Birth Story:

I read zillions of birth stories when I was pregnant. I cant believe Im finally sharing mine!

 

I had my 40 week doctor appointment on April 1 and I was only 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced. I was pretty discouraged, but the doctor stripped my membranes so I was hopeful that would get thing going. I spent most of the rest of that day walking. I walked to the library and then around car lots with a friend of mine who is looking for a car and then I went walking all over town with another friend of mine and her two kids. All of this walking and the stripping of the membranes must have done something because I started having contractions in the middle of the night of April 2. I spent April 2 at home just counting contractions, puttering around the house, reading, watching TV, posting on bz, talking on the phone, and wondering if this was the real thing. The contractions went on all day, but they wouldnt get consistent. The longest I went between contractions the whole day was 24 minutes and the shortest was 3 minutes, but they never went into a every five minute pattern. They began to get painful enough that I couldnt walk through them, but I could still talk through them. At 4:30, my DH got home and we decided to eat supper and call the doctor. He said to come on in. So, we arrived at the hospital at 7:00 p.m.

 

The doctor checked me and I was 2 cm dilated and 80% effaced. I was sure hed send me home, but they were having a slow day at the hospital anyway and it was my due date, so he let me stay. I got checked in and they monitored me for a bit. Once I laid down on the bed, my contractions practically stopped, which was concerning to me. I was sure wed come in too soon and I was setting myself up for an induction. They monitored me and then let me get out of bed and walk. DH and I walked around the hospital for about an hour and then the nurse suggested that I try to sleep. Im SO glad I followed her advice. By the way, I had a wonderful nurse! I hope all of you have nurses as nice as mine was. Anyway, I slept for about an hour and

then the doctor came in to check me. It was now 1 a.m. and I was really hoping for progress, but wasnt thinking I had made any because things had really slowed down. It ended up that I was 3 cm and still only 80% effaced. So, he broke my water. HELLO! Thats when the pain started. Ive joked that the next time any doctor says get me a hook to the nurse Im going to jump up and run out of the room lol! He explained what he was going to do and he did it. The breaking of the water didnt hurt at all, but the contractions started really strong after it was broken.

 

I spent from 1 a.m. until 3 a.m. breathing through contractions, sitting in the whirlpool tub and trying not to lose control. I was incredibly tired and hurting really bad and made the decision that if I was at least at 5 cm when he checked me next, that I would go ahead without the pain medication. Otherwise, I wanted it. I really felt like I was getting too exhausted. So I buzzed the nurse and she said the doctor would be there by 3:30. He arrived and I was still only 3 cm! I was 100% effaced, but that wasnt enough progress for me. I asked for an epidural. Dr. Wonderdrug arrived at 4 a.m. and they put in the epidural. It really wasnt as bad as I thought it would be. I really wanted a natural childbirth and at the time I kind of felt like a failure, but looking back on it now Im so glad I made the decision I did. My fears over the epidural were 1)BIG needle, 2) That it would slow my labor and that would lead to all sorts of other interventions, 3) That the baby would be lethargic and wouldnt nurse well at birth, and 4)That I would get a spinal headache (my mom got one with me), and 5) That I wouldnt be able to feel to push. None of that happened, for which I am so grateful.

 

I got the epidural and was able to rest. The needle wasnt that bad and Dr. Wonderdrug was very good about telling me what he was doing. After it kicked in, I told the nurse that I felt like a human again. I could still feel the tightening of the contractions,but I didnt have pain. I laid in bed and slept off and from 4 a.m. until 6 a.m., which is the time that I was SURE the epidural had worn off. The nurse came in and I told her that I had some INTENSE pressure. She asked me some clarifying questions and then went to call the doctor. While I was waiting for him, it dawned on me that I was feeling the head. The pressure was the head coming down! He got here a few minutes later and checked me and said that with the next contraction I could push. I went from 3 cm to 10 cm in two hours! So, DH and the nurse coached me through pushing for three contractions and then the nurse called the doctor back in. He arrived and I pushed

through 3 more contractions and she was here! Everyone(me included) was surprised that I pushed for such a short period of time. I have all the sympathy in the world for those who have to push for hours pushing is hard work!

 

They took her right away and suctioned her out because there was slight meconium in the amniotic fluid when they broke my water (another reason Im glad we had her when we did). After they were done suctioning and the doctor was done stitching (I tore a tiny bit), I got to hold her and nurse her. She was very alert and has nursed really well ever since. Im still in shock that I have a daughter. It just doesnt seem real sometimes. Its quite wonderful to get to watch my DH be a dad. I get teary (hormonal pregnant woman here!) every time he talks to her.

 

If youve made it this far, youre a wonderful person! Thanks for letting me share!