jenb
11-11-2002, 08:25 PM
I wanted to share our birth story here first as you ladies here have been the most incredible source of strength and support for the last 9 months.
Jaden Ivy
I started having some contractions that were different than Braxton Hicks on Thursday, I had a Midwife appt. and found out that I was 1cm and 90% effaced-could be anytime-or not. I didn't get much sleep that night.
By Friday morning I knew for sure that I was in early labor, as contractions were now 7-10 mins apart and slowly gaining in intensity and length. This was it! I was so ready, all the months of planning a successful VBA2C really felt as if they were coming together, I felt peaceful and self assured.
I spent the day trying to take it as easy as possible, listening to my Hypnobirthing tapes, taking baths, reading positive and empowering birthing information and stories. I also was cherishing the last bit of time left of a Mother of one. Nurturing, and loving this quiet special time with just Kylie and I.
I made Mike go to work as I knew it was going to be a longish day, and that I needed to relax. I ended up calling him at 5:30, to come on home as I was really needing to concentrate through my contractions, and finding myself getting "edgy". By the time he got home contractions were 4-5 mins apart and very powerful. I told him to call his Mom to come pick up Kylie. By the time she arrived we had put the call into the Midwife and were waiting for her call back to us.
We decided to leave for the hospital after waiting a half hour for the callback-We are a good 1/2 hour from the hospital and contractions were now 3-4 mins apart and a minute long. I had Mike call the hospital to let them know we were on our way, and as he was talking to them I felt(I swear I heard it) my water break! *LOL* all over my new car. I kept crying and moaning and telling Mike how sorry I was for ruining the seat.
I was laying on my side on the way to the hospital and was afraid to move after my water broke, as I knew that the contractions would be getting stronger, so I just hugged my body pillow and they actually slowed down a bit to 4-5 mins apart thankfully.
Our Midwife Joanne did call us back and let us know that she would meet us at the hospital.
We parked I left a long trail of lovely amniotic fluid from the parking lot all the way through the lobby, up the elevator and down the LONG corridor to L&D. It was the neatest thing, every contraction I would have, a big puddle would come out.
7:30
We got checked in and they started a monitor strip on me to see how regular the contractions were, and found that Jaden's heartbeat would drop during contractions, we fooled around with my positions and found one that seemed to stress her the least.
I was 2cm and 100% when the checked me. I had to remind myself that my body had made wonderful progress and that one of my biggest fears was proving false-that I would not dilate.
10:30
Got checked, was 5 cm. Contractions were INTENSE, was starting to lose it a little bit, was wondering if it was ever going to end. Baby's heart rate was dropping again during contractions, some concern this time as it was getting lower. Was still able to use hypnobirthing and relaxation techniques in between contractions.
12:00
Rechecked, still at 5 cm, I really started to lose it when I heard this, I felt like the last hour and a half was all for nothing. I asked Midwife if an epidural would help at this point to relax me as I was not coping well with any kind of relaxation during or in between contractions.
(Miche at this point I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. I read and reread your birth story many times over the last 9 months and I knew that getting an epidural at this time was right for us. I knew that it wasn't a failure thanks to you.)
12:30
Got "walking epidural". I could still feel my legs and contractions, but more as a pressure than discomfort.
I was (and my amazing coach) was able to finally get some much needed rest.
3:00
Started to feel pukey and shaky, nurse checked me and I was COMPLETE!!!
Baby was still at a -2 station, decided to wait for a bit to see if she would descend on her own.
5:00
Felt a tremendous pressure in my rectum, NEEDED to push!
Nurse let me do a "trial push" to see how I would do. LOL Was told immediately to STOP and Joanne our Midwife was in the room within minutes.
I pushed on my side for about 4 contractions, and baby's heartbeat was dipping into the 30's:o, very scared. They broke down the bed and told me that she needed to come out NOW!!!
One last contraction, and she crowned, I pushed again and out popped her head, one more, and out slid her body.
November 9th 5:55 am
The cord was wrapped around her neck twice which explained all the de-accelerations of her heart. She was deep suctioned and was placed on my chest to nurse within moments of her birth.
She nursed while Joanne stitched me up, a 1st degree tear and a few "skid marks" 6 stitches total.
I can't even begin to tell you how wonderful an experience this was for our family. Profound. Words just can't express the joy I have.
I am amazed at how wonderful I feel. What an incredible difference from my C-section recoveries. I was ready to go home by Sunday morning, but had to stay due to my pulse being rather high( an epidural side effect I am told).
Baby Jaden Ivy is doing wonderful, happily nursing as I type this out with tears in my eyes.
Kylie is thrilled with her new sister, and is quite the little helper.
Mike is in awe of our little family and ready to go again!:p
Jaden Ivy
I started having some contractions that were different than Braxton Hicks on Thursday, I had a Midwife appt. and found out that I was 1cm and 90% effaced-could be anytime-or not. I didn't get much sleep that night.
By Friday morning I knew for sure that I was in early labor, as contractions were now 7-10 mins apart and slowly gaining in intensity and length. This was it! I was so ready, all the months of planning a successful VBA2C really felt as if they were coming together, I felt peaceful and self assured.
I spent the day trying to take it as easy as possible, listening to my Hypnobirthing tapes, taking baths, reading positive and empowering birthing information and stories. I also was cherishing the last bit of time left of a Mother of one. Nurturing, and loving this quiet special time with just Kylie and I.
I made Mike go to work as I knew it was going to be a longish day, and that I needed to relax. I ended up calling him at 5:30, to come on home as I was really needing to concentrate through my contractions, and finding myself getting "edgy". By the time he got home contractions were 4-5 mins apart and very powerful. I told him to call his Mom to come pick up Kylie. By the time she arrived we had put the call into the Midwife and were waiting for her call back to us.
We decided to leave for the hospital after waiting a half hour for the callback-We are a good 1/2 hour from the hospital and contractions were now 3-4 mins apart and a minute long. I had Mike call the hospital to let them know we were on our way, and as he was talking to them I felt(I swear I heard it) my water break! *LOL* all over my new car. I kept crying and moaning and telling Mike how sorry I was for ruining the seat.
I was laying on my side on the way to the hospital and was afraid to move after my water broke, as I knew that the contractions would be getting stronger, so I just hugged my body pillow and they actually slowed down a bit to 4-5 mins apart thankfully.
Our Midwife Joanne did call us back and let us know that she would meet us at the hospital.
We parked I left a long trail of lovely amniotic fluid from the parking lot all the way through the lobby, up the elevator and down the LONG corridor to L&D. It was the neatest thing, every contraction I would have, a big puddle would come out.
7:30
We got checked in and they started a monitor strip on me to see how regular the contractions were, and found that Jaden's heartbeat would drop during contractions, we fooled around with my positions and found one that seemed to stress her the least.
I was 2cm and 100% when the checked me. I had to remind myself that my body had made wonderful progress and that one of my biggest fears was proving false-that I would not dilate.
10:30
Got checked, was 5 cm. Contractions were INTENSE, was starting to lose it a little bit, was wondering if it was ever going to end. Baby's heart rate was dropping again during contractions, some concern this time as it was getting lower. Was still able to use hypnobirthing and relaxation techniques in between contractions.
12:00
Rechecked, still at 5 cm, I really started to lose it when I heard this, I felt like the last hour and a half was all for nothing. I asked Midwife if an epidural would help at this point to relax me as I was not coping well with any kind of relaxation during or in between contractions.
(Miche at this point I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. I read and reread your birth story many times over the last 9 months and I knew that getting an epidural at this time was right for us. I knew that it wasn't a failure thanks to you.)
12:30
Got "walking epidural". I could still feel my legs and contractions, but more as a pressure than discomfort.
I was (and my amazing coach) was able to finally get some much needed rest.
3:00
Started to feel pukey and shaky, nurse checked me and I was COMPLETE!!!
Baby was still at a -2 station, decided to wait for a bit to see if she would descend on her own.
5:00
Felt a tremendous pressure in my rectum, NEEDED to push!
Nurse let me do a "trial push" to see how I would do. LOL Was told immediately to STOP and Joanne our Midwife was in the room within minutes.
I pushed on my side for about 4 contractions, and baby's heartbeat was dipping into the 30's:o, very scared. They broke down the bed and told me that she needed to come out NOW!!!
One last contraction, and she crowned, I pushed again and out popped her head, one more, and out slid her body.
November 9th 5:55 am
The cord was wrapped around her neck twice which explained all the de-accelerations of her heart. She was deep suctioned and was placed on my chest to nurse within moments of her birth.
She nursed while Joanne stitched me up, a 1st degree tear and a few "skid marks" 6 stitches total.
I can't even begin to tell you how wonderful an experience this was for our family. Profound. Words just can't express the joy I have.
I am amazed at how wonderful I feel. What an incredible difference from my C-section recoveries. I was ready to go home by Sunday morning, but had to stay due to my pulse being rather high( an epidural side effect I am told).
Baby Jaden Ivy is doing wonderful, happily nursing as I type this out with tears in my eyes.
Kylie is thrilled with her new sister, and is quite the little helper.
Mike is in awe of our little family and ready to go again!:p