February 2017 Moms

STM Labor Details

We did a thread on this a while back, but with all of us so close to delivering and 2 mommies already had their babies....who wants to share labor stuff? How far along you were, type of delivery, your experience, and anything you think us FTM should know! 

Re: STM Labor Details

  • I was 37w 3d and I was induced. I had pre-e so they felt it was no longer safe for me to be pregnant any longer. I had pitocin Friday morning and had DD Saturday night at 11:10pm. I got an epidural early Saturday afternoon because I wasn't dilating. The epidural helped me relax enough to dilate throughout the day. I would just be prepared for anything to happen. Even if you have plans, plan for your baby to throw all those out the window. Lots of mommies are upset with the way their birth went, but you do what you have to to get your baby out :)
    BFP #1: DD born on 08.25.12 BFP #2: 09/08/15 miscarried at 6w BFP #3: DD2 born on 02.07.17
  • @Aussie45 - great advice, I honestly didn't come up with much of a birth plan other than who I want in the room b/c I know things could change at the drop of a hat and I have no idea what to expect

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  • My birth plan - both survive and don't poop on the table ;) 
  • DS1: I was induced at 40+5. We started pitocin around 7 am, and they broke my water around 9 am. My labor stalled about 4 times throughout the day. Because I was induced, they had me on monitors and I couldn't really get up and go any farther than the bathroom. By 10 pm, I was only dilated to 8.5, and they pretty much cut me off. I ended up with a c-section, and it turns out that he was face up and over 8 lbs, so he was unable to drop all the way into the birth canal, which was why I stalled so much. Not at all what I planned, but I got a healthy baby boy! 
  • SSCmommaSSCmomma member
    edited December 2016
    They induced at 40 on the dot because I had gd and they suspected she was huge.  They gave me cevadil on Sunday night, did a foley bulb the next morning then they started pitocin at about noon on Monday.  I wasn't feeling anything until 3am Tuesday morning when contractions hit about every 15-20 seconds like a freight train.  They said my water had broken at some point since Monday afternoon but no one knew when it happened as I never leaked or anything. Also I was only maybe a cm or so dilated.  I got an epidural and they tried to back off the pitocin but as soon as they lowered the pitocin I stopped contracting completely.  They tried putting me back on pit but baby's heartrate kept dropping so they had to do a c section the next morning.
    She was 8lb8oz.
    What i learned is to trust my own instincts and my own body.  I told them I don't want to even hear weight guesstimates this time, induction is totally off the table and I'll let them know if I decide I need a c section based on evidence not speculation. 
    BabyFruit Ticker
  • My labor with my first kiddo was quick and uneventful. My water broke on my due date and I had no idea that's what it was bc it was slimy, not watery. I should have known better bc ya know...it never stopped coming out. Durrr. Contractions finally started at 2am but they were never timeable. Remember that. Sometimes there isn't a pattern. They ranged from every 3 mins to every 8 mins and at one point they seemed to subside. Went to the hospital anyways. Got into triage at around 6:30a and I was at 5cm. I was moved into a delivery room from triage within about 20 mins and from then on it was a whirlwind. I kinda shut down so I could focus on staying relaxed. I ignored questions and paperwork and went into my own little world. I barely remember much of it. But I do remember I had back labor and my midwife started massaging my back to help. It was awesome and from then on between her, my husband and my mom, someone was always putting pressure on my lower back. I asked for pain meds right at the end of transition bc once they were administered, I was checked again and fully dilated. After 20-30 mins of pushing, my daughter was born at 8:44a. Yes, I pooped. 

    I was also that momma who was very nervous of how many people were in the room and people seeing my junk but when it came down to the moment of it all happening, I didn't care at all. Not one bit. 
  • Induced with hypertension/boarderline pre-E at 37wks, cervadil overnight to ripen, misoprostol for a day got contractions started but nothing fun, Pit for a day (took a break and let me sleep a night) pit all day then with no progress broke water around 8pm--very quickly shot us into active fast labor. LOVED the jetted tub!  3hrs later asked for Nubian for pain relief (back labor is a bitch) the IV drugs were just enough to help me feel everything still, but make the worst peak contractions easier and take a nice break to fully relax between (felt like I'd had a large glass of wine) 1hr later i asked for epidural (transition!) but ended up being ready to push! Baby arrived with 30-45min of pushing. 

    Like PPs have said: go into it open to change-whatever gets you a healthy baby!  
  • Water broke at 40+2. Went straight to hospital and was admitted. Walked the halls for a couple hours not feeling any contractions. Started pitocin and had intense contractions for a couple hours. Pushed for 25 minutes or so and she was out! Had a few stitches. 

    I gave in and had an epidural placed, it took the anesthesiologist three attempts and he wasn't positive on the third try that he even had it. It didn't work and by the time he was done trying to place it I was ready to push. This time I'll be trying really hard to just forgo it. 
  • Labor started at 39 weeks. I went into the hospital at 7am. My plan was med-free so I was allowed to walk for 40 min and then be monitored for 20. I was fine during the walking process but when I was laying down, it was unbearable. Things weren't progressing very well because I was tensing up with every contraction. Eventually I asked for the epi and they gave me a little bit of pitocin to get things moving. About 3 hours later, I had DD. Did not poop because I hadn't eaten in over 24 hours and TMI, everything evacuated from me during early labor at home. Probably nerves made my stomach sick. 
  • Had my 40 week appointment at 40+3, had a membrane sweep. They gave me an rx to help me relax and sleep, then told me not to go back to work the next day. By 10 PM I started having contractions, only got rest from 2 am-4 am, was in the hospital by 7 am. I did the tub and walking around my room, got fentanyl, they broke my water, and then they started pitocin. WITHOUT TELLING ME. Made it to 8 cm until I got an epidural, and my contractions were literally on top of each other due to pitocin. DS was born at 9:13 PM that night. 
  • I was annoyed I felt normal and no signs of labor on my due date. I convinced DH to go to an outlet mall, 45 min north of our house, about 1.5 hours from the hospital. 
    My water broke on the sidewalk of the outlet mall!
    I wasn't in a hurry to get to the hospital since I hadn't felt any contractions and started to convince myself I peed my pants. (But in retrospect I should have been since he didn't have his head engaged yet and a cord prolapse was a possibility). 
    Once I got to the hospital I wasn't allowed to get out of bed again, for fear of cord prolapse. Without being able to get up, I couldn't try any of the positions for dealing with pain. I lasted awhile but ended up asking for an epidural. Unfortunately mine didn't work well. Although they tried adjusting it several times, it only numbed my right side. They tried giving more medication to see if that would help, but then I couldn't feel things well to push correctly. They had to let it wear off before I could push again. 
    He was face up, had a hand come out with his head and was almost 9lbs. 
    Not fun! I didn't think I could do it, but eventually did. I had some tearing and bad hemorrhoids from pushing so long. Recovery was more than I expected. But all worth it of course!
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • jbuck909 said:
    Had my 40 week appointment at 40+3, had a membrane sweep. They gave me an rx to help me relax and sleep, then told me not to go back to work the next day. By 10 PM I started having contractions, only got rest from 2 am-4 am, was in the hospital by 7 am. I did the tub and walking around my room, got fentanyl, they broke my water, and then they started pitocin. WITHOUT TELLING ME. Made it to 8 cm until I got an epidural, and my contractions were literally on top of each other due to pitocin. DS was born at 9:13 PM that night. 
    Whatttt. That's awful! 
  • kjd291 said:
    jbuck909 said:
    Had my 40 week appointment at 40+3, had a membrane sweep. They gave me an rx to help me relax and sleep, then told me not to go back to work the next day. By 10 PM I started having contractions, only got rest from 2 am-4 am, was in the hospital by 7 am. I did the tub and walking around my room, got fentanyl, they broke my water, and then they started pitocin. WITHOUT TELLING ME. Made it to 8 cm until I got an epidural, and my contractions were literally on top of each other due to pitocin. DS was born at 9:13 PM that night. 
    Whatttt. That's awful! 
    Yeah, it was pretty upsetting. Once they told me they did the pitocin, I had them call my midwife and I was crying WHYYYYYY!!! I really wanted an unmedicated birth, but I've come to terms with everything that happened. 
  • jbuck909 said:
    kjd291 said:
    jbuck909 said:
    Had my 40 week appointment at 40+3, had a membrane sweep. They gave me an rx to help me relax and sleep, then told me not to go back to work the next day. By 10 PM I started having contractions, only got rest from 2 am-4 am, was in the hospital by 7 am. I did the tub and walking around my room, got fentanyl, they broke my water, and then they started pitocin. WITHOUT TELLING ME. Made it to 8 cm until I got an epidural, and my contractions were literally on top of each other due to pitocin. DS was born at 9:13 PM that night. 
    Whatttt. That's awful! 
    Yeah, it was pretty upsetting. Once they told me they did the pitocin, I had them call my midwife and I was crying WHYYYYYY!!! I really wanted an unmedicated birth, but I've come to terms with everything that happened. 
    I'm sorry, mama! Reasonably super upsetting.  Glad you were able to move past it though!
  • ShawllsShawlls member
    edited December 2016
    Water broke at 39+6 and DD was born on 40+1. I wasn't sure it had broken as it was only about a cup and I had inconsistent contractions all night. Went to the hospital in the morning to get checked and the resident said it wasn't my water. As I'm walking out, my OB sees me and says "sounds like your water breaking. If it happens again, come back." So the same thing happens again that night, only contractions are steadier and more intense. Go to the hospital in the morning and they are on divergence (full and sending people to other hospitals). I am only 1cm and my OB gives me a shot of morphene and says to come back in about 6 hours when a bed will be available. I go home and sleep and eat and then my contractions start getting consistent and strong and timeable. I return to the hospital and I am 3cm and my water fully breaks just as I'm getting into the room (like a movie!). I get an epidural at 5cm and progress to 8cm. That is when the OB checks me and feels baby's hands/fingers (she's gone from head down to a swan dive with her head sideways). Because I am very petite and she is big, they cannot turn her (she's essentially trying to exit sideways). We discuss options and I am given the option of episiotomy + foreceps or c-section. I opt for c-section and it was magical! Skin to skin right away, heard her first cry when she came out, breastfed no problem. Recovery was tough (didn't drive for 6 weeks), but I had a ton of support and had a nice fat baby that slept well, so no complaints.
  • @Shawlls my goodness, I can't imagine being sent home due to no available beds! 
    Pregnancy Ticker
  • was going to be induced at 39+1 due to GD. Instead, my son decided he would come on his own time. and I went into labor on my own that morning we were supposed to go in to get induced. 
    Went in at 11am, put on the monitor. I progressed rather fast on my own. about 6cmI was put on the epidural. (somethings were a little fuzzy around this point, I got to nap on and off for a while) I think about 4pm (that same day) they had me pushing, they did forceps, vacuum, the doctor'shand. DS wasn't budging. went to surgery. Turns out he was facing my belly button and not my back, and he had a big head.5:03pm  my son was born. 

    Lilypie Kids Birthday tickersLilypie Maternity tickersDaisypath Anniversary tickers
  • kswiger06 said:
    @Shawlls my goodness, I can't imagine being sent home due to no available beds! 

    Stuck in double boxes!

    This was brought during my hospital tour...the next hospital in the same network will be about 70 minutes from my house. We've made our own alternate plans at a more nearby hospital, and will take the advice of a friend who said to call as soon as you think you're in labor, not on the way to the hospital, so you can check out the situation...
  • @kswiger06 @Patience7150 I should mention I am Canadian, so this is the joys of public medical! Essentially the way it works is that you go to the hospital where your OB delivers because of course you'd want a familiar face (or someone in their call group if they aren't on shift that day). That said, you are "covered" to go to any hospital (we don't require insurance to deliver a baby - it's a free public service). Typically, the people who get diverted are those with midwives (midwives are common in Canada, but don't have priority at specific hospitals, so they'd want to call ahead). What happened to me was highly unusual and due to a few complicated c-section cases ahead of me, but still kind of crazy. That said, there are 3 other L&D hospitals within 20-30 mins. (I'm in a big city).

    Hoping for slightly less drama this time! Although this baby is transverse so far!
  • Thanks for the clarification @Shawlls. I live in a small city, and we have only hospital in the county! If I were to get sent somewhere else, we would have to drive at least 1/2 an hour. That would be very frustrating and unfortunate.
    Pregnancy Ticker
  • With my son, we were visiting the MFM specialist twice a week and my OB once in the same week.  Due to some disagreement between the two, we ended up having to decide when to induce.  It was roughly around 37/38 weeks.   I was admitted to the hospital the night before my OB would be in the hospital (another member of the medical group was there).  I was told have a light dinner (i.e., salad) before going to the hospital.  I was not allowed to eat or drink during the whole time due to concerns they might need to switch to a c section (but I could have had ice chips).  When I arrived (5pm), they took my birth plan and discussed what we wanted and what might change (and this happened at each shift change - i.e., new doctor or new nurse).  They began an IV (I do not recall if they started the antibiotics for the strep right away, but I think so), and I was given a suppository in hopes that would help me dilate (I was at 1cm when I arrived).   By the next morning, I had not dilated enough, and they began the pitocin. At some time close to 11 am, the OB broke my water, and I went into labor pretty quickly.  After that point, I had three epidurals.   I also had the medication they can give you instead of an epidural (which is worthless from a pain standpoint in my opinion).  The first two epidurals didn't seem to work for some reason, and the third was a success (removed as soon as my son was born).   For those interested in the labor aspect, when I began, I found the shaking very uncomfortable (like having extremely bad chills).  The pain at the beginning is hardly noticeable, but by the time the 2nd epidural failed, I was in tears from how bad the pain was (something to consider if you want to go epidural-free and are not lucky enough to have a short labor).  Deep breathing and some of the other techniques are better than nothing, but that is really all they are.

    They had the fetal monitor on my belly (if you have had the NST test yet, you know what I am talking about), and I recall being moved from side to side quite a bit based on how my son was doing.

    My son was born that night at 9:03.  My husband estimated that the pushing stage was no more than 15 minutes, and for me, it was actually pretty easy.  My son was small (5 lb, 9 oz), and the OB had pumped fluids throughout the labor so the little guy had an easy trip out and came out screaming.   If I recall correctly, the NICU team was given him first to check out before they left.  Then, he went through the normal checks and went back to me for the skin to skin.  Although it was pretty quick, I seem to recall that I had pushed the placenta out (easier than the baby of course), and she had already sewed me up (very minor tearing) before my son was back. 

    Obviously, I was bleeding a lot and for a long time post birth.  I had the postpartum massage while in the hospital, and I do recall it as being uncomfortable but not super painful.  I took the recommended pain killers and stool softeners, and I never had a problem with the first stool afterwards.  I did have urinary incontinence, but it resolved on it's own relatively quickly.

    I ended up with very extreme edema that took over two months to go away.   When I returned home, I had reduced mobility from the edema (although I was able to do the walking they recommended), and all the bleeding and residual pain from the birth was nothing compared to the discomfort I felt from the edema.  Two days after I returned home, I had a postpartum hemorrhage (it was like a flood of blood all at once) and ended up in the ER.
  • DS: induced at 41.5, epidural didn't work, pushed for 6 hours, attempted forceps, csection(non-emergency) huge baby but the huge head is really what did me in. I just couldn't get him out lol 

    DD: RCS at 39 weeks due to breech presentation
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