TCK_Runner
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Hi everyone - I posted this in the March labor thread, but thought it might be helpful if others could read it too. As a FTM I totally know I was reading everyone else's stories in third tri as prep for the big day and as someone who had no clue what to expect!
Labor story:
So Tuesday last week I started having contractions around 11AM, I think about a half day after I had a bloody show. They were the first non-BH ones I had - I can only describe them as tightenings that were strong and consistent. I didn't know if it was "real" labor or not since I'd never experienced it of course, so I kept going around my business during the day. I had lunch, decided to make loaf of banana bread, did some work on my dissertation, etc. I used an online contraction monitor off and on to see how far apart they were... some were 4-6 minutes apart - most, actually - and others were more like 8 minutes apart. Well, then I talked to my mom around 3 and she said "it sounds like you're in labor for real, call the midwife!" So I did, and the MW asked about the contractions and said "if you're getting them 4-6 minutes apart for an hour by 5-6pm then go to the hospital." But at 6pm I thought, if I go in now they're going to send me home, I just know it... plus I didn't want to hang out too long at the hospital. Finally, after dinner and around 9PM, when I decided I couldn't continue my dissertation work (for real, I was writing a chapter til then lol), I then told my husband to get the hospital bags ready. He started to freak a bit that it was finally "real" and throwing his clothes in a bag and running around the apartment
We finally left for the hospital at 9:30PM or so... doctors hooked me up the CTG around 10:30 and at 11 checked my cervix, which was only 1cm dilated (but contractions were regular, 4-5 mins apart and getting stronger) and decided I needed to stroll around some... didn't do much strolling as I had to poop like 7 times in an hour!!! They checked me again at midnight and around 12:15 decided contractions were strong enough to admit me and hook me up to the machines. I was told to drink lots of water and wait. By almost 4am the contractions were 1-2 mins apart and super strong, but waters in tact still and cervix only 2cm So I was given that stuff to speed up the cervix opening - whatever it is that begins with a 'p.' holy hell, that stuff was way worse than the contractions!!! at 4:30am I felt dizzy and puked EVERYWHERE to the point only water and bile was coming out!! But then they checked my cervix and I was already at 5-6!!! When checked again around maybe 5-5:15 I was at 8cm but waters in tact still... so midwife broke them around 5:30am and that's when things got super exciting.... contractions insanely intense and baby heart rate closely monitored. Around 6 or so I had intense urges to push, so I started begging my husband to ask the midwife, who had left the room - "WHEN CAN I PUSH???" Around 6:15-6:30 am the sun was beginning to come up outside the window and I could hear birds singing... and they started changing the setup of the table and machines and a doctor and several midwives came in to help out, and the one attending to me all night announced in German "The baby is coming" which is how I knew the childbirth was imminent. Also, I wanted to push like I had the worst poop of my life coming...
So then the new midwife came in and I pleaded "WHEN CAN I PUSH, WHEN CAN I PUSH?" and she said "if you want to push, you can now" and man did I push! so much pressure and urge... of course, it wasn't quite good enough, and she asked if I wanted to try another position - so glad I did that yoga btw because I was down on all fours doing cat/cow and yoga breathing through the contractions followed by major pushes. That got the baby much closer, then I turned over and just did it the "normal" looking way with my chin to my chest and knees pulled in. Yoga breathing in between contractions still... Emma was born at 7:15AM and they put her right on top of me, she started searching for my nipples right away! the placenta came out one small push later, midwife asked me to touch it, my husband cut the cord... it was all very sudden and intense, but worked out in the end. They left us in the receiving room on the table for two hours with the baby on my chest and then next to me, then they wrapped her up and let my husband hold her for a while, he loved that. It was fantastic having him there the whole time, he did a great job coaching me, looking me right in the eyes during contractions and encouraging me. The midwives were very good at coaching me through when and how to push and breathe. In fact, to be blunt and honest, the absolute worst part of it all wasn't contractions or even the crowning, it was that stupid drug they gave me for the cervix dilation when I puked my guts out everywhere and felt like death. My husband said he was so worried, I looked so pale! I was happy it wore off after an hour and I started feeling better (relatively speaking, lol!!!).
Also, I was really lucky, I only had a superficial tear at the top of the labia, they gave me two stitches. But it burns when I pee, that sucks. The afterpains (from the uterus contracting) are starting to get better now, but those were also a bit intense at first - it's like period cramps at random times. I don't get them as frequently now but the first day or two they were no fun.
So far in the postpartum period the worst for me is actually more unexpected than I thought: breastfeeding! It is so so difficult and it HURTS! I guess I will be heading to that part of the forums now... I am so lucky I have an awesome midwife who came by my apartment earlier today. I have cold compresses and the insurance already rented me an electronic medela pump for up to 6 months... I tried for like two days in the hospital to get enough to feed the baby - using shields, putting creams and what not on my nipples to get them to heal, cold compresses in between - and all I got was really bloody, sore nipples. So I had to start with the pump and use some formula when I couldn't pump enough. Anyways, I'm ok with that, and those LLL people - who my midwife has dubbed "the Taliban" - can bite me! My daughter has no problems latching so far, she is always searching for my nipple, so I know that once my milk and nipples are a bit better I can put her back on it.
Here is a photo of Emma María, born March 19 at 7:15AM Berlin time.
That's all for now!
Labor story:
So Tuesday last week I started having contractions around 11AM, I think about a half day after I had a bloody show. They were the first non-BH ones I had - I can only describe them as tightenings that were strong and consistent. I didn't know if it was "real" labor or not since I'd never experienced it of course, so I kept going around my business during the day. I had lunch, decided to make loaf of banana bread, did some work on my dissertation, etc. I used an online contraction monitor off and on to see how far apart they were... some were 4-6 minutes apart - most, actually - and others were more like 8 minutes apart. Well, then I talked to my mom around 3 and she said "it sounds like you're in labor for real, call the midwife!" So I did, and the MW asked about the contractions and said "if you're getting them 4-6 minutes apart for an hour by 5-6pm then go to the hospital." But at 6pm I thought, if I go in now they're going to send me home, I just know it... plus I didn't want to hang out too long at the hospital. Finally, after dinner and around 9PM, when I decided I couldn't continue my dissertation work (for real, I was writing a chapter til then lol), I then told my husband to get the hospital bags ready. He started to freak a bit that it was finally "real" and throwing his clothes in a bag and running around the apartment
We finally left for the hospital at 9:30PM or so... doctors hooked me up the CTG around 10:30 and at 11 checked my cervix, which was only 1cm dilated (but contractions were regular, 4-5 mins apart and getting stronger) and decided I needed to stroll around some... didn't do much strolling as I had to poop like 7 times in an hour!!! They checked me again at midnight and around 12:15 decided contractions were strong enough to admit me and hook me up to the machines. I was told to drink lots of water and wait. By almost 4am the contractions were 1-2 mins apart and super strong, but waters in tact still and cervix only 2cm So I was given that stuff to speed up the cervix opening - whatever it is that begins with a 'p.' holy hell, that stuff was way worse than the contractions!!! at 4:30am I felt dizzy and puked EVERYWHERE to the point only water and bile was coming out!! But then they checked my cervix and I was already at 5-6!!! When checked again around maybe 5-5:15 I was at 8cm but waters in tact still... so midwife broke them around 5:30am and that's when things got super exciting.... contractions insanely intense and baby heart rate closely monitored. Around 6 or so I had intense urges to push, so I started begging my husband to ask the midwife, who had left the room - "WHEN CAN I PUSH???" Around 6:15-6:30 am the sun was beginning to come up outside the window and I could hear birds singing... and they started changing the setup of the table and machines and a doctor and several midwives came in to help out, and the one attending to me all night announced in German "The baby is coming" which is how I knew the childbirth was imminent. Also, I wanted to push like I had the worst poop of my life coming...
So then the new midwife came in and I pleaded "WHEN CAN I PUSH, WHEN CAN I PUSH?" and she said "if you want to push, you can now" and man did I push! so much pressure and urge... of course, it wasn't quite good enough, and she asked if I wanted to try another position - so glad I did that yoga btw because I was down on all fours doing cat/cow and yoga breathing through the contractions followed by major pushes. That got the baby much closer, then I turned over and just did it the "normal" looking way with my chin to my chest and knees pulled in. Yoga breathing in between contractions still... Emma was born at 7:15AM and they put her right on top of me, she started searching for my nipples right away! the placenta came out one small push later, midwife asked me to touch it, my husband cut the cord... it was all very sudden and intense, but worked out in the end. They left us in the receiving room on the table for two hours with the baby on my chest and then next to me, then they wrapped her up and let my husband hold her for a while, he loved that. It was fantastic having him there the whole time, he did a great job coaching me, looking me right in the eyes during contractions and encouraging me. The midwives were very good at coaching me through when and how to push and breathe. In fact, to be blunt and honest, the absolute worst part of it all wasn't contractions or even the crowning, it was that stupid drug they gave me for the cervix dilation when I puked my guts out everywhere and felt like death. My husband said he was so worried, I looked so pale! I was happy it wore off after an hour and I started feeling better (relatively speaking, lol!!!).
Also, I was really lucky, I only had a superficial tear at the top of the labia, they gave me two stitches. But it burns when I pee, that sucks. The afterpains (from the uterus contracting) are starting to get better now, but those were also a bit intense at first - it's like period cramps at random times. I don't get them as frequently now but the first day or two they were no fun.
So far in the postpartum period the worst for me is actually more unexpected than I thought: breastfeeding! It is so so difficult and it HURTS! I guess I will be heading to that part of the forums now... I am so lucky I have an awesome midwife who came by my apartment earlier today. I have cold compresses and the insurance already rented me an electronic medela pump for up to 6 months... I tried for like two days in the hospital to get enough to feed the baby - using shields, putting creams and what not on my nipples to get them to heal, cold compresses in between - and all I got was really bloody, sore nipples. So I had to start with the pump and use some formula when I couldn't pump enough. Anyways, I'm ok with that, and those LLL people - who my midwife has dubbed "the Taliban" - can bite me! My daughter has no problems latching so far, she is always searching for my nipple, so I know that once my milk and nipples are a bit better I can put her back on it.
Here is a photo of Emma María, born March 19 at 7:15AM Berlin time.
That's all for now!
your daughter is beautiful. I'm a first time mom too, and I am terrified because I'm going into this not knowing what to expect, but reading your story made me feel better knowing that everything will be okay, and I'll get to see my daughter soon 
