Birth Stories: Past or Present

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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #120 on: November 11, 2007, 06:58:42 PM » by sweetestday

OK, I think I can make the time to type out my first birth story.

It took us 14 months to conceive, after trying for a honeymoon baby right from the start, so we were thrilled when it finally happened. We knew we wanted to have our babies at home, so after calling tons of midwives, we decided on one that lived pretty far from us. It was important to my DH to have someone who trusted the Lord, rather than her skills, and we were very blessed to find the perfect one.
Both my mom and sister went pretty late with their first babies, so I was expecting to be the same. I was due Oct 8th, but on the evening of Sept. 29th, I began to have some pretty uncomfortable contractions. I didn't think it was for real, because I expected baby to come a couple weeks later. And we had a carpenter friend staying with us, helping my DH out. I really didn't want to go in to labor with him in the house!
As the night went on, though, I knew this was not going to stop. My poor DH kept putting up with me poking him in the night, telling him how much I was hurting. Cheesy

Now you have to know, DH was praying for a long time that he would have to deliver the baby by himself. We were planning on our midwife arriving a week ahead of the due date, and staying with us till Baby was born, but she had a conference in another state from Sept. 29th- about Oct 2nd.
Sooo, I soon realized God was answering DH's prayer. I called my mom sometime in the wee morning hours, and she came to be with us. We also called the midwife, and she sweetly gave up part of her first day of her conference to coach us via cellphone.
I started to lose my mucus plug midmorning, around the time the carpenter guy headed off to Dh's shop. (I think he was very glad to leave. Cheesy

)
After that, things picked up quickly. My MW advised me to relax and not push, so when my water broke around 10 something, it was all I could do to not push. Wow! I had no idea how that pushing urge comes on so hard! My mom kept telling me to, "Just melt into the sheets." Yeah, right!
After about an hour and a half of trying so hard to relax, DH asked the MW if he could try to see how dilated I was. She told him how, and with rubber gloves on, he tried to check. He kept telling her that he couldn't seem to get in very far, so she told him to look in there. He yelled, "It's hair! It's a head!"
At that point, I was finally allowed to push. What a relief! I can't remember how long I spent pushing, but it wasn't as long as
I would have expected. Pretty soon the head came out, and not long after, the rest of him was delivered. I reached down to pull him up to me, and I was the one who joyfully said, "It's a boy!!!"
William Lee arrived at 12:26 PM Sept 30, after only about 3 hours of hard labor.
We borrowed a baby scale from a friend, and he weighed 7lb 15oz. No cord around the neck, pinked up fast, and perfectly beautiful from the start.
The MW arrived a couple days later, and pronounced us a healthy mom and baby.

I did have what she called a scuff mark... not quite a tear.
What a wonderful experience!

« Last Edit: November 11, 2007, 07:55:32 PM by sweetestday »
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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #121 on: November 26, 2007, 09:24:42 PM » by heatheronthehill

This is REEEEEEEEEEEEALY long! So sorry about that! I told you there was a lot of drama!

Jack’s Birth Story

My pregnancy with Jack was a busy one. We had some major life changes, including a cross-country move, but I was amazingly healthy throughout. We were very much looking forward to a home birth, and had been reading and preparing in every way we could. Everything seemed to be going so well, until the beginning of my ninth month of pregnancy when I developed PUPPPS, a nasty pregnancy rash. In addition to the normal rash, I also got blisters on my hands and feet, which is not common to the rash. My midwife was troubled by them, so she sent me to see her back-up doctors. While visiting these doctors, they were worried about the unusual blisters too, so they sent me to see a high-risk pregnancy specialist to see if she had ever seen this unusual break-out. The specialist looked at the rash and recommended an ultrasound to be sure that the rash wasn’t a sign of a problem with the baby. I had not yet had an ultrasound, but agreed that this would be a good idea. While lying on the bed, getting my first ultrasound, the technician moved the wand towards the top of my belly first, and said, “Oh look, there’s the baby’s head.” I said to her, “That cannot be the head, my baby has been turned head down for weeks now.” (According to two different midwives who had examined me manually, they believed the baby had turned head down.) The technician said, “Well, perhaps your baby has turned, but the head is definitely up right now.” I felt absolutely sick to my stomach and had a difficult time not bursting into tears as she finished her examination. The good news was that we had a very healthy baby and the rash was not a problem. The bad news was that our very healthy baby was breech, and I was already over 38 weeks pregnant. In New Jersey, a breech baby is an automatic c-section. I sobbed walking out of the hospital and all during the car ride home. Daniel called our midwife to tell her and to see what we could do. She knew how desperate I was to avoid having our first baby by c-section, and it was too late to try to get the baby to turn by more natural means, so she recommended scheduling an external version to try to turn the baby.

The version was set up for the first thing the next day. The doctor who was performing the version was pretty plain with me about the risks and the fact that he was not terribly optimistic about the procedure successfully turning the baby. I was farther along than was optimal and being a first time mom, my muscles were much tighter than a woman who had already had children. I was also already having contractions according to the monitor. They were about 6 minutes apart, though I could hardly feel them. I was also already dialated 1 c.m.

I was given a medicine to relax the muscles of my uterus, and the doctor used his hands to work the baby around. I relaxed my whole body and mentally pictured my baby doing a little dive inside my belly, just like one would dive into a pool. It must have worked, because the baby turned within a matter of only a couple of minutes! We were so happy and relieved that it worked! The nurses put the fetal monitors back on me to check on how the baby was doing and for about 2 minutes, they could not find the baby’s heartbeat. They had me rolling to one side, and then the other, they had me on oxygen breathing deeply, and finally, they found a heartbeat, but it was very slow, only about 60 bpm. Everyone started moving very quickly. They began prepping me for an emergency c-section. Daniel was holding my hand and Judy, our midwife was explaining what was happening and that they had to get our baby out now or it was not going to live. I started talking to the baby, saying, “Come on baby… you’re going to be o.k…” They shaved me for the c-section and were about to insert the catheter when the heartbeat started going up. It reached 90, so they paused for a second. I kept talking to the baby and doing deep blowing breaths, and the heartbeat came up to 100, then 110, then 120. Everyone just watched for a minute and it seemed that the baby was going to be o.k. They kept me on the monitors for about an hour and a half to watch the baby’s heartbeat and responses. I was still having contractions and continued to have them pretty steadily all day, so the nurses kept telling me I’d probably have this baby that night or the next day. They sent us home and wished us well with our home birth.

Daniel and I were pretty shaken by the whole experience, but we had made it through, and now our baby was turned head down, and was seemingly ready to be born! We hadn’t anticipated having the baby early, but it seemed that it might happen that way. I was encouraged by the contractions, that they were not really painful and I felt like I was ready for this baby! Those contractions continued in that way for another 2 ½ weeks!!

On October 25th, I had a real sense of urgency. I just knew that this baby was on its way, and I felt like I had to have everything prepared. We ran last minute errands, and I cooked food, made yogurt, cleaned the house, did laundry, and worked very hard all day long. I even bought flowers and made pretty arrangements to put around the house because I wanted everything to be lovely and perfect for when our baby was born. As the afternoon wore on, the contractions intensified. I even set out food and snacks for the midwives on the table that night before going to bed, because I “just knew”. I had worked hard all day, and I thought I would get a good night’s sleep and would probably go into labor the next day. I went to bed and tried to relax, but the contractions were getting way too intense. Daniel was working in his office that night, so I walked over to talk to him. As I walked next door, I looked up and saw the biggest, brightest, clearest full moon I had ever seen in my life. I felt so at peace. I imagined that my body was going to open up as big and open as that moon so I could have this baby.

Daniel said that I needed to call Judy, our midwife, to let her know what was going on. I talked to her and she said that things weren’t far enough along yet for her to come out, but that I needed to try to get some sleep. She recommended that I take benedryl and get as much sleep as I could. I took the benedryl and went back to bed. After about an hour or so, I simply couldn’t stay in bed any longer. I was just too uncomfortable and I certainly couldn’t sleep. Daniel and I sat together on the couch and I rode out each contraction, dozing off in between each one as best I could. At about 2 a.m., things were really intense. I had to fully concentrate just to get through each contraction. Also, I wasn’t sure, but it seemed that my water had broken. (It had, but it was just leaking, it wasn’t a big gush.) I hated to call Judy in the middle of the night like that, but we just knew that it was time. I couldn’t even talk on the phone at this point, so Daniel talked to her and she said that she would come right away.

I went into the “birthing room” that we had prepared (originally our study). I leaned on a pillow on my hands and knees and did my best to doze in between contractions (which at this point were about 2-3 minutes apart). The benedryl and the contractions made me extremely groggy though and I felt like I was in a total fog. I didn’t even know it when Judy walked in the door. After a contraction, I raised up my head a little, and she was sitting right there! She examined me and I was already at about 5-6 cm. I continued to labor through the night, and Vesper (our child birth class instructor who was training to be a midwife with Judy), and Leah (Judy’s assistant) also arrived. Vesper massaged my shoulders and helped me to relax some more. I coped with the pain quite well, but was very tired. I enjoyed relaxing in the birthing tub, but we had some trouble keeping the temperature warm enough. I did some very slow “laps” around the dining room table, pausing for each contraction. Two things were very surprising to me during my labor. I threw up early on and often. I am the kind of person that almost never throws up, and here I couldn’t even hold down water! Another thing was my water leaking out. I leaked almost continually and it was a really awful feeling. Those two things were very challenging for me to deal with, and very much unexpected.

I started to see light coming through the kitchen curtains. Judy and Leah went out to get some breakfast while Vesper stayed with me. I started feeling a lot more pressure and was getting confused. I thought perhaps I felt “pushy”, but was unsure. The contractions were getting really overwhelming and so difficult to deal with. Judy and Leah checked me out and said I was 9 cm. I was encouraged, but was starting to get very, very tired and was dehydrated since I couldn’t keep anything down. I got into the tub to relax some more. It was about 9 a.m. and I overheard Judy say we’d probably have the baby by noon.

After some time, Judy checked me again, and I hadn’t dilated anymore. She was also concerned since my water had broken so long ago and I was GBS positive when tested weeks earlier. She checked my temperature and I had a fever of 101. She recommended an IV of antibiotics and some fluids. Daniel and I agreed. After the fluids and IV ran their course, Judy checked me again, and I still hadn’t dilated any further. It had been about four hours since I had hit 9 cm, and I hadn’t made any progress. She tried having me push through a contraction and stretching me the last little bit, but I just couldn’t do it. I couldn’t feel how I needed to push correctly and it was the most excruciating pain, such that all I could think about was the pain. She gave Daniel and I an hour to try to make some progress and said if I didn’t, that we would need to go to the hospital. Daniel and I got into the tub together and he worked on nipple stimulation to get the oxytocin going and I worked hard through every contraction. That hour seemed to fly by, and we were working so hard that I had never felt so connected to him in all of our marriage. Judy checked me again, and I still hadn’t made any progress. In fact, she said I had gone back to 8 cm. I still had a fever, I was shaky with dehydration and felt absolutely defeated. I just sat there on the bed with no energy whatsoever, feeling completely devoid of all power and energy. Everyone else around me started making preparations to transfer, but all I could do was sit there. I just let the contractions hit me and felt powerless to work through them. I was so weak. Vesper and Leah told me that once we got to the hospital, I could get some pitocin and get going again. I knew better. I knew I’d never make it through the pitocin. I was so sick and weak, I knew that I needed to get an epidural and some rest if I was going to go any further.

It was raining outside, and the car ride was excruciatingly painful. I had now been in “transition” for so long and I just couldn’t deal with it any more. I had them wheel me to the labor and delivery ward in a wheelchair because I just didn’t have the strength to walk. They didn’t have any rooms available, so I just sat in the waiting area, bellowing through each horribly intense contraction. I wanted an epidural, or I wanted to die at that point. Finally, we got a room, and the nurse worked on getting me set up. I had to sign half a dozen papers, they had to put in an IV and get me hooked up to the fetal monitors. Every movement was excruciatingly painful. I just kept my sights on the epidural that I knew would bring relief. After 9 hours of being at 9 cm, I finally got the relief I needed. The doctor graciously let me get an hour and a half of sleep (while being hooked up to a pitocin drip) so I could have the energy to push.

When it was time to push, I felt like jell-o. I couldn’t move my own legs, much less feel anything to push. Daniel and the nurse held my legs for me, while Judy coached me through the pushing. She told me when I was pushing correctly, and after a couple of contractions, I got the hang of things. (I had been really worried that I wouldn’t be able to do it, since I had so much trouble earlier with the pushing.) The doctor also helped coach me and counted to 10 three times during each contraction. I could only tell I was having a contraction by looking on the monitors, and when one started, I would take a deep breath, hold it for 10 seconds and push with all my might while I braced myself on my legs or on the hand bars. I did that three times for each contraction. I made slow, but steady progress. After a while, the doctor said I wasn’t progressing as well and mentioned using the vacuum extractor to “help me out”. I asked him if we could try a few more contractions. I immediately made progress, and he joked with me that he would have talked about the vacuum extractor sooner if he had known it would motivate me that much! At one point, I reached down, and I could feel a little bit of the baby’s head. I knew we were getting close! I was getting really tired, but kept working hard. After almost two hours of pushing, all at once, the doctor told me to quit pushing, and then to just push gently. I didn’t know exactly what was going on, but all of the sudden, he plopped a wet baby right up on my belly!

Jack was born at 9:02 p.m. on October 26th. He was 8 lb. 2 oz. and 21 3/4" long.

I was so shocked I didn’t know what to think! Immediately, the nurses whisked the baby away. I still didn’t know if it was a boy or a girl, so I started asking everyone what it was. Everyone was so busy and preoccupied that I had to ask several times before I got an answer… it was a boy! We had our sweet baby, Jack Roald. I was so happy! I was desperate to see my baby, but Jack had inhaled meconium after he was born and he wasn’t breathing well. His first apgar score was a 4 and he was quite blue. His second score was an 8 and he finally started whimpery little cries. I couldn’t even see him, but I could hear him, and he sounded so pitiful and sad. I just wanted to hold him, but the nurses had to work on him to make sure he was breathing properly. They finally got him breathing and cleaned up, but they had to take him to NICU for more monitoring. They let me hold him for about 20 seconds before they took him and I was just awestruck by his beautiful face and his sweet damp hair. He looked just like Daniel!

Daniel went with him down to NICU while the doctor stitched me up. I had a second degree tear (probably from laboring on my back with an epidural!). Daniel said that Jack just whimpered and cried for an hour and a half and that he was the saddest little thing he’d ever seen. Daniel sang “Railroad Bill” to him for almost that entire time, and finally, the little guy settled down and went to sleep. On my way to the recovery room, they let me stop by NICU so I could see him again, but they only let me stay for about a minute. I couldn’t hold him, and he was hooked up with wires everywhere and a tube down his throat.

The next morning, I had to be in my room for the doctors and nurses stopping by, but I finally got to go see my Jack after a while. He was so beautiful and perfect! They had taken the tube out of his throat, but he was still wired up and had an IV in his hand. I got to hold him and it was such a wonderful feeling. The poor little guy was very sensitive though, and any movement set off lots of crying. He nursed for the first time that morning and even though the wires were in the way, I loved being able to hold my baby. I went every three hours to nurse him since that’s the schedule the nurses put him on. He was very, very sleepy though, and it was difficult to get him to nurse. When he did nurse, he fell asleep in the middle of the feedings. We were waiting on the results of his GBS test, to make sure he did not get my infection when he was born. The results didn’t come until Monday morning, but we hoped as soon as they came back negative, we’d be able to take him home.

Sunday, Jack was much less fussy about being held, but was much, much sleepier. It was such a struggle to get him to eat anything. The nurses started urging me that he needed to be given formula through a bottle, but I was trying to avoid that at all costs. The scheduling didn’t seem to be working, so I started sitting with Jack in a very uncomfortable chair in a corner of NICU almost round the clock. Every time he woke up, I would nurse him. Sunday night, the nurses explained that Jack had not made a wet diaper in over 24 hours, and that if he didn’t get some more fluids in him, that he would have to be put back on IV fluids, which was dangerous for a newborn. I burst into tears. I was so exhausted and felt so defeated. I had been so on edge, that I hadn’t been able to sleep much at all. I just lost it. I agreed that they could give him formula for the night feedings so I could go get some sleep, which I also needed to get my milk production going.

Monday, he still wasn’t quite thriving. After meeting with a lactation consultant that day at noon, things get a little bit better, but Jack was still just so sleepy, that he wasn’t nursing well. He was throwing up all of the formula they gave him too. My milk was slowly starting to come in, and just in time, too. Monday and Tuesday night, we finally went home after his 6 p.m. feedings and arrived back at NICU the next morning for his 6 a.m. feedings. Jack improved little by little each day, and when he would finally make a wet diaper, we would cheer with the nurses! Each day we hoped and prayed we would be able to take him home. Finally, on Wednesday, October 31st, we got to take Jack home with us. It was an amazing feeling getting to hold him for the first time without all of those wires in the way! When we got home, we needed a few days to adjust, but Jack really thrived, and he has done great ever since!

Things certainly didn’t go according to our plan. In fact, the only thing that went “right” was that I didn’t have a c-section. Everything else it seems, went the opposite of the way we wanted it to go. A person has no control over the way a birth goes sometimes. Even though I was so healthy and so prepared, there was nothing else I could do. It turns out that Jack had a very short cord, which probably kept him from turning head down, and also caused his heart rate to plummet when he did turn. The drop in heart rate caused the meconium, which is why he had to be in NICU when he was born. The trauma of the birth and lack of early bonding caused Jack to have a very difficult start, extending the time he was in NICU. All of this was out of our control. We just hope and pray that our future children will not have to endure the trauma that Jack did, and hope that we can all enjoy the lovely homebirth experience we missed having this time around. Any which way though, Jack is a perfect, wonderful baby, and we couldn’t love him any more than we already do!

Happy 1 month birthday Jack!

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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #122 on: November 26, 2007, 09:53:39 PM » by KristenA

Sweet story... I so enjoyed it! Congrats on your vaginal birth!!!!!!!!!!!!

Maybe later you could post what you learned.... Like what you won't do next time and some of the things you'll do the same. I know I (and many others) would benefit!

Ex: would you do benadryl again?

« Last Edit: November 26, 2007, 09:55:44 PM by KristenA »
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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #123 on: November 26, 2007, 10:39:08 PM » by lotsaboys

Thanks for sharing your story, heatheronthehill. Bravo to you! I could feel your pain, exhaustion, frustration, joy, and gratefulness! Isn't it wonderful to have such a sweet reward?

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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #124 on: November 27, 2007, 12:08:41 AM » by beppyjo

Wow! What a story! Shocked

I am so glad that you got your vaginal birth and that little Jack is doing well and thriving now! Congratulations!

I just LOVE this thread!

Someday I hope to get around to putting my stories on here............

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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #125 on: November 28, 2007, 11:43:03 AM » by heatheronthehill

Quote from: KristenA on November 26, 2007, 09:53:39 PM

Maybe later you could post what you learned.... Like what you won't do next time and some of the things you'll do the same. I know I (and many others) would benefit!

Ex: would you do benadryl again?

What I would do the same?

- I don't think the benedryl did any real harm (just made me a little groggy), nor do I think it did any good. If it *HAD* worked, it would have been wonderful - I think I was just in too intense of labor for it to have the needed effect. Even if I'd been able to sleep an hour or two, I would have been in much better shape.

- READ, READ, READ, and be prepared and have DH be prepared for anything! I had already made decisions ahead of time based upon fact and research, thus when things didn't go according to plan, I was able to make educated choices, despite being in labor land. Also, my husband also knew and was informed, so he could help with these decisions as well.

- Use a water birthing tub! That thing was wonderful! It didn't take away the pain by any means, but it was soothing and helped me relax better in between contractions.

- I think we made a good decision to transfer to the hospital and to receive the interventions that I did. (Epidural, pitocin, IV fluids, antibiotics) These are things I would normally be opposed to having, but under the circumstances, they were needed and I knew this at the time. I still feel good about my decision to have these interventions. It's what allowed me to have a safe, vaginal birth.

What would I do differently?

- I totally didn't understand what pumping can do to get your milk supply up and going. I didn't start pumping until day three when I got to meet with the lactation consultant. It seemed pointless before then because the nurses wouldn't cup or dropper feed my baby and wouldn't allow me to do it either, so I felt like anything I pumped was just going to get dumped down the drain! Anyway, now I know...

- Along those lines, I think I would hold my ground more when it came to nursing and the NICU staff. (They were not very supportive of breastfeeding at this hospital, which is unfortunate.) I was a first time mom and was not very secure, and the nurses played on that in all honesty. They were telling me that he needed to be having 5-6 wet diapers per day when he was less than 48 hours old! That is ridiculous! They simply are not accustomed to having a *relatively* healthy post-term 100% breastfed baby in their care. I would also refuse to go along with their scheduling for him. A days old infant doesn't need to be scheduled so strictly. We were nearing the point of having the hospital's patient advocate step in when they finally allowed him to go home. They just kept him in there too long, and I think it was to cover themselves in this lawsuit happy land we live in. Tongue

Anyway...

- This is probably the biggie... I will probably get an ultrasound next time - maybe around 30 weeks or so, I need to research this a bit more. I want to have one to confirm the baby's position so if I end up with another breech baby, I'll have time to try to turn the baby using natural means. Jack was posterior frank breech, which is apparently a very tricky position. It can fool even the most experienced midwives into thinking it is just a regular posterior baby. I had two VERY good midwives check me (one only an hour before my ultrasound) and both thought he was head down.

- I would try to be more active during labor - walking, etc... I couldn't really do this because I was going on so little sleep this time, but I think it could have sped up the labor and perhaps I wouldn't have gotten "stuck". I also think the second baby will go much faster, as they typically do.

Hope that helps Kristin!

It was definitely a learning experience for me! I'm glad others can benefit as well!

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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #126 on: November 28, 2007, 02:22:30 PM » by lotsaboys

I think you did really well for a first time mom and facing what you did! I agree with a lot that you pointed out, including the birthing tub and reading a lot!

I also really, really agree with you on NOT going along with scheduling a day (or 2, or3)old baby. And definitely agree on being more active in labor. So, how's that for what I agree on? Cheesy

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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #127 on: November 28, 2007, 02:26:18 PM » by KristenA

Quote from: heatheronthehill on November 28, 2007, 11:43:03 AM

Hope that helps Kristin!

It was definitely a learning experience for me! I'm glad others can benefit as well!

Thank you for that post!
It's so wonderful to learn from other Mommas!
Congrats again.

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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #128 on: November 28, 2007, 02:32:27 PM » by Nickole

They were telling me that he needed to be having 5-6 wet diapers per day when he was less than 48 hours old! That is ridiculous! They simply are not accustomed to having a *relatively* healthy post-term 100% breastfed baby in their care. I would also refuse to go along with their scheduling for him. A days old infant doesn't need to be scheduled so strictly.

I totally agree with you on this. I only realized this by the time my third baby came though, and luckily the hospital and staff were not pushy at all. Maybe they get less pushy the more you have b/c they realize you just might know best at this point Roll Eyes

, but if I ever have another, I sure hope I don't have to deal with that again. I'd like to try a birthing center.
Congrats though!!

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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #129 on: November 28, 2007, 02:55:00 PM » by ShabbyChic

I've never heard of pumping to get your supply started. That doesn't make sense because milk is supply and demand, and you don't want to make so much that you're constantly having to pump or be engorged.

I can understand pumping at night if you're at risk of a waning supply and your baby is sleeping through the night. Or if you don't want to lose your supply while you're missing a feeding. Or if you work. Or if someone else has to feed the baby your milk while you're out.

But that's odd to me that she'd suggest that especially since the colostrum comes first and it's liquid gold. You don't want to dump it, but trying to get a newborn to take a bottle and the breast is very confusing for him. That's just not good advice on her part. Maybe I misunderstood...

My babies always had lots of wet diapers. They ate A LOT and pooped and peed a lot from the second they came. I think that every kid is different, and they're telling you an average which means some kids will have 8-10 and some will have 3-4. And some parents change diapers way sooner than others, and some babies have a low tolerance for being wet, too. They want to be dry NOW!

Mostly the docs want to make sure your kid is hydrated and that his digestive tract is passing the meconium and not getting backed up. We had one friend who had 2 daughters (18 mos apart) neither of whom pooped for 2 weeks post partum! That's the kind of stuff they're wanting you to watch for. I loved your advice.

« Last Edit: November 28, 2007, 02:59:22 PM by ShabbyChic »
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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #130 on: November 28, 2007, 03:22:05 PM » by Roehrmomma

When your baby is not able to nurse due to say the NICU.You have to pump to get or keep your supply til the baby is agin able to nurse.

Em

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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #131 on: November 28, 2007, 03:47:01 PM » by healthybratt

Hey, you guys are veering off topic here. Bring it back. This thread is long enough without the extra stuff in the middle. I'm pretty sure there are threads related to the other topics that have come up. Grin

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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #132 on: December 26, 2007, 11:32:55 AM » by Pastorswife2B

So I finally decided to steal some time and post my most recent birth story. Elise Anne was born on Dec 7th she is our third child, first girl, first WTM baby, and first delivery with a midwife (CNM hospital birth). So getting into the last week of pregnancy I was pumped, with both of my boys labor started within 24 hrs of my due date in the same manner: a day of great energy and no BH or any pains go to bed and wake up at 4am with regular painful contractions and have the baby about 9-10 hrs later. I was a little surprised then when I started having regular painful contractions about 6 days before I was due 9pm they stayed regular and nasty for about 2 hrs so we decided to head to the hospital. So we get there they hook me up to the monitors and I continued to have contractions every 4 to 5 min for an hour so the nurse checked me and I was still way posterior and hardly dialated which was sooo discouraging to hear. But the nurse looked at the monitors and said since everything seemed to be progressing she’d come back and check me in an hour. In that hour labor completely stalled out and they sent us home; I was very upset because I had never had any kind of a false alarm like that and even the nurse agreed that she thought the contractions were real labor. So for the next 2 days I would have random bouts of 30 min to an hr of regular labor contractions and they would just quit.

So then 3 days before my due date I wake up at 3 am with painful contractions and for 2 hrs I laid in bed and tried to rest through them as they got closer and closer together and then about 5 they started spacing out again. So I woke DH up and told him what was going on and that I was tired of all this stalling out drawing labor out over days and days so we got up and walked around and prayed about it. That seemed to get things started again and I started having diahrea so we get the kids to my moms and head to the hospital and on the way there things slowed AGAIN!! I was just desperate to get things going so I started rubbing my n*pples and DH took me to Cabalas to walk around. So after an hr of walking around cabalas my contractions were getting intense enough to make DH nervous again so we go back to the hospital, sure enough when I was sitting in the car my contractions slowed, but as long as I kept up the n*pple stimulation they didn’t stop. So we get to the hospital and I’m at 3cm so they check us in, and we get a room that has a pool in it for water therapy. We talked with one of the midwives about how the labor had progressed so far and how my previous labors had progressed and agreed when the contractions started to get to the point where I was having a hard time standing up she would break my water. So for the next 6hrs I was on my feet trying everything possible to keep the contractions coming, they never did get regular ranging from 3min apart to 15min apart. I finally asked our nurse if she would check me and if we were around 5 cm to call the midwife to come break my water. Well it turned out I was a “generous” 4, at that point I said Good enough! It took the midwife about an hr to get to the hospital she broke my water I was at a good 5 she thought at that point. Things started coming faster and harder after that so we decided it was time to get into the tub which was soooo very nice and relaxing between the contractions.

About 20min after getting into the tub I started feeling Elise move noticeably lower into the birth canal. The midwife talked DH and I through just pushing when I felt the urge and to relax and work with what my body was giving us. The whole atmosphere was very relaxed, I wasn’t flat on my back so I could feel where Elise was so much better and I didn’t have to push on command so when I did start to push she was born in about 3 ½ contractions. It was very nice, DH was much more in control of what was happening talking me through everything without anybody trying to talk over him it was a great environment for the birth. I hardly tore and really bled quite a bit less than with my first two births. I’m still quite mistified as to why labor was sooo odd and drawn out. From the time I woke up to the time she was born was about 14 hrs although it was only about 1 ½ hrs from when they broke my water to when she was born so that did finally kick things into high gear. Next time I think I might start with some EPO and maybe some Blue and black C. a few weeks before I’m due to see if that’ll help things. But I’m sticking with midwife births if I can help it from now on they were awesome!

-Heather

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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #133 on: December 26, 2007, 04:07:55 PM » by cecac

Heather,
Congratulations--what a wonderful story, even though the labor stalled so much. That tub experience sounds very interesting and relaxing.

I pray you and your new baby have much enjoyment together.
Cara

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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #134 on: December 26, 2007, 10:34:04 PM » by jhandrh

I didnt' realize there was a thread just for birth stories! I wrote mine down for some family members and decided to post it here. I'll warn you, it's long! But it was kind of funny (afterwards) and so I thought someone else might find some humor in it too. I'll also warn you that, while I have great respect for moms who have their babies at home with minimal interventions--I have not gotten that far yet...quite possibly never will! So anyhow, here's the story of Matthew's b-day.

December 22, 2007
Well, Saturday night at our house is over and done with again. Can’t believe that 3 Saturday nights ago, my husband and I sat down with a movie and I was thinking, “Another Sunday to listen to people ask me when I am due...and to tell them ‘anytime now!’ and God, please help me to be polite!” And after having unproductive contractions for weeks, I was absolutely positive that “tonight was NOT the night!”
But while they are still fresh in my mind, I will commit my memories to paper. Because (now that it’s over), it does make kind of a funny story. Hopefully with enough details to satisfy the women but not enough to make the men cringe!
About 11 or so, that fateful Saturday night, I decided to head for bed. After all, it is a lot harder to be pleasant to people when you are tired. And I was pretty sure I’d need all my energy to be pleasant at church. I almost got out one of the few maternity outfits that fit me, so it would be ready in the morning, but decided not to bother. Since graduating through the small and medium sizes, only the ones with enormous or something like it on the tag actually covered my belly; so it wasn’t like I had a lot to pick from anyway.
DH was absolutely exhausted; he had been hunting that day and had not gotten a lot of sleep. (He works night shift, and even on his nights off doesn‘t turn in early.) He told me he wouldn’t be up late. So when I woke up a little before 2, and there was no one on the other side of the bed (not that I left him more than about a foot anyway after my delicate arrangement of pillows that were NOT to be disturbed as there was a science to arranging them around my various aches, pains, and bulges) I was more than a little bothered. Especially since what had wakened me was a long, hard contraction and not the usual bone-rattling snores that provide such a lovely backdrop for my dreams on his nights off.
I laid there thinking about this contraction and realized that it was not going away. No big deal, I had been wakened regularly on most nights with more or less regular contractions--some more and less painful than this one--and it wasn’t anything. They went away. My doctor called it an “irritable uterus.” After about 5 weeks of this, the rest of me was more or less irritable too--usually more. Especially after 2 fruitless trips to the labor and delivery unit. On nights when DH was working, of course. There are a few things more humbling I guess, but at the time I wasn’t coming up with any. Once we would get to the hospital, the contractions would stop. We finally decided that we weren’t going to the hospital any more unless my water broke. Or maybe when we could see the baby’s head, whichever came first. So I was not too concerned about this contraction, at least not yet.
DH came to bed a little after 2, so tired he could barely walk. I informed him that this might not have been a good night to stay up and watch a movie. I was told to go back to sleep and wake him when my water broke, but I don’t think he actually heard himself say that as he started snoring about a millisecond before he actually hit the bed.
I finally got up in hopes of getting a little more comfortable. This stupid contraction was not going away--and it had been a half hour now. I was also concerned because I had not felt any movement from the baby, and 2 a.m. was usually prime time for his water aerobics class. I called labor and delivery, not sure why because I knew what they would tell me...time contractions (well, it would help if there was a break between them) and if the baby doesn’t move in another half hour come to the hospital. Which was exactly what the nice nurse on the other end of the line did say. So I hung up the phone and decided to go lay back down.
I laid in bed, trying to tell if this kid was moving, and realized that there were contractions within the contraction, about 3 minutes apart and kind of painful. At this point the fact that this might be real labor crossed my mind, but I brushed it off as more wishful thinking. I did those great breathing exercises with the contractions, thinking how sick I was of doing this every other night and if this baby wasn’t going to come why didn’t it just move so I could relax and get some sleep without worrying about it.
Finally I felt some movement and breathed a sigh of relief. A quick trip to the bathroom, and I could settle in for some rest. Then I realized that my water had broken. Finally! Suddenly I was awake, and realized that my contractions were getting steadily harder. So much for getting some sleep.
I called the hospital to say we would be in, and called my parents so my mom could come stay with the kids. Then I tried to wake my husband. The magic words, “my water broke,” had no effect. I think his exact words were, “Go away.” I had bags packed--had been for weeks--and so all I had to do was jump in the shower quickly before leaving. I got out clothes. Attempted to wake my blissfully sleeping husband again. “Get lost.” The magic words were still not working. I made more noise. Turned on more lights. Thumped the bags on the floor in the hallway.
Finally, the third time was the charm. He sat up, looking a little alarmed. “Why didn’t you wake me?” Well, I don’t know...just seemed like a good idea to let you sleep?? Sometimes words are simply inadequate for the situation at hand.
Of course it was a dark and snowy night. I was a little uncomfortable but not too bad--nothing a little walking around didn’t help. And I was in very good spirits--finally, finally! And I wasn’t going to have to listen to anybody ask me when I was due since we weren’t going to be at church! I listened to DH yelling more or less good-naturedly on his cell phone at his coworker who had told DH that I should have the baby on Dec. 2 since it was his daughter’s birthday. I didn’t care if it was December 2 or December 33rd...I was having a baby!
Finally Mom got there to stay with the kids and we could leave. Oh, boy, I forgot how my husband drives. And it was snowy, and I was getting a little more uncomfortable...I braced myself for a long ride. It wasn’t too bad for awhile, but by the time we were 20 minutes into our hour-long drive I was seriously wishing I’d tried to wake him a little sooner. By the time we hit the halfway point I was wishing for one of those nice spillproof barf bags...just as a security blanket kind of thing. (I know they are spillproof because my friend Liz and I tried to dump one after a particularly yucky ambulance call one day when we were working together, just to see if you could--you can‘t. Everybody should have a friend like Liz. We learned a lot of useful things like that when we worked together. Our genius is of the self-taught variety. But back to the baby thing...) Soon DH was opening the window at 2 minute intervals so that I wouldn’t throw up on him when a contraction hit. I was not a happy camper. I was never so glad to see anything as I was to see that hospital sign!
Now, I am not opposed to doing natural treatments like chiropractic for aches and pains, and herbs for some things, but natural childbirth was NEVER one of my goals. I always wanted an epidural but never had one with either of the first 2 kids--for reasons that to explain would make a really long story--well, make my long story longer, anyway. But this time I was determined to get my long-awaited epidural.
By the time we were walking in to the hospital, I was stopping to lean against a wall for every contraction. I got to the nurses’ station and the first words out of my mouth were “Get me my I.V. because I want drugs!”
Well, nobody wanted to move as fast on that one as I did. First they had to get the doctor in to check and make sure they were keeping me. I felt that this was stupid because they would have had to get security to make me leave at that point. I was NOT going anywhere. The doctor came in and confirmed that I was indeed in labor. Then they assigned 2 nurses to me to get all the necessary things done so that I could get my I.V. sooner. Except that no one could get a vein. It took an hour and 3 people to try before they got this monumental task accomplished. Not sure why--I guess because I was cold and shaking (this should have been some kind of clue for me that I was well into labor I guess but I wasn’t paying much attention to that at this point). My two nurses were very nice but I felt that their time would be better spent in trying to put my I.V. in and giving me drugs instead of telling me how well I was handling the contractions. I think these were merely placating comments meant to keep me from coming after them for the failed I.V. attempts. At least the contractions took up a good bit of time and energy and kept me under control for the most part.
After some argument between the nurses as to whether I was ready to have this baby in the next 5 minutes or not, the doctor came in to check me and--I hoped--order me some drugs now that my I.V. was finally in place.
The doctor’s opinion was that drugs were unnecessary as this baby was, in fact, ready to enter the world in the next 5 minutes or so...actually it was about 20 minutes, and I think by the time it was done she probably felt that her job would have been a lot easier had I had some of those much coveted drugs on board. I definitely would have been a more pleasant patient. But aside from my general uncooperativeness and temporary irritation with the entire world, everything went well. And quickly. Total time at the hospital till Matthew’s arrival was about an hour and 20 minutes--the entire labor was only a little more than 5 hours. I had braced myself for a long day, or a long night; since the first two kids were less than speedy at putting in an appearance. I couldn’t shake the feeling that somehow I had cheated--but then I remembered that I still hadn’t gotten my epidural...which was obviously a moot point by now. So I guess I didn’t cheat that much. And if anyone knows a mom-to-be who wants my 2 cents on the matter--I still think the natural childbirth thing is for the birds!
Back to DH...after we got to the hospital, his job was done for the moment and he fell asleep in the recliner next to my bed. After a nap of about an hour or so, he realized that there were a bunch of people in the room and they were all talking. This was about the time when the doctor said, “No drugs, let’s just have a baby!” So he stayed awake for the next 15 or 20 minutes while Matthew was born, and another half hour to make all the appropriate phone calls that these occasions demand. Then, back to sleep in the recliner till the nurse came in to take me to my postpartum room. All in all, I think his job was a little easier. But he made up for it later...he stayed with me in the hospital for the better part of the next couple days and took a couple of weeks off work doing nearly everything around the house and taking care of the two oldest kids almost all on his own. So I am not complaining about his strategically placed naps--I don’t want to have to try to be nice to people when I’m in labor anyway.
So that was my 3 weeks-ago-Saturday-night in case you were wondering...and now my bed sounds really good as Matthew will be waking up in a few hours!

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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #135 on: December 27, 2007, 02:04:01 AM » by amy3js

Haha! jhandrh, that was a funny and well written story. Congrats on the new baby!

Congrats to you too Heather! Glad you both have happy healthy babies!

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You get what you get, what matters is what you do with it.

Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #136 on: December 28, 2007, 06:51:54 PM » by wyomama3

All the time I say I need to post here, and never get around to it. Today, that all changes. Wink

I use a little community hospital, they birth 1-2 babies a week. There is no nursery and they, until recently, did not offer epidurals.
Baby #1-girl July 98, born on due date
I was dialated to a 3, three weeks, 2 weeks and one week before birth. The day before my due date I was dialated to a ONE. I cried all the way home (45 miles) because, "this baby is NEVER going to come out". I was past the scared to give birth stage, I wanted it out, no matter how it had to come out!!! Well, shedding tears must have done the trick (and a little intimacy Wink

) because at 3:45 a.m. I woke up to go to the bathroom and something ran down my leg. Hmmm....potty or water? I went to the bathroom and went back to bed. An hour later same thing, but no contractions. I got ready, woke up dh and headed for town. Dh was driving 80- I think he's seen too many movies- but there was no need to hurry. At 9:00 a.m. I finally started labor. It went fast and intense, I rode each contraction mentally as if riding a wave. Build, build, ride, peak, crash, rest, build, build, ride.... I spent most of my time on the labor ball (won-der-ful) and doing paperwork Angry

. Transition was on the toilet. Yucky, I know, but that is was felt the best, as if anything could help transition. Around 2 I started to push, but didn't have the pushing sensation. My awesome (deaf) labor nurse had me push to see if my body would respond. At one time I was squatting at the end of the bed and my doc was on the floor looking up to see what was going on. I love my doc!!! She is sooo cool, (and gives TTUAC out to her new parents too). Each push was bringing the baby down, but I still didn't ever feel the need to push. They decided to monitor baby, thank heavens. With the pushing baby would lose heartbeat! Doc went in deep and felt that baby was frank breech. We hold the record for the fastest c-section done at that hospital. Our daughter was born at 4:16. The cord was around her neck, with each push it would tighten and that's why we would lose heartbeat. It was 111 (a record) the day she was born. The new community nursing home opened that day too and there was a wattage issue so not all hospital rooms had airconditioning, mine was one of them. We brought in fans from home, but it was hot, hot for a coulple of days. Dd layed around naked with a diaper only under her.
Baby #2-boy June 01,born day after due date
My regular doc was on maternity leave with her 3rd. My back up doc was, of course, gone to a med conference. I had the on call doc who is, with his family, an independent missionary to Africa. He was back in the states on furlough and keeping with his med credentials. He does not deliver babies in Africa (due to AIDS), and has HUGE hands Sad

.
Went into labor the night before, contractions 3 minutes apart, and rushed to town. Labor quit! They sent us to a motel because home was so far away. We went back to the hospital the next morning as labor started again around 8a.m. I again went fast and furious, and labored on the ball. They were going to keep me in bed and monitor me becasue of the VBAC, I said, "I don't think so!". I got the ball as long as the moniter did not move, I made sure of that! I started to push at 12:30, I felt the need this time. Pushing went for 90 minutes, they started to talk c-section, I said, "I don't think so!" He was born at 2:08, with a lot of tearing. They sutured me by the yard. I tore deep into the vagina, up toward the urethra (got a cathater out of the deal), to each side, and inot the rectal wall. My placenta also did not deliver on it's own. This is where the big hands on the doc were not so good! The manually removed the placenta. Personally, I would go through transition again over the placental removal. I kept mumbling prayers, and squeezing my sisters fingers nearly off. I honestly wondered if I could bear it much longer. (I do recall sis and doc sharing missions stories, and dh was down watching everything the doc was doing). When they were stitching the numbing agent had worn off around the rectal area and the had a few more stitches. I said, "give the stitches", by the time they poked me for a shot, and then give a stitch, it would be like doing 2 w/out the drugs. Well, mistake, because it was more than two stitches and that is one area that did not feel good to stitch! I lived and left the hosptal a few days later, after I could use the bathroom with out incident. 10 days after birth, my perineal area did not feel right. I layed in the shower with the (removable) shower head between my legs as a sort of sitz bath. We didn't have a tub at the time. Finally I asked dh to look 'down there' Embarrassed

, he looked and said we needed to go to town. The stitches did not dissolve on their own, and had to be removed. NOT FUN! Months later, when I went potty, I would find pieced of vaginal stitches on the t.p. I also had lots of nightmares after this birth. DS was such a great baby, that sure helped out. I also lost a lot of blood, and they wanted to give me a transfusion, I said (yep), "I don't think so". We had to drive to town everyday for 5 days to check my levels, and no transfusion. yeah! Dh said that we were done having kids, he didn't like what we went through. So #3 (6 years later) was a BIG surprise...
Baby #3-boy Aug 07
This little guy was a scheduled c-section. We did not want to mess with the placenta issue of the last birth. He was also laying transverse with his head against my left hip. The first spinal went bad, and sent nerve spasms through the right side of my lower back, and 3 months later, thankfully, healed. It was a little rough going when we got home because I reacted to both Darvacet and Vicodin, so only Tylenol for pain med. I tried going with out but it became a little overwhelming. My family would likely say that it was more than a little overwhelming. Wink

That's it, my stories. They are all so worth it, being a mom is like nothing else on earth!

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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #137 on: December 28, 2007, 07:21:23 PM » by diaperswyper

wow, those are quite the stories, wyomama3. I love the idea of a personal little hospital like that.

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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #138 on: December 28, 2007, 08:44:20 PM » by amy3js

Ditto, those are some stories! Shocked

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You get what you get, what matters is what you do with it.

Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #139 on: December 29, 2007, 12:28:19 AM » by *MommaJo*

WOW! Sorry you had so much pain your second time around! Cry

My first was born on his due date, as well - Leap Day 04.
My second was born just 12 hours before his due date.

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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #140 on: January 09, 2008, 11:30:38 AM » by KristenA

A VBAC Story:

This birth story really began two years before delivery. In July 2005 I was 9 months pregnant with my first daughter. I knew nothing about normal pregnancy and delivery. I thought just like most OBGYN’s do now: Birth is guilty until proven innocent (or complicated until proven uncomplicated). I read all the mainstream books and watched the mainstream TV shows about birth.....

I was induced at 39 weeks because I wanted to be and the doctor “was going to be working at the hospital on Saturday anyways”. On a Friday night I was checked into the hospital and given prostaglandins on my cervix. In the AM I was given Pitocin. Surprise! Baby’s heart rate dropped when given Pitocin (but came right back up to normal). I was 2 cm dilated and 0% effaced when Pitocin was administered and the baby had not dropped. At around noon I was given an epidural. I did not ask for it, it was suggested to me from the nurses because if an emergency happened I did not want to have to be ‘under’ (general anesthia) for the c-section. I consented and (surprise!) the baby’s heart rate briefly dropped again.

After 2 quick drops in the heart rate and no progression from the induction I was told I was having a c-section. Our sweet daughter was born at 2:21pm! So exciting!

The only problem I seemed to have from major surgery was breast feeding. I think it was all the drugs in our systems and the fact I was not able to nurse for the first few days. Being incredibly stubborn about nursing successfully I started asking A LOT of questions and reading a lot about breast feeding. That quest got me on the road to natural health. I will never forget the day the Nurse Lactation Specialist at the Pediatrician’s office said “Go to a health food store and get Fennel tea. It will help increase your milk supply.” I was shocked that a health professional was suggesting something outside the realms of FDA drugs. :-)

So, here we are two years later and excited about another pregnancy. I now knew what healthy pregnancy was and all about midwives and herbs. I was excited to work with one this time for a Vaginal Birth After Caesaerean (VBAC)! We interviewed several OB/GYN’s and Certified Midwives. None of the OB/GYN’s felt quite right, so we settled on a Midwife, Linda, for a homebirth with a doctor back-up in case of hospital transport. I enjoyed the midwifery care: blood tests, ultrasound referrals, heart rate checks, urine tests, blood pressure checks, and more-- all in the comfort of my own home!!
Then around 30 weeks pregnant I started feeling uneasy about everything. I kept asking my husband Jared “Are we doing the right thing?” He would reply “I think it will be fine. I support your decision to home birth.”
Well, for me to feel totally comfortable I needed to hear him say “This is what I think is best for you and we are doing _______.” So, I prayed and prayed. Two weeks later I met a OB/GYN, Dr. Anderson, that felt right AND she said she would accept me as a patient! I went to visit her in her office and HATED the office experience. Oh, how different it was from home midwifery visits! I told Jared everything the OB/GYN said and how I felt, which was I still wanted a homebirth... but that most of all I wanted him to make the final decision. I told him “I can’t do it anymore. YOU must decide.”

He said “Okay... this is what we are doing: Continue care with the Linda and Dr. Anderson, labor at home, and come to the hospital around 5-7cm dilated...If things go quickly and perfectly we will stay home and have the baby, but we will probably go to the hospital.”
Even though it was not exactly what I wanted to hear I felt SO relieved and that a weight had been taken off my shoulders. YES! We now had a plan that my husband had made the final decision on. *whew! sigh!*

Speed up ten weeks later to my due date......(here is the good part)

On a Friday night our friends, Rochelle and David, came in town because I thought I might be in early labor. Rochelle had had natural childbirth and would be helping me with the birth. David would be caring for their 2-year-old son and our 2-year-old daughter while I was in labor.

Friday and Saturday nights I had regular (6-7 minutes apart) soft contractions. Monday though Wednesday I had hard regular contractions. Monday night the midwife came because the contractions were 3 minutes apart and strong. Linda spent the night, but by morning the contractions had slowed down and I had only dilated about 1/2 cm though the night (from about 1.5-2.5). Those four days of labor Rochelle was so good to me. She kept me hydrated, fed well, relaxed, and anticipated my every need. I couldn’t have imagined anything better. Also during those four days the kids got major Daddy time. Jared and David took the 2-year-olds to parks, stores, junky food places, and so much more. I think it was a hit for that crew!

On Wednesday afternoon I decided to go see Dr. Anderson. I had had hard contractions the night before, and they didn’t let up throughout the day. Jared took me in and I had several painful contractions in the car and the doctor’s office. Dr. Anderson checked my cervix and announced that I was at 0-station, 90% effaced, and 4 cm dilated. She said I could go home, labor, and come to the hospital that night whenever I felt ready. Dr. Anderson was sure I was in early active labor.

About 6:00pm Linda the midwife came over and helped me labor. I was in and out of the birthing tub and really frustrated. I thought I was making no progress! I was wary that I was actually in labor--the contractions were not any stronger or closer together than on Monday night, and I had not made any progress then..... Why would I now?

Linda checked me again and couldn’t tell how dilated I was but that the baby had moved down even further. At that point I was seriously ready to go to the hospital. Even though I had wanted a homebirth, Jared had decided that we would go to the hospital as long as labor was not very fast and smooth and it didn’t make sense to transfer. Well, that was obviously NOT the way this birth was going.... :-)

In those couple of hours at home I asked several times to go to the hospital. Rochelle, Linda, and Jared all looked at me worried that I just wanted drugs. I have to admit... the thought DID cross my mind *wink*. But, mainly I just wanted to get the show on the road. I thought labor would be real and I would progress if I was at the hospital.

About 10 or 11pm we drove and checked in to the hospital. Dr. Anderson had prepared the nurses that I wanted a natural, no intervention delivery and the nurses obliged beautifully! Although, I think I may have had some effect with the nurses before my team came into the room. I had several contractions and asked them “Come here please” to hold me standing through contractions......they all got big rocking hugs.

Oh! That is another thing... I had TERRIBLE back labor (but the baby wasn’t posterior). I had to stand or be on my hands and knees through the contractions. Although it was back labor, the contractions never got closer than about 5 minutes apart and they never got super strong. So, I count that as a real blessing.

So, here we are settled into the hospital setting. The nurses are respectful and helpful. I have one saline bag through IV then they take it out so I can move around. I am also hooked up to the Electronic Fetal Monitors (but can take them off to shower or potty). Actually the EFMs weren’t all that bad. I wanted to be close to the bed to hold on to and the EFM didn’t seem to get in my way too bad. I was still able to stand up and get on my hands and knees.

My cervix was checked again when I got settled in; 5.5cm! Even though it wasn’t a whole lot of change, it was something and I was encouraged. After an hour of so I asked for Stadol to help me sleep in between contractions. I did help me sleep, but the main thing it did was make me a bit loopy so I didn’t care what was going on around me. I was able to rock, move, hum, sing, stand, wiggle, dance, etc without caring who saw me. Basically, it removed me from the situation to completely concentrate on what my body was telling me. I probably didn’t need it, but it was cool to have it. I didn’t notice any bad side effects.

More of the same through the night and early morning..... contractions about 5-7 minutes apart.

Then, at about 5:00am the nurse checked me again, I was 9cm!! Woo Hoo!
As soon as she left the room I had a contraction and my body literally went: WHOMPF and pushed itself. My water broke at that moment. For the next 20 minutes or so I let my body just push in the contractions. Then the doctor and nurse team arrive. I pushed squatting, on my hands and knees, and standing. It was the most fun of the whole delivery. I don’t remember any pain during this part. Finally they said “Lay back the shoulders need to come out.” I did, and the doctor delivered the head and shoulders nicely, and all off the sudden I met my dear daughter at 5:57am. She was 8’9, 21.5 inches,and perfect!
How amazing! I pushed a baby out of my body!

Looking Back
The most important thing I did to prepare for a successful VBAC was (in no particular order):

Find Doctor that I trust.
Follow my husband’s lead.
Use a midwife
Avoid all Health Care Professionals that used words like “You can try”, or had high intervention rates
Research Research Research. Knowing that Puttering Labor is NORMAL. Labor doesn’t have to progress that the medical communities 1cm per hour rate to be normal
Have an amazing friend that helped me through the days of labor. She kept my hope alive, my body functioning well with good food and hydration, my mind off all the worries, massage, relaxation, and fun!
Trust my body, that it was meant to have babies naturally and that surgeries are NOT a normal way to deliver.
I had several Friends (included WTM people) praying for me though the labor process. I KNOW that it helped.

God is so good!

*Names Changed to Protect the Innocent. (hahaha!)

« Last Edit: January 10, 2008, 02:23:43 PM by KristenA »
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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #141 on: January 09, 2008, 11:57:06 AM » by *MommaJo*

Yeeeaaah! So glad you had a great VBAC!
Thanks for sharing and CONGRATS!

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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #142 on: January 09, 2008, 12:11:27 PM » by Kitty

Wait a minute...you're saying your baby was born LAST MONTH/LAST YEAR?! Angry

And you're NOW telling us?! If it wasn't such FABULOUS NEWS, I might be cross with you! Cheesy

I am so happy for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kiss

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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #143 on: January 09, 2008, 12:31:26 PM » by ndmomof6

Congrats on your VBAC!

Hope you are enjoying snuggling with your new little bundle of joy!

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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #144 on: January 09, 2008, 12:36:21 PM » by bizymum

What a great birth story! Thanks for sharing!

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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #145 on: January 12, 2008, 04:33:47 PM » by hedy

Thanks, Kristen, I appreciated the part where you told how you and hubby worked together to choose the best route for you.

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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #146 on: January 12, 2008, 07:01:32 PM » by linemansgirl

Here is my most recent birth story. It was a WONDERFUL experience even though it was an induction. I think that it did finally convince me to just trust the Lord next time, He will work everything out. If baby is born by myself at home, I will be fine.

We arrived at the hospital at 6:30 am. After registering, changing and answering questions it was time to get my IV. That and only having ice chips during labor were the only two things that were on my list of things thst I wanted for my labor that my doctor said no to. At 8:20 my doctor came in to break my water. Before she did she told me that I was still welcome to get up and leave. I said go ahead. Probably one to two minutes after that everything started to get fuzzy. Everything got darker and darker and I ended up passing out. I was only out for a few seconds, when I came to my blood pressure was 70/40. I was lying there thinking, what did I get myself into, emergency c-section here I come! My blood pressure immediately started to rebound and was up to 110/60 after about 10 minutes. They also were not happy with baby's reactivity, so they wanted me to just lay there quietly. I was originally only supposed to have to be on the monitors for 15 minutes, but ended up being on them for 3 hours. During this time I was having a few contractions, but just pretty much the same as the ones that I had been having for the past two months.

So, about 11:20 they were happy with the way that both baby and I looked and took me off the monitors. I got up and started walking around. That wasn't really doing anything, so at about 12:00 I sat down and started ni**le stimulation. After about 15 minutes of that I was having strong consistent contractions, so I stopped. My doctor came in and checked me at about 12:20 and I was 4-5. Contractions were about 4-5 minutes apart and getting pretty uncomfortable. Dh and I were trying the Bradley Method this time around and dh was talking me through the contractions. This helped TREMENDOUSLY!!!! About 12:40 I asked if I could get into the tub. They started filling it up for me. Before I was ready to get in I was starting to feel some pressure, so I asked the nurse to check me and I was still a 5. I got into the tub at about 1:00. The contractions were 3-4 minutes apart and getting very strong. Dh sat beside the tub and continued to talk me through each contraction. After I had been in the tub for a while I started to feel a lot more pressure including rectal pressure. So I told dh after this contraction I need to hurry to bed before the next contraction gets here. I jumped up and let dh and the nurse try to dry me off as I flew to the bed, because I was NOT going to have my next contraction standing up. It was now about 1:30. The nurse checked me and I was complete! She quickly called the doctor, who arrived in about 3 minutes. After about 4 pushing contractions, Ava Belle arrived at 1:46! Once things got started I was in labor for about an hour and a half.

The pushing stage was wonderful. This was my first time with a female very midwife minded doctor. Instead of having everyone yelling at me push 1-2-3-4-5,etc., she just said you know what you are feeling and what your body needs to do. Everything was so nice and quiet and peaceful while I pushed her out. I only ended up with a small tear at my old episiotomy scar that didn't need to be repaired. The doctor immediately handed her to me and no one took her away until we asked the nurse to go ahead and weigh her after about 1 1/2 hrs later, before big sisters arrived. She started rooting around and nursing like a champ after about 15 minutes. She LOVES to nurse and wants to nurse all of the time! They were wonderful about no eye drops or shots, my doctor told them and no one even ever mentioned it to me. Dh did WONDERFULLY with his coaching, it made all of the difference in the world for both of us! This was such a wonderful experience (except for the scary beginning) I already can't wait for next time!

« Last Edit: January 12, 2008, 07:05:06 PM by linemansgirl98 »
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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #147 on: January 12, 2008, 07:33:19 PM » by doddsgirl

wahoo!!! i love, love, love reading these stories! thanks for sharing your trials, tears, and victories! way to go!
now go get some rest!

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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #148 on: January 12, 2008, 07:49:42 PM » by *MommaJo*

Congrats! Great story!
Did I miss it or was this an induction without drugs? Did they break your water and that was all?

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Re: Birth Stories: Past or Present
« Reply #149 on: January 12, 2008, 08:04:07 PM » by linemansgirl

Quote from: *MommaJo* on January 12, 2008, 07:49:42 PM

Congrats! Great story!
Did I miss it or was this an induction without drugs? Did they break your water and that was all?

Yes, all she did was break my water. Normally for me as soon as my water breaks I am in hard labor. This time I had to help a bit, but I didn't have any drugs.

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And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Galatians 6:9

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