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...that did not go as planned!
I was fast asleep when my water broke at 3am on March 17. It felt like pee, except there was no stopping it. I jumped out of bed, scaring my DH, and ran to the bathroom where I continued to gush. I was excited, but a tiny part of me was disappointed. I'd been hoping my labor would start with contractions - it's what I'd been preparing for!! With my water broken, I knew that my OB would want me to come straight to the hospital for monitoring.
I decided to hang out at home for a little bit and wait for contractions. I was trying to be optimistic. I ate breakfast, took a shower, listened to some music and tried to relax. I couldn't get over the fact that this was it; the next time I came home, I would have a baby.
After four hours of mild period-like cramps, we decided to head to the hospital. I was feeling a little discouraged. I sat in triage for three hours at only 1.5cm dilated and 80% effaced. I was contracting every 2-5 minutes but not strongly enough. Since my water had broken, they didn't want me to walk around or do anything that might cause the umbilical cord to prolapse and my BP was a little high.
It figures that my least favorite doctor from the practice had to be the one on call that day. He wanted to start me on Pitocin right away due to risk of infection. I convinced him to give me two more hours but he basically told me that I was not going to be able to do this on my own.
He was right. Two hours later, I still wasn't progressing so at 11am I started my Pitocin. Soon I was feeling the contractions. They weren't bad at first. DH and I were able to watch a few episodes of NCIS before the pain was so bad I could no longer walk, talk, or concentrate. He squeezed my hips together while I practiced breathing. My BP went up and the nurse made me lay in bed on my left side, which made it hard to labor naturally, so I used the peanut ball between my legs. The doctor came in and talked about magnesium for my BP, which scared me (and probably made my BP go up even more!). DH was amazing, bringing me cold washcloths and ice chips and squeezing my hand with every contraction. He seriously worked just as hard as I did. And I never did need the magnesium as my BP went down while lying on my side.
By 4pm, I was 10cm and ready to push...except the baby's head was turned the wrong way. The nurses said she would most likely move on her own within the hour but they wanted me to stay lying down. They kept saying DON'T PUSH. I tried different breathing techniques to fight the urge but it felt impossible. I was exhausted. Even though I was already 10cm, I got the epidural. It allowed me to rest for an hour while we waited for baby Sarah to move her head, which she finally did.
I pushed on both of my sides for an hour before using the squatting bar. Even with the epidural, I could still feel my legs. I pushed like that for what felt like ages. The doctor came in and said that my heart rate was high (you think?!), but baby's was good so he let me do my thing.
I don't know how I did it, but I did!! At 7:46pm, after two hours of pushing, Sarah Lynn was born. DH swears she came out with a smile on her face. I had one small tear that didn't require stitches, and could feel my legs enough to walk around an hour after birth. Labor did not go as we thought (does it ever?) but I think we made the best of it, and I can truthfully say that I'm satisfied with my experience! Our little girl was worth every second.
https://i47.tinypic.com/seyq29.jpg
Sarah Lynn, March 17, 2013 at 7:46pm
7 pounds 9 ounces 19" inches
I was fast asleep when my water broke at 3am on March 17. It felt like pee, except there was no stopping it. I jumped out of bed, scaring my DH, and ran to the bathroom where I continued to gush. I was excited, but a tiny part of me was disappointed. I'd been hoping my labor would start with contractions - it's what I'd been preparing for!! With my water broken, I knew that my OB would want me to come straight to the hospital for monitoring.
I decided to hang out at home for a little bit and wait for contractions. I was trying to be optimistic. I ate breakfast, took a shower, listened to some music and tried to relax. I couldn't get over the fact that this was it; the next time I came home, I would have a baby.
After four hours of mild period-like cramps, we decided to head to the hospital. I was feeling a little discouraged. I sat in triage for three hours at only 1.5cm dilated and 80% effaced. I was contracting every 2-5 minutes but not strongly enough. Since my water had broken, they didn't want me to walk around or do anything that might cause the umbilical cord to prolapse and my BP was a little high.
It figures that my least favorite doctor from the practice had to be the one on call that day. He wanted to start me on Pitocin right away due to risk of infection. I convinced him to give me two more hours but he basically told me that I was not going to be able to do this on my own.
He was right. Two hours later, I still wasn't progressing so at 11am I started my Pitocin. Soon I was feeling the contractions. They weren't bad at first. DH and I were able to watch a few episodes of NCIS before the pain was so bad I could no longer walk, talk, or concentrate. He squeezed my hips together while I practiced breathing. My BP went up and the nurse made me lay in bed on my left side, which made it hard to labor naturally, so I used the peanut ball between my legs. The doctor came in and talked about magnesium for my BP, which scared me (and probably made my BP go up even more!). DH was amazing, bringing me cold washcloths and ice chips and squeezing my hand with every contraction. He seriously worked just as hard as I did. And I never did need the magnesium as my BP went down while lying on my side.
By 4pm, I was 10cm and ready to push...except the baby's head was turned the wrong way. The nurses said she would most likely move on her own within the hour but they wanted me to stay lying down. They kept saying DON'T PUSH. I tried different breathing techniques to fight the urge but it felt impossible. I was exhausted. Even though I was already 10cm, I got the epidural. It allowed me to rest for an hour while we waited for baby Sarah to move her head, which she finally did.
I pushed on both of my sides for an hour before using the squatting bar. Even with the epidural, I could still feel my legs. I pushed like that for what felt like ages. The doctor came in and said that my heart rate was high (you think?!), but baby's was good so he let me do my thing.
I don't know how I did it, but I did!! At 7:46pm, after two hours of pushing, Sarah Lynn was born. DH swears she came out with a smile on her face. I had one small tear that didn't require stitches, and could feel my legs enough to walk around an hour after birth. Labor did not go as we thought (does it ever?) but I think we made the best of it, and I can truthfully say that I'm satisfied with my experience! Our little girl was worth every second.
https://i47.tinypic.com/seyq29.jpg
Sarah Lynn, March 17, 2013 at 7:46pm
7 pounds 9 ounces 19" inches
