On Wednesday evening (the 11th) I couldn't get to sleep because the little baby in my belly was going crazy! The movement was so intense, I actually started to get a little concerned, so I wasn't all that surprised when my water broke the next night at 11:30 and it was dark green with meconium. Unfortunately, I knew this likely meant the end of my plans for a second homebirth.
I called my midwife and we discussed going up to the hospital for a non-stress test if there were particles in the waters, which there was. The test showed baby doing great and I was having light contractions. We went home and I tried to get some sleep. I was really anxious because I knew I only had so much time to go into labour on my own before I started getting pressure to be induced. I did consent to a VE and stretch and sweep before I left the hospital just to get things going.
I woke up at around 4:20am with contractions that I could no longer sleep through and we went to the hospital at 5:30am. I was only 2cm dilated! And my contractions were slowing a little because I was so irritated and disappointed that I was at the hospital. I knew I would have to get over that and accept that this was a good decision.
My mw had to recommend that we constantly monitor with the EFM, however I said we could do a 20 min. test strip and if all looked well, than I only wanted to check intermintantly. Baby was handling everything great, so that was fine.
I sat on the birth ball, I walked the hall once or twice and then got in the shower. Things were moving along great and I was handling my rushes pretty well. Lots of deep breathes and keeping my mouth really loose worked great. I went back to the birthing ball and Trent sat behind me in a chair and I leaned back into him for a couple of rushes and we cuddled and it was really nice. He was a real pro as my birth partner this time. He was so encouraging and knew just how to get me through the tougher rushes.
Unfortunately, it's hospital protocal to take blood, so right at this point a woman from the lab came in to do just that. This really bugged both Trent and I, as we just had gotten comfy again. She drew my blood and I really began to sob when she left. It just seemed so strange to me that this had to happen, after all, I was having a baby, I wasn't sick! I let it all out and came to terms with the fact that my babe was to be born here and it would all be okay.
This was about the time where things started to pick up (I don't know what the actual time was, because I made Trent take the clock off the wall!) and I think the mw checked and I was about 3-4cm and soft and stretchy. She had to go because another client just came in and was pushing and the other mw was on her way. Well, I guess it was taking awhile for the other lady to push out her baby, because I didn't see anyone for a while! Just me and Trent handling these rushes in a strange hospital room and it was getting intense!! I was trying really hard not to complain, but man it was getting wild!
The second mw arrived and checked me...I was 6-7cm...and I was having a difficult time getting through these ones! (this was at 9am I found out later) I couldn't believe I had 4cm to go still!! I was beginning to feel like I might not make it and the mw still had to go the other birth. So it was Trent and I again...I was bellowing like a cow, saying "I can do this...I can do this..." and then flapping my lips like a horse, trying to stay loose and open. It was soooo hard. I wanted to throw up, I wanted to sleep and I wanted to stop complaining and try to enjoy it! Ha! Easier said than done!
I could feel the baby moving down with every rush and my pelvis was sore, even between contractions. I knew he was coming soon...I was kneeling on the bed and decided to squat and see how that felt...he wasn't ready yet.
The next contraction I yelled "I am going to push this baby out!!!" and one of the midwives finally came back. She was very calm and checked me...I had a lip of cervix left which she helped out of the way and we were ready to push.
I didn't feel the same sense of relief this time...I was really tired and just wanted to sleep, but I had some work ahead of me yet.
My mw asked if I wanted direction or to push on my own...I took the direction and pushed on her commands with all my might. I could feel my baby coming down...I could feel the start of the stretching...he was almost there. With the next rush he was crowning. I could see the top of his head and was instructed to pant, so I did, and then I couldn't wait any longer and pushed his little head out.
He was covered in meconium! The cord was looped twice around his neck...likely because of his antics the night before...and the midwife got him untangled and he let out a lusty cry! Another rush and out came his little body...oh the relief! And there he was on my chest all poopy and bloody and screaming away. He was perfect and breathing fine. Trent cut the cord when it was done pulsing and a few minutes later I delivered the placenta.
Arlo was born at 10:04 am, on Friday, April 13th! 6lbs, 8oz, 20.5 inches long
He was checked out by the pediatrician because of the meconium and all was well. My mw checked me out...I had no tears and no problems. (A bit of bleeding after the placenta came, so I did get a shot of pitocen.)
We snuggled and nursed for awhile and then I got up and had a shower and went home.
It was a perfect birth!
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/192/4...17d9a5ca_m.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/238/4...5f251df2_m.jpg
I called my midwife and we discussed going up to the hospital for a non-stress test if there were particles in the waters, which there was. The test showed baby doing great and I was having light contractions. We went home and I tried to get some sleep. I was really anxious because I knew I only had so much time to go into labour on my own before I started getting pressure to be induced. I did consent to a VE and stretch and sweep before I left the hospital just to get things going.
I woke up at around 4:20am with contractions that I could no longer sleep through and we went to the hospital at 5:30am. I was only 2cm dilated! And my contractions were slowing a little because I was so irritated and disappointed that I was at the hospital. I knew I would have to get over that and accept that this was a good decision.
My mw had to recommend that we constantly monitor with the EFM, however I said we could do a 20 min. test strip and if all looked well, than I only wanted to check intermintantly. Baby was handling everything great, so that was fine.
I sat on the birth ball, I walked the hall once or twice and then got in the shower. Things were moving along great and I was handling my rushes pretty well. Lots of deep breathes and keeping my mouth really loose worked great. I went back to the birthing ball and Trent sat behind me in a chair and I leaned back into him for a couple of rushes and we cuddled and it was really nice. He was a real pro as my birth partner this time. He was so encouraging and knew just how to get me through the tougher rushes.
Unfortunately, it's hospital protocal to take blood, so right at this point a woman from the lab came in to do just that. This really bugged both Trent and I, as we just had gotten comfy again. She drew my blood and I really began to sob when she left. It just seemed so strange to me that this had to happen, after all, I was having a baby, I wasn't sick! I let it all out and came to terms with the fact that my babe was to be born here and it would all be okay.
This was about the time where things started to pick up (I don't know what the actual time was, because I made Trent take the clock off the wall!) and I think the mw checked and I was about 3-4cm and soft and stretchy. She had to go because another client just came in and was pushing and the other mw was on her way. Well, I guess it was taking awhile for the other lady to push out her baby, because I didn't see anyone for a while! Just me and Trent handling these rushes in a strange hospital room and it was getting intense!! I was trying really hard not to complain, but man it was getting wild!
The second mw arrived and checked me...I was 6-7cm...and I was having a difficult time getting through these ones! (this was at 9am I found out later) I couldn't believe I had 4cm to go still!! I was beginning to feel like I might not make it and the mw still had to go the other birth. So it was Trent and I again...I was bellowing like a cow, saying "I can do this...I can do this..." and then flapping my lips like a horse, trying to stay loose and open. It was soooo hard. I wanted to throw up, I wanted to sleep and I wanted to stop complaining and try to enjoy it! Ha! Easier said than done!
I could feel the baby moving down with every rush and my pelvis was sore, even between contractions. I knew he was coming soon...I was kneeling on the bed and decided to squat and see how that felt...he wasn't ready yet.
The next contraction I yelled "I am going to push this baby out!!!" and one of the midwives finally came back. She was very calm and checked me...I had a lip of cervix left which she helped out of the way and we were ready to push.
I didn't feel the same sense of relief this time...I was really tired and just wanted to sleep, but I had some work ahead of me yet.
My mw asked if I wanted direction or to push on my own...I took the direction and pushed on her commands with all my might. I could feel my baby coming down...I could feel the start of the stretching...he was almost there. With the next rush he was crowning. I could see the top of his head and was instructed to pant, so I did, and then I couldn't wait any longer and pushed his little head out.
He was covered in meconium! The cord was looped twice around his neck...likely because of his antics the night before...and the midwife got him untangled and he let out a lusty cry! Another rush and out came his little body...oh the relief! And there he was on my chest all poopy and bloody and screaming away. He was perfect and breathing fine. Trent cut the cord when it was done pulsing and a few minutes later I delivered the placenta.
Arlo was born at 10:04 am, on Friday, April 13th! 6lbs, 8oz, 20.5 inches long
He was checked out by the pediatrician because of the meconium and all was well. My mw checked me out...I had no tears and no problems. (A bit of bleeding after the placenta came, so I did get a shot of pitocen.)
We snuggled and nursed for awhile and then I got up and had a shower and went home.
It was a perfect birth!
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/192/4...17d9a5ca_m.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/238/4...5f251df2_m.jpg
