a very belated long birth story...
Gemma Elise Pendergast made her grand appearance at 1:53 AM last Wednesday morning, February 20, 2008.
First I want to first say thank you-- I know my sister posted and let you all know that labor was slow and very difficult going for us, and it really did help to know you were thinking of us and sending strength and help from the world over. I have always believed in the power of that kind of energy, but it was nice to have extra proof.
I spent a week having contractions on and off, sometimes for as long as 12-14 hours, but they never materialized. I was feeling pretty tired and somewhat discouraged, but I knew that the baby had to come eventually-- it was just hard to get any decent rest! Monday 2/18 was more of the same, but everything changed around midnight as I was headed to bed. The intensity of the contractions started to ramp up drastically, and I had my bloody show. I tried to rest as I could in between them, remembering what the midwives and doula/birthcoach had taught us, not to mention my sister's personal sage wisdom. By 1:30 am, it was nearly impossible. I still don't know how it is you sleep for four minute stretches. I tried to just be peaceful in between lurching to my hands and knees and frantically ordering DH to apply pressure to my back and legs. By the time the midwife cleared us to come on in to the birth center in the hospital at 11AM, I had taken 2 hot baths, prowled the house countless times and likely scared the neighbors into thinking that we had captured some sort of wild howling animal and set it loose in our Brooklyn apartment. It was a tough trip to the hospital (I see the appeal of never leaving your home once labor begins for sure) but we made it. The nurse greeted me with a warm hug and lots of encouragement, and I was feeling pretty ready to have that baby---until the midwife did the exam and told me that I was only 2 centimeters dilated. Two. Two?!?!? DH was amazing, told me not to get discouraged, that this baby was going to come, that I was doing great. I really tried to take it all in stride, but I felt pretty distraught at that point. Since the birth center in the hospital has a 24 hour maximum you can be in labor after you are admitted before you are moved to regular labor and delivery, my midwife didn't want to admit me yet, especially after the start and stop week we'd already been through. I knew this was it, that there would be no stopping, but I couldn't believe that 11 hours of hard work had only gained me a centimeter. So we went back to Brooklyn. DH pointed out as we drove through Times Square that there was a pack of naked men running down the street. Under other circumstances, I think I would have found that fact entertaining at least, but I think I only growled in response. Once we were home, things picked up the pace, and the intensity got really difficult to bear. I called my sister around 4pm to have her come over and help, which she did. We tried more hot baths and homeopathics, and she reminded me about lowering my voice rather than just screaming through the contractions. I had always figured myself to be pretty tough, to be able to handle pain pretty well, but I was a far cry from the women in the videos we'd watched. I thought of that beautiful woman singing to her baby in labor, how peaceful and beautiful it all was. Couldn't have been further from the scene in our house. My howling, growling and moaning was not even remotely melodious. By 6pm we were back on the way to the hospital, though this time in my sister's car, thank god. I can't imagine a livery cab driver would have known what to do with a screaming, demented woman in his back seat. Sis had it down though, and DH let me crawl all over him and pull his hair and talked me through each block of slow traffic. We made it in, and I was relieved to hear that I was between 6 and 7 centimeters at that point. They got me in the hot tub, my mom arrived, all was in serious motion. I was exhausted and a little frantic by the time we made it to transition. When I stalled some at 9 centimeters, the midwife tried to manually reduce the last of the lip, but it was a no go. I chose to have a shot of stadol at around midnight. I had planned on being completely drug free, but after 24 hours and with pushing yet to begin and transition dragging out, I was desperate for some more help. The shot did little to help me rest or take the edge off as we hoped, but it did get me to calm down some, to get out of my head a bit and let my body take over. Pushing took about two hours (I didn't realize those birth videos I had seen were so edited for time and content, or were all not first babies!) I was not prepared for that duration, but it did help to be able to feel like I was getting closer. My mom and sister held one of my legs each, and DH wrapped around me from behind and held my hand. My midwife was wonderful-- very direct and honest but still encouraging through the whole thing, and she helped me get our baby here with no tears at all! Gemma Elise Pendergast arrived talking and yelling, totally alert and engaged, just before 2am. Her first response to the challenge of birth was to poop on me, but we were both cheerful in no time. DH announced that she was a girl and cut the cord, and we fell immediately in love. We were home by 10pm that night.
She's been entertaining lots of visitors in her first 9 days on the planet. We're all getting the hang of sleeping and eating, and she's priving to be an incredibly sweet and good natured baby. We are blessed to have her here, and I feel like I have fully joined the ranks of a group more powerful than I ever truly realized: mothers.
Gemma Elise Pendergast made her grand appearance at 1:53 AM last Wednesday morning, February 20, 2008.
First I want to first say thank you-- I know my sister posted and let you all know that labor was slow and very difficult going for us, and it really did help to know you were thinking of us and sending strength and help from the world over. I have always believed in the power of that kind of energy, but it was nice to have extra proof.
I spent a week having contractions on and off, sometimes for as long as 12-14 hours, but they never materialized. I was feeling pretty tired and somewhat discouraged, but I knew that the baby had to come eventually-- it was just hard to get any decent rest! Monday 2/18 was more of the same, but everything changed around midnight as I was headed to bed. The intensity of the contractions started to ramp up drastically, and I had my bloody show. I tried to rest as I could in between them, remembering what the midwives and doula/birthcoach had taught us, not to mention my sister's personal sage wisdom. By 1:30 am, it was nearly impossible. I still don't know how it is you sleep for four minute stretches. I tried to just be peaceful in between lurching to my hands and knees and frantically ordering DH to apply pressure to my back and legs. By the time the midwife cleared us to come on in to the birth center in the hospital at 11AM, I had taken 2 hot baths, prowled the house countless times and likely scared the neighbors into thinking that we had captured some sort of wild howling animal and set it loose in our Brooklyn apartment. It was a tough trip to the hospital (I see the appeal of never leaving your home once labor begins for sure) but we made it. The nurse greeted me with a warm hug and lots of encouragement, and I was feeling pretty ready to have that baby---until the midwife did the exam and told me that I was only 2 centimeters dilated. Two. Two?!?!? DH was amazing, told me not to get discouraged, that this baby was going to come, that I was doing great. I really tried to take it all in stride, but I felt pretty distraught at that point. Since the birth center in the hospital has a 24 hour maximum you can be in labor after you are admitted before you are moved to regular labor and delivery, my midwife didn't want to admit me yet, especially after the start and stop week we'd already been through. I knew this was it, that there would be no stopping, but I couldn't believe that 11 hours of hard work had only gained me a centimeter. So we went back to Brooklyn. DH pointed out as we drove through Times Square that there was a pack of naked men running down the street. Under other circumstances, I think I would have found that fact entertaining at least, but I think I only growled in response. Once we were home, things picked up the pace, and the intensity got really difficult to bear. I called my sister around 4pm to have her come over and help, which she did. We tried more hot baths and homeopathics, and she reminded me about lowering my voice rather than just screaming through the contractions. I had always figured myself to be pretty tough, to be able to handle pain pretty well, but I was a far cry from the women in the videos we'd watched. I thought of that beautiful woman singing to her baby in labor, how peaceful and beautiful it all was. Couldn't have been further from the scene in our house. My howling, growling and moaning was not even remotely melodious. By 6pm we were back on the way to the hospital, though this time in my sister's car, thank god. I can't imagine a livery cab driver would have known what to do with a screaming, demented woman in his back seat. Sis had it down though, and DH let me crawl all over him and pull his hair and talked me through each block of slow traffic. We made it in, and I was relieved to hear that I was between 6 and 7 centimeters at that point. They got me in the hot tub, my mom arrived, all was in serious motion. I was exhausted and a little frantic by the time we made it to transition. When I stalled some at 9 centimeters, the midwife tried to manually reduce the last of the lip, but it was a no go. I chose to have a shot of stadol at around midnight. I had planned on being completely drug free, but after 24 hours and with pushing yet to begin and transition dragging out, I was desperate for some more help. The shot did little to help me rest or take the edge off as we hoped, but it did get me to calm down some, to get out of my head a bit and let my body take over. Pushing took about two hours (I didn't realize those birth videos I had seen were so edited for time and content, or were all not first babies!) I was not prepared for that duration, but it did help to be able to feel like I was getting closer. My mom and sister held one of my legs each, and DH wrapped around me from behind and held my hand. My midwife was wonderful-- very direct and honest but still encouraging through the whole thing, and she helped me get our baby here with no tears at all! Gemma Elise Pendergast arrived talking and yelling, totally alert and engaged, just before 2am. Her first response to the challenge of birth was to poop on me, but we were both cheerful in no time. DH announced that she was a girl and cut the cord, and we fell immediately in love. We were home by 10pm that night.
She's been entertaining lots of visitors in her first 9 days on the planet. We're all getting the hang of sleeping and eating, and she's priving to be an incredibly sweet and good natured baby. We are blessed to have her here, and I feel like I have fully joined the ranks of a group more powerful than I ever truly realized: mothers.
You're great, you know that? So much love for your new girl, and the family that brought her out safely.
