BABY'S DREAM NURSERY BLOG

My Birth Story and Lessons Learned

I'm sure many of you are wondering how it will all play out as soon as your water breaks.  Here is how my first labor and delivery progressed and a little bit of what I learned that I hope to pass along to you.   

Started Slow

On October 3^rd (two days past my due date) I had a doctor's appointment. At the appointment, I found out I was 1 cm and maybe 20% effaced. The doctor set me up for an appointment to be induced the following week. (Something I did not want to happen.) My doctor told me not to try any funny stuff, like drinking castor oil. So, after the appointment, my husband and I went shopping. When we checked out at a baby store, the clerk asked "When are you due?" Her eyes bugged a little and she said she'd get me out quickly once I told her I was due two days ago. We then went to the mall and walked around a little more before heading home. My husband had purchased a new video game and was playing it for a little while before heading back to work. While he was gaming I went for a LONG walk around the neighborhood.

 

Sneaking Suspicion

All throughout our shopping trip, I kept feeling little contractions. Eventually, it got to the point where when my husband went back to work at 3pm, I told him to come home quickly because I had a sneaking suspicion that today was the day. After he left, I went for another long walk around the neighborhood with our dog. The contractions kept getting closer and a little stronger.

Finally, around 5pm, I called my doctor and told him that I think I'm having contractions and starting labor. He asked me "Are you having one right now?" I said "Yes, I am." He then told me "Well, you're not really in labor yet or you wouldn't be able to talk right now. Call me in a couple hours."

Around 7pm, I could finally say that the contractions were getting much stronger and closer together so off we went to the hospital. When we arrived in Triage, the nurse was skeptical about us staying because we brought in the hospital bag. She said that most people who bring in the bags end up leaving quickly. But, by then I knew... it was time.

After being monitored for an hour the nurse said "You're not far along enough to be admitted, but I don't feel comfortable sending you home." I had progressed from 1cm at my appointment at 11am to 2cm when she finally told me to go "walk the floor". As I went to get up from the bed I said "AND, my water broke." The wonderful triage nurse replied "AND, you're admitted!" Unfortunately, when my water broke, we found out that there was meconium in the amniotic fluid, so my birth plan went out the window. I would not be able to hold my son immediately after giving birth and my husband would not be able to cut the cord. Bummer.

Picked Up The Pace

As we walked to my labor and delivery room, I felt the contractions come on a lot stronger, mostly thanks to my broken water. Once we got to the room, I went to the bathroom, and my husband asked me if I wanted to walk the floor. At that point, the contractions were REALLY kicking and I just wanted to lie in bed. Here is where my memory apparently fades. I recently recalled this whole experience with my husband, and I apparently forgot a few details in there. He said that I tried a lot of things from my birthing class. Getting in the shower, the birthing ball, walking the floor some more. None of which is in my memory. I just remember lying in bed... in pain.

I wanted to have a natural birth, well... one without an epidural. Needle + back = no thanks for me! Eventually, I asked for a dose of Stadol, which helped me relax enough to take a little power nap. When I woke up from it, the contractions were just outstanding. Finally, around 11:00pm I asked for the epidural. The anesthesiologist was with another patient and couldn't get to me immediately. After waiting 30 minutes, the nurse checked me and I was 7 centimeters!!! Woo hoo! I looked at my husband and was like "Hey, maybe I can do this!" At some point in the night, I remember looking at the clock and thinking that it would be fitting for him to be born on October 4^th. "10-4, over and out."

Go Time

It was after midnight when I looked at my nurse and said "I have to push. I have to push. I have to PUSH!" The urge was overwhelming. She calmly said "No, you can't, you'll tear your cervix." With a little more insistence, she checked me... I was fully dilated and ready to go! By the time the doctor got suited up and I started pushing the anesthesiologist called my nurse and asked if we were ready for him to come up. She said "Um, no. She's pushing." I must say, the pushing was the most GLORIOUS part of labor for me. Once I was able to channel the pain into something productive, all the pain went away. After pushing for 45 minutes, my son's heart rate was dropping and not coming back up as quickly as the doctor liked. But, with an episiotomy and one more push my son was born at 1:37am.

Lessons Learned

The number one lesson I learned through the entire process was to really trust my body. While mentally, I was unprepared for what was going to happen; my body knew what to do. I just had to listen. My brain actually turned off at some point, obviously. There are a few hours in there where I don't remember anything but turning from side to side. My body turned off my mind as some kind of natural survival method.

I also learned the importance of having a good nurse... and being really nice to them. My nurse was awesome and knew lots of tricks my husband didn't. While he attended birthing class with me, and helped as much as he could, nothing can be said for someone with true experience. At one point, when I started having some back pain my husband tried to relieve the pressure, but it didn't work. However, the awesome nurse just put the heel of her hand where it hurt and instantly the pain went away. Ah, the power of experience.

I found out that the birth plan usually means nothing once labor gets going. While it's good to know what you want to happen, and what you don't. It is best to have a person instead of a piece of paper. You need an advocate that knows what you want to happen and can step in and speak for you when things aren't going the way you hoped. While you need a plan, you also need to be able to go with the flow. No matter how much you want to control the situation, you just need to let go and let your body do its thing.

 

 

 

 

 

What is your birth plan or how did your L&D go?