said that feeling was baby incredibly low. Definitely a FTM moment there haha. She checked me, and said I was 9.5cm dilated. Finally! It was SO hard not to push while waiting to become 10cm, fortunately only took another 20 minutes. I began pushing at 10:30pm, what an exhausting experience. I would catch my breath during the contraction break, do great with the first push, but lose all energy for the second and third pushes. Can't believe how difficult the process is. Fortunately took less than an hour of pushing though. Colin Gregory arrived screaming at 11:24pm, 6lbs10oz, 20 3/4 inches long. We put him on my chest immediately, and DH cut the cord. After delivering the placenta, I needed 3 stitches, but didn't even notice because I was holding my precious new baby boy.

And now, pictures!