Claire Genevieve arrived at 4 pm on Tuesday October 19th. She was 8lbs 11oz!
I went in that morning to be induced. Started pitocin around 8:00am (super low dose, 1mu that they increased every 45 min). Started noticing contractions but wern't painful, walked the halls and bounced on the birth ball. Not sure of the exact timing, but I was checked and was about a 4 or so and they broke my water which had meconium in it. Things really picked up then! Really intense contractions that my HB was not working for. My doula was great and really encouraging. My DH was getting freaked out (he's a wimp, lol!) because I was vocalizing through them and he could tell I was in pain. I decided I couldn't do it anymore and asked for the epidural. The nurse called in the anesthesiologist and when he came I said I had to go to the bathroom, NOW! The nurse wouldn't let me until she checked me and then my body took over and started pushing. This was about 11 or 11:30 am. The anesthesiologist was like guess you don't need me! but I was like oh yes I do! They tried to get me in bed and in the traditonal pushing posisiton, but I kept saying I can't and that it wasn't right. I was standing on the bed with a gazillion nurses around (OMG sooo embarrassing looking back!) squatting. My Dr came in and after quite awhile and several pushes and the baby not descending decided that if I wanted the epi still, that it might help me relax and that pushing was going to take awhile. So I did. I worked great, I could move my legs and still feel the pushing urge but I wasn't so panicked. My doula was great and so was my nurse. We tried every pushing position known to man but it just wasn't working. I had my epi turned off and still she wouldn't come out. 3 hours of pushing later we made the decision to go ahead with a c section. I was very disappointed but felt there was nothing else we could do. I gave it my best shot and got a natural 'almost' labor. Claire Genevieve was born at 4pm exactly weighting 8lb 11oz. Because of the meconium, her apgars were 3 and then 9. Surgery took awhile because there was concern over my bladder and my old scar might of being fused, but it turned out to be okay. I wasn't able to breastfeed in surgery but she was latched on as soon as they rolled me out. She's a champ nurser and is soo cute with chubby little cheeks. And that girl can poop! She pooped while they were doing her assessment and about a million times since! Recovery is going okay. I am pretty sore and my legs look like elephant legs but I am managing. We were able to go home yesterday so I only spent 2 nights in the hospital. Big brother is as proud as can be! We are loving our new addition. While I am disappointed that I didn't get my VBAC, I feel like I tried my best and thats all I wanted.
GL!
