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January 2015 Moms
Mrs_Bennett
member
Emelia's (super duper long!) birth story
Mrs_Bennett
member
Throughout this entire pregnancy, I never expected to still be pregnant on my due date because both of my boys were born early (37w4d & 39w1d), and everyone *knows* that subsequent babies come earlier! Since I was due 12/28, I hoped she'd arrive before Christmas, and we made a point to have everything ready early for both the holidays and the baby. As Christmas crept closer, I got more and more anxious for our daughter's arrival.
Eventually, Christmas came and went, as did my due date. I felt huge and achy, I was grumpy and frustrated, and I was so ready to be finished with this pregnancy. On 12/30 (my birthday!), we had a doctor's appointment. He did a cervical check, and I was very disappointed to hear that I was hardly dilated to "one, maybe two centimeters". Since I was overdue, my doctor ordered an ultrasound to check my fluid levels. The fluid levels were normal, although on the lower end of normal.
My doctor offered an induction if I wanted it, and I jumped at the opportunity. My original plan had been that I wanted a completely natural, drug/intervention-free birth experience, so I felt a little weird about accepting the induction, but I was so emotional and frustrated that I just wanted our baby to arrive.
We were scheduled to go in to labor and delivery that same night to begin the induction process, which was an exciting end to my birthday! We put the boys to bed that evening, my mom came over to the house, and we went to the hospital. We arrived at labor & delivery at 9, and were immediately admitted. The nurse inserted the Cervidil a little after 10, and I spent a long, sleepless night! The bed was uncomfortable, my hep-lock hurt, the monitors on my belly itched, and Baby Girl kept moving around so that the nurse had to come in and find her heartbeat over and over. Throughout the night, I had a few contractions, but they weren't consistent. I think I got maybe an hour of sleep total--in a few different increments!
At 5, the nurse came in and told me that I could have an hour away from the monitors if I wanted to shower, etc. I knew that laboring/delivering would be messy and tiring, but went ahead and showered anyway to help myself feel better. I also asked the nurse if she could talk to my doctor about breaking my water early to possibly get things started without pitocin. I was still having contractions, but they were far apart and irregular.
At 6, I agreed to start a low dose of pitocin to start contractions because I was still only dilated to two centimeters after two doses of cervidil. My doctor had also agreed to come in early and break my water. At 6:25, just before he arrived, my water broke on its own! I was excited because I felt like this was the first real progress that my body had made on its own for this delivery! My doctor arrived and was happy to hear that my water had broken, but told us that he didn't expect me to go very quickly, and that he'd be back to check me after his office hours (which ended at noon).
After my water broke, I continued on the low dose of pitocin, and my contractions really picked up. I needed to move through them, but was frustrated because we'd forgotten to bring my birthing ball. Eventually, I asked the nurse if they had a birthing ball that I could use--and they did! Oh, the relief! I tried many different positions to get through the contractions, but my favorite was just to bounce/rock on the ball while breathing slowly.
At 9:40, the nurse came in and said that my doctor had called and asked about my progress, so she needed to check me. By that time, I was in so much pain that I knew I was starting to go through transition, but I still didn't trust my body. I was terrified that I would have only progressed a centimeter or two--in which case, I knew I would be immediately asking for an epidural.
The nurse checked me, and it was very painful. She seemed to be taking an awfully long time, so I assumed that I hadn't made much progress. Suddenly, she said, "Well, you're at an 8, but I can stretch you to complete!"
I was shocked! She told me to go ahead and continue laboring, but to let her know the moment I felt the urge to push because she needed to let the doctor know with enough time for him to get to the hospital from his office (less than 10 min away).
I went back to sitting on the birthing ball, but knew that I was in the most painful part of labor. I couldn't find a position that felt bearable, and quickly felt like I was losing control of my own body. After a few more contractions, I decided to squat through a few to see if it would bring the urge to push. Squatting hurt even more, but two contractions later, I told DH to call the nurse back because I was ready.
Immediately, two nurses arrived, and I was allowed to start pushing. The first few pushes didn't do much, which was somewhat discouraging to me because I'd only had to push three times total to get my last baby out. My nurse suggested that I try pushing from a squatting position (rather than on my back), and I agreed. They put up the bed, and helped me turn around and get situated to squat. I pushed several more times without feeling like anything was happening. Then suddenly, I felt her move down, and the burning sensation as she began to crown. I told the nurse, "She's coming!" She quickly had me turn back around to my back (but sitting upright), and sent another nurse to find out where the doctor was. By this time, there were several nurses in the room, and I think they thought they would be the ones delivering this baby. Another two contractions, and I could tell that her head was ready to be born. A nurse told me that the doctor was almost there, and I needed to breathe through the contractions without pushing. Had I not been in so much pain, I probably would have laughed at her--as I struggled not to push, every muscle in my body was fighting me and involuntarily pushing her out. Just then, I heard someone in the hallway yell, "He's here!"
And, to the doctor, "Come on, you need to RUN!"
My doctor raced into the room, and my relief was followed by the briefest moment of self -doubt. Could I really push her out when it hurt this badly? I knew the only way to make the pain stop was to push. Amidst the excitement and pain, it was the look of wonder and joy on my husband's face that motivated me. I pushed with every ounce of strength that I had, and, her head was born. It took another two pushes to birth her shoulders and hips, and then she was out! Emelia entered this world at 10:20am on 12/31/14.
We waited until the cord stopped pulsing, then DH cut it, and Emelia was placed on my chest. She was beautiful, and we were immediately in love! She started nursing like a champ soon thereafter, and has been doing wonderfully ever since.
Our sweet girl made her debut on the last day of 2014, and we cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next! :x
Eventually, Christmas came and went, as did my due date. I felt huge and achy, I was grumpy and frustrated, and I was so ready to be finished with this pregnancy. On 12/30 (my birthday!), we had a doctor's appointment. He did a cervical check, and I was very disappointed to hear that I was hardly dilated to "one, maybe two centimeters". Since I was overdue, my doctor ordered an ultrasound to check my fluid levels. The fluid levels were normal, although on the lower end of normal.
My doctor offered an induction if I wanted it, and I jumped at the opportunity. My original plan had been that I wanted a completely natural, drug/intervention-free birth experience, so I felt a little weird about accepting the induction, but I was so emotional and frustrated that I just wanted our baby to arrive.
We were scheduled to go in to labor and delivery that same night to begin the induction process, which was an exciting end to my birthday! We put the boys to bed that evening, my mom came over to the house, and we went to the hospital. We arrived at labor & delivery at 9, and were immediately admitted. The nurse inserted the Cervidil a little after 10, and I spent a long, sleepless night! The bed was uncomfortable, my hep-lock hurt, the monitors on my belly itched, and Baby Girl kept moving around so that the nurse had to come in and find her heartbeat over and over. Throughout the night, I had a few contractions, but they weren't consistent. I think I got maybe an hour of sleep total--in a few different increments!
At 5, the nurse came in and told me that I could have an hour away from the monitors if I wanted to shower, etc. I knew that laboring/delivering would be messy and tiring, but went ahead and showered anyway to help myself feel better. I also asked the nurse if she could talk to my doctor about breaking my water early to possibly get things started without pitocin. I was still having contractions, but they were far apart and irregular.
At 6, I agreed to start a low dose of pitocin to start contractions because I was still only dilated to two centimeters after two doses of cervidil. My doctor had also agreed to come in early and break my water. At 6:25, just before he arrived, my water broke on its own! I was excited because I felt like this was the first real progress that my body had made on its own for this delivery! My doctor arrived and was happy to hear that my water had broken, but told us that he didn't expect me to go very quickly, and that he'd be back to check me after his office hours (which ended at noon).
After my water broke, I continued on the low dose of pitocin, and my contractions really picked up. I needed to move through them, but was frustrated because we'd forgotten to bring my birthing ball. Eventually, I asked the nurse if they had a birthing ball that I could use--and they did! Oh, the relief! I tried many different positions to get through the contractions, but my favorite was just to bounce/rock on the ball while breathing slowly.
At 9:40, the nurse came in and said that my doctor had called and asked about my progress, so she needed to check me. By that time, I was in so much pain that I knew I was starting to go through transition, but I still didn't trust my body. I was terrified that I would have only progressed a centimeter or two--in which case, I knew I would be immediately asking for an epidural.
The nurse checked me, and it was very painful. She seemed to be taking an awfully long time, so I assumed that I hadn't made much progress. Suddenly, she said, "Well, you're at an 8, but I can stretch you to complete!"
I was shocked! She told me to go ahead and continue laboring, but to let her know the moment I felt the urge to push because she needed to let the doctor know with enough time for him to get to the hospital from his office (less than 10 min away).
I went back to sitting on the birthing ball, but knew that I was in the most painful part of labor. I couldn't find a position that felt bearable, and quickly felt like I was losing control of my own body. After a few more contractions, I decided to squat through a few to see if it would bring the urge to push. Squatting hurt even more, but two contractions later, I told DH to call the nurse back because I was ready.
Immediately, two nurses arrived, and I was allowed to start pushing. The first few pushes didn't do much, which was somewhat discouraging to me because I'd only had to push three times total to get my last baby out. My nurse suggested that I try pushing from a squatting position (rather than on my back), and I agreed. They put up the bed, and helped me turn around and get situated to squat. I pushed several more times without feeling like anything was happening. Then suddenly, I felt her move down, and the burning sensation as she began to crown. I told the nurse, "She's coming!" She quickly had me turn back around to my back (but sitting upright), and sent another nurse to find out where the doctor was. By this time, there were several nurses in the room, and I think they thought they would be the ones delivering this baby. Another two contractions, and I could tell that her head was ready to be born. A nurse told me that the doctor was almost there, and I needed to breathe through the contractions without pushing. Had I not been in so much pain, I probably would have laughed at her--as I struggled not to push, every muscle in my body was fighting me and involuntarily pushing her out. Just then, I heard someone in the hallway yell, "He's here!"
And, to the doctor, "Come on, you need to RUN!"
My doctor raced into the room, and my relief was followed by the briefest moment of self -doubt. Could I really push her out when it hurt this badly? I knew the only way to make the pain stop was to push. Amidst the excitement and pain, it was the look of wonder and joy on my husband's face that motivated me. I pushed with every ounce of strength that I had, and, her head was born. It took another two pushes to birth her shoulders and hips, and then she was out! Emelia entered this world at 10:20am on 12/31/14.
We waited until the cord stopped pulsing, then DH cut it, and Emelia was placed on my chest. She was beautiful, and we were immediately in love! She started nursing like a champ soon thereafter, and has been doing wonderfully ever since.
Our sweet girl made her debut on the last day of 2014, and we cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next! :x
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Emelia's (super duper long!) birth story
Awesome birth story:) Congrats and great job!
Don't you love when they tell you not to push? My nurse told me that and I'm pretty sure some words like "too bad" came out of my mouth >.<
But a beautiful story that brought a beautiful baby
BFP #2: EDD 9/3/13~~Slow HB at 1st U/S~~MMC -Loss on 2/13/13