hannah76
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My birth story:
Ava Lily was born on Wednesday December 8th at 6:34 am at 8 lbs 12 oz and 21 inches long. My early labour was very long - I was having frustratingly regular contractions from Sunday on, but stayed home until the morning of December 7th. I hopped on my ball, paced around the house, and even went to the mall one evening for an indoor walk with my mom and breathed through contractions while pretending to look in store windows! I was sure this was it any time and was getting super discouraged that my girl was keeping me in suspense for so long.
I woke up Tuesday morning with more intense contractions 5 minutes apart and put the exit plan in motion – called my mom who was driving us into the hospital, woke dh up and packed my stuff as well as I could. Arrived at the hospital and I was only 2 cm dilated so I was told to walk around the hospital for the morning then come back to triage for another check. At lunch I was still only 3 cm, so was offered and accepted a morphine shot and went home to rest and walk more for the afternoon. We were getting so excited for Ava to arrive at that point and once again though that by midnight we’d be parents!
Monday was December 7th, my brother’s bday, and I was hoping my daughter would share that bday with him.
At dinner time we went back to the hospital and were admitted at 4 cm. Now we were elated and on such a high that we were finally in our labouring room! I ate some snacks I’d packed, some yummy double chocolate cookies that I’d baked the day before, chatted with dh and braved through the contractions 5 mins apart until just before 10pm. Then the pain was bringing tears to my eyes so I talked to the doc about the pros/cons of an epidural. My biggest worry was that labour would stall or stop, but was assured that this isn’t something that would necessarily happen so I went ahead and asked for the shot. I was 6cm at this point. It was just in time, as during the 10 min wait for the anaesthesiologist the contractions were constant and I couldn’t handle it anymore. The anaesthesiologist arrived and found out that apparently I have very small spaces between my vertebrae so after what felt like an eternity of having my back poked, I heard her say – ok, last try. Ack! Luckily she got it and I felt relief very quickly.
I managed to sleep all night, even dozed through many of the checks throughout the night. I had my waters broken at some point, but ended up needing pitocin as well. The nurses woke me just after 6am for my check, and Ava was already making her way out into the world with her head crowning! I asked for a mirror and could see lots of brown hair! I was so happy and although I had been feeling pressure and a need-to-poop feeling for a couple of hours, still no pain. They got me to push once for a test and then told me to stop as she was coming out! they called the doc and I pushed over 4 contractions with shockingly no pain and no tearing, and then there she was
I got to watch the whole thing in the mirror. She came out sunny side-up which anyone who’s been following my journal will know was a big fear of mine. Despite facing up, being almost 9 lbs, and coming out so fast I didn’t have any tearing or swelling and pushing took all of 15 mins!! Epidurals rock, and although I was adamant before labour I wouldn’t have one, I decided pretty early on that an epi was likely in my future – that pain is no joke!! I’d do it all over again the same way in a heartbeat.
Daddy and I are both so in love and Ava is getting comfy at home after an extended stay in hospital due to jaundice. Being a parent is a real trip! So much fun but so much more exhausting than I could have imagined... luckily Ava loves her swing we’ve discovered
Ava Lily was born on Wednesday December 8th at 6:34 am at 8 lbs 12 oz and 21 inches long. My early labour was very long - I was having frustratingly regular contractions from Sunday on, but stayed home until the morning of December 7th. I hopped on my ball, paced around the house, and even went to the mall one evening for an indoor walk with my mom and breathed through contractions while pretending to look in store windows! I was sure this was it any time and was getting super discouraged that my girl was keeping me in suspense for so long.
I woke up Tuesday morning with more intense contractions 5 minutes apart and put the exit plan in motion – called my mom who was driving us into the hospital, woke dh up and packed my stuff as well as I could. Arrived at the hospital and I was only 2 cm dilated so I was told to walk around the hospital for the morning then come back to triage for another check. At lunch I was still only 3 cm, so was offered and accepted a morphine shot and went home to rest and walk more for the afternoon. We were getting so excited for Ava to arrive at that point and once again though that by midnight we’d be parents!
Monday was December 7th, my brother’s bday, and I was hoping my daughter would share that bday with him.At dinner time we went back to the hospital and were admitted at 4 cm. Now we were elated and on such a high that we were finally in our labouring room! I ate some snacks I’d packed, some yummy double chocolate cookies that I’d baked the day before, chatted with dh and braved through the contractions 5 mins apart until just before 10pm. Then the pain was bringing tears to my eyes so I talked to the doc about the pros/cons of an epidural. My biggest worry was that labour would stall or stop, but was assured that this isn’t something that would necessarily happen so I went ahead and asked for the shot. I was 6cm at this point. It was just in time, as during the 10 min wait for the anaesthesiologist the contractions were constant and I couldn’t handle it anymore. The anaesthesiologist arrived and found out that apparently I have very small spaces between my vertebrae so after what felt like an eternity of having my back poked, I heard her say – ok, last try. Ack! Luckily she got it and I felt relief very quickly.
I managed to sleep all night, even dozed through many of the checks throughout the night. I had my waters broken at some point, but ended up needing pitocin as well. The nurses woke me just after 6am for my check, and Ava was already making her way out into the world with her head crowning! I asked for a mirror and could see lots of brown hair! I was so happy and although I had been feeling pressure and a need-to-poop feeling for a couple of hours, still no pain. They got me to push once for a test and then told me to stop as she was coming out! they called the doc and I pushed over 4 contractions with shockingly no pain and no tearing, and then there she was
I got to watch the whole thing in the mirror. She came out sunny side-up which anyone who’s been following my journal will know was a big fear of mine. Despite facing up, being almost 9 lbs, and coming out so fast I didn’t have any tearing or swelling and pushing took all of 15 mins!! Epidurals rock, and although I was adamant before labour I wouldn’t have one, I decided pretty early on that an epi was likely in my future – that pain is no joke!! I’d do it all over again the same way in a heartbeat.Daddy and I are both so in love and Ava is getting comfy at home after an extended stay in hospital due to jaundice. Being a parent is a real trip! So much fun but so much more exhausting than I could have imagined... luckily Ava loves her swing we’ve discovered
x x
)
