Ah... my lil man arrived Sat, 3pm. 6.14 lbs, 19.5 inches.
Rowan Sage.
Just got home and we are SO in love.
After scary NST's last week, sent out "time to come out" vibes, fearful they would induce at Sat's scheduled NST. And sure enough, 1:30 am Friday morning, contractions started. LONG early labor, starts and stops. Finally got solid around 3pm. Called my doula at 8pm - at home with DP, my mom and doula for a few hours, walking around the block, taking showers... and reached a point where I was "ready" to go to the hospital.
Only 3cm, despite being less than a minute apart for over 2hrs. Technically not "active labor" so they sent me home.
3 more hours, another walk around the block (except this time it took an hour and a half instead of the 40 minutes prior), more showers. DP and my doula were amazing; comforting, supportive, visualizing, keeping me "out of my head". So we traveled back to the hospital at 3am. Only 4cm. But they let us stay.
At this point, my head started getting the best of me. Despite the awesome jetted tubs and supportive mantras and DP reminding me how strong I was... I said "nope... time to talk epidural". Many reminders of that it was not what I'd originally planned, and at some point, I think cursing was involved... "I want a consult... NOW".
Epidural came through at 6am and was the BEST thing for me. Removed me from my head, AND I could still feel my legs and stand on them, and feel a bit of the contractions. I was so worried I'd be totally blocked, but no.. it was a good decision. Plus I was able to finally take a nap after my so far, 30hr day. Pushing started at noon. I think I was confused - they kept saying "practice pushing" and explaining that I was "helping" the contractions, so I think I thought it wasn't really MY job to "push" him out. Hmmm... all my reading back-firing on me (or the epidural, or not enough sleep, or....). Two hours later, his heart-rate was scarily low, and they put in an internal monitor... which just the idea of that in his scalp reminded me why I was there - Bring This Baby into the World!! Another hour.... finally the mirrors came out so I could see the progress, and I reached down to feel his head crowning.. two more pushes and he was on my belly!! How amazing!
He had a slight abrasion on his head from delivery that's apparently aided in his slight jaundice; and a few bfeeding challenges, just because he's teeny and my boobs are NOT. But my doula consult reminded me that "it's breast feeding... NOT nipple feeding", so I'm not discouraged. We did a bit of finger-feeding today and lots of pumping. And let me just say, nipple guards are the best thing - now that we're home, he's latching and getting what needs From Me (despite thru plastic).
Thank you ladies for all your support last week! We're so excited that he decided to come join us without induction - and despite my wants to not have drugs, the epidural really was a savior. I made it 30hrs without, so...
picts: http://picasaweb.google.com/pygmygir...81958337504290
Rowan Sage.
Just got home and we are SO in love.
After scary NST's last week, sent out "time to come out" vibes, fearful they would induce at Sat's scheduled NST. And sure enough, 1:30 am Friday morning, contractions started. LONG early labor, starts and stops. Finally got solid around 3pm. Called my doula at 8pm - at home with DP, my mom and doula for a few hours, walking around the block, taking showers... and reached a point where I was "ready" to go to the hospital.
Only 3cm, despite being less than a minute apart for over 2hrs. Technically not "active labor" so they sent me home.
3 more hours, another walk around the block (except this time it took an hour and a half instead of the 40 minutes prior), more showers. DP and my doula were amazing; comforting, supportive, visualizing, keeping me "out of my head". So we traveled back to the hospital at 3am. Only 4cm. But they let us stay.
At this point, my head started getting the best of me. Despite the awesome jetted tubs and supportive mantras and DP reminding me how strong I was... I said "nope... time to talk epidural". Many reminders of that it was not what I'd originally planned, and at some point, I think cursing was involved... "I want a consult... NOW".
Epidural came through at 6am and was the BEST thing for me. Removed me from my head, AND I could still feel my legs and stand on them, and feel a bit of the contractions. I was so worried I'd be totally blocked, but no.. it was a good decision. Plus I was able to finally take a nap after my so far, 30hr day. Pushing started at noon. I think I was confused - they kept saying "practice pushing" and explaining that I was "helping" the contractions, so I think I thought it wasn't really MY job to "push" him out. Hmmm... all my reading back-firing on me (or the epidural, or not enough sleep, or....). Two hours later, his heart-rate was scarily low, and they put in an internal monitor... which just the idea of that in his scalp reminded me why I was there - Bring This Baby into the World!! Another hour.... finally the mirrors came out so I could see the progress, and I reached down to feel his head crowning.. two more pushes and he was on my belly!! How amazing!
He had a slight abrasion on his head from delivery that's apparently aided in his slight jaundice; and a few bfeeding challenges, just because he's teeny and my boobs are NOT. But my doula consult reminded me that "it's breast feeding... NOT nipple feeding", so I'm not discouraged. We did a bit of finger-feeding today and lots of pumping. And let me just say, nipple guards are the best thing - now that we're home, he's latching and getting what needs From Me (despite thru plastic).
Thank you ladies for all your support last week! We're so excited that he decided to come join us without induction - and despite my wants to not have drugs, the epidural really was a savior. I made it 30hrs without, so...
picts: http://picasaweb.google.com/pygmygir...81958337504290
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