4/9/10 10:33 pm
8lbs, 7 oz 19.5 inches
I went into labor at 39 weeks, 6 days (her EDD was Sat 4/10). I had
been doing acupuncture and massage sessions starting a few weeks
before to help my body get ready (also had chiro care since I was 12
weeks pregnant and took lots of supplements, vitamins to facilitate a
smooth pregnancy/birth). I didn't really have any BH or contractions
before I went into labor only some random cervical pain. She had been
engaged for a few weeks then she floated back up again. I was really
planning on her being 2 weeks late.
Friday, April 9
7:30 am - Woke up Friday morning. I noticed that baby had dropped
again but didn't think anything of it.
9:30 - 10:30 am - Had a prenatal acupuncture appt. When it was done I
noticed some cramping, but again didn't think too much about it. Went
home and took the dog for a 45 min walk still felt the random
cramping.
1:00 pm - Met Bob downtown for lunch and started getting some
contractions. They were mild yet enough for us to take notice. Went
for ice cream and then home. I decided to try cleaning just to see if
things would keep going. I managed to vacuum the perimeter of the
living room and clean the toilet.
2:40 pm - Contractions were getting stronger, decided to start timing
them. Texted Bob and told him they were 1:30 min long and 7 min apart.
3:40 pm - Texted Bob and told him things were getting intense.
Contractions were 2 1/2 - 3 1/2 min long, 6 min apartment. At that
point I was having to lean over on something (the sink, the doorway,
the dinning room table, chairs, etc), sway my hips and start using low
moans to make it through the contractions. They felt like intense
period cramps around my lower belly and radiated outwards around my
hips.
5:15 pm - At some point I had gotten in the tub to see if it helped.
It didn't and my contractions continued. I did a lot of walking around
the house and laboring through contractions. Bob got home and about 3
min later I had a contraction in front of him in the kitchen - again
lots of moaning, had to lean over the kitchen sink. At that point he
said it was time to go. I was worried it was too soon to go in but he
thought it wasn't. I had him call Lea (our doula) to check in with
her. He told her we were going to the hospital and she heard me labor
through a contraction and thought it was a good idea. Laboring in the
car sucked. Bob said my contractions were about 3 min apart in the
car.
6 pm - We got to the hospital and they wanted to check me right away
because of the noises I was making. Checked me and I was 4 1/2 - 5 cm
dilated and 100% effaced. They quickly moved us into a birthing suite
and called my doctor (Dr Cambray). I did manage to give the nurses my
birth plan and I heard them discussing it right away. They didn't
really talk to me about it but it was referenced through out the night
and nothing was done that I didn't want done.
6:30 - 8:30 pm - Lea and Dr Cambray got there pretty quick. I was
checked again and allowed to labor as I needed to. I did a bit of
laboring in the labor tub. Lots of low moaning to get through the
contractions. Eventually my contractions started to double and triple
up on me and I asked for narcotics. The contractions took a lot out of
me. They checked me and I was 8 1/2 cm and my bags were bulging. I was
told I couldn't get narcotics because it was too late but they did
mention an epi which I declined. (Doc later said he felt bad asking me
what I wanted to do because he knew it was too late for me to get
anything but he wanted me to feel like I had a choice in the
situation).
8:30 - 9:00 pm - I went to the toilet to try and pee and my water
broke (total cliche of breaking waters too, Bob was in the main room
and he heard the gush). I Got back in the tub to labor some more and
my noises started changing. The nurse asked me if I felt like pushing
and then all the sudden my body started to push on its own accord.
9:00 pm - 10:30 pm - They got me out of the tub and put the squat bar
on the bed. I was checked again and I was completely dilated. They
told me to do whatever I felt comfortable doing and to push when I
felt like pushing. The contractions were intense but the pushing took
it to a whole different level. Lea and Bob were on my right side, my
doc and a resident were in front of me and there were and two nurses
to the right of me. They told me to go with whatever my body told me
to do. I was mostly on my right side and Bob held my left leg wide and
open. I tried a few other positions but this seemed to be the best for
me. The farther down she moved the more burning there was. Doc and
the resident were very good at explaining what I was feeling and why I
was feeling it. I was able to reach down and feel her head a few
times before she actually came out. I seriously thought I was going
to split in half before she came out but kept on pushing. The docs
did a lot of massaging KY jelly into me to help her move forward. I
would push when my body told me to and then my body would rest for 3 -
5 min. There wasn't really any coached pushing until she was almost
there - they had me extend my pushing for as long as I could the last
few times so I pushed with all my might and then some and all the
sudden they're pulling her out and putting her on my belly. She
started crying right away.
The umbilical cord was left to finish pulsing before it was cut and we
were given then placenta to take home per our request (The placenta
was prepared by someone for me and encapsulated). They left her with
me and did not bathe her per my request (yes they used gloves ANY time
they touched her while at the hospital but I didn't care). She was
able to start breast feeding right away (Bob actually reminded me to
try right away and Lea helped with some positioning). Everything that
was done to me or the baby was described before it was done.
We were at the hospital for only 4 1/2 hours before she was born.
My birth team and all of the hospital staff were amazing. Everything
was so positive and they all rooted me on the whole time. There was no
negativity and they really let me just trust my body. I really
couldn't have asked for a better birth.
Both Bob and I were very grateful to have Lea there with us. She
really knew how to help me work through the contractions, how to just
trust my body and what to have Bob do to help me out as well. He
didn't care either way when I told him I was getting a doula but he
now says that I will not go through another birth without one.
We're doing great. She's nursing like a champ. And the cutest little
girl ever (of course I'm biased).
