Natalie Jennifer birth story 11-12-14

belmont1785 · November 2014

Wanted to post a brief birth story especially since it was such a positive experience for us (induction). You always hear the horrible and drawn out birth stories and I'm here to tell you they are not always that way! Apologize in advance for mistakes as I'm mobile.

I went in to the clinic for my regularly scheduled clinic appt and my blood pressure was 144/94 and I had been up all night the previous night with bad nausea. Dr had been monitoring my bp which had been elevated for two weeks and since it wasn't getting better and I had other symptoms she found concerning she said she did not want to take any chances and sent us to the hospital to be induced.

We checked in and around noon I was given first dose of cervidil. Later in the day I was given a second and around 9 pm they placed a catheter bulb to open cervix. The catheter bulb was extremely uncomfortable and I was in a lot of pain with the few contractions I was having. Dr said it would fall out in the next 12 hours when I reached between 3-4 centimeters. Well the very next time I went to the bathroom I stood up and it fell out. Such a huge relief.
Since I could not have an epidural for another 8 hours due to being on blood thinners they didn't want to get me into active labor so they held off on starting pitocin. So I was able to sleep and rest overnight and took a sleeping pill to help me relax. The contractions were every 3-5 min but very tolerable (waaaay better after the bulb fell out).

Around 11 am the next morning (they were SUPER busy so it took a while to get an anesthesiologist) they placed my epidural. I was still 3-4 centimeters but pain was increasing. Around noon they started the pitocin. Checked me after about 10 min because I was feeling pressure and I was at a 6. So the Dr left to do a c section. Literally 15 min after she left I started shaking super bad and had a horrible urge to push. Nurse checked me and I was a 10 and totally ready to go. She let me start pushing - huge relief!

Dr couldn't make it back so midwife on call came over and Natalie was born in about 6-8 pushes. 16 min later.

She is 7 lbs 6 oz and perfect. Breastfeeding like an absolute champ. We are so blessed and still cannot believe it. I was super impressed with DH. He's normally kinda squeamish but he rocked it and was a huge help to me. He even ended up cutting the cord!!!

Sorry don't know how to turn picture.