Question about "stations..."

[rmzbm]

OK, I basically understand, but...

What is considered "low?" Is there a particular station where you think "OK, the baby is really low and ready..."?

Cuz I am tellng you the pressure is beyond pressure it's starting to be painful. I let a local mw check me, and honestly I expected to hear she was lower.

So, yeah, maybe a dumb question but I'm desperate!

[onlyboys]

How low was she?

I would consider zero station to be "low", but I have heard of mamas walking around at +2 or +3. She might feel lower than you would expect, though, because it's fairly uncomfortable having a baby engaged in your pelvis.

[rmzbm]

-1 and 1 stinking cm. dialated. It's my fault for CONVINCING myself she's about to FALL out but dang! I have had 4 pregnancies before this one and never for one second felt pressure...well, they never dropped, even in labor...this is new. Maybe it's just normal & I'm thinking it's "progress" cuz it's different to ME. *sigh*

[Defenestrator]

Was that check lying down? I would consider that pretty low for a mama who has had as many babies as you have. Some women who have had more than a few kids will have babies that seem kinda high when you check them lying down, but then if you check them standing they will be at +1 or greater. So maybe the baby really is low, but when you lie down it moves out of the pelvis.

Good luck!

[Doula Dani]

I think -1 feels low! Asher was there for a long time before labor and it does feel like they're about to fall out sometimes!

[rmzbm]

Yeah, it was laying down. (All my other kids were sections, if that matters...which is why I am so clueless! )

[dewi]

http://www.visibleproductions.com/sh...edlegal_3.html

This is the most amazing animated visual that shows the stations. One look and it will explain what what a million words can't.

Let me know what you think!

Dew

[Defenestrator]

I don't think it matters all that much that the babies have been born by c-section. It is the tone of the uterus that makes the baby able to float up when there is no gravity. Just carrying babies before affects that.

[time4another]

Dew...that is a fantastic animation!!!

[dewi]

Time 4 another,

I know!!!!
I'm a non practicing childbirth ed and I was blown away when a colleague showed me that website the other day.
It really is absolutely brilliant!
Every doula and birthing women should look at it.

Dew

[rmzbm]

Originally Posted by dewi

http://www.visibleproductions.com/sh...edlegal_3.html

This is the most amazing animated visual that shows the stations. One look and it will explain what what a million words can't.

Let me know what you think!

Dew

That was AWESOME! Thanks!!!

Originally Posted by Defenestrator

I don't think it matters all that much that the babies have been born by c-section. It is the tone of the uterus that makes the baby able to float up when there is no gravity. Just carrying babies before affects that.

True! And good!

[rmzbm]

Just watched it again, she's fully dialated when she's at -1...I was trying to picture the head there at 1cm...no wonder there's so much pressure!

[dewi]

HI
I did not realize you were the pregnant women.
How are you doing?
Has your sweet baby emerged into the world yet?

Dewi

[rmzbm]

Nope, not yet...and on and on it goes...and it's getting really old. My mood has DEFNATELY taken a turn for the worse today.

[onlyboys]

to you Marie!

Can you do something alone today? Or perhaps just something that you'll enjoy a lot? Spa treatment? Movie alone?

[rmzbm]

I dunno, I kind of just feel like curling up in bed with a book or something. I actually feel like I am getting sick, I have the shakes and feel, well, sick. Figures, perfect timing. :

[cathicog]

Originally Posted by rmzbm

Just watched it again, she's fully dialated when she's at -1...I was trying to picture the head there at 1cm...no wonder there's so much pressure!

And remember, the dilation occurs FIRST, usually. I don't remember if you have fully dilated with your kiddos before any of them were born, but if you keep that in mind, you will probably be more patient with yourself and less likely to think somehting is wrong. Dilation and effacement can occur together, but sometimes a woman will efface(thin out) completely, and still be only 3 cm dilated. Watch out for those though, cuz when they go, they go FAST! And a woman can be 5 cm dilated and still walking around not in labor.Something i noticed about that animation. 1) the woman was laying on her back, not the best, most comfortable position to birth in.
2) the pelvis did NOT move. In a real birth, the baby moves, his head molds, and the pelvis moves to accomodate the baby. This doesn't show Any of that.
3) there are 3 more clips (on the sidebar)- one is a sigmoidoscopy(remind me never to have one) whiplash, and a shoulder distocia. If the mom were on hands and knees, the pelvis would not be flattened out, thereby avoiding the distocia. Or even laying on her side would help, instead of flat on her back with her pelvis flattening out like that...grrrr. Anybody else notice that?

[rmzbm]

I win no gold medals for dilation, that's for sure!

#1 - after about 30 hrs. - 3 cm.
#2 - after 4 days - 7 cm. (4 up until the last cople hours.)
Next 2, nothing.

But I chalk it up to extreme horror, I was literally WILLING it to stop. *sigh*

[cathicog]

Originally Posted by rmzbm

I win no gold medals for dilation, that's for sure!

#1 - after about 30 hrs. - 3 cm.
#2 - after 4 days - 7 cm. (4 up until the last cople hours.)
Next 2, nothing.

But I chalk it up to extreme horror, I was literally WILLING it to stop. *sigh*

Bless your heart- you win medals for having endured all that!
I think, now that you will be home, that you will be relaxed enough to really let go. Keep telling yourself you were made to birth babies, and you can do this. I know you can. Your pelvis will move, and you will get huge inside. And if you have stop/start labor, that's oK, the baby is moving down and getting farther down and in better position, and will make that door open!
Every ctx helps. Down and out, down and out. Oh, and it is normal when pushing, to go two steps forward, then the baby moves back just a little. That is NORMAL. Some people think once you start pushing the baby falls out. not so. think two steps forward, one step back, and keep doing it and the baby comes out! to you

[rmzbm]

Thanks! It was the pain, Pit. the 1st time...Pit. Cytotec and cervadil the second time. (Works well, hu? ) Fight or flight supersedes it ALL! The second time the epidural didn't even help...I was losing it. I really think it will be different home. The whole idea of being in a hospital with strangers staring at me, eh, it will never work.