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- May 14, 2010
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Birth Story:
Dh and I were determined to have a baby yesterday, on our snow day. We had sex, I ate spicy salsa, and, this is what I think did it, dh stimulated my nipples for a good five minutes. Ouchy. But I started cramping right after he quit. The sensation stopped, but after I went to bed, I started having horrible cramps. I realized they resembled contractions. I got up and began timing them. They were not all that consistent, roughly 12-20 minutes apart. It was hard to know when to start and stop though, since I was having back pain in between. I would later learn the baby was back to back.
Somehow, I knew this was different. I alerted dh, and after an hour or so, we decided to go to the hospital. We arranged for dh's brother to come stay with Kara. On the way to the er, my contractions subsides, and I was like, "Crap, they're going to send me home. This isn't real." Once I got up on the labor and delivery floor, they began monitoring me. No, not in labor, but my uterus was irritated. (I wonder what caused that. ) The nurse said it might turn into something, so they had me walk the halls for an hour.
After that, my "contractions" were really close together, and they said I was in early labor. However, my cervix wasn't dilated at all, completely closed, pointed down; they even said it didn't even feel like a pregnant woman's cervix. With such constant pressure on my uterus without progressing, I was at a higher risk for uterine rupture. That was all I needed to hear.
At that point, I knew my decision, and I have no regrets. The doctor did ask me how I felt about it, but he agreed that the risk was too great. A little after 5, I alerted family and my coworkers that I was scheduled for a repeat c section at around 11:30.
I felt calm and relieved that the decision was out of my hands. I had actually early thought about opting for a C-section if he offered one, in lieu of going home if I wasn't in labor. But I didn't want to have come so far for a vbac only to punk out.
But no, things happen for a reason, and that morning, they told me I made the right decision by coming in.
My mother and best friends (who are our kids' godparents) arrived, and we chatted happily while we waited.
The nursing staff was so friendly, and I have to say the whole experience felt great. I don't feel deprived not having a vbac. In the or, I actually felt like I was indeed giving birth. I guess I did kind of get the "going into labor" experience with getting up in the middle of the night and all.
The spinal went in easily, and I eagerly awaited my son's arrival. Oddly the numbness was really comforting and soothing. My eyes brimmed with tears and my world changed again when I saw my precious son.
I chatted with the recovery nurse easily and rested hoping dh was getting skin to skin contact like they said he would. It turned out he was a little grunty, so he had to go the nursery first. But as soon as I got to my room, a nurse put him on my chest skin to skin. He immediately stopped crying. As I bonded with him, I chose not receive morphene, just percaset, so I wouldn't be drowsy. The pain was crazy bad a lot of the day, but I'm glad I remember every bit of time with my son.
He is perfect in every way. My daughter got to see him, and she was ecstatic.
As I lie in the hospital in the middle of the night, I can only praise God for His grace and look forward to a wonderful future with my little family.
Dh and I were determined to have a baby yesterday, on our snow day. We had sex, I ate spicy salsa, and, this is what I think did it, dh stimulated my nipples for a good five minutes. Ouchy. But I started cramping right after he quit. The sensation stopped, but after I went to bed, I started having horrible cramps. I realized they resembled contractions. I got up and began timing them. They were not all that consistent, roughly 12-20 minutes apart. It was hard to know when to start and stop though, since I was having back pain in between. I would later learn the baby was back to back.
Somehow, I knew this was different. I alerted dh, and after an hour or so, we decided to go to the hospital. We arranged for dh's brother to come stay with Kara. On the way to the er, my contractions subsides, and I was like, "Crap, they're going to send me home. This isn't real." Once I got up on the labor and delivery floor, they began monitoring me. No, not in labor, but my uterus was irritated. (I wonder what caused that. ) The nurse said it might turn into something, so they had me walk the halls for an hour.
After that, my "contractions" were really close together, and they said I was in early labor. However, my cervix wasn't dilated at all, completely closed, pointed down; they even said it didn't even feel like a pregnant woman's cervix. With such constant pressure on my uterus without progressing, I was at a higher risk for uterine rupture. That was all I needed to hear.
At that point, I knew my decision, and I have no regrets. The doctor did ask me how I felt about it, but he agreed that the risk was too great. A little after 5, I alerted family and my coworkers that I was scheduled for a repeat c section at around 11:30.
I felt calm and relieved that the decision was out of my hands. I had actually early thought about opting for a C-section if he offered one, in lieu of going home if I wasn't in labor. But I didn't want to have come so far for a vbac only to punk out.
But no, things happen for a reason, and that morning, they told me I made the right decision by coming in.
My mother and best friends (who are our kids' godparents) arrived, and we chatted happily while we waited.
The nursing staff was so friendly, and I have to say the whole experience felt great. I don't feel deprived not having a vbac. In the or, I actually felt like I was indeed giving birth. I guess I did kind of get the "going into labor" experience with getting up in the middle of the night and all.
The spinal went in easily, and I eagerly awaited my son's arrival. Oddly the numbness was really comforting and soothing. My eyes brimmed with tears and my world changed again when I saw my precious son.
I chatted with the recovery nurse easily and rested hoping dh was getting skin to skin contact like they said he would. It turned out he was a little grunty, so he had to go the nursery first. But as soon as I got to my room, a nurse put him on my chest skin to skin. He immediately stopped crying. As I bonded with him, I chose not receive morphene, just percaset, so I wouldn't be drowsy. The pain was crazy bad a lot of the day, but I'm glad I remember every bit of time with my son.
He is perfect in every way. My daughter got to see him, and she was ecstatic.
As I lie in the hospital in the middle of the night, I can only praise God for His grace and look forward to a wonderful future with my little family.
Congratulations again 
