We went to the doctor on Monday, I was 41+5 by my dates, and I hadn't progressed at all, BP was high and amniotic fluid low, and the doc said if I hadn't gone on my own by Wednesday, we might induce if my cervix was favorable (he didn't think it was at the time), or discuss a c-section then.
That night, I was having irregular contractions and decided to try to use the breast pump to see if that could help get them in a good pattern. I started around 9 and went for a little over an hour, and stopped to see if they'd continue on their own. Around midnight, I tried again, as they seemed to be spacing out. I'd use it long enough to bring on a contraction (within a minute or two) and for them to be roughly 5 minutes apart. 40 minutes later, my water broke - it really does seem to make a popping noise (I had AROM with my son, so spontaneous water breakage is new to me) - and we went to the hospital. The BPP on monday showed the cord in front of her face, so I didn't want to take a chance with cord prolapse.
At the hospital I was 3 cm and 80% effaced - a change from the 1.5 and 50% I was less than 24 hours earlier. an hour later, I had dilated another cm and was 100% effaced, at 0 station - the last 2 markers were further along than I had ever gotten in my induced labor with my son. (I only got to 7 cm, 80% effaced and maybe -2 station with him)
at 8 or 8:30, I was 5 cm. We had a doula and an awesome L&D nurse, who suggested hands and knees on the bed, between that and a similiar sidelying position, I was complete within an hour, much to everyone's suprise (when i got on the bed for hands and knees I was asking for an epidural, and they had hung the bag of fluid, but the anesthesiologist hadn't arrived yet).
Pushing maybe lasted for 40 minutes. I made some very loud scary noises. Very glad to not have that on videotape! I couldn't hold her immediately as the cord was very short and I wanted delayed cord cutting. as soon as it was, she nursed. She is a wee little piggy! I have a 4th degree tear, which is actually a harder recovery than my c-section, but I am very glad I got my VBAC.
Norah Lorraine weighs in at 7 lbs 12 oz (almost a full lb bigger than her brother, who was 6 14) she is an eating and sleeping machine.
She is gorgeous. Wishing you a quick recovery. (Fourth degree, yikes!)
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