He's here! (Birth Story)

ld08271 · June 2014

Short version: Our little guy made his arrival on 6/14 at 8:43 am. He was born 7 lbs, 19.25 in long. We're both healthy and very happy.

Long version: Starting at 38 weeks I started feeling "different". I had been having great end to my pregnancy. I had more energy then I had in the beginning of the 3rd trimester and I was physically feeling really good. Then all of a sudden I felt different. I started having more Braxton Hicks and cramping. The baby dropped and I was having a lot of pressure. I had a feeling he was going to be coming soon but wasn't sure. Then at 38 w 5 days I was having a good day (this was Friday the 13th). I took my DD for a long walk in the morning, coincidentally had Mexican food for lunch, and had a chiropractor appointment in the late afternoon. Then at 1:45 am, my water broke spontaneously in bed!

My contractions started about a half hour later and started off 10 mins apart and pretty manageable. I wanted to wait as long as possible before going to the hospital. Things started to pick up over the next few hours and we decided to leave for the hospital a little after 5:00 am. When we got there I was 4 cm dilated, 100 % effaced and -1 station. We got checked into our hospital room around 6:00 am. Then things started to pick up. I was trying for a unmedicated birth so I was laboring in the shower for awhile (after getting permission to come off the monitor). All of sudden my contractions started to pick up in intensity and frequency. At about 8:00 am I asked to be checked and I was now 6 cm and baby was at +1 station. Things were moving along fast and I started asking for the epidural. By the time I got it I was starting to feel a lot of pressure and feeling as though the baby was about to come. The baby's heart-rate started dropping with each contraction so I was put on oxygen. I was checked and was fully dilated....15 mins after getting the epidural. It hadn't kicked in yet but it was go time since he was having the decelerations. It got a little scary because the OB told me that if I couldn't push him out in the first few contractions then they would have to use a vacuum assist. However, after 15 minutes he was born! By the end, the epidural had kicked in enough to take the edge off the contractions but I felt everything, which I think helped me get him out so fast.

Despite the scare, he was born pink and screaming! He's been doing beautifully. We got to go home the very next day. It is night and day to my daughter's delivery which was a 30 hour induced labor! We were joking because our entire hospital stay was the length of our labor with my DD. I had an episiotomy again, but this time it was a little longer. The recovery hasn't been too bad. It took about a week for the discomfort/ soreness to subside. I'm 12 days out and today I stopped taking motrin. I feel like myself again.

I want to thank everyone for all your support along the way. It's been quite a journey and I couldn't have done it without you all. I can't wait for everyone to reach their finish line!