hakunamatata
Mommy to Ariana & Robert
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The Labor & Birth Entry!
January 6th, 2014
10:07 am - Mild/moderate contractions began at midnight lasting about 20-30 seconds and occurring 2-3 times an hour. Hoping this is the start! I have the contractions app on my phone, but so far just keeping a mental tally. Bobby is squirmy. Currently raining. I'm going to shower soon. D is working from home today just in case.
10:55 am - Just had 5-6 this past hour
Hope it keeps increasing. Just showered.
12:31 pm - loads of Braxton Hicks along with the uncomfortable, "gassy" feeling contractions. Definitely not gas either as I've made trips to the bathroom but the gas like cramping has continued. D on the way to Walmart to pick up more milk, bread, etc while it's still early enough. Trying to walk around and move so I folded laundry, put away clean dishes, etc. Not motivated enough to bend over and pick up 200 duplos though Going to nap at same time as Fumfy after she's done with lunch. I am drinking and eating regularly and peeing a lot which was recommended in early labor.
3:30 pm - Fizzled out a bit. Rats. But at least my body is warming up. Still getting a contraction here and there.
4:55 pm - Just saw orders in my journal for thrusty thrust. Will try Contractions about 2-3 per hour.
7:18 pm - Thrusty thrust and EPO. Going to relax now. Have contraction app on phone so will use that. Last contraction was about 5 min before DTD and it was painful (the contraction, not DTD).
9:05 pm - Called OB because D was nervous
He wouldn't believe that I still have plenty of time. So I called the answering service and the on call doc called me right back. We talked for a good 5 minutes. Basically there's not a huge chance baby is coming tonight, which I figured. I only have to go in when contractions are 3-5 min apart lasting about 60 seconds for at least an hour. Nowhere near that. Since this is my first time laboring, it could even take a couple of days.
10:12 pm - How am I going to sleep? Too excited. Contractions were much farther apart last night and I woke up a lot so I can only imagine tonight will be even harder.
11:43 pm - These suckers hurt.
Tuesday, January 7th
3:47 am - Was able to grab a couple minutes of sleep in between contractions. Back to timing them. Trying to breathe effectively during and truly relax in between. Contractions up to a minute in length. Time between 8 min so far.
4:53 am - Got to 5 min apart. Leaving for hospital. Can't type more.
(From this point forward, times will be approximate because I am recalling instead of recording in real time.)
5:30 am - Arrived at hospital in pretty much the worst pain of my life. The whole car ride was awful. Contractions 3-5 min apart lasting over 60 seconds. I told D that if I ever try to look back fondly and think contractions weren't that bad to remind me of how it really was Receptionist checked me in very quickly. I was brought to a room to be assessed for intake. I changed into a hospital gown and sat on the bed. At this point I was in so much pain, I was nauseous and shaking. I was 5 cm dilated and 100% effaced. I was quite pleased to hear it was coming along nicely. The nurse was really nice and had a good bedside manner which really helped. I told her about my birth plan and laughed about how it was all pretty much null and void. Laboring in a tub or bouncing on a ball just did not interest me. I wanted an epidural stat. The nurse put in the iv port in my arm instead of my hand which really was way less painful.
6:45 ish - Was wheeled to my labor and delivery room. Noted the homey feel of the room - it was more like a bedroom than a hospital room. There was even a painting on the wall. A nurse checked on me, and I waited for the anesthesiologist. I was examined and found to be 6 cm. Sometime between 7 and 7:30 he arrived, talked to me briefly, and administered the epidural. Immediately after, while I was still sitting on the side of the bed being propped up by D and a nurse, my water broke. It was like a water balloon exploding under me. Thankfully, the epidural kicked in rather quickly, and I was amazed by the relief I felt. I still could feel the sensations of the contractions and even a bit of discomfort, but not the excruciating pain. It was a godsend, and if I ever have a third child, I'll do it again. I was finally able to relax in the bed from about 7:30 am until 12:30 pm. 5 hours of rest, listening to music (Mumford and Sons and Tom Petty ended up being my selections to help me mellow out), joking around with D, and only having minor discomfort rather than horrible pain.
12:30 pm - I had been told by various nurses that it'd be time to push when I felt continuous rectal pressure almost as if I had to poop. It was finally that time. The doctor was paged and arrived quickly, and he was assisted by an attending, an intern, and a nurse. I started crying because I didn't know what to do. I read about pregnancy and parenthood all the time, and for the life of me I wasn't sure what to do. I begged them for coaching. They told me to wait for a contraction, take a deep breath, push for 10 seconds, and repeat twice then rest. I made D designated counter, and he held my left hand. Bobby's little head resembled a hairy softball that kept popping out a little and going back in At one point, his head remained partially out. I pushed for a while and didn't make progress, so the doctor offered an episiotomy, but I tried pushing one more time, and it was the last push. Bobby was born at 1:42 pm on January 7th, 2014, weighing 7 lbs 3.2 oz and measuring 20 inches long. We had over an hour of skin to skin, which was bliss. No episiotomy was needed but I had a 2nd degree vaginal tear, which the intern stitched up. She made a couple of mistakes and needed to add a couple more stitches. I could hear the doc teaching her. I had consented but I think next time I'll pass on being a sewing project for a student. Lots of lidocaine and leftover epidural medication so it didn't hurt much until that evening and the next day. I'm healing pretty well. I'm sure I'm forgetting some things, but overall that's what happened. I'm glad I decided to get an epidural, and I'm glad the vbac worked out. Nice not having to recover from a c-section! Little Bobby is perfect. When Ariana was born, it felt like my heart grew. When Bobby was born, I felt a sense of completion and peace.
Robert Douglas
VBAC delivery on January 7th, 1:42 pm
7 lbs 3.2 oz and 20 inches
https://i1127.photobucket.com/albums/l634/hakunamatata2012/20140107_144608_zpsi6ck5wo0.jpg
https://i1127.photobucket.com/albums/l634/hakunamatata2012/20140107_144624_zpsqzr2ppkg.jpg
January 6th, 2014
10:07 am - Mild/moderate contractions began at midnight lasting about 20-30 seconds and occurring 2-3 times an hour. Hoping this is the start! I have the contractions app on my phone, but so far just keeping a mental tally. Bobby is squirmy. Currently raining. I'm going to shower soon. D is working from home today just in case.
10:55 am - Just had 5-6 this past hour
Hope it keeps increasing. Just showered.12:31 pm - loads of Braxton Hicks along with the uncomfortable, "gassy" feeling contractions. Definitely not gas either as I've made trips to the bathroom but the gas like cramping has continued. D on the way to Walmart to pick up more milk, bread, etc while it's still early enough. Trying to walk around and move so I folded laundry, put away clean dishes, etc. Not motivated enough to bend over and pick up 200 duplos though
Going to nap at same time as Fumfy after she's done with lunch. I am drinking and eating regularly and peeing a lot which was recommended in early labor.3:30 pm - Fizzled out a bit. Rats. But at least my body is warming up. Still getting a contraction here and there.
4:55 pm - Just saw orders in my journal for thrusty thrust. Will try
Contractions about 2-3 per hour.7:18 pm - Thrusty thrust and EPO. Going to relax now. Have contraction app on phone so will use that. Last contraction was about 5 min before DTD and it was painful (the contraction, not DTD).
9:05 pm - Called OB because D was nervous
He wouldn't believe that I still have plenty of time. So I called the answering service and the on call doc called me right back. We talked for a good 5 minutes. Basically there's not a huge chance baby is coming tonight, which I figured. I only have to go in when contractions are 3-5 min apart lasting about 60 seconds for at least an hour. Nowhere near that. Since this is my first time laboring, it could even take a couple of days.10:12 pm - How am I going to sleep? Too excited. Contractions were much farther apart last night and I woke up a lot so I can only imagine tonight will be even harder.
11:43 pm - These suckers hurt.
Tuesday, January 7th
3:47 am - Was able to grab a couple minutes of sleep in between contractions. Back to timing them. Trying to breathe effectively during and truly relax in between. Contractions up to a minute in length. Time between 8 min so far.
4:53 am - Got to 5 min apart. Leaving for hospital. Can't type more.
(From this point forward, times will be approximate because I am recalling instead of recording in real time.)
5:30 am - Arrived at hospital in pretty much the worst pain of my life. The whole car ride was awful. Contractions 3-5 min apart lasting over 60 seconds. I told D that if I ever try to look back fondly and think contractions weren't that bad to remind me of how it really was
Receptionist checked me in very quickly. I was brought to a room to be assessed for intake. I changed into a hospital gown and sat on the bed. At this point I was in so much pain, I was nauseous and shaking. I was 5 cm dilated and 100% effaced. I was quite pleased to hear it was coming along nicely. The nurse was really nice and had a good bedside manner which really helped. I told her about my birth plan and laughed about how it was all pretty much null and void. Laboring in a tub or bouncing on a ball just did not interest me. I wanted an epidural stat. The nurse put in the iv port in my arm instead of my hand which really was way less painful.6:45 ish - Was wheeled to my labor and delivery room. Noted the homey feel of the room - it was more like a bedroom than a hospital room. There was even a painting on the wall. A nurse checked on me, and I waited for the anesthesiologist. I was examined and found to be 6 cm. Sometime between 7 and 7:30 he arrived, talked to me briefly, and administered the epidural. Immediately after, while I was still sitting on the side of the bed being propped up by D and a nurse, my water broke. It was like a water balloon exploding under me. Thankfully, the epidural kicked in rather quickly, and I was amazed by the relief I felt. I still could feel the sensations of the contractions and even a bit of discomfort, but not the excruciating pain. It was a godsend, and if I ever have a third child, I'll do it again. I was finally able to relax in the bed from about 7:30 am until 12:30 pm. 5 hours of rest, listening to music (Mumford and Sons and Tom Petty ended up being my selections to help me mellow out), joking around with D, and only having minor discomfort rather than horrible pain.
12:30 pm - I had been told by various nurses that it'd be time to push when I felt continuous rectal pressure almost as if I had to poop. It was finally that time. The doctor was paged and arrived quickly, and he was assisted by an attending, an intern, and a nurse. I started crying because I didn't know what to do. I read about pregnancy and parenthood all the time, and for the life of me I wasn't sure what to do. I begged them for coaching. They told me to wait for a contraction, take a deep breath, push for 10 seconds, and repeat twice then rest. I made D designated counter, and he held my left hand. Bobby's little head resembled a hairy softball that kept popping out a little and going back in
At one point, his head remained partially out. I pushed for a while and didn't make progress, so the doctor offered an episiotomy, but I tried pushing one more time, and it was the last push. Bobby was born at 1:42 pm on January 7th, 2014, weighing 7 lbs 3.2 oz and measuring 20 inches long. We had over an hour of skin to skin, which was bliss. No episiotomy was needed but I had a 2nd degree vaginal tear, which the intern stitched up. She made a couple of mistakes and needed to add a couple more stitches. I could hear the doc teaching her. I had consented but I think next time I'll pass on being a sewing project for a student. Lots of lidocaine and leftover epidural medication so it didn't hurt much until that evening and the next day. I'm healing pretty well. I'm sure I'm forgetting some things, but overall that's what happened. I'm glad I decided to get an epidural, and I'm glad the vbac worked out. Nice not having to recover from a c-section! Little Bobby is perfect. When Ariana was born, it felt like my heart grew. When Bobby was born, I felt a sense of completion and peace.Robert Douglas
VBAC delivery on January 7th, 1:42 pm
7 lbs 3.2 oz and 20 inches
https://i1127.photobucket.com/albums/l634/hakunamatata2012/20140107_144608_zpsi6ck5wo0.jpg
https://i1127.photobucket.com/albums/l634/hakunamatata2012/20140107_144624_zpsqzr2ppkg.jpg
