I'm in labor!...birth story post #16.

[newmomroxi]

I'm checked in here at the hospital birth center and things are going well. Last check I was 4 cm, 70% effaced. They broke my waters and I'm just on the monitor for a few more minutes. I'm excited!!

[saffrongirl]

Yeah! Let us know how it all goes when you can! So excited for you.

[MyZoeJane]

wooohooo!!! Hope all is going well, mama!

[Dmitrizmom]

i'll be waiting for news in eager anticipation!!!

ELVs coming your way. Can't wait.

[~Laura~]

Omgoodness, YAY! I didn't realize you were being induced - can't wait to read the birth story!!

Sending lots of easy labor vibes your way!

Laura

[StrongFeather]

easy labor vibes to you
can't wait hear the story

[newmomroxi]

just had my son at 11-ish on Sept 24. Short birth story to come, just recovering now. Babe is nursing like a champ!

[2boyzmama]

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[StrongFeather]

Congrats!!
Enjoy your babymoon!

[Dmitrizmom]

Originally Posted by newmomroxi

just had my son at 11-ish on Sept 24. Short birth story to come, just recovering now. Babe is nursing like a champ!

Congrats! looking forward to reading your story.

[josie143]

Congrats!

[~Laura~]

Congratulations!!! Can't wait to hear about it!

Laura

[saffrongirl]

Originally Posted by newmomroxi

just had my son at 11-ish on Sept 24. Short birth story to come, just recovering now. Babe is nursing like a champ!

Awesome!! Good day to have a baby - it was my birthday too!

[turtlemamameg]

Hurray and congratualtions! I am so happy for you and you baby boy! So glad he such a good eater already! Off to a great start. Enjoy your new little man and update soon witha birth story!

And happy b-day to saffrongirl too!

[GiantGi]

congrats!

[newmomroxi]

REALLY long birth story... thanks for letting me share!

I had an appt on Wednesday morning. The week before, I was dilated 1 cm which was progress for me. I was hoping that the baby would be lower or my cervix would be softer or SOMETHING but there was no change. I was incredibly disappointed and my OB and I decided to tentatively schedule an induction for Oct 2. I did not want to be induced at all but the thought of being pregnant much longer made me so sad. I went out to the parking lot and called DH with the news. I started crying at that point and was just so pissed. I had been having contractions for about two weeks and I had a hard time adjusting to the idea that they weren't causing any progress. I honestly felt like I would be pregnant forever.

I ran errands the rest of the day and tried to stay busy. DH and I DTD that evening to hopefully get things started. That night I woke up frequently but didn't realize that it was ctx waking me up until 3:45. I got up and decided to read a book and eat a snack until I felt sleepy again. By 6 AM, I realized that the ctx weren't going away like usual but were actually getting stronger!

DH woke up around that time to get ready for a doctor's appt. Last week he had an accident on his mountain bike and ended up with a separated shoulder so he couldn't miss this check-in. I told him I was having ctx and he said he wouldn't be long. I decided to sleep until he got back, just in case this were the real thing. I woke up at 10AM shortly after DH got back and my ctx had spread out to about 20 minutes apart. We decided to go for a walk in the park where DH had his accident, for DH to "face his fears", haha. It was such a beautiful day and the walk was really pleasant.

At 11 AM, DH started timing my ctx. They were about 10 min apart. By 1 PM, they were 7 minutes apart and were getting pretty painful. DH called my OB's office and we headed to the hospital, which was 30 minutes away. I only had 2 ctx during the drive, thankfully. We checked in and I was silently praying that we wouldn't be sent back home. I still thought I might be having false labor. When the nurse checked me at around 3, I was 4 cm and 70% effaced. This was it!!

I had to be monitored and sitting through each ctx was torture! For some reason, I never did think to ask why, I was on the monitor for an hour. My OB was off and so I was going to be under the care of the on-call doc in his practice. This was news to me and I was pretty pissed that my OB wasn't going to be at the delivery. He was one of the reasons I ended up using this hospital. Anyway, I was checked again and had made no progress so the on-call OB, Dr. B, wanted me to have my waters ruptured. I knew what that meant but was not worried about being put on the clock. I was going to have this baby today!

They broke my water and monitored me for another 30 minutes, before I was able to get up and walk around at about 5. DH's parents arrived shortly after that and I was still in good spirits. My ctx had slowed while I was being monitored but they quickly picked up once I started moving again. DH timed them while I tried to breathe through each one, and chatted in between them as the family came to visit. By 7-ish I couldn't take the pain anymore and I decided to get an epidural.

I really wanted to have a natural birth but things were happening too quickly for me. My ctx had gone from 7 minutes apart to 3 minutes apart in two hours. DH knew that I wanted to birth naturally and did everything right. He was so supportive and was just incredible. I don't think I would have made it as long as I did if he weren't there. I'm not sure of the time but I started asking for the epi pretty soon. He helped me focus on breathing and encouraged me through each ctx. We went in the jacuzzi together but as soon as I relaxed my ctx picked up again. I just couldn't handle it anymore so DH told our wonderful nurse to order the epi for me.

Once the epi got going, I felt so much better. I was able to relax and talk with our family again. I was about 5 or 6 cm at that point. Two hours after getting the epi though, Dr. B wanted me to get started on pitocin. WHAT?!! I hadn't even been in the hospital for 5 hours yet, what was the big hurry? It was b/c I hadn't progressed at all since the epi started. I asked the nurse if she could wait a bit and DH and I ended up putting her off for a couple hours. I was getting checked again at 9:30 and I was really hoping for some progress b/c I didn't think DH and I would be able to put off the pitocin any longer. Thankfully, I was 8 cm dilated! No pitocin for me!

We really wanted the baby to be born soon b/c it was grandpa's b-day. Our nurse didn't think it would happen though. I got checked again around 10 PM and was 9 cm with a small lip. The baby was at 0 station. The nurse still didn't think the baby would be born before midnight though and figured I'd have to push for two hours! I didn't want that either.

At 11:10, I felt like I needed to have a BM. I mentioned it to DH and he offerred to check me. I REALLY didn't want him to but he was all about it so he took a peek. Apparently, I had already made a BM. WHY did DH have to see that?! He was unfazed though and went to get the nurse. She came and checked me. I was complete and baby was at +2. Time to push!! She called the OB and we did a "practice push". I had to stop though b/c baby was crowning and the OB wasn't there yet. Once everyone got there and set up, I pushed for three ctx and the baby was born!

Lawrence Lake Alexander (Lake) was born on Sept 24 at 11:36 PM. He was 7 lbs 1.4 oz, 19 in long at birth. It was so amazing, particularly to have so much support and encouragement from DH and to watch my son be born!

Good luck to all the mamas that are still expecting! Your LOs will be here soon! I hope you all have great, safe labors!

[hipmummy]

Congratulations!!!!

[joeys_mom]

[lisa_nc]

Congratulations!!