mommymilk
06-19-2008, 02:28 PM
My induction date was set for June 19th, because I have cronic hypertension. I had been dialating and contracting for a few weeks, and there are previous posts about me trying to get this girl out on my own, instead of getting induced. Well, it happened!
I went in to see my midwife on Monday, June 16th, she checked me, I was a stretchy 4, but baby was face up, so she was stuck on my pubic bone and not decending down. My midwife gave me a rather rough (read:stripped membranes!) exam, which immediately made my contractions worse. I went home and sat on a labor ball for HOURS! I was having such horrid back labor, but it felt good because I knew I was doing it. After trying to get her to turn for 8+ hours I tried to lay down and get some sleep at about 11pm. By 2 am I had to get up, I wanted to sweep the kitchen floor, do some laundry, and vacuum, but I knew no one would be appreciative of hearing the vacuum at 2 am so I skipped that:giggle2: I also did some rocking on all fours, and sat on the labor ball again. FINALLY at about 9 am, I could feel her turn, and suddenly my contractions were so manageabe, that they didn't hurt anymore. I waited for about 30 minutes before calling my MIL to come get the boys, and then called my midwife. My MIL picked up the boys at about 11am, and I drove myself to the hospital. I had yet to tell anyone that I thought this was it, just in case it wasn't. My husband works an hour away, and I would have felt terrible if I got sent home. My midwife was waiting for me at L&D and immediately checked me. I was 5-6 fully effaced +1. :lostit: :lostit: :lostit: I did it! I was in labor! Totally on my own!
I called my husband, told him that we were having a baby and he needed to get to the hospital ASAP. He was on his way. My midwife told me she wanted me to deliver quickly since my blood pressure was steadily rising, and my liver function tests were up. I had already had pre-eclampsia twice, and she didn't want bad things to happen the third time. She gave me the option of totally laboring on my own, or getting an epidural and breaking my water. SHe didn't want to break my water in fear of taking away my current state of total calm and happiness to send me into a very painful labor with fears of my BP shooting through the roof and having a doctor take over my care. I waited for my husband to arrive before making my decision, and ultimately decided on the epidural with breaking my water. It felt like the safest logical choice. I got my epidural and had my water broken at about 4pm. I was so calm and comfortable I didn't know what to do with myself. I was comfortable before the epidural, I couldn't believe how easy my body was handling natural labor! I felt GREAT! At about 6pm I could feel the epidural starting to wear off, and decided to just let it. 6:30 comes and I feel myself getting the shakes, and I start crying uncontrollably. Plus the pain was pretty fierce, I could feel her coming down, and called for my midwife. The urge to push came at about 7, but I still had a little lip left on my cervix, but she told me to grunt through the contractions and the lip disappeared. After about 5 contractions my baby girl was born. Her cord was completely wrapped around her body and had to be cut before she was totally born. She also was not breathing when she was born, just peacefully looking around. This freaked out both my husband and I, after having both boys go immediately to the NICU, my first being born as a purple rag doll, his sister looking much the same. They did some suctioning, and then some deep suction, and got out a ton of fluid. I was trying to stay calm, but she still wasn't crying. She was pink though, and checking out her new surroundings. After a 15 minute debate between the 2 nurses, the NICU was finally called. The nurse took one look at my baby girl, listened to her lungs, and told the nursed "She is just transitioning, she is perfect, wrap her up and hand her to her mommy!":lostit: :lostit: :lostit:
I held my baby girl about 20 minutes after she was born, and finally experienced nursing before pumping. She latched right on, and just continued to look at my husband and I. She was fully alert for over 2 hours, and oh so quiet! She didn't cry until she was almost 24 hours old, and it was only a little squeak! It took about 36 hours to come up with a name for her, but Victoria Alexis stuck. And I think it sounds beautiful together!
Being home is so fantastic, and I feel totally healed from my previous two traumatic birth experiences. I know some of you may think it wasn't a natural birth, but to me it was as natural as I could get. I did it on my own, my body didn't fail me, yes I had an epidural, but only for a short time, and I felt every ounce of pain as she made her way into this world. The pain was fantastic though, I can't even describe it. Physically and mentally I fell so fantastic. I am on such a high. Our family is complete, and although it is sad to know I won't have any more children, I am so excited to see what is in store for us now!
She arrived, on her own, Tuesday June 17th! I am so proud of my body! I loved having the experience of spontaneous labor! She weighed 7lbs 4oz, and is 19 3/4 inches! Best of all, she is healthy! And nursing like a champ!
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f349/militarywife1/IMG_4370.jpg
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f349/militarywife1/IMG_4377.jpg
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f349/militarywife1/bigbrothers.jpg
You can't see it in the pics, but she has great big dimples in her cheeks!
I went in to see my midwife on Monday, June 16th, she checked me, I was a stretchy 4, but baby was face up, so she was stuck on my pubic bone and not decending down. My midwife gave me a rather rough (read:stripped membranes!) exam, which immediately made my contractions worse. I went home and sat on a labor ball for HOURS! I was having such horrid back labor, but it felt good because I knew I was doing it. After trying to get her to turn for 8+ hours I tried to lay down and get some sleep at about 11pm. By 2 am I had to get up, I wanted to sweep the kitchen floor, do some laundry, and vacuum, but I knew no one would be appreciative of hearing the vacuum at 2 am so I skipped that:giggle2: I also did some rocking on all fours, and sat on the labor ball again. FINALLY at about 9 am, I could feel her turn, and suddenly my contractions were so manageabe, that they didn't hurt anymore. I waited for about 30 minutes before calling my MIL to come get the boys, and then called my midwife. My MIL picked up the boys at about 11am, and I drove myself to the hospital. I had yet to tell anyone that I thought this was it, just in case it wasn't. My husband works an hour away, and I would have felt terrible if I got sent home. My midwife was waiting for me at L&D and immediately checked me. I was 5-6 fully effaced +1. :lostit: :lostit: :lostit: I did it! I was in labor! Totally on my own!
I called my husband, told him that we were having a baby and he needed to get to the hospital ASAP. He was on his way. My midwife told me she wanted me to deliver quickly since my blood pressure was steadily rising, and my liver function tests were up. I had already had pre-eclampsia twice, and she didn't want bad things to happen the third time. She gave me the option of totally laboring on my own, or getting an epidural and breaking my water. SHe didn't want to break my water in fear of taking away my current state of total calm and happiness to send me into a very painful labor with fears of my BP shooting through the roof and having a doctor take over my care. I waited for my husband to arrive before making my decision, and ultimately decided on the epidural with breaking my water. It felt like the safest logical choice. I got my epidural and had my water broken at about 4pm. I was so calm and comfortable I didn't know what to do with myself. I was comfortable before the epidural, I couldn't believe how easy my body was handling natural labor! I felt GREAT! At about 6pm I could feel the epidural starting to wear off, and decided to just let it. 6:30 comes and I feel myself getting the shakes, and I start crying uncontrollably. Plus the pain was pretty fierce, I could feel her coming down, and called for my midwife. The urge to push came at about 7, but I still had a little lip left on my cervix, but she told me to grunt through the contractions and the lip disappeared. After about 5 contractions my baby girl was born. Her cord was completely wrapped around her body and had to be cut before she was totally born. She also was not breathing when she was born, just peacefully looking around. This freaked out both my husband and I, after having both boys go immediately to the NICU, my first being born as a purple rag doll, his sister looking much the same. They did some suctioning, and then some deep suction, and got out a ton of fluid. I was trying to stay calm, but she still wasn't crying. She was pink though, and checking out her new surroundings. After a 15 minute debate between the 2 nurses, the NICU was finally called. The nurse took one look at my baby girl, listened to her lungs, and told the nursed "She is just transitioning, she is perfect, wrap her up and hand her to her mommy!":lostit: :lostit: :lostit:
I held my baby girl about 20 minutes after she was born, and finally experienced nursing before pumping. She latched right on, and just continued to look at my husband and I. She was fully alert for over 2 hours, and oh so quiet! She didn't cry until she was almost 24 hours old, and it was only a little squeak! It took about 36 hours to come up with a name for her, but Victoria Alexis stuck. And I think it sounds beautiful together!
Being home is so fantastic, and I feel totally healed from my previous two traumatic birth experiences. I know some of you may think it wasn't a natural birth, but to me it was as natural as I could get. I did it on my own, my body didn't fail me, yes I had an epidural, but only for a short time, and I felt every ounce of pain as she made her way into this world. The pain was fantastic though, I can't even describe it. Physically and mentally I fell so fantastic. I am on such a high. Our family is complete, and although it is sad to know I won't have any more children, I am so excited to see what is in store for us now!
She arrived, on her own, Tuesday June 17th! I am so proud of my body! I loved having the experience of spontaneous labor! She weighed 7lbs 4oz, and is 19 3/4 inches! Best of all, she is healthy! And nursing like a champ!
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f349/militarywife1/IMG_4370.jpg
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f349/militarywife1/IMG_4377.jpg
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f349/militarywife1/bigbrothers.jpg
You can't see it in the pics, but she has great big dimples in her cheeks!
