I could have sworn I already posted here but it sure doesn't look like it! Sofia Lynn joined us on 3/22 weighing 8lb 13oz and was 21 inches long. We are so in love
Cole Benjamin was born on 3/28, weighing 7lb7oz and 20" long. I was tentatively scheduled to be induced on 3/28 (40+1), but started having regular contractions at 2:30am. They called me to come in for my induction at 6:15... When I got there, I told them about the contractions. The doctor checked and I was 3cm and 100% so they decided to hold off on induction drugs and just break my water and let nature take over (hopefully). Well, it got real FAST. I went from 3cm to 7cm in about 3 hours. By 1:35ish, I was feeling the urge to push, so they checked and I was at 10cm. When I rolled onto my back to be checked, baby boy's heart rate dropped so there was a flood of nurses in the room very quickly. He seemed to be distressed, so I was instructed to push even when not contracting. After only about 5 minutes of pushing, Cole was born at 1:51pm - happy and healthy and so adorable!
Alexa Charlotte was born Friday, March 31st at 1:17pm! She was 41 weeks, 1day. My water broke on Thursday at 11:30 am, but only showed as blood, so called the OB. Short while later, I started with a big gush, then it completely stopped. When I arrived at OB, I literally gushed with every step I took into the office. Took one look at the receptionist and said you don't want me to sit down. She immediately got me help and got me into a room. They tested the water, checked dilation, and sent me across the street to the hospital. Labored on pit for 23 hours... had a failed epidural overnight, after slightly changing places and multiple rounds of boosted doses, I finally had releif at 6am. This carried me from 6cm to 9.5 where they turned me down. Once I hit 10, I labored for 2 hours and they decided to vacuum... not my first choice but I was done and didn't want my hard work turning into a cs. Andvwith my ulcerative colitis, it was become unsafe to go much longer. Took 19 pushes and the vacuum popping off (and scaring the crap out of me) and she finally arrived! Unfortunately, even with an episiotomy I still have 3rd degree tears... ouch, but we are hanging in there!
Oscar Harrison was born this morning at 7:45a. 9lbs 1oz, 21 inches
I was induced beginning on Wednesday. It was slow going, then early this morning the doctors suggested a c-section because my water had broken and things were not progressing. I was shivering relentlessly though and throwing up again and again. They deepened my epidural, which I had recently gotten until contractions stalled again, and had an extra sensitive reaction to it. It numbed me all the way to my chin. I couldn't feel my breath and I had to throw up but couldn't locate my muscles to do it. It was honestly a very scary moment! It felt like I was choking. I couldn't use my arms either. Then - I had a reaction to the epi and my BP crashed. I was fighting not to black out, they rushed me into the OR and got my vitals stable, and luckily baby was fine the whole time.
After he was born I didn't get to see him until I got back into my room bc I still couldn't move or breathe well until they stopped the epi. But once I held him, it was all worth it. We are SO in love.
On Thursday morning (March 30th) around 11:45am my water broke. I had been having BH/contractions off and on since Saturday but they weren't consistent and weren't bad. So I'm sitting on the floor going through some paperwork and baby is moving all around then I feel this pop and water starts gushing out. It felt like something off of television. My husband was sitting on the couch and I'm like "oh shit, my water just broke!" I was laughing because I couldn't believe it and the water just wouldn't stop. So after what seemed like forever I was able to get up and go back to the bathroom. My husband called the birth center and told them that my water broke. They took the message and called the midwife on duty. She called me back around 12:00 and because I hadn't had a contraction she said for me to call her back in an hour. I got in the shower and did a quick wash up because the fluid had meconium in it and I wanted to wash that off a bit. After getting out of the shower, the contractions had started. They were about 5-8 minutes a part but they were starting to hurt. Around 12:30, I called the midwife back and said that the contractions were beginning to be painful. She told me to come in to the birth center and to make sure i called the birth assistant. I got to the birth center before either of them so I turned on my music and leaned across the bed while my husband massaged my back. In my mind, I was trying to figure out the best place for me to stand (sitting and laying for long was out of the question). I labored leaning with my hands on the bed and someone massaging my back for most of the labor. After about an hour or so, I started to feel a ton of pressure so with the contractions I would have to squat to get through it. I pushed on my knees for awhile and then right before her head came out the midwife told me to flip on my back so she could suck her nose and mouth out. Baby was fully out at 2:46pm. The midwife said that they started counting labor at 12:30pm when I called her back about the contractions even though in my mind it started when my water broke. So for them it lasted 2 hours and for me exactly 3. She was 8 lbs 11.5ozs and 21 inches.
AON: she is 2 days old today, breastfeeding is going well. She was 8 lbs and 5ozs when she went for her first pedi appt.
On Tues, March 14th, I was 40w5d and was scheduled for my first of two Non-Stress Tests that week. My appointment was for 930am. Because I was unwilling to talk induction with my midwife, or have my cervix checked at all, and am 40 years old, my Midwife suggested I at least do the NST so we could both know all was well with Baby. I debated whether or not to go, because I knew everything was fine, but decided to go anyways. I woke up that Tuesday with very loose bowels and stomach cramping. I had also completed my 3rd acupuncture appointment the night before as a means to encourage natural labor, as well as had gone for a long, brisk walk, and eaten mint ice cream, so I thought maybe just maybe my body was starting to prepare for Baby's arrival!
At the advice of my Doula Kym I drank about 32oz of water right before arriving at the NST. The first thing the nurse asked me after reviewing my file was "When is your induction date?" I told her I didn't have one. She asked me why. I told her because I didn't want one. Baby would arrive when baby was ready, and then I let her know we didn't know the gender of the baby, so to not say anything when she did the ultrasound. She said it was a good thing I had said something because she would've said he or she, but instead she'd call our little one "surprise baby." She then commented, as she prepped me for the test, "You are still carrying very high for almost 41 weeks." (Thanks!!) Anyhow, once she got me setup she saw that my amniotic fluid was 8.4, they look for a minimum of 5, so based on fluid, baby was great. She then saw how active my baby was and started to monitor me for 40min. My vitals and baby's vitals were perfect. At the end of the test she concluded "there was no way surprise baby was coming out anytime soon" and advised me to schedule an induction with my midwife. She also noted that I didn't have a single contraction during the 40min NST. I let her know that I didn't think I had, and that I was going to let my Baby decide when it was time, and I left, feeling a bit discouraged by the nurse's comments.
I got home around 11am and within a half an hour of being home started to feel severe back pain that shot to the front to my abdomen. I had another appointment scheduled for noon that day and had to call in to cancel because the pain was so severe. I also texted my husband and let him know that I was in a lot of pain and asked if he could come home. I spoke with a few friends, all of whom were convinced I was beginning labor, but I didn't believe it. I also spoke to my birth class instructor who believed I was experiencing back labor due to baby's posterior position, so she advised me to get on knees and elbows and do some pelvic rocks and light massaging of my belly and back. I did that for a bit and it helped alleviate some of the back pain, for a few minutes anyways. Hubby arrived home and started timing what he believed to be contractions (again, I was in denial) and noted they were 3-6min apart and about 40sec long. I was spending a lot of this time on the toilet in an assisted squat position, that's what felt best to me. At about 3pm I spoke to my Doula who advised me to take an Epsom salt bath as well as get in to see a chiropractor. We called a chiropractor friend who told us to come in immediately and he made some much needed adjustments to my body. I then came home and tried the epsom bath. It felt nice to be in warm water, but as soon as I got out the pain continued to worsen.
By 5pm I began projectile vomiting. Whatever food or drink I had consumed that day, was all coming out in droves. My husband said it was like a scene from the exorcist, it was terrible. He started to talk about heading to the hospital, or at minimum boarding up our dogs as we had originally planned, but I kept telling him it wasn't time. He kept monitoring me and saw me progressing quickly, so he made the decision to drop off our dogs and then pile our things into the car. By 9pm we were on our way to a hotel near our hospital (40mi away) so I could Labor there. My Doula advised me to take some Tylenol PM so I could get some sleep and not be exhausted the next day. I took some, but unfortunately got not relief. The pain worsened on the way to the hotel. By the time we arrived I couldn't take 3 steps without terrible pain. I would squat into position to help alleviate some of what I was feeling. By this time the back labor was even more intense and I was feeling so much pressure below. We checked into the hotel around 10pm. As soon as I walked into the room I vomited again. My husband continued to monitor me and by 1030pm he confirmed I had progressed to contractions that were 30-45sec apart and a minute long. He told me he was packing up the car again and checking us out, we were headed to the hospital. I told him I wasn't ready, it wasn't time, I didn't want to be sent home, but he wouldn't listen. He called my Doula and asked her to meet us at the hospital. We arrived around 11pm through the ER and met my Doula there. I was wheeled up to L&D where a nurse came into triage to check me. Her first comment was that I had high ketones in my urine, that I was completely dehydrated. She also started asking about my pain level and pain medications and I told her I didn't want to be asked those questions and would not be taking any pain medication. She said she needed to monitor mine and my baby's vitals. I was asked to lay on the bed, which I refused to do. I was in way too much pain. The best I could do for her was sit on the edge of the bed. She came back in to read the monitoring and told me that my contractions were very short. She also said the reason they felt so incredibly intense was because I was so dehydrated and had no calories in my system. I needed to drink & eat. Hearing that really upset me. I corrected her and let her know that I began throwing up from the intensity of the contractions, and that's why I was now dehydrated, not the other way around. At the point I had already consumed over 120 oz of water throughout the day. And then I threw up again. She also mentioned that my sitting on the edge of the bed during my contractions was putting my baby in distress, that I needed to lay down. My gut told me that laying down would make things worse for me and the baby so I told her again that I would not lay down. She wasn't happy with me. She then told me she'd get an OB/GYN to check my cervix. I asked her why not a midwife. The reason we drove 40mi was because this hospital was the closest with 24/7 Midwives. She told me the midwife on staff had a long delivery and was now on break, an OB/GYN would be in. I was not happy about this and started praying for a change. Everything the nurse was saying was not good. I didn't like the way things were going. I spoke with my Doula who told me that if they check me and find that I'm only at 2cm or something close to that, that I should plan to head back to the hotel to labor there. I knew that was the best plan of action to ensure the natural, non-medicated birth that I had hoped for, but the idea of leaving, going back to a hotel, and then returning again, knowing that process came with a lot more physical pain, felt very discouraging to me. At that point I questioned my body's ability to do this. I wasn't sure I would be able to have an unhindered birth, and I definitely questioned whether I could ever go through this again with baby #2. It all felt so overwhelming and too much.
And then at about 1230am everything changed!!! Midwife Kathy came in! She was done with her break. She had a wonderfully pleasant demeanor, and she knew my Doula. She set up to check me and much to all of our surprise she found I had a bulging bag of waters and was at least 8cm dilated. I was immediately admitted. PRAISE GOD!!!!! Later my Hubby would tell me he had been praying, calling out to God, asking for this progression. His prayers were answered!! We all celebrated and my Doula quickly called my Birth Photographer Ivette to make her way over! This Baby was coming soon!!
The midwife mentioned wanting to monitor the baby again, and also advised an IV. I was very dehydrated and would have a challenging delivery with no calories in my system. I agreed to half a bag of fluids.
At about 1:45am I told my Doula that I felt the need to push. She let the staff know and they set up a squat bar on the bed for me. I started to push, and during one of my first few pushes I broke my bag of waters. That was an amazing feeling!!! (Sorry to all in the room who's shoes were ruined from all the fluid that gushed out! Haha!) I pushed a few more times, letting my Doula knew that I could feel it in my butt... she grabbed her iPhone and turned on the iPhone light to check me and saw that Baby was crowning!! She & Hubby went out and got the staff, it was time!!
The midwife came in and struggled to get into a good catch position with the way I was squatting, so she asked me to sit back in the bed. We got into a good position and I continued to push. With every push I could hear them say "Baby has so much hair!!!" I realized my vicious heartburn throughout pregnancy was for not! My birth team coached me on pushing a little longer with each contraction and when I did, I felt more of my precious one making his/her way through. I felt the "ring of fire" I had heard about and felt more encouraged to keep going. I thought I pushed for at least an hour, but my Doula told me I pushed for about 20min before my treasure arrived! Baby was immediately placed on my chest and was already so alert. We bonded through immediate skin-to-skin and nursing on my left breast. The umbilical cord stayed intact for a bit but then the Midwife shared I was bleeding a bit more then she would like and that I needed to deliver the placenta. She gave me a small dose of pitocin to help push the placenta out as quickly as possible. She also mentioned I had a 1st degree tear and she mended that swiftly and with care.
Those minutes after my Baby was born were the best minutes of my life. The relief that came over me, knowing my Baby was finally here, was indescribable!! I shouted a guttural song of joy! I praised God for His faithfulness and all the ways He had shown up during my Baby's labor and delivery: I remembered hearing my birth team sing "Good, Good Father" during the darkest times of my labor. I remembered my birth photographer Ivette laying hands on me and praying over me when weariness was setting in. I remembered my Doula Kym rubbing my back with oils and speaking softly and gently to me on how to best release the pain of the contractions. To let it go. To let it all go. I remembered Midwife Kathy's smile when she first walked in and then the glimmer in her eyes when she looked at me and said "8cm, at least." I remembered my Husband, my rock, my Hero, and all of his decisions throughout the day and night, that ensured our family's safety. I remembered it all as I held my Baby for the first time and my Husband whispered to me... "Honey, we have a little girl." I shouted for joy at the works of His hands, as I remembered it all. Evangelina Grace's birth story. Perfect in every way.
Gave birth March 19th at 10:35 pm to my son Oliver.
The experience was quite dramatic and frightening at times. The sort I don't think I can tell my friends who haven't had kids yet for fear of scaring them. Hardest thing i have ever had to do. ended in a very sudden emergency C-section that my husband was just barely allowed into it was so last minute! But in the end it brought me my little treasure on earth and I would do it over again for him!
Team green turned pink! Samantha Hope was born on 4/5 @ 9:59 am. 8lbs 2oz and 21.5" long.
We went to the hospital for an induction on Monday 4/3 at 41+1. My only regret in my birth is that I wish we were able to wait a few more days, but that was the only day that week they had a bed.
Anyway, we arrived at the hospital at 5pm, got settled into our room, and the check showed 1.5 cm. They needed to do cervical ripening overnight before they could start anything else. We decided to go with the foley bulb. After having it placed at 9 pm, we went to bed. I had some bleeding and pretty strong contractions for the first 2 hours and then they stopped. This is pretty normal for the foley bulbs.
After 12 hours, they removed the foley and checked me again. I was at 4 cm so they said that they could start pitocin. I was hoping that contractions would start on their own (they sometimes do with the foley), but no such luck. We planned to go as low of a dose as possible to get me into an active labor. Pitocin was started at 11:30 am on 4/4.
Unfortunately, they were never able to get me into a regular rhythm. Basically my body wasn't ready and was fighting the drugs the whole time. I was either having contractions that were 5-6 minutes apart or they were super strong, double peaking at a minute apart. I moved around a lot during labor. I rocked in the rocking chair, sat on the yoga ball, paced around the room, and we went into the shower at one point. The nursing staff said that I was a rock star and handling it really well.
I went into what I dub transition #1 for about 2 hours. Double peaking contractions a minute apart. DH asked if they could turn the pit down a little (he wanted to try to get rid of the double peaks and give me a little rest since I had been dealing with it for so long). Turning it down 1 mg put my contractions to 5 min apart again. They tried that for a few hours hoping that my body would take over and start contracting on its own. It never did, they checked me and I was 8 cm. So they turned the pit up and I went into transition #2.
After 1hr 45min, they checked my cervix. I was still at 8 cm and they asked if they could break my water to help speed things along and get baby's head more against the cervix to help contractions be effective. We agreed.
I sat on the yoga ball and focused on getting through the really rough contractions. Time basically stood still and I couldn't help but basically yell (loudly moan) through the pain. I would grab DH by the sweatshirt with two hands, pull, and moan. I felt pretty bad about basically yelling in his face. At this point I asked for the epidural.
My midwife asked if I was sure (I wanted a pain med free birth), but at this point I was going to be too exhausted to push. I needed the break or I'm positive I would have had a c section. It was the right decision and I'll never regret it.
I told the anesthesiologist that he was my new favorite person. After placing the epidural, I crashed. My blood pressure dropped to 50/30. They were able to stabilize me and baby didn't show any effects at all. That was the scariest 5 minutes of my life. I didn't care at all about me, I just kept asking if the baby was ok. I could still feel her kicking away, which was reassuring. She kept kicking the monitors off my belly.
After an hour I was ready to push and the epidural had worn off. They actually think that my bladder was blocking the baby from being able to enter the birth canal because after the removed a ridiculous amount of urine through the catheter, baby was in position.
I pushed for 2 hr 15 min. I was so exhausted that I almost gave up. The only reason I didn't was because my DH and my midwives were amazing coaches. DH started crying when he was able to see the top of her head with all that hair.
Apparently she had turned sideways in my pelvis so she wasn't face up or face down, she was facing my hip. The midwife was not sure she would make it through. She got me into a few different positions including squatting to try to help baby get through. Squatting was interesting with the epidural. Even though it had worn off and i could move my legs, my legs weren't great at supporting me. But I slowly made progress.
Due to her position and how exhausted I was, they called the OB team to the room to stand by. I had about 12 people in that room when baby came out (I had no idea because I was in my own world). They warned us that they might not be able to put baby skin to skin and they might have to put her right to the warmer.
Anyway, my determination paid off and out she came (with no tearing) at 9:59 am on 4/5, 22.5 hours after they started the pit. She had the cord wrapped twice around her neck, but as soon as they unwrapped it, she pinked right up. DH announced "it's a girl" and they put her skin to skin. DH cut the cord and I pushed out the placenta. I hemorrhaged pretty badly, but didn't need a transfusion (thank God). I got to snuggle her for an hour before they took her to weigh and measure on the warmer. She fed for 30 minutes while we were skin to skin and is doing amazing at breastfeeding.
It was the hardest thing I've ever done, but she was so worth it. We love her so much. I never would have been able to do it without the awesome support and coaching of my DH. He's amazing and has gone full daddy bear since her birth. She's such a daddy's girl. It's really sweet.
Team green turned blue! William Arjan arrived at 10:26am on 4/6 weighing 8lb 4oz. 21.5in long. I had been 5cm dilated for a week. Scheduled to have my water broken at 8am this morning. After my midwife consulted with the OB on call they broke my water and the OB gave me an hour to start contracting before she put me on oxytocin. They were mild contractions at first. At about 45 mins the contractions got more intense and I had to use the washroom. I had two super intense contractions on the toilet and once I managed to get off I was super nauseaous and weak. I laid in the bed and after a few more contractions getting closer and more intense I asked for the gas. My midwife knew I was going quickly! (Stm) The gas turned things into a bit of a blur for me, but it was gloriously helpful to get through the contractions. I pushed for 7 mins and he was out! From the "real" contractions to birth it was 1hour of labour! So so crazy! A second degree tear (from previous episiotomy as well as not listening to midwife when she told me to stop pushing. Lol) so thankful for a quick and smooth delivery!
Chase Elijah made his arrival at 7:05pm on Thursday April 6th, measuring 8 lb 9 oz & 21.25" at 41 weeks & 2 days....SO worth the wait!
My doctors scheduled me for an induction since I was a week overdue, which initially we weren't happy about but they did agree to let us move it back 2 days to give Baby a bit more time to come out on his own. He still didn't want to cooperate though, so we went in to the hospital at 7am today & I was at 3cm, 80% upon admission. Right around 8:30 my doctor broke my water & then started me on pitocin. By 10:30 my contractions were coming a minute & a half apart and were incredibly painful to the point where I decided to get an epidural. My doctor checked me again and I was at 5cm, 100%. I was able to rest for a few hours and by 1:30 was at 8cm and 0 station so they turned off the pit. By 3:30 I was completely dilated and felt ready to start pushing. They turned off the epidural and after 3.5 hours of pushing & an episiotomy (no other tearing besides that) our little boy made his debut at 7:05! He's perfect! Definitely the hardest thing I've ever done in my life but also the best for sure! I'm exhausted & hungry & just in love with my baby boy!
I was writing this all as the day went on & just added the last bit & the time/measurements as he's been getting his bath & under the warmer sleeping... he spent the first hour on my chest & sucking away like a pro (using a shield) getting some practice - ahh I can't believe he's finally here!!!❤
I have to say this pregnancy has been amazing overall and don't know how I'd have done it without our community here. You ladies have meant so much to me over the last several months & I love that I've gotten to share this journey with you! I'm so grateful to have had this place to turn to when I couldn't go anywhere else to vent or ask advice or get suggestions. The support and love from you ladies has truly helped me and I've so loved getting to know you all! I hope as our little ones continue to grow that the bond our community has will too!❤
Lucas join us on March 27, 2017 at 7:01 PM. I headed to the hospital to be induced that morning at 6:30 AM due to pregnancy induced hypertension. I was so nervous to be induced but thanks to DH, my mom, a wonderful delivery nurse, and my midwife the day couldn't have gone better! They started me on pitocin that morning (I started at 70-80% effaced and 1.5 cm) and I got to 5.5 cm by 11:00-11:30ish I told them before I wanted the epidural before they broke my water so the anesthesiologist came to give me the epidural he was wonderful and talked me through the whole thing. He told me exactly what I would feel before I would feel it and what it should or should not feel like. My midwife came at noon and broke my water. I was able to relax until it was time to push I could feel pressure during my contractions especially during transition but by 6 it was time to push. I pushed for 1 hour and out came our beautiful baby boy! I couldn't have asked for a better delivery. We are so blessed and thankful for this new little one!
Edison (Eddie) Herbert was finally born 13 days past his due date on 4/10 at 1:47 am! He was 10 lbs and 22"! Went in for my induction at 7:30 pm on 4/9, pit was started st 9 pm. It got me to regular contractions but they weren't painful yet. At midnight they broke my water. I was 4 cm and 80%. Baby was born at 1:47 am!
Re: ~* March 2017 Birth Announcements! *~
Me: 26 Hubs: 28
Married: 6/6/15
Baby Girl: 3/22/2017
I was induced beginning on Wednesday. It was slow going, then early this morning the doctors suggested a c-section because my water had broken and things were not progressing. I was shivering relentlessly though and throwing up again and again. They deepened my epidural, which I had recently gotten until contractions stalled again, and had an extra sensitive reaction to it. It numbed me all the way to my chin. I couldn't feel my breath and I had to throw up but couldn't locate my muscles to do it. It was honestly a very scary moment! It felt like I was choking. I couldn't use my arms either. Then - I had a reaction to the epi and my BP crashed. I was fighting not to black out, they rushed me into the OR and got my vitals stable, and luckily baby was fine the whole time.
After he was born I didn't get to see him until I got back into my room bc I still couldn't move or breathe well until they stopped the epi. But once I held him, it was all worth it. We are SO in love.
I was 40w3d.
On Tues, March 14th, I was 40w5d and was scheduled for my first of two Non-Stress Tests that week. My appointment was for 930am. Because I was unwilling to talk induction with my midwife, or have my cervix checked at all, and am 40 years old, my Midwife suggested I at least do the NST so we could both know all was well with Baby. I debated whether or not to go, because I knew everything was fine, but decided to go anyways. I woke up that Tuesday with very loose bowels and stomach cramping. I had also completed my 3rd acupuncture appointment the night before as a means to encourage natural labor, as well as had gone for a long, brisk walk, and eaten mint ice cream, so I thought maybe just maybe my body was starting to prepare for Baby's arrival!
At the advice of my Doula Kym I drank about 32oz of water right before arriving at the NST. The first thing the nurse asked me after reviewing my file was "When is your induction date?" I told her I didn't have one. She asked me why. I told her because I didn't want one. Baby would arrive when baby was ready, and then I let her know we didn't know the gender of the baby, so to not say anything when she did the ultrasound. She said it was a good thing I had said something because she would've said he or she, but instead she'd call our little one "surprise baby." She then commented, as she prepped me for the test, "You are still carrying very high for almost 41 weeks." (Thanks!!) Anyhow, once she got me setup she saw that my amniotic fluid was 8.4, they look for a minimum of 5, so based on fluid, baby was great. She then saw how active my baby was and started to monitor me for 40min. My vitals and baby's vitals were perfect. At the end of the test she concluded "there was no way surprise baby was coming out anytime soon" and advised me to schedule an induction with my midwife. She also noted that I didn't have a single contraction during the 40min NST. I let her know that I didn't think I had, and that I was going to let my Baby decide when it was time, and I left, feeling a bit discouraged by the nurse's comments.
I got home around 11am and within a half an hour of being home started to feel severe back pain that shot to the front to my abdomen. I had another appointment scheduled for noon that day and had to call in to cancel because the pain was so severe. I also texted my husband and let him know that I was in a lot of pain and asked if he could come home. I spoke with a few friends, all of whom were convinced I was beginning labor, but I didn't believe it. I also spoke to my birth class instructor who believed I was experiencing back labor due to baby's posterior position, so she advised me to get on knees and elbows and do some pelvic rocks and light massaging of my belly and back. I did that for a bit and it helped alleviate some of the back pain, for a few minutes anyways. Hubby arrived home and started timing what he believed to be contractions (again, I was in denial) and noted they were 3-6min apart and about 40sec long. I was spending a lot of this time on the toilet in an assisted squat position, that's what felt best to me. At about 3pm I spoke to my Doula who advised me to take an Epsom salt bath as well as get in to see a chiropractor. We called a chiropractor friend who told us to come in immediately and he made some much needed adjustments to my body. I then came home and tried the epsom bath. It felt nice to be in warm water, but as soon as I got out the pain continued to worsen.
"I have waited my whole life for you."
Alexander Timothy
Born 4/4 at 40+6 (per doctor's date)
8 lbs 8 oz
22.5 inches
Gave birth March 19th at 10:35 pm to my son Oliver.
The experience was quite dramatic and frightening at times. The sort I don't think I can tell my friends who haven't had kids yet for fear of scaring them. Hardest thing i have ever had to do. ended in a very sudden emergency C-section that my husband was just barely allowed into it was so last minute! But in the end it brought me my little treasure on earth and I would do it over again for him!
We went to the hospital for an induction on Monday 4/3 at 41+1. My only regret in my birth is that I wish we were able to wait a few more days, but that was the only day that week they had a bed.
Anyway, we arrived at the hospital at 5pm, got settled into our room, and the check showed 1.5 cm. They needed to do cervical ripening overnight before they could start anything else. We decided to go with the foley bulb. After having it placed at 9 pm, we went to bed. I had some bleeding and pretty strong contractions for the first 2 hours and then they stopped. This is pretty normal for the foley bulbs.
After 12 hours, they removed the foley and checked me again. I was at 4 cm so they said that they could start pitocin. I was hoping that contractions would start on their own (they sometimes do with the foley), but no such luck. We planned to go as low of a dose as possible to get me into an active labor. Pitocin was started at 11:30 am on 4/4.
Unfortunately, they were never able to get me into a regular rhythm. Basically my body wasn't ready and was fighting the drugs the whole time. I was either having contractions that were 5-6 minutes apart or they were super strong, double peaking at a minute apart. I moved around a lot during labor. I rocked in the rocking chair, sat on the yoga ball, paced around the room, and we went into the shower at one point. The nursing staff said that I was a rock star and handling it really well.
I went into what I dub transition #1 for about 2 hours. Double peaking contractions a minute apart. DH asked if they could turn the pit down a little (he wanted to try to get rid of the double peaks and give me a little rest since I had been dealing with it for so long). Turning it down 1 mg put my contractions to 5 min apart again. They tried that for a few hours hoping that my body would take over and start contracting on its own. It never did, they checked me and I was 8 cm. So they turned the pit up and I went into transition #2.
After 1hr 45min, they checked my cervix. I was still at 8 cm and they asked if they could break my water to help speed things along and get baby's head more against the cervix to help contractions be effective. We agreed.
I sat on the yoga ball and focused on getting through the really rough contractions. Time basically stood still and I couldn't help but basically yell (loudly moan) through the pain. I would grab DH by the sweatshirt with two hands, pull, and moan. I felt pretty bad about basically yelling in his face. At this point I asked for the epidural.
My midwife asked if I was sure (I wanted a pain med free birth), but at this point I was going to be too exhausted to push. I needed the break or I'm positive I would have had a c section. It was the right decision and I'll never regret it.
I told the anesthesiologist that he was my new favorite person. After placing the epidural, I crashed. My blood pressure dropped to 50/30. They were able to stabilize me and baby didn't show any effects at all. That was the scariest 5 minutes of my life. I didn't care at all about me, I just kept asking if the baby was ok. I could still feel her kicking away, which was reassuring. She kept kicking the monitors off my belly.
After an hour I was ready to push and the epidural had worn off. They actually think that my bladder was blocking the baby from being able to enter the birth canal because after the removed a ridiculous amount of urine through the catheter, baby was in position.
I pushed for 2 hr 15 min. I was so exhausted that I almost gave up. The only reason I didn't was because my DH and my midwives were amazing coaches. DH started crying when he was able to see the top of her head with all that hair.
Apparently she had turned sideways in my pelvis so she wasn't face up or face down, she was facing my hip. The midwife was not sure she would make it through. She got me into a few different positions including squatting to try to help baby get through. Squatting was interesting with the epidural. Even though it had worn off and i could move my legs, my legs weren't great at supporting me. But I slowly made progress.
Due to her position and how exhausted I was, they called the OB team to the room to stand by. I had about 12 people in that room when baby came out (I had no idea because I was in my own world). They warned us that they might not be able to put baby skin to skin and they might have to put her right to the warmer.
Anyway, my determination paid off and out she came (with no tearing) at 9:59 am on 4/5, 22.5 hours after they started the pit. She had the cord wrapped twice around her neck, but as soon as they unwrapped it, she pinked right up. DH announced "it's a girl" and they put her skin to skin. DH cut the cord and I pushed out the placenta. I hemorrhaged pretty badly, but didn't need a transfusion (thank God). I got to snuggle her for an hour before they took her to weigh and measure on the warmer. She fed for 30 minutes while we were skin to skin and is doing amazing at breastfeeding.
It was the hardest thing I've ever done, but she was so worth it. We love her so much. I never would have been able to do it without the awesome support and coaching of my DH. He's amazing and has gone full daddy bear since her birth. She's such a daddy's girl. It's really sweet.
Samantha - 4/5/2017
I had been 5cm dilated for a week. Scheduled to have my water broken at 8am this morning.
After my midwife consulted with the OB on call they broke my water and the OB gave me an hour to start contracting before she put me on oxytocin.
They were mild contractions at first. At about 45 mins the contractions got more
intense and I had to use the washroom. I had two super intense contractions on the toilet and once I managed to get off I was super nauseaous and weak. I laid in the bed and after a few more contractions getting closer and more intense I asked for the gas. My midwife knew I was going quickly! (Stm)
The gas turned things into a bit of a blur for me, but it was gloriously helpful to get through the contractions. I pushed for 7 mins and he was out!
From the "real" contractions to birth it was 1hour of labour! So so crazy!
A second degree tear (from previous episiotomy as well as not listening to midwife when she told me to stop pushing. Lol)
so thankful for a quick and smooth delivery!