Iris Abigail's Birth Story (haleyusf)

haleyusf · December 2014

Short story: Team Green turned Team Pink! Iris Abigail was born 12/23 at 9:20pm, weighing 8lb4oz, 20.25" long. I got to have an unmedicated water birth, we got home just in time to open Christmas presents with my son this morning, and we are adjusting well to our new addition. She is a joy!

Long story: We were heading in for my 41wk appt to have an ultrasound to check fluid, have a NST, and then talk about whether or not we wanted to induce that day or wait until after Christmas. I had been doing all the natural induction methods I could think of, including a visit to the chiropractor the day before. I think that helped more than most things because contractions were far apart but more consistent after my adjustment. We had our ultrasound and baby looked great. On to the NST... got all the required movements in the first few minutes but they wanted to monitor me through a couple contractions. I had one "titanic" 5 minute long contraction and baby's heart rate tanked into the 70s. All of a sudden, four nurses were in the room trying to get baby to perk back up and talking about an emergency c-section. After a minute or so, baby recovered and the immediate drama was over, but that settled it. I was getting induced whether we wanted to or not because it was time.

I had planned to deliver in a low intervention birthing center, but because of the NST debacle, we automatically risked out and we headed for L&D. Around 1pm, the doctor came in and broke my water. Baby was still looking good on the monitors and they figured that was a more gentle way to get things started than with pitocin. I still wanted the birth to be as intervention-free as possible, so I was pleased. I was 4cm when my water was broken. Nothing really picked up for a while and contractions were consistent but weak and spaced out for the next 6 hours. SO decided he was starving and went to pick up a pizza across the street. Five minutes after he left, I had a huge incredibly painful contraction and got very overheated/dizzy. By the time he got back, I was down to a bra, panting like a dehydrated animal, writhing around in pain with near constant contractions. The nurse came in and asked if I wanted her to check me; I was afraid of having made no progress but she had told me before that I could have a birthing pool if one was available when I was actively laboring. I wanted the pool, so I agreed to be checked. I was up to 7cm and requested the pool to be set up. In the meanwhile, they offered to run a bath for me while the pool was inflated/filled. I got in the tub and while it felt much better, I was shaking and having one contraction after another.

The nurse asked to check me again (maybe 15 minutes had passed since the last check) and I was almost 10cm. They raced to get the pool filled and had the on call resident rush in (my OB had a broken hand and couldn't get his cast wet). They managed to get me to the tub in time and after about 25 or 30 minutes of pushing, Iris Abigail was born. We got to sit in the water for a few minutes but then I started bleeding heavily with the placenta delivery and they needed me out of the tub. Luckily my bleeding slowed and I didn't need any blood. SO held baby while they stitched up my 2nd degree tear and then she was placed skin to skin and started breastfeeding immediately. She's been feeding really well and has been the most mild mannered baby. We are totally in love with her, and while tired, I'm healing well and SO and I are adjusting to new parenthood together.

Thanks @RN536 for being an awesome labor buddy, and thank you to everyone for the well wishes and support through these last 9.5 months.