A little late getting here with the birth and the story but I am here now. She was born September 20 at 9lb 1/4 oz and 20'. A bit of a chubby baby, must have been the Ben & Jerry's Half Baked Ice Cream!
It wasn't the natural childbirth I wanted, the water birth I dreamed of, or the intervention free childbirth I longed for. But it was perfect as is she. I don't feel my birth was stollen from me or that I gave it away. I have no regrets or disappointments about how it all occured. Sure I wanted it my way, but this pregnancy has been one lesson right after another so why did I think the birth would be any different.
It was a long labor...I do mean LONG! Early Wednesday Sept 16, I believe my water began to leak. The contraction began very easy and I headed off to work for the first half of the day before going into the midwife to be evaluated. They said it was not amniotic fluid...fine with me, then the clock doesn't start ticking on my 36 hours. All I know is whatever I was leaking was different from before, it only leaked for about an hour and stopped, and the contractions picked up. So they can believe what they want and I will beieve what I want.
That night in the early hours of the morning, 2:30 am, the contractions began. They were every 15 minutes or so. I faded in and out of sleep, knowing I better rest while I could and 15 minutes at a time was better than none. Thursday came and I called out of work, relaxed all day, with some breaks that allowed me time to nap during the day. By evening the contractions were a bit more intense and every 7 minutes. I was using my hypnobabies and still trying to relax and fit in some cat naps. We were passing by the 24 hour mark and still the contractions were not regular enough to really call. Friday came and I went for walks, ate licorice and tried to move things along. DH stayed home to help me as it was becoming tiring and I needed the support. I was so anxious and excited. Now we pass the 48 hour marker, still DH counting pressure waves and timing them, they were long enough but just not regular enough. 15 minutes, 5 minutes, 6 then back to 10. Saturday I decided to try a bath at about 6 pm just to see what that might do. At 10 pm on saturday I called the midwife, my contractions had suddenly jumped to only 2 minutes apart and we had a 1 hour drive to the birth center.
DH drove like a mad man, my eyes closed the whole time, listening to hypnobabies and trying to allow hypnosis to take me away.
Arrived at 5 cm. Labored in the water for the most part. The midwife check a few times 8 am arrived, still no baby and only 8 cm and the cervix had a lip that just wouldn't budge! I was becoming tired and they were concerned about the length of time and lack of progression. MW was also concerned because she thought the LO might be "sunny side up" and for some reason the head seemed "stuck", it was molding but not coming past a certain point. We talked and decided to head across the street to the hospital. Once there I agreed to an epidural, it was bliss, true bliss. For the first time in over 60 hours I could breath. They monitored the contractions and the baby. Baby's heart beat was strong and steady.
OH sorry must come back and finish my LONG story...kind of trying to type this for me too. So I have a story for me to remember. But Sophia has a Dr. appointment!
Be back to finish in a bit!
Okay another nap another chance to type! They internally monitored my contractions. My midwife was in charge, an OB did not take over so I felt very comfortable with the advise I was being given. The internal monitor showed my contractions although regular, they just weren't adequate to push the baby out. Not only that but I was not progressing. Still a lip on the cervix and although the baby was at +1 that had not changed in quite some time. They started pitocin to see if that would help they increased the drip to 3 units over a period of time. It was 1:40 PM on Sunday September 20th. I had just been rolled to my left side and the baby was not reacting in a positive manner. Meronium was now showing and concern was being raised. The midwife notice an irratic heartbeat and became concerned. The word C-section was now mentioned. I cryed. I was terrified. The whatifs raced through my mind. Whatif something happened and I never was able to meet my baby...my biggest concern. They gave me until 2pm to see what progress could be made. I switched positions again, visualized the birth, visualized pushing the baby out with my breath, although I wasn't pushing. I even pictured a plunger pushing the baby down (my aunts suggestion). I stayed calm and determined. 2pm and progress had been made, I bought myself a few more hours. 4pm came around again the word c-section was mentioned. The OB came in to consult, she examined and said she wanted me to start pushing and to see how that would help. She believed that I could push the baby past the cervix and still have my birth.
SO at 4pm pushing began. My mom kept calling me a tiger, everyone was impressed with my stamina. I know nothing else, I was doing all I knew, I was holding back nothing. I didn't think about the possible pain, the tearing or anything else. I pushed for 2 hours, in positions I didn't know existed. I gave it everything I had not holding back at all. I had my cheerleaders standing by me coaching me and supporting me. I forgot I was tired, I forgot hadn't slept in three days, I forgot about the world around me, I was going to have this baby vaginally even if I couldn't go intervention free I would do my best with what I had left.
2 hours of pushing and no progress! I tried, the heart rate was starting to cause reason for question appartently down to 47 at one point and as high as 180. The c-section was the only option. The MW really felt that we might be missing something. The baby was trying to tell us something. She was still +1 and something was just not right. Did I mention that my grandmother was a 12 pound baby? So they were concerned that they had misestimated her weight...not really a concern of mine as they kept telling me how great a pelvis I had. But at the same time, I do believe that maybe Sophia was telling us something.
SO the c-section. My water was broken long enough ago and merconium found long enough ago that if I didn't go now things would only get worse as far as interventions were concerned. So I wisked so quikly off to the OR. I got 5 seconds alone with my husband before being wheeled off. The operation began, I felt like jello. We had one request, one last thing we could hold on to from our plan, besides a healthy baby. Noone was to tell us if it was a girl or a boy. So at 6:42 PM we had a beautiful healthy baby girl, Sophia Grace, 9lbs 1/4 oz. 9.9 on the apgar. Our midwife took our video camera over to where our daughter was and recorded the moments of our daughters life that we would have missed. DH left with Sophia, my MW stayed with me.
I wish the adventure ended here but it only continues...but all is well now!
By Thursday she lost 1 lb, so she was only 8lbs. The Dr.s were concerned. Not only that but she was Jondis. So I did what I had to, to get out of there with a healthy baby. I supplemented formula from NICU, a non dairy based formula. 1oz after each feeding. We left the hospital 2 feedings later, she gained 3oz and her skin test for the Billiruban was the same. We continued the supplements at home and went for more labs to make sure she was gaining weight and the jondis was going away. I saw many lactation consultants, as my nipples were bleeding and flesh was hanging. I was in so much pain. I know it isn't suppose to be painful, so I was doing something wrong. I got a shield and it changed it all around.
As of today she is 8lbs 12 oz, that is a 9oz weight gain in 4 days! She is a healthy eater, no more supplements of fomula or pumped breastmilk. She eats almost non stop, or that is how it seems, but what she wants she gets!
If you made it through my story then congrats, because wow was that a book!
At this point the OB came in and gave her opinion, funny enough the OB was more willing to work with my body than the MW at this point. The midwife was ready to call for a a c-section and throw in the towel.
It wasn't the natural childbirth I wanted, the water birth I dreamed of, or the intervention free childbirth I longed for. But it was perfect as is she. I don't feel my birth was stollen from me or that I gave it away. I have no regrets or disappointments about how it all occured. Sure I wanted it my way, but this pregnancy has been one lesson right after another so why did I think the birth would be any different.
It was a long labor...I do mean LONG! Early Wednesday Sept 16, I believe my water began to leak. The contraction began very easy and I headed off to work for the first half of the day before going into the midwife to be evaluated. They said it was not amniotic fluid...fine with me, then the clock doesn't start ticking on my 36 hours. All I know is whatever I was leaking was different from before, it only leaked for about an hour and stopped, and the contractions picked up. So they can believe what they want and I will beieve what I want.
That night in the early hours of the morning, 2:30 am, the contractions began. They were every 15 minutes or so. I faded in and out of sleep, knowing I better rest while I could and 15 minutes at a time was better than none. Thursday came and I called out of work, relaxed all day, with some breaks that allowed me time to nap during the day. By evening the contractions were a bit more intense and every 7 minutes. I was using my hypnobabies and still trying to relax and fit in some cat naps. We were passing by the 24 hour mark and still the contractions were not regular enough to really call. Friday came and I went for walks, ate licorice and tried to move things along. DH stayed home to help me as it was becoming tiring and I needed the support. I was so anxious and excited. Now we pass the 48 hour marker, still DH counting pressure waves and timing them, they were long enough but just not regular enough. 15 minutes, 5 minutes, 6 then back to 10. Saturday I decided to try a bath at about 6 pm just to see what that might do. At 10 pm on saturday I called the midwife, my contractions had suddenly jumped to only 2 minutes apart and we had a 1 hour drive to the birth center.
DH drove like a mad man, my eyes closed the whole time, listening to hypnobabies and trying to allow hypnosis to take me away.
Arrived at 5 cm. Labored in the water for the most part. The midwife check a few times 8 am arrived, still no baby and only 8 cm and the cervix had a lip that just wouldn't budge! I was becoming tired and they were concerned about the length of time and lack of progression. MW was also concerned because she thought the LO might be "sunny side up" and for some reason the head seemed "stuck", it was molding but not coming past a certain point. We talked and decided to head across the street to the hospital. Once there I agreed to an epidural, it was bliss, true bliss. For the first time in over 60 hours I could breath. They monitored the contractions and the baby. Baby's heart beat was strong and steady.
OH sorry must come back and finish my LONG story...kind of trying to type this for me too. So I have a story for me to remember. But Sophia has a Dr. appointment!
Be back to finish in a bit!
Okay another nap another chance to type! They internally monitored my contractions. My midwife was in charge, an OB did not take over so I felt very comfortable with the advise I was being given. The internal monitor showed my contractions although regular, they just weren't adequate to push the baby out. Not only that but I was not progressing. Still a lip on the cervix and although the baby was at +1 that had not changed in quite some time. They started pitocin to see if that would help they increased the drip to 3 units over a period of time. It was 1:40 PM on Sunday September 20th. I had just been rolled to my left side and the baby was not reacting in a positive manner. Meronium was now showing and concern was being raised. The midwife notice an irratic heartbeat and became concerned. The word C-section was now mentioned. I cryed. I was terrified. The whatifs raced through my mind. Whatif something happened and I never was able to meet my baby...my biggest concern. They gave me until 2pm to see what progress could be made. I switched positions again, visualized the birth, visualized pushing the baby out with my breath, although I wasn't pushing. I even pictured a plunger pushing the baby down (my aunts suggestion). I stayed calm and determined. 2pm and progress had been made, I bought myself a few more hours. 4pm came around again the word c-section was mentioned. The OB came in to consult, she examined and said she wanted me to start pushing and to see how that would help. She believed that I could push the baby past the cervix and still have my birth.
SO at 4pm pushing began. My mom kept calling me a tiger, everyone was impressed with my stamina. I know nothing else, I was doing all I knew, I was holding back nothing. I didn't think about the possible pain, the tearing or anything else. I pushed for 2 hours, in positions I didn't know existed. I gave it everything I had not holding back at all. I had my cheerleaders standing by me coaching me and supporting me. I forgot I was tired, I forgot hadn't slept in three days, I forgot about the world around me, I was going to have this baby vaginally even if I couldn't go intervention free I would do my best with what I had left.
2 hours of pushing and no progress! I tried, the heart rate was starting to cause reason for question appartently down to 47 at one point and as high as 180. The c-section was the only option. The MW really felt that we might be missing something. The baby was trying to tell us something. She was still +1 and something was just not right. Did I mention that my grandmother was a 12 pound baby? So they were concerned that they had misestimated her weight...not really a concern of mine as they kept telling me how great a pelvis I had. But at the same time, I do believe that maybe Sophia was telling us something.
SO the c-section. My water was broken long enough ago and merconium found long enough ago that if I didn't go now things would only get worse as far as interventions were concerned. So I wisked so quikly off to the OR. I got 5 seconds alone with my husband before being wheeled off. The operation began, I felt like jello. We had one request, one last thing we could hold on to from our plan, besides a healthy baby. Noone was to tell us if it was a girl or a boy. So at 6:42 PM we had a beautiful healthy baby girl, Sophia Grace, 9lbs 1/4 oz. 9.9 on the apgar. Our midwife took our video camera over to where our daughter was and recorded the moments of our daughters life that we would have missed. DH left with Sophia, my MW stayed with me.
I wish the adventure ended here but it only continues...but all is well now!
By Thursday she lost 1 lb, so she was only 8lbs. The Dr.s were concerned. Not only that but she was Jondis. So I did what I had to, to get out of there with a healthy baby. I supplemented formula from NICU, a non dairy based formula. 1oz after each feeding. We left the hospital 2 feedings later, she gained 3oz and her skin test for the Billiruban was the same. We continued the supplements at home and went for more labs to make sure she was gaining weight and the jondis was going away. I saw many lactation consultants, as my nipples were bleeding and flesh was hanging. I was in so much pain. I know it isn't suppose to be painful, so I was doing something wrong. I got a shield and it changed it all around.
As of today she is 8lbs 12 oz, that is a 9oz weight gain in 4 days! She is a healthy eater, no more supplements of fomula or pumped breastmilk. She eats almost non stop, or that is how it seems, but what she wants she gets!
If you made it through my story then congrats, because wow was that a book!
At this point the OB came in and gave her opinion, funny enough the OB was more willing to work with my body than the MW at this point. The midwife was ready to call for a a c-section and throw in the towel.
I await the rest of your tale 
