I have mixed feelings about my c-sec.
Here's how things went:
I was one day before my due date when I started having contractions through the night (mild and far apart). I felt a trickle after a nap (soaked a panty liner) at around 12:30 p.m. At this point, I was losing my plug so I thought that may have been why my PL was soaked. I got up and went about my very pg business. I spoke with dh and told him about my PL being soaked after my nap. He told me to call my Midwives. Kim was on call and told me to go to the hosp to be checked. I was still having mild contractions that weren't close together. I started getting things together in case I stayed at the hospital although I believed that they would send me home. While I'm putting the wash in the dryer, my contractions started getting more intense. On the way to the hospital they were still mild like Menstrual cramps, but they were 3 minutes apart
I got there and Kim examined me. The fluid was negative for ph but positive on ferning and I was 4 cm btw. So, water breaky means you stay in the hospital
BTW, you know how to stall a labor?
Go to the hospital at 4 cm.
Anyway, since my water had broken (only a trickle remember) the 24 hour clock was started (from the time I felt my wet PL), I was put on IV antibiotics and they put the monitors on me to get a strip (which Kayla never cooperated with). So I was monitored the entire labor, but fortunately it was telemetry and water-proof so I could do what I want. Since my labor had stalled, Kim had me walk around for a few hours (my dh arrived shortly after I did at the hospital). We walked and walked and my labor peetered out. So now, she broke my water the rest of the way... and still my labor was very slow. A couple more hours and no progress they started Pit. Now my contractions hurt a lot more, but progress was still very slow. I wasn't at 7 until 21 hours after I had arrived at 4. It took me about 3-4 hours to get from 7 to 10 and an anterior lip. Just so you know, none of these interventions would have been used if my water had not PARTIALLY broken. Once I was on the Pit the only comfortable position was sitting in the glider chair. Standing/walking was extremely paiful as was laying on my back for exams. It had never occurred to me that I was having back labor (although my back hurt a LOT). Well eventually we had an anterior lip and I'm swelling (haven't been able to pee w/o catheter for some time). I pushed for 2.5 hours to no avail. They could see her head but she would never come down. The OB examines me and tells me "you're baby's OP, don't you have terrible back labor?" I was thinking how come no one told me she was OP, I know exercises that can help turn the baby. Anyway, the OB tried to turn her (ouch, ouch, ouch) but to no avail. The rest of the team had already been called and my c-sec was ready to get underway. By now, I was very relieved and just wanted the baby out. I'd been at the hospital almost 24 hours by now.
My surgery was actually very pleasant. The OB was not mine he was covering and I had met him the night before when we were walking. He was a very funny guy, old school, but very warm. Well I was actually having a good time during the surgery. And after all those hours of pain, the epidural was heaven. I got to hold my baby right away with help from dh. Dh stayed with her while they finished me. Unfortunately, one of the drugs they gave me for the sec caused my milk supply to dry up. This was not good and I did not have sufficient milk for my baby until she was 3.5 months old (it was really really hard). My recovery was very fast, I had very little pain and was able to do everything nec for Kayla.
Sorry this turned into a birth story, but I feel its important to know how the decision for c-sec came about. Looking back I believe if there had been much less intervention, I would have delivered Kayla vaginally, this is my regret. But, the experience over all was positive so I don't feel terrible about it. I definitely want to try for a VBAC next time and feel confident that with my new Midwives, I'll have a great chance.
