rastrau's Birth Story 6/7/14

rastrau · June 2014

Well, new FTM here and so it's taken a while for me to get to a computer with enough time to write out our birth story!

Dashiell Lucas was born at 3:32pm 6/7/14 weighing in at 6lb, 12oz and 20" long. I was 40w5d at this point.

It started as a regular MW appointment but after an ultrasound they weren't happy with how low my amniotic fluid was measuring so they told me I had to go over to L&D that day to be induced. I was pretty upset because it was not according to my plan at all, but I knew that it was for the best. I live really close to the hospital so I called DH and went home to wait for him. We got to L&D around 6pm on Friday and sat in triage forever.

We were moved up to L&D at about 1am and they started my pitocin IV about 1:30, so it was a pretty sleepless night for me. Baby's heart rate dropped a few times and it was alarming to see how many people rushed into the room when that happened, but a little while on oxygen perked him back up. My MW decided to break my bag of waters around 9am and then game on! I didn't want an epidural so I spent a lot of time on the birthing ball and in the shower. I eventually opted for the narcotic Dilauded to take the edge off and allow me to get some much-needed rest while I was waiting to get to the transition stage of labor. The drugs mellowed me out, though I did threaten to strangle a nurse with my IV wires when I thought she had upped my pitocin drip - my eyes were closed at this point and pretty much stayed that way until LO's arrival. I told her that I was sure she was a lovely person, but I would choke her out nonetheless if she moved the pitocin up. I was assured by DH and my sister that she hadn't touched it and that she didn't seem offended.

Coming off the drugs, the contractions were super intense. I eventually insisted that the nurse call my MW back to the room because I needed to push, though she was reluctant to do so because my last check 20 minutes prior had me at only about 7cm. I apparently take after my mother and though I took forever to get to 6cm, I went from 6cm to 8cm to 10cm in a matter of a few contractions. I knew I needed to push and push was what I was going to do. Unfortunately once I started pushing baby's heart rate would drop with every contraction/push. Lights got brighter and there were many more voices in the room - a dozen or more people had arrived in case of complications. I was on oxygen and pushing harder than I thought possible, but I was having a tough time of it. When told that the head could be seen and he had hair, I replied "then grab a handful and pull him out!" but they elected to use a vacuum instead. With that added assistance I gave a couple more big pushes and he was out! The very last thing he did upon eviction was kick me in the vagina! Turns out that he had the umbilical cord wrapped around him multiple times (it was coiled around him like a snake from neck to waist) and that was what was making it so difficult for me and causing his heart rate to drop.

He was whisked away to be checked out by the NICU team, but he was quickly cleared and placed on my chest. The emotions of that moment were insane - I was hurting, I was tired, I was elated and completely overwhelmed with love for this little creature resting on me - who I had yet to fully even see. DH and I then introduced young Dash to my mom and sister who had been helping DH coach me and had a front row seat for LO's debut.

I had 2nd-degree tearing and there was a lengthy logistical discussion regarding how to piece me back together again, but whatever, DH and I were busy falling in love with our newest family member and simply let everyone go about their business around us. Once in our post-partum room, we sat together in the window seat and watched a wedding take place in the courtyard of the building next door and cuddled our little man.

Sorry for the novel-length post - I was an english major

but now - pictures!

edit: words are hard. and more pictures!