Arrived 1/23/09, 8 lbs 1 oz, 21"
I had a successful home VBAC! My labor was so different this time. It was a weird weather night, which is interesting because the other 4 times I thought I was going to birth the babe the weather was clear and warm and I kept thinking that I can't go into labor unless it was cold and rainy. So we had crazy rain and a tornado watch and there was a blizzard out where my parents live (we are in a hot/dry state). I thought it would go fast after my three weeks of prodromal labor, but it was really slow - not so much in a bad way though. My contractions didn't get closer than about 8 or 10 mins apart for hours and hours until I hit transition when they were on top of each other. The midwives were awesome, they were so caring and supportive and hands off and hands on - depending on my need. Once I was complete I took a little nap. My pushing contractions geared up slowly so I continued to rest between them. At this point I got really nervous that baby would get stuck. I told everyone I was scared. It was good to just say it and move on with labor. I pushed on and off for about an hour, then things really geared up and I did some serious pushing. My midwife kept encouraging me that baby really was moving down with each push, but I wanted to punch her for lying to me
. I continued to push for at least two more hours. It was slow going and very uncomfortable. I just wanted it to be over and to hold my baby. I was still nervous but decided I would just push with everything I had and get her out ASAP. We had talked about how we'd slow things down and breath through the crowning so I kept waiting for my signal to stop pushing. Never got that signal though (I think I may be upset about this), so I just pushed that baby out at a million miles an hour. Her arms were crossed over her chest and elbows were out to the side so I tore very badly inside and out. But, oh sweet love when she was out and I got to hold her immediately! What a difference. I cried and was instantly smitten and the wave of emotion was so amazing. She was perfectly pink, scored a 9 on her first apgar, and nursed like a pro right away.
The rest of the day wasn't the dreamy lay-in-bed with baby all day that I had imagined. I fainted if I tried to get up (I ended up on the bathroom floor for a good long while), and it took five hours to get sutured. I can't imagine birthing without a team there. I felt like everyone was working on overdrive all night and day. Anyway, I feel like it has been a slow recovery but little by little I'm healing and we're getting the hang of life with two kiddos.
I had a successful home VBAC! My labor was so different this time. It was a weird weather night, which is interesting because the other 4 times I thought I was going to birth the babe the weather was clear and warm and I kept thinking that I can't go into labor unless it was cold and rainy. So we had crazy rain and a tornado watch and there was a blizzard out where my parents live (we are in a hot/dry state). I thought it would go fast after my three weeks of prodromal labor, but it was really slow - not so much in a bad way though. My contractions didn't get closer than about 8 or 10 mins apart for hours and hours until I hit transition when they were on top of each other. The midwives were awesome, they were so caring and supportive and hands off and hands on - depending on my need. Once I was complete I took a little nap. My pushing contractions geared up slowly so I continued to rest between them. At this point I got really nervous that baby would get stuck. I told everyone I was scared. It was good to just say it and move on with labor. I pushed on and off for about an hour, then things really geared up and I did some serious pushing. My midwife kept encouraging me that baby really was moving down with each push, but I wanted to punch her for lying to me
. I continued to push for at least two more hours. It was slow going and very uncomfortable. I just wanted it to be over and to hold my baby. I was still nervous but decided I would just push with everything I had and get her out ASAP. We had talked about how we'd slow things down and breath through the crowning so I kept waiting for my signal to stop pushing. Never got that signal though (I think I may be upset about this), so I just pushed that baby out at a million miles an hour. Her arms were crossed over her chest and elbows were out to the side so I tore very badly inside and out. But, oh sweet love when she was out and I got to hold her immediately! What a difference. I cried and was instantly smitten and the wave of emotion was so amazing. She was perfectly pink, scored a 9 on her first apgar, and nursed like a pro right away.The rest of the day wasn't the dreamy lay-in-bed with baby all day that I had imagined. I fainted if I tried to get up (I ended up on the bathroom floor for a good long while), and it took five hours to get sutured. I can't imagine birthing without a team there. I felt like everyone was working on overdrive all night and day. Anyway, I feel like it has been a slow recovery but little by little I'm healing and we're getting the hang of life with two kiddos.
but my midwife used the tiniest of needles and made the tiniest of stitches to minimize scarring, so that was a major part of the time factor. But still 750,000 stitches later... I tell you I have cried.
Sofia Grace!!
Hope you feel better soon!
