Sorry it took me so long to check in. I am actually in the hospital and just now got computer access.
**Warning-may be disturbing to some**
Labor started yesterday at ~6am. Strong to start ctxs 3 minutes apart. I checked my cervix at about 10am and was 4-5 with a bulging water sac. Started getting the pool ready. It took forever to fill it with warm water. The hypnobabies helped for awhile.
My animals were quite funny. They followed me around the entire time and watched me like a movie.
Unfortunately, I had back labor for the first time ever. It was hard and horrible. I was 6-7 cms but still able to walk around and help get things ready in between ctxs. Then I got in the pool, got out to pee and was ~8-9cms.
I got back into the pool and all this time, my oldest dd and dh were taking turns rubbing my back during contractions and they started filming. This was ~1pm.
As soon as I got into the pool, it got unbearable. For my 4th kid, this was the toughest with the back labor. The hypnobabies was pretty worthless at this point. I ended up kneeling over the side of the pool just to deal with the back pain. After about 40 minutes, I felt and was complete. I noticed because I suddenly couldn't tell myself that I really don't want an epidural anymore. With the next ctx after I checked myself in the pool (her head was right there, membrane still intact), I felt a small urge to push. So I pushed a little.
It took about 4 huge pushes to get her out. The first she started to crown, but I lost energy and she went back in. The second she crowned, and the third her head was out. Dh delivered her and actually had to tell me to push and tell me what to do. I was out of energy and I lost my urge to push for about 5 minutes or what felt like a year. So I had him help her shoulders out.
And, Zjande, when you said you roared your baby out, my god I screeched. I have never screamed during birth before, but she was huge and had a huge head. And coming out posterior (she may have rotated, I couldn't see at this point), I was dying. I'm surprised the neighbors didn't call the cops! She came out at 2:10 pm.
It took a minute to start her up. She was looking around and responsive, but I wanted more crying and response. She did well. I noticed that the pool was very dark red with huge clots in it, though.
So I got out, and squatted to help the placenta. She was not interested in nursing, I tried nipple stimulation on myself and placenta out, but I was bleeding very heavily and huge clots were coming out. Finally I felt and the placenta was mostly out and just plopped out. I tried to check it, but I was in a pool of blood and feeling a bit dizzy. I got worried at this point. Being a former EMT, that much blood scares me when it's pouring out so fast.
It had been about 40mins at this point, so I tied and cut the cord, which was more difficult than I imagined. I needed to get in the shower to see if I tore or at least so I didn't look like a murder victim. I was entirely dark red like I painted myself.
I was very shaky and lightheaded and almost fainted several times. I tried taking some anti-bleed tincture and shepherd's purse and it didn't work. I had dh cut a piece of the placenta for me to stick in my cheek, but that didn't work. Huge clots and gushes of blood were still coming out. I tried to get out of the shower and realized at this point I was hemorrhaging and needed to transport.
Dh called the ambulance. Our apartment is tiny, so it was hard for them to get in, especially with the pool close to the door. They took me and baby-who was perfectly fine and dressed at this point. The paramedics were actually incredibly nice to me about all of this.
When we got to the ER, I got some odd comments, but overall had some very nice nurses and doctors. The ER doc said no problem for me refusing to be seperated from her and refusing Hep B and erythromycin and everything. He was very nice. Then they took me to labor and delivery and I had the on-call doctor who was a VERY nice doctor and knew what I was talking about when I told her about trying to eat the placenta. They had to use a huge speculum and check me.
I had a retained portion of my placenta and huge clots. Overall, it took them about 2 hours to stop my hemorrhage and I went in shock while there. That exam was horrible. I also had two tears, but neither require stitces at all. My god. I wanted to die.
My pulse was very high, but my bp was high when I came in and then dropped and has been low. Which, at least this time they dealt with this. With ds, they waited too long and I had a seizure, and he was a hospital birth. And apparently they require babies to stay under the warming lights for at least 2 hours no matter what if baby is born here, so good thing we had her at home b/c they didn't make us since she wasn't born here.
Finally, all settled down and dh and the kids followed us to the hospital and they went home for dinner (we live a block away). I had to have dh bring me some stuff as I never packed an emergency bag.
My nurses have been surprisingly nice to me, many were shocked that there was even such thing as homebirth in general. One was very understanding and seemed to support homebirth, and another said she wished she had.
Unforunately, I had to see my oaf of an ex-doctor today. He wasn't too belittling, but his presence was irritating. And the on-call pediatrician (mine doesn't have floor access to this hospital. Because my last GBS test was too long ago (about 30 weeks?), and though it was negative, we have to stay 48 hours which SUCKS.
I am missing Christmas with my family and this is very depressing. I am obviously going through a bit of mourning over all of this hulabaloo.
But she is perfect according to all the doctors and tests. I am doing better, but I feel like a pincushion and I'm still dizzy.
But I would still do it all again as a UC. No question even though it was more painful and I bled, it was really a very good birth, my best so far in terms of outcome, and emotionally. It's hard to describe. Even dh agrees.
The first two pics are right after birth, and the others are at the hospital.
8lbs. 4 oz and 19" (the shortest kid by 2"!)
**Warning-may be disturbing to some**
Labor started yesterday at ~6am. Strong to start ctxs 3 minutes apart. I checked my cervix at about 10am and was 4-5 with a bulging water sac. Started getting the pool ready. It took forever to fill it with warm water. The hypnobabies helped for awhile.
My animals were quite funny. They followed me around the entire time and watched me like a movie.
Unfortunately, I had back labor for the first time ever. It was hard and horrible. I was 6-7 cms but still able to walk around and help get things ready in between ctxs. Then I got in the pool, got out to pee and was ~8-9cms.
I got back into the pool and all this time, my oldest dd and dh were taking turns rubbing my back during contractions and they started filming. This was ~1pm.
As soon as I got into the pool, it got unbearable. For my 4th kid, this was the toughest with the back labor. The hypnobabies was pretty worthless at this point. I ended up kneeling over the side of the pool just to deal with the back pain. After about 40 minutes, I felt and was complete. I noticed because I suddenly couldn't tell myself that I really don't want an epidural anymore. With the next ctx after I checked myself in the pool (her head was right there, membrane still intact), I felt a small urge to push. So I pushed a little.
It took about 4 huge pushes to get her out. The first she started to crown, but I lost energy and she went back in. The second she crowned, and the third her head was out. Dh delivered her and actually had to tell me to push and tell me what to do. I was out of energy and I lost my urge to push for about 5 minutes or what felt like a year. So I had him help her shoulders out.
And, Zjande, when you said you roared your baby out, my god I screeched. I have never screamed during birth before, but she was huge and had a huge head. And coming out posterior (she may have rotated, I couldn't see at this point), I was dying. I'm surprised the neighbors didn't call the cops! She came out at 2:10 pm.
It took a minute to start her up. She was looking around and responsive, but I wanted more crying and response. She did well. I noticed that the pool was very dark red with huge clots in it, though.
So I got out, and squatted to help the placenta. She was not interested in nursing, I tried nipple stimulation on myself and placenta out, but I was bleeding very heavily and huge clots were coming out. Finally I felt and the placenta was mostly out and just plopped out. I tried to check it, but I was in a pool of blood and feeling a bit dizzy. I got worried at this point. Being a former EMT, that much blood scares me when it's pouring out so fast.
It had been about 40mins at this point, so I tied and cut the cord, which was more difficult than I imagined. I needed to get in the shower to see if I tore or at least so I didn't look like a murder victim. I was entirely dark red like I painted myself.
I was very shaky and lightheaded and almost fainted several times. I tried taking some anti-bleed tincture and shepherd's purse and it didn't work. I had dh cut a piece of the placenta for me to stick in my cheek, but that didn't work. Huge clots and gushes of blood were still coming out. I tried to get out of the shower and realized at this point I was hemorrhaging and needed to transport.
Dh called the ambulance. Our apartment is tiny, so it was hard for them to get in, especially with the pool close to the door. They took me and baby-who was perfectly fine and dressed at this point. The paramedics were actually incredibly nice to me about all of this.
When we got to the ER, I got some odd comments, but overall had some very nice nurses and doctors. The ER doc said no problem for me refusing to be seperated from her and refusing Hep B and erythromycin and everything. He was very nice. Then they took me to labor and delivery and I had the on-call doctor who was a VERY nice doctor and knew what I was talking about when I told her about trying to eat the placenta. They had to use a huge speculum and check me.
I had a retained portion of my placenta and huge clots. Overall, it took them about 2 hours to stop my hemorrhage and I went in shock while there. That exam was horrible. I also had two tears, but neither require stitces at all. My god. I wanted to die.
My pulse was very high, but my bp was high when I came in and then dropped and has been low. Which, at least this time they dealt with this. With ds, they waited too long and I had a seizure, and he was a hospital birth. And apparently they require babies to stay under the warming lights for at least 2 hours no matter what if baby is born here, so good thing we had her at home b/c they didn't make us since she wasn't born here.
Finally, all settled down and dh and the kids followed us to the hospital and they went home for dinner (we live a block away). I had to have dh bring me some stuff as I never packed an emergency bag.
My nurses have been surprisingly nice to me, many were shocked that there was even such thing as homebirth in general. One was very understanding and seemed to support homebirth, and another said she wished she had.
Unforunately, I had to see my oaf of an ex-doctor today. He wasn't too belittling, but his presence was irritating. And the on-call pediatrician (mine doesn't have floor access to this hospital. Because my last GBS test was too long ago (about 30 weeks?), and though it was negative, we have to stay 48 hours which SUCKS.
I am missing Christmas with my family and this is very depressing. I am obviously going through a bit of mourning over all of this hulabaloo.
But she is perfect according to all the doctors and tests. I am doing better, but I feel like a pincushion and I'm still dizzy.
But I would still do it all again as a UC. No question even though it was more painful and I bled, it was really a very good birth, my best so far in terms of outcome, and emotionally. It's hard to describe. Even dh agrees.
The first two pics are right after birth, and the others are at the hospital.
8lbs. 4 oz and 19" (the shortest kid by 2"!)
Congrats, mommy, on a VERY successful and healthy baby and birth. 
CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Love the name. Hope you are feeling better soon!!
: And she's gorgeous. 
I can relate OHSO much, I'm so sorry about your stupid hemorrhage! It sounds awful. I didn't lose tons of clots like you did, just kept dripping & dripping & nearly fainting. And I was soo frustrated, as I'm sure you are! And then some!!! And I'm soooo sorry you're stuck in the stupid hospital! GAWD, what a bummer. 
: sent your way.
