Hi Everyone!
Well, she finally got here...but what a road.
As my sister said in her first thread about this LO's birth, my water broke first at 11:20 p.m. on Sat. nite (the 21st). Labour has never started that way for me, and it was such a gentle water breaking that I almost didn't believe it. I thought I was feeling the EPO capsule I had just inserted (still couldn't find my cervix) sliding out, so I reached and "ploof" water fell out of me soaking everything in a big gush of warmth. I just stood there giggling. No contractions right away, but eventually they started getting stronger. when we thought enough of a patter had started (how does 4 hours of reasonable ctxns every 2 - 4 mins sound?) we called the MWs and my sister. then things stopped.
Next morning, things are starting up again. Again good pattern of ctxns established, call everyone. stopped dead. As we near the 18 hour mark, talk begins of GBS management - this would prove to be the biggest stumbling block of all - I had declined the swab. In our community, at the hospital I would be treated as though I were GBS+. the next day, the OB on call often denies women the RX for anitbiotics unless they agree to augmentation
- not a good feeling, I tell ya.
My sister is also a midwife, so we got to work w/ the breast pump and homeopathics (pulsatilla and the cohoshes). I have never gotten to know a breast pump so well, and I will *not* be pumping any breastmilk for this little girl for a good long time! This produced a good contraction pattern for a while, then things petered out again. A half hour long, really brisk walk around our neighbourhood later w/ not a single (!) contraction prompted a vag exam and "vigorous" stretch and sweep from our MW at my request. I was 50% effaced, not dialated, but v. soft and she eventually stretched my cervix to 4-5.
It seemed w/ every new technique/intervention I would get a few good contractions, then stop. Prior to this babe's birth I had tried all of the above, in addition to 2 doses of castor oil (apparently, there is a reason I get constipated during pg, I have intestines of steel), an enema and re-breaking the forewaters. After re-breaking the forewaters, DH and I went for another walk to discuss what we should do. I had already said that I thought 18 hours wasn't long enough, and expressed my ire at being considered positive, when we could just as well assume I was negative. DH and I agreed to wait until 24hrs at least before deciding to transfer. I needed to sleep, so I had a gravol shot and managed about 2 hours. at midnight, contractions picked up on their own, and DH needed to apply back pressure. I felt sure this was it, but was really hesitant to call the MWs back.
We waited a good 2 hours w/ ctxns 5mins apart lasting a minute and me yelling through each one. changing position, and getting in the birth pool didn't make them go away. I remember thinking, "maybe I am just meant to do this myself...", then I threw up w/ the next ctxn, and I thought "and welcome to transition." I *still* didn't tell DH to call the MWs. We called my sister, though and she said we should call, so we did. I threw up again, and felt the baby "lock and load" (seriously weird feeling). I started to push just as MW #1 ran up the stairs. I think I pushed about 5 times for her head, and one or two more for the rest of her. The 2nd MW and the senior student MW didn't make it in time, and neither did my sister! At that point, I realized I almost UC'd!!!
Anyway, after all that, I still had my HB H20 birth, and have a beautiful baby girl! her big brothers are thrilled and I am enjoying my first ever baby moon "stitch free" as it were! just a small tear which seems to be healing well w/ "mermaid legs" for a few days. Wren nurses like a pro and I have a bit of milk in already (thanks breast pump!).
Here are her specs:
dob: June 23rd (is that one of the ones I predicted?)
name: Wren Mara Pearl
wt: 8 lbs 10 oz (ther predictor thingy said 8 lbs 11 oz, i think).
lgth: 21.5 "
pix to come when I figure that part out...
Well, she finally got here...but what a road.
As my sister said in her first thread about this LO's birth, my water broke first at 11:20 p.m. on Sat. nite (the 21st). Labour has never started that way for me, and it was such a gentle water breaking that I almost didn't believe it. I thought I was feeling the EPO capsule I had just inserted (still couldn't find my cervix) sliding out, so I reached and "ploof" water fell out of me soaking everything in a big gush of warmth. I just stood there giggling. No contractions right away, but eventually they started getting stronger. when we thought enough of a patter had started (how does 4 hours of reasonable ctxns every 2 - 4 mins sound?) we called the MWs and my sister. then things stopped.
Next morning, things are starting up again. Again good pattern of ctxns established, call everyone. stopped dead. As we near the 18 hour mark, talk begins of GBS management - this would prove to be the biggest stumbling block of all - I had declined the swab. In our community, at the hospital I would be treated as though I were GBS+. the next day, the OB on call often denies women the RX for anitbiotics unless they agree to augmentation
- not a good feeling, I tell ya.My sister is also a midwife, so we got to work w/ the breast pump and homeopathics (pulsatilla and the cohoshes). I have never gotten to know a breast pump so well, and I will *not* be pumping any breastmilk for this little girl for a good long time! This produced a good contraction pattern for a while, then things petered out again. A half hour long, really brisk walk around our neighbourhood later w/ not a single (!) contraction prompted a vag exam and "vigorous" stretch and sweep from our MW at my request. I was 50% effaced, not dialated, but v. soft and she eventually stretched my cervix to 4-5.
It seemed w/ every new technique/intervention I would get a few good contractions, then stop. Prior to this babe's birth I had tried all of the above, in addition to 2 doses of castor oil (apparently, there is a reason I get constipated during pg, I have intestines of steel), an enema and re-breaking the forewaters. After re-breaking the forewaters, DH and I went for another walk to discuss what we should do. I had already said that I thought 18 hours wasn't long enough, and expressed my ire at being considered positive, when we could just as well assume I was negative. DH and I agreed to wait until 24hrs at least before deciding to transfer. I needed to sleep, so I had a gravol shot and managed about 2 hours. at midnight, contractions picked up on their own, and DH needed to apply back pressure. I felt sure this was it, but was really hesitant to call the MWs back.
We waited a good 2 hours w/ ctxns 5mins apart lasting a minute and me yelling through each one. changing position, and getting in the birth pool didn't make them go away. I remember thinking, "maybe I am just meant to do this myself...", then I threw up w/ the next ctxn, and I thought "and welcome to transition." I *still* didn't tell DH to call the MWs. We called my sister, though and she said we should call, so we did. I threw up again, and felt the baby "lock and load" (seriously weird feeling). I started to push just as MW #1 ran up the stairs. I think I pushed about 5 times for her head, and one or two more for the rest of her. The 2nd MW and the senior student MW didn't make it in time, and neither did my sister! At that point, I realized I almost UC'd!!!
Anyway, after all that, I still had my HB H20 birth, and have a beautiful baby girl! her big brothers are thrilled and I am enjoying my first ever baby moon "stitch free" as it were! just a small tear which seems to be healing well w/ "mermaid legs" for a few days. Wren nurses like a pro and I have a bit of milk in already (thanks breast pump!).
Here are her specs:
dob: June 23rd (is that one of the ones I predicted?)
name: Wren Mara Pearl
wt: 8 lbs 10 oz (ther predictor thingy said 8 lbs 11 oz, i think).
lgth: 21.5 "
pix to come when I figure that part out...
congratulations! i love her name!!
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