Hello, mamas! Sorry I haven't been around - Nate has some bf'ng
issues we're trying to work through, so I've been averaging 2-4
hours sleep per 24 hours (scary, but true). Just woke from a 2 hour
nap, and feeling pretty ok (no hallucinations today, yet -haha) so I
thought I'd post Nate's birth story. Anyway, here it is! (photos can be found @
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/...18&uid=4314757)
****
Tuesday, July 11 - Midnight
After a week of pre-labor, I finally start losing my plug (yay!).
So much plug coming out, throw on a maxi pad, jump into bed, and try
to get some sleep.
Tuesday, July 11 - 2:30 am
Finally drift off to sleep, hear a "pop" sound, sit up in bed,
trying to figure out where the sound came from. Decide to make a
toilet break - by the time I get to the toilet, the pad is soaked
(did I pee myself??). Get on the toilet, and more fluid gushes out,
mixed with plug. Look into toilet, and the fluid is an olive green.
Tuesday, July 11 - 2:40 am
Decide to call my doula, to ask her opinion. Is my fluid green due
to the plug, or is there meconium in my AF?? Doula says better
safe than sorry, so let's meet at the hospital.
Tuesday, July 11 - 3:00 am
Arrive at hospital; contractions are nice and strong, five minutes
apart, lasting 30 seconds. Realization that baby is posterior, due
to the intense ache in back and lower abs between contractions
(bummer
). Additionally, baby is kicking and punching during and
between contractions, making my full concentration on my
hypnobirthing breathing necessary during, and between the
contractions.
Tuesday, July 11 - 3:30 am
Fluid is tested. The green was from the plug, not meconium
(phew!). Contractions are now four minutes apart, lasting 'round 45-
60 seconds, VERY intense.
Tuesday, July 11 - 14 hours later...
Contractions have gotten closer together, longer and even more
intense. I am extremely worn down due to no rest in between the
ctx, due to the back labor, and baby's kicking/punching. Have been
in and out of the bath a few times. Asked my OB to do a VE, only to
find myself still at 4cm. After a good cry, I get back to focusing
on my hypnobreathing.
Tuesday, July 11 - 20 minutes later...
My VERY non-drug, pro natural OB proposes a light epidural. He
tells me he feels after so many hours of intense ctx, that they¡¦re
still not coordinating themselves together efficiently enough to be
productive. He feels the light epi would allow me to rest enough in
between the ctx to have the strength to handle the rest of the
labor/birth, without having to resort to any further medical
interventions.
Tuesday, July 11 - 2 seconds later...
I agree to the epi - I am bummed a bit, but I have always trusted my
OB's skills and advice - I don't doubt him now.
Tuesday, July 11 - 30 minutes later...
Epi has been administered, and I am relieved to realize that it did
not remove the pain, but it *has* made it manageable enough to
relax a little between ctx. Additionally, my doula has figured out
a theory that the babe has been kicking and punching this whole time
trying to move himself into a better (non-posterior) birthing
position. She feels if we can somehow move him to my left side, he
will desist his frantic (painful to me) movements, and will birth
much quicker. Intrigued and feeling a bit stronger due to the epi,
I tell my doula "let's try!"
Tuesday, July 11 - 30 minutes later (I think!)...
Miraculously, the doula, I and DH succeed in turning babe - and sure
enough, no more frantic acrobatics from babe. The bonus?? Back labor
disappears! Oh, if only we had done this 10 hours ago!
Tuesday, July 11 - 10:15pm
Labor has progressed quite quickly now, and it is time to breathe
baby down. As I focus my attention on this, my OB is gently
massaging/stretching my vaginal/perineal area to help prevent
tearing. No timetable is put on my "pushing". All voices and
lighting in the room are low, keeping the environment peaceful and
welcoming for my little guy.
Tuesday, July 11 - 10:45pm
Nathan James enters the world calmly, into a dimly lit room of
smiling faces, and immediately put on my belly. Thanks to my OB's
efforts, I have suffered only a *tiny* tear. Mom, dad and babe get
to know each other as placenta is naturally delivered. After cord
stops pulsing, mom cuts the cord (dad is just a bit too squeamish to
do it himself. Lol) More than one hour later Nate is gently
weighed and measured in mom and dad's presence. (8lbs, 1oz; 21inches)
Final Thoughts:
Although I went into this birth with the intense desire to go
completely natural, I am not disappointed even the tiniest bit.
Heck, I am dang proud that I made it 15 hours of labor with a
posterior baby (thank you, Hypnobirthing!)! And I am *MOST* proud
that my son was able to be born in a calm, peaceful manner - -
especially after the rotten way DS1 came into this world - - this
birth was a dream come true for me, and I will always look back upon
it with joy and thanksgiving. Congratulations to all of you mamas
and mamas-yet-to-be in our DDC! The last nine months has been a
wonderful journey - - I feel blessed to have had you all to share it
with, and hope it doesn't end here!!
:
issues we're trying to work through, so I've been averaging 2-4
hours sleep per 24 hours (scary, but true). Just woke from a 2 hour
nap, and feeling pretty ok (no hallucinations today, yet -haha) so I
thought I'd post Nate's birth story. Anyway, here it is! (photos can be found @
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/...18&uid=4314757)
****
Tuesday, July 11 - Midnight
After a week of pre-labor, I finally start losing my plug (yay!).
So much plug coming out, throw on a maxi pad, jump into bed, and try
to get some sleep.
Tuesday, July 11 - 2:30 am
Finally drift off to sleep, hear a "pop" sound, sit up in bed,
trying to figure out where the sound came from. Decide to make a
toilet break - by the time I get to the toilet, the pad is soaked
(did I pee myself??). Get on the toilet, and more fluid gushes out,
mixed with plug. Look into toilet, and the fluid is an olive green.
Tuesday, July 11 - 2:40 am
Decide to call my doula, to ask her opinion. Is my fluid green due
to the plug, or is there meconium in my AF?? Doula says better
safe than sorry, so let's meet at the hospital.
Tuesday, July 11 - 3:00 am
Arrive at hospital; contractions are nice and strong, five minutes
apart, lasting 30 seconds. Realization that baby is posterior, due
to the intense ache in back and lower abs between contractions
(bummer
). Additionally, baby is kicking and punching during andbetween contractions, making my full concentration on my
hypnobirthing breathing necessary during, and between the
contractions.
Tuesday, July 11 - 3:30 am
Fluid is tested. The green was from the plug, not meconium
(phew!). Contractions are now four minutes apart, lasting 'round 45-
60 seconds, VERY intense.
Tuesday, July 11 - 14 hours later...
Contractions have gotten closer together, longer and even more
intense. I am extremely worn down due to no rest in between the
ctx, due to the back labor, and baby's kicking/punching. Have been
in and out of the bath a few times. Asked my OB to do a VE, only to
find myself still at 4cm. After a good cry, I get back to focusing
on my hypnobreathing.
Tuesday, July 11 - 20 minutes later...
My VERY non-drug, pro natural OB proposes a light epidural. He
tells me he feels after so many hours of intense ctx, that they¡¦re
still not coordinating themselves together efficiently enough to be
productive. He feels the light epi would allow me to rest enough in
between the ctx to have the strength to handle the rest of the
labor/birth, without having to resort to any further medical
interventions.
Tuesday, July 11 - 2 seconds later...
I agree to the epi - I am bummed a bit, but I have always trusted my
OB's skills and advice - I don't doubt him now.
Tuesday, July 11 - 30 minutes later...
Epi has been administered, and I am relieved to realize that it did
not remove the pain, but it *has* made it manageable enough to
relax a little between ctx. Additionally, my doula has figured out
a theory that the babe has been kicking and punching this whole time
trying to move himself into a better (non-posterior) birthing
position. She feels if we can somehow move him to my left side, he
will desist his frantic (painful to me) movements, and will birth
much quicker. Intrigued and feeling a bit stronger due to the epi,
I tell my doula "let's try!"
Tuesday, July 11 - 30 minutes later (I think!)...
Miraculously, the doula, I and DH succeed in turning babe - and sure
enough, no more frantic acrobatics from babe. The bonus?? Back labor
disappears! Oh, if only we had done this 10 hours ago!
Tuesday, July 11 - 10:15pm
Labor has progressed quite quickly now, and it is time to breathe
baby down. As I focus my attention on this, my OB is gently
massaging/stretching my vaginal/perineal area to help prevent
tearing. No timetable is put on my "pushing". All voices and
lighting in the room are low, keeping the environment peaceful and
welcoming for my little guy.
Tuesday, July 11 - 10:45pm
Nathan James enters the world calmly, into a dimly lit room of
smiling faces, and immediately put on my belly. Thanks to my OB's
efforts, I have suffered only a *tiny* tear. Mom, dad and babe get
to know each other as placenta is naturally delivered. After cord
stops pulsing, mom cuts the cord (dad is just a bit too squeamish to
do it himself. Lol) More than one hour later Nate is gently
weighed and measured in mom and dad's presence. (8lbs, 1oz; 21inches)
Final Thoughts:
Although I went into this birth with the intense desire to go
completely natural, I am not disappointed even the tiniest bit.
Heck, I am dang proud that I made it 15 hours of labor with a
posterior baby (thank you, Hypnobirthing!)! And I am *MOST* proud
that my son was able to be born in a calm, peaceful manner - -
especially after the rotten way DS1 came into this world - - this
birth was a dream come true for me, and I will always look back upon
it with joy and thanksgiving. Congratulations to all of you mamas
and mamas-yet-to-be in our DDC! The last nine months has been a
wonderful journey - - I feel blessed to have had you all to share it
with, and hope it doesn't end here!!
:
Congrats on your beautiful boys!!! It's absolutely wonderful that you're so happy w/ your birth, how great! Do you mind me asking...
