MossbackMeadow
08-01-2003, 10:56 AM
It has been 7 years since my last birth. I'm 37 now.My other three children were born at 41, 39 and 39 weeks - all at home. This whole pregnancy I was envisioning a quick, easy, unassisted delivery with just dh and I - how romantic!
I had prodromal labor for weeks beforehand. My family was very busy in early July with our livestock and county fair, my July 1 due date came and went. I was sort of manic during this time - either crying with frustration, or giddy with joy because I was finally pregnant again after 3 miscarriages. I can't tell you how many times I went to the grocery to stock up for the birth, only to have the food gone a week later and there I was, pulling into the Wal Mart lot *again.*
When I went to bed on July 18, I was having the same painful bh cx that I'd had for weeks. Woke up a few hours later at 2 am and soon decided this was the real thing. Went to the bathroom and saw pink mucous. Puttered around the house. Thought we'd have a baby before breakfast. Sent older kids off with grandpa.
Worked hard all morning, ctx 3 min apart and painful. I could only assume one position - standing straight up.
My lay mw arrived at 2 pm and checked me, I had been a little weepy and was at 8 cm.
Hours later at suppertime, I was still 8 cm. MW said head was hung up on pubic bone. I couldn't squat or do anything. I had the idea to call a chiropractor friend. He came over and adjusted me and an hour later we were past the pubic bone.
I alternate between crying and confidence. I was now very tired. Ate a few bites of melon and took some rescue remedy and lobelia in an attempt to get some rest. It was not to be. Kept drinking lots of gatorade. I am now begging for dh to take me to hospital for a gas mask. MW insisted that I didn't really want to do that.
Midnight. Very tired. Still standing up during contractions. I finally allow mw to hold back the cervical lip. Baby's head is coming down at an angle, and is not applied directly to cervix.
Two hours of pushing follow. My other children were born with 2 pushes so this is a real switch!
I say lots of 4 letter words. I tell dh that our sex life is over. I am doing these primal grunt/screams.
Finally, I feel bag of water in my vagina. I didnt' want any interventions but finally allow her to pop it. Meconium in the water. Baby's heart rate good. Pushing was excruciating. I hear mw say the head is out. There was quite a delay until the rest of the body was born - I was one determined woman at that point! And oh - the relief!!!! She cried right away and was beautiful.
2:20 am, July 20. Erin Maribel.
Placenta followed 40 min later. No tears or skid marks. In fact, the only thing sore is my throat from yelling. Gobbled down some stew and a peanut better sandwich. Joy!
Four healthy children, all born at home. I'm blessed. Why this labor was so challenging I'll never know.
I had prodromal labor for weeks beforehand. My family was very busy in early July with our livestock and county fair, my July 1 due date came and went. I was sort of manic during this time - either crying with frustration, or giddy with joy because I was finally pregnant again after 3 miscarriages. I can't tell you how many times I went to the grocery to stock up for the birth, only to have the food gone a week later and there I was, pulling into the Wal Mart lot *again.*
When I went to bed on July 18, I was having the same painful bh cx that I'd had for weeks. Woke up a few hours later at 2 am and soon decided this was the real thing. Went to the bathroom and saw pink mucous. Puttered around the house. Thought we'd have a baby before breakfast. Sent older kids off with grandpa.
Worked hard all morning, ctx 3 min apart and painful. I could only assume one position - standing straight up.
My lay mw arrived at 2 pm and checked me, I had been a little weepy and was at 8 cm.
Hours later at suppertime, I was still 8 cm. MW said head was hung up on pubic bone. I couldn't squat or do anything. I had the idea to call a chiropractor friend. He came over and adjusted me and an hour later we were past the pubic bone.
I alternate between crying and confidence. I was now very tired. Ate a few bites of melon and took some rescue remedy and lobelia in an attempt to get some rest. It was not to be. Kept drinking lots of gatorade. I am now begging for dh to take me to hospital for a gas mask. MW insisted that I didn't really want to do that.
Midnight. Very tired. Still standing up during contractions. I finally allow mw to hold back the cervical lip. Baby's head is coming down at an angle, and is not applied directly to cervix.
Two hours of pushing follow. My other children were born with 2 pushes so this is a real switch!
I say lots of 4 letter words. I tell dh that our sex life is over. I am doing these primal grunt/screams.
Finally, I feel bag of water in my vagina. I didnt' want any interventions but finally allow her to pop it. Meconium in the water. Baby's heart rate good. Pushing was excruciating. I hear mw say the head is out. There was quite a delay until the rest of the body was born - I was one determined woman at that point! And oh - the relief!!!! She cried right away and was beautiful.
2:20 am, July 20. Erin Maribel.
Placenta followed 40 min later. No tears or skid marks. In fact, the only thing sore is my throat from yelling. Gobbled down some stew and a peanut better sandwich. Joy!
Four healthy children, all born at home. I'm blessed. Why this labor was so challenging I'll never know.