Hi everyone... I'll post a full birth story soon, but right now 10 minutes is the max I can bear to spend away from my adorable son (except for those all-important sitz baths). Some amazing things happened in labor that I want to tell you later.
We got to try Cervidil, which I knew in my bones would work... cervidil in at 9 sunday night, first contractions at 2:30 am, hanging onto stuff by 3:30 am. labor was pretty smooth, strong contractions, helped by lots of vocalizations, til I got stuck at 6 cm for 2 1/2 hrs. MW offered to let me wait for my body to strengthen contractions or start some pitocin--no coercion or persuasion--it was totally my decision. The pitocin contractions were intense but manageable with breathing and lots of great support. Stalled after 2 hrs of pushing--pitocin turned up--but it was SUGAR (honey, ginger ale) that turned the labor around. Hanging from head of bed got best progress but finished delivery semi-sitting on bed (mw needed me to move to see better what was happening at the very end). No tearing until the very end when his hand popped out from under his chin--a few stitches on sm 1st degree tear. His heart was strong throughout though there was a lot of thick meconium when they broke my water--suctioned him out fast w/ syringe after I delivered the head--one more push and his body shot out! They took him off to the in-room warmer/crash cart to make sure he was ok & suction a little more--I was being stitched at that time--then brought him right back & he latched on INSTANTLY and nursed for a full hour.
Yes, pitocin was rough, but I wish I hadn't feared it so much. As a tool, offered but not pushed by an experienced mw at an appropriate time, it was very useful. I felt in control and that I had freely chosen it as a means to avoid even bigger interventions. I was just out of gas and I listened to my body and heard that it would appreciate a boost. We worked with the pitocin and got a fantastic birth experience and an amazing little boy.
We are so in love!
We got to try Cervidil, which I knew in my bones would work... cervidil in at 9 sunday night, first contractions at 2:30 am, hanging onto stuff by 3:30 am. labor was pretty smooth, strong contractions, helped by lots of vocalizations, til I got stuck at 6 cm for 2 1/2 hrs. MW offered to let me wait for my body to strengthen contractions or start some pitocin--no coercion or persuasion--it was totally my decision. The pitocin contractions were intense but manageable with breathing and lots of great support. Stalled after 2 hrs of pushing--pitocin turned up--but it was SUGAR (honey, ginger ale) that turned the labor around. Hanging from head of bed got best progress but finished delivery semi-sitting on bed (mw needed me to move to see better what was happening at the very end). No tearing until the very end when his hand popped out from under his chin--a few stitches on sm 1st degree tear. His heart was strong throughout though there was a lot of thick meconium when they broke my water--suctioned him out fast w/ syringe after I delivered the head--one more push and his body shot out! They took him off to the in-room warmer/crash cart to make sure he was ok & suction a little more--I was being stitched at that time--then brought him right back & he latched on INSTANTLY and nursed for a full hour.
Yes, pitocin was rough, but I wish I hadn't feared it so much. As a tool, offered but not pushed by an experienced mw at an appropriate time, it was very useful. I felt in control and that I had freely chosen it as a means to avoid even bigger interventions. I was just out of gas and I listened to my body and heard that it would appreciate a boost. We worked with the pitocin and got a fantastic birth experience and an amazing little boy.
We are so in love!
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