Our Birthing Story
Markus Edward - borth 12:01 AM 10/26/07 7 pounds 11 ounces 20 Inches long
Wow! That’s all I can say! For what we thought early on may end up being an early induction of a big baby due to my gestational diabetes turned out to be an induction a week late to give birth to a cute little guy. I didn’t have a single contraction the entire pregnancy and to be honest, by the end I really didn’t think he would ever come and I’d just be pregnant forever. I think the hormones were just so crazy because I didn’t even think I was pregnant half the time because I was unable to concentrate on much of anything.
I am very happy to have had an OB supportive of natural childbirth but also proceeded with caution looking out for both me and Markus. He said he’d let me go 41 ½ weeks before an induction but when I was there for my 41 week visit he thought the best thing to do was to induce. He gave me a day to think about it and said I could change my mind at anytime. We decided it was just best to get it over with. The doctor was on call the following day and thought it would be best to get it over with then since he would be there anyway. I’m really grateful for that. Being in Indy only a month he is the only other person I even know so it was nice to have a familiar face there. I never thought it was truly out of convenience to him, there would be someone there to deliver the baby at any time but who knows who? I thought I was going to cervadil followed by pitocin but it turns out I was very easily induced with cytotec in the doctor’s office. He inserted it in the afternoon and told me to call to check in before the end of their office hours that day. It was 2 ½ hours later. He said I’d feel pressure and then I’d come in, have my water broken and then nature should take over from there. Well, when I talked to them at 4 pm nothing was happening so I was told to walk and call at 7 if nothing was happening by then. A minute later I stepped outside the door to go walking by myself and there it was, labor!
I wasn’t sure at first. My labor with Lukas was so much different and I was waiting to feel the same way. My uterus began contracting like a big balloon being blown up and deflating. They were coming really fast but were not at all uncomfortable. They were only lasting 35-40 seconds but coming regularly at 2 minute intervals while I walked. I thought my water was about to break with the next contraction but thought, nah, that can’t be it, I probably just have to pee. I went back home for dinner and was getting ready to walk again when I went to the bathroom first. I didn’t know if I was peeing my pants or my membranes had ruptured. I called Peter to let him know I was in labor. We had originally thought I’d be waiting around with cervadil to work so he could work longer but then I called me to tell him the time frame and he was hurrying, then I called him at 4 after talking to the doctor to say he had 3 more hours. Well, I took the dog and Lukas for a walk and we waited for Peter to come home. My water was leaking all over the place. Luckily I had some very large serenity pads! We finished walking the boys and then Peter and I went for a little walk too. We finished packing and realized this was really it. I called the OB around 6 and told him I was amazed how fast it started!!!! He kinda laughed just knowing. I told him I thought my water had broken so he wanted me in the hospital after that. He had said earlier it should probably be a low interference birth but I was concerned with the water being broken I’d have to go on monitors.
We got to the hospital before the doctor had even called! We literally live 5 miles away. I was escorted to triage where it was confirmed my water had broken. The monitors showed a strong heartbeat, those contractions 2 minutes apart and pretty good movement. Markus had been quite a sleeper in-utero so he remained so for the most part. I was admitted and shown to a really nice suite! It took a while to do all the admittance paperwork and get an IV started. The doctor said I could walk and only had to stay on the monitors 20 minutes of every hour. I was only 2 ½ cm dialted when I was admitted, I knew that because the contractions weren’t that strong. They were going to let it all go and check with the doctor at 10 PM with my progression. I only had to have my sugar checked once and it was fine so we didn’t have to worry about that the rest of the time. We walked and the contractions came right on que as we walked the corridors. At 10 I’d only progressed to 3 ½ cm. The l/d nurse asked me how I felt about pitocin and I said whatever the doctor thinks is best because I knew my options were limited due to my water already breaking. I was pretty tired in general so I really didn’t mind just sitting for a while. The doctor came back with pitocin but only authorized it up to level 8. He also prescribed an IV narcotic if I wanted it which I could request up to 8 cm. I’m not sure what that means but she said with women who want a natural labor and delivery the pitocin drip can go up to 20 women with epidurals can go up to 80? (oy!) We only made it to 4. At first it seemed like nothing was happening but we went to 6 cm pretty fast. My back was really hurting like it was with Lukas only it was much, much worse with Lukas and lasted forever. I learned that particular pain usually due to the position of the baby. We moved around a bit but I decided to try a different angle. I’ve been reading a lot about the law of attraction and the Teachings of Abraham with Jerry and Esther Hicks. They say that to get what we want we have to align with the energy. I didn’t know if I should align with what I wanted or what was best for Markus so I decided to simply align with the energy. It really worked!!!! I started studying Reiki at the beginning of my pregnancy but didn’t get very far because I was so fuzzy brained most of the time. I had asked some of my online friends to send Reiki to help me during labor and at that moment they were really there! I found moments of absolute peace. It’s like Joyce and Raven were actually there doing reiki in the moment. The contractions were really strong! It turns out in 12 minutes, I had 4 contractions and went from 6 cm to complete! Markus had completely changed to a comfortable position and we were ready to push!
I experienced a lot in that hour or so! I felt horrible, totally out of control. I was just shaking uncontrollably. I had that during my labor with Lukas too. I was freezing, wearing a fleece in July on the way to deliver Lukas. At some point I was given oxygen to put over my face myself because Markus’s heartbeat was dropping during contractions. I just didn’t feel right at all. At some point the nurse asked that a table be prepared for Dr. Brillhart. I didn’t know that what that meant was each doctor wanted different things on his table at a bedside delivery. I was scared that they may have been preparing for a c-section because of Markus’s heartbeat. Well, luckily this only lasted about 15 minutes.
Hospital protocols say that you basically call the doctor when the mother gets to 8 cm. I had skipped though all the middle stuff and was just ready to push!! Luckily they just turned the pitocin off and the contractions lessened in intensity so I could just breathe through them without pushing. I had a room with a great view and the nurses were looking out the window wondering how far away the doctor lived and what kind of car he drove. (we thought he looked like a jag kind of a guy) They would look from the window to me to make sure the baby just did slip out on his own! We were taking bets to see if Markus would be born on the 25th or 26th. The doctor got there, I gave 3 ½ good pushes and out came Markus! They put him right up on my belly which was WONDERFUL! I didn’t have that with Lukas. Lukas had the cord around his neck and was rather blue so they had to cut his chord right away and take care of him. This sopping wet little baby was just amazing! He looks so much like his grandpa Meyer. (He really did when he was born all wrinkly.) The placenta was delivered right away with no problems. What I didn’t realize is they actually give you a whole lot of pitocin after the birth so your uterus contracts to avoid complications. The doctor thought Markus would be around 7 pounds 6 ounces. He wasn’t far off considering he was a week late at 7 pounds 11 ounces. He is long and lean like his dad with the same red hair Lukas had when he was born. I only had first degree tears that required a stitch or two and that was it! Markus took to the breast right away. He stayed on for almost an hour taking to each breast twice. The nurses waited until he was done and put himself to sleep before doing anything else.
It was a great night. The nurse was great. It was fun talking with her while she took care of everything. Peter was out like a light when his head hit the pillow. It was nice having a birthing suite with a sleep sofa for dad. I managed to get a few hours of sleep too. It was a busy day when all the day people came into work. Lukas and Grandma came to check out the new baby brother. Lukas has taken to being a big brother very well. He is still a bit rambunctious but adjusting. It’s a good thing grandma is here taking care of him. I think she’s probably ready to go sometimes though. That is until she holds the baby.
I was impressed as to how well trained the nurses in the hospital are. 99% of them are mothers with a vast knowledge of breast feeding and they really, really advocate it on every level. I learned so much in 24 hours. I had 2 visits from lactation consultants. The one that came on Saturday was great. We got Markus set up to supplement him at the breast which made me feel so much better. He was so cranky and hungry. It’s amazing what ¼ an ounce of formula can do. She said she had set up 4 other new mom’s with the same system that morning and she got calls regulary from nurses helping other moms and need extra help while she was helping me. It didn’t interfere with her helping me but it was so great to know that they were so committed to it! It turns out one of the pediatricians in our new practice is on the breast feeding committee at the hospital so they are really dedicated. Contrary to what I had heard from many about having a hospital birthing experience I found that this hospital was very much open and dedicated to things being as natural as possible. They fully support the mother’s wishes in every way possible. Markus stayed with us as much as we wanted him there and it was really nice to know that we could send him to the nursery when they were assessing him to get some sleep. The only thing they didn’t allow was sleeping with the baby. The bed I was in was really too small for that but Peter did fall asleep with him in the recliner and luckily the nurses always knock before coming in the room so he woke up and we didn’t get in trouble. Peter had been waiting for that for soooooo long. This particular maternity wing was just totally re-vamped and opened 5 months ago. They are so busy they are where they forcasted they would be 18 months from now. The nurses are really working hard and they all had students helping them as well. Every shift seemed to have students. There are several nice hospitals in Indy and it’s such a child friendly place it all just works together.
We’ve been home for 24 hours now. Markus is doing well. We supplemented him last night because he just wasn’t taking to the tubes and breast at all. It looks like my milk is just coming in now. Amazing how these things happen. I’m trying to be optimistic and realistic after not being able to breast feed Lukas but I think my ultimate goal is to be able to breast feed Markus at least part time so wish us luck! He is having no problems with formula which is a relief is up to yellow poop so we are right on schedule
Markus Edward - borth 12:01 AM 10/26/07 7 pounds 11 ounces 20 Inches long
Wow! That’s all I can say! For what we thought early on may end up being an early induction of a big baby due to my gestational diabetes turned out to be an induction a week late to give birth to a cute little guy. I didn’t have a single contraction the entire pregnancy and to be honest, by the end I really didn’t think he would ever come and I’d just be pregnant forever. I think the hormones were just so crazy because I didn’t even think I was pregnant half the time because I was unable to concentrate on much of anything.
I am very happy to have had an OB supportive of natural childbirth but also proceeded with caution looking out for both me and Markus. He said he’d let me go 41 ½ weeks before an induction but when I was there for my 41 week visit he thought the best thing to do was to induce. He gave me a day to think about it and said I could change my mind at anytime. We decided it was just best to get it over with. The doctor was on call the following day and thought it would be best to get it over with then since he would be there anyway. I’m really grateful for that. Being in Indy only a month he is the only other person I even know so it was nice to have a familiar face there. I never thought it was truly out of convenience to him, there would be someone there to deliver the baby at any time but who knows who? I thought I was going to cervadil followed by pitocin but it turns out I was very easily induced with cytotec in the doctor’s office. He inserted it in the afternoon and told me to call to check in before the end of their office hours that day. It was 2 ½ hours later. He said I’d feel pressure and then I’d come in, have my water broken and then nature should take over from there. Well, when I talked to them at 4 pm nothing was happening so I was told to walk and call at 7 if nothing was happening by then. A minute later I stepped outside the door to go walking by myself and there it was, labor!
I wasn’t sure at first. My labor with Lukas was so much different and I was waiting to feel the same way. My uterus began contracting like a big balloon being blown up and deflating. They were coming really fast but were not at all uncomfortable. They were only lasting 35-40 seconds but coming regularly at 2 minute intervals while I walked. I thought my water was about to break with the next contraction but thought, nah, that can’t be it, I probably just have to pee. I went back home for dinner and was getting ready to walk again when I went to the bathroom first. I didn’t know if I was peeing my pants or my membranes had ruptured. I called Peter to let him know I was in labor. We had originally thought I’d be waiting around with cervadil to work so he could work longer but then I called me to tell him the time frame and he was hurrying, then I called him at 4 after talking to the doctor to say he had 3 more hours. Well, I took the dog and Lukas for a walk and we waited for Peter to come home. My water was leaking all over the place. Luckily I had some very large serenity pads! We finished walking the boys and then Peter and I went for a little walk too. We finished packing and realized this was really it. I called the OB around 6 and told him I was amazed how fast it started!!!! He kinda laughed just knowing. I told him I thought my water had broken so he wanted me in the hospital after that. He had said earlier it should probably be a low interference birth but I was concerned with the water being broken I’d have to go on monitors.
We got to the hospital before the doctor had even called! We literally live 5 miles away. I was escorted to triage where it was confirmed my water had broken. The monitors showed a strong heartbeat, those contractions 2 minutes apart and pretty good movement. Markus had been quite a sleeper in-utero so he remained so for the most part. I was admitted and shown to a really nice suite! It took a while to do all the admittance paperwork and get an IV started. The doctor said I could walk and only had to stay on the monitors 20 minutes of every hour. I was only 2 ½ cm dialted when I was admitted, I knew that because the contractions weren’t that strong. They were going to let it all go and check with the doctor at 10 PM with my progression. I only had to have my sugar checked once and it was fine so we didn’t have to worry about that the rest of the time. We walked and the contractions came right on que as we walked the corridors. At 10 I’d only progressed to 3 ½ cm. The l/d nurse asked me how I felt about pitocin and I said whatever the doctor thinks is best because I knew my options were limited due to my water already breaking. I was pretty tired in general so I really didn’t mind just sitting for a while. The doctor came back with pitocin but only authorized it up to level 8. He also prescribed an IV narcotic if I wanted it which I could request up to 8 cm. I’m not sure what that means but she said with women who want a natural labor and delivery the pitocin drip can go up to 20 women with epidurals can go up to 80? (oy!) We only made it to 4. At first it seemed like nothing was happening but we went to 6 cm pretty fast. My back was really hurting like it was with Lukas only it was much, much worse with Lukas and lasted forever. I learned that particular pain usually due to the position of the baby. We moved around a bit but I decided to try a different angle. I’ve been reading a lot about the law of attraction and the Teachings of Abraham with Jerry and Esther Hicks. They say that to get what we want we have to align with the energy. I didn’t know if I should align with what I wanted or what was best for Markus so I decided to simply align with the energy. It really worked!!!! I started studying Reiki at the beginning of my pregnancy but didn’t get very far because I was so fuzzy brained most of the time. I had asked some of my online friends to send Reiki to help me during labor and at that moment they were really there! I found moments of absolute peace. It’s like Joyce and Raven were actually there doing reiki in the moment. The contractions were really strong! It turns out in 12 minutes, I had 4 contractions and went from 6 cm to complete! Markus had completely changed to a comfortable position and we were ready to push!
I experienced a lot in that hour or so! I felt horrible, totally out of control. I was just shaking uncontrollably. I had that during my labor with Lukas too. I was freezing, wearing a fleece in July on the way to deliver Lukas. At some point I was given oxygen to put over my face myself because Markus’s heartbeat was dropping during contractions. I just didn’t feel right at all. At some point the nurse asked that a table be prepared for Dr. Brillhart. I didn’t know that what that meant was each doctor wanted different things on his table at a bedside delivery. I was scared that they may have been preparing for a c-section because of Markus’s heartbeat. Well, luckily this only lasted about 15 minutes.
Hospital protocols say that you basically call the doctor when the mother gets to 8 cm. I had skipped though all the middle stuff and was just ready to push!! Luckily they just turned the pitocin off and the contractions lessened in intensity so I could just breathe through them without pushing. I had a room with a great view and the nurses were looking out the window wondering how far away the doctor lived and what kind of car he drove. (we thought he looked like a jag kind of a guy) They would look from the window to me to make sure the baby just did slip out on his own! We were taking bets to see if Markus would be born on the 25th or 26th. The doctor got there, I gave 3 ½ good pushes and out came Markus! They put him right up on my belly which was WONDERFUL! I didn’t have that with Lukas. Lukas had the cord around his neck and was rather blue so they had to cut his chord right away and take care of him. This sopping wet little baby was just amazing! He looks so much like his grandpa Meyer. (He really did when he was born all wrinkly.) The placenta was delivered right away with no problems. What I didn’t realize is they actually give you a whole lot of pitocin after the birth so your uterus contracts to avoid complications. The doctor thought Markus would be around 7 pounds 6 ounces. He wasn’t far off considering he was a week late at 7 pounds 11 ounces. He is long and lean like his dad with the same red hair Lukas had when he was born. I only had first degree tears that required a stitch or two and that was it! Markus took to the breast right away. He stayed on for almost an hour taking to each breast twice. The nurses waited until he was done and put himself to sleep before doing anything else.
It was a great night. The nurse was great. It was fun talking with her while she took care of everything. Peter was out like a light when his head hit the pillow. It was nice having a birthing suite with a sleep sofa for dad. I managed to get a few hours of sleep too. It was a busy day when all the day people came into work. Lukas and Grandma came to check out the new baby brother. Lukas has taken to being a big brother very well. He is still a bit rambunctious but adjusting. It’s a good thing grandma is here taking care of him. I think she’s probably ready to go sometimes though. That is until she holds the baby.
I was impressed as to how well trained the nurses in the hospital are. 99% of them are mothers with a vast knowledge of breast feeding and they really, really advocate it on every level. I learned so much in 24 hours. I had 2 visits from lactation consultants. The one that came on Saturday was great. We got Markus set up to supplement him at the breast which made me feel so much better. He was so cranky and hungry. It’s amazing what ¼ an ounce of formula can do. She said she had set up 4 other new mom’s with the same system that morning and she got calls regulary from nurses helping other moms and need extra help while she was helping me. It didn’t interfere with her helping me but it was so great to know that they were so committed to it! It turns out one of the pediatricians in our new practice is on the breast feeding committee at the hospital so they are really dedicated. Contrary to what I had heard from many about having a hospital birthing experience I found that this hospital was very much open and dedicated to things being as natural as possible. They fully support the mother’s wishes in every way possible. Markus stayed with us as much as we wanted him there and it was really nice to know that we could send him to the nursery when they were assessing him to get some sleep. The only thing they didn’t allow was sleeping with the baby. The bed I was in was really too small for that but Peter did fall asleep with him in the recliner and luckily the nurses always knock before coming in the room so he woke up and we didn’t get in trouble. Peter had been waiting for that for soooooo long. This particular maternity wing was just totally re-vamped and opened 5 months ago. They are so busy they are where they forcasted they would be 18 months from now. The nurses are really working hard and they all had students helping them as well. Every shift seemed to have students. There are several nice hospitals in Indy and it’s such a child friendly place it all just works together.
We’ve been home for 24 hours now. Markus is doing well. We supplemented him last night because he just wasn’t taking to the tubes and breast at all. It looks like my milk is just coming in now. Amazing how these things happen. I’m trying to be optimistic and realistic after not being able to breast feed Lukas but I think my ultimate goal is to be able to breast feed Markus at least part time so wish us luck! He is having no problems with formula which is a relief is up to yellow poop so we are right on schedule
: I'm glad to hear you had a good hospital experience. Enjoy your baby!
