My birth story! - a bit long. ;)

~Roo'sMama~ wrote: Well as you know I went in last tuesday morning to be induced - I was exactly one week overdue. I was hoping that I'd wake up and be in labor already to get a bit of a head start, but that didn't happen and I was a little disappointed and a lot nervous about going in and starting from nothing. I was even more disappointed when my OB came and checked me and told me that I was still only 50 % effaced and 2 centimeters dilated - I hadn't progressed at all from the week before. So instead of breaking my water right away she put some prostaglandin gel on my cervix and said we'd have to wait for four hours to do anything else. I was pretty bummed about that. I had to lie on my side for an hour, and after only a few minutes I started having some mild contractions about every 2-3 minutes. After the hour was up Dh and I went for a walk around the hospital - I wanted to walk a lot but there wasn't really anywhere to go and I felt silly walking around the non L&D parts of the hospital in my gown and robe. So we went back to the delivery room and played a game of cards, and then I tried to read while Dh went to get some lunch.

My doctor came back at about 12:30 and broke my water - my contractions had been getting steadily worse but were still not that bad. I was still only 60% effaced and 3-4 centimeters when she broke my water, and I was sure I was going to be in labor for a loooong time. The contractions started getting intense right away after my water was broken, and each one was a little bit worse than the last one. I was starving and tried to eat a little of the lunch they brought me, but I'd barely get a bite in my mouth and then I'd have to stop and breathe through a contraction - they were coming about every 1 1/2 minutes apart.

I was starting to get pretty uncomfortable, and the nurse suggested I try the whirlpool tub to help me relax. At first it was wonderful - the tub helped me relax in between the contractions better than I could before I got in it. They got really bad really fast though, and I got out a couple times to go to the bathroom because I felt like I needed to go. Then I realized that I was actually having the urge to push - something I didn't experience while I was in labor with Andrew because of the epi. The contractions were awful and coming right on top of each other, and I started crying and yelling to Dh that I couldn't do it. My mom poked her head in the bathroom door to tell me that I could do it and that each contraction was getting me closer and I yelled at her not to tell me that. The thought ran through my head that we were going to be done with two kids because there was no way I was ever going through this again... my next thought was that they'd have to do a c-section because I just couldn't do it. I must have been in transition then but I didn't know it - at that point I thought I was still only 4 or 5 centimeters at the most and I was sure I'd have hours and hours of that horrible pain. I decided I needed some drugs and somehow with Dh's help I got out my my wet tank top and back into my gown and over to the bed. The contractions were making me so weak I could hardly stand up, and I was dizzy from breathing so deeply to try to get my mind off the pain. I didn't get sick like I was afraid I would though so that was a major plus.

The nurse came in and checked me after I got back to the bed and I was dilated to 8, and I asked if it was too soon for an intrathecal and she said it wasn't... Ha! If only I knew. I asked my mom to call Jennifer to let her know I would probably be pushing pretty soon, and then all of a sudden my doctor was there in her scrubs and getting all her gear ready and I was like what in the heck is going on I still need my drugs! She checked me and I was a little more than 9 centimeters. The nurse put in my IV line in case there was time for me to get drugs still but they said there probably wouldn't be. I yelled that I needed to push and couldn't stop so she said to go ahead and give a little push if it helped - then she told me to push for real and I was NOT happy because I was still waiting for that anesthesiologist to come. I was freaking out because I was sure that I'd have to push for at least an hour because of how long I pushed with Andrew and because of my family history of long and difficult deliveries. They had to give me oxygen because I was panicking and breathing too fast - they were telling me to take deep breaths and hold them in while I pushed but I didn't even hear them until after they got the mask on me. I pushed about 4 times I think - about 10 or 15 minutes tops - and out she came! There was no sign of meconium so I got to hold her right away. That was one of the most wonderful experiences ever. They let me hold her for a long time before they took her to be weighed and all of that stuff. She was 8 pounds 1 ounce, and 20 1/2 inches long. Not huge but not the peanut I was expecting either, since I always measured a week small at my prenatal appointments. They said she definitely looked like an overdue baby though, because her face wasn't all red and wrinkly and she was shedding skin all over her body.

From start to finish my labor was about 5 1/2 hours long. I don't know if I'll do it drug free again next time, but knowing that it will probably go at least as quickly as this time did makes it seem more do-able. I'm just so glad it went so well - I wasn't sure what to expect being induced, but it went much better and quicker than I thought it would.

luvmykids replied: Whew, I got tired just reading that! I'm glad things went quickly and smoothly (overall, I mean) and that your sweet baby girl is here

gr33n3y3z replied: sounds like everything was perfect to me
Congrats

ZandersMama replied: So happy for you!

MyBlueEyedBabies replied: sounds like a great birth. Congrats!

ediep replied: wow! that sounds a lot like my birth story with Emma...(except for the inducing)

sounds great! glad it was so fast!!!

TANNER'S MOM replied: Congrats and I am glad it went fast.. I am sure at the time it seemed on slow motion. But all in all it was pretty darn fast..

Congrats on a big peanut...lol

you did good Mama.

sweetgirl replied: Congrats!!! The great thing is that birth is over and you have a pretty baby girl in your life!! Happy for you Peige and Landon

Boys r us replied: That's a great birth story!!! In my experience, being induced isn't so bad!! Sounds like u had a good experience w/ it as well!!

CantWait replied: Nice and quick. Thanks for sharing your story.

A&A'smommy replied: OH that is WONDERFUL honey, and a great story!!!

hopefulmomtobe replied: I am already getting so nervous for my turn that I read your whole email holding my breath...I didnt realize I was doing that until I got to the end and breathed in. So glad it went so well for you and so fast. That is great!!!! Your baby girl is sooo precious!!

DansMom replied: That's a wonderful story! Thanks for sharing