So, you have by this time probably read parts one and two of Morgan's birth story. The first part describing why I was so bent about having a VBAC instead of another cesarean and the second the actual story of labor and delivery with Morgan. Here in part three, my goal is to compare the two births and experiences since so many have asked, "was all the stress and process of the VBAC worth it?"
The simple answer is, YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The recovery from the c-section was hard. It seemed like it took forever for me to be able to do certain things. It made breastfeeding harder. The memory of the surgery itself still frightens me. Did we end up with a healthy baby and mommy? Yes. But when you take into consideration all that happened before, during and after that experience, It was by far the hardest of the two deliveries.
That said, let me talk a bit about the VBAC. The perineum support or stretching provided by the nurse and then my doctor HURT. At times, it hurt more than the pain I felt during the c-section. Same when the forceps were inserted and placed in the proper spot around my child's 14 inch head. It's no wonder I had 3rd degree and bilateral tearing. Morgan's actual birth, however, was not painful at all. I never felt that ring of fire. I suppose that is because of the epidural. But oh my heavens, did I feel the pressure! The contractions were very intense and sometimes painful, especially after the doctor broke my water. But it was not like any other pain I have ever experienced in my life.
Many women told me contractions were normally very painful in active labor, especially during transition. But it was not a normal kind of pain and your body registers it different. I have to agree. When allowed to move with the contractions, vocalize and try different ways to handle them, they are not so bad. Pain with a purpose. And what a wonderful purpose it is.
So yes, even considering the tearing and normal backache/pain from the epidural, the VBAC was worth it. Soooooooooooooooooooooooooo worth it to me! There is just no comparison regarding the recoveries. Ray and I at this time still hope to add at least one more biological child to the family. This time though, I don't feel fear when thinking about the labor and delivery. I am looking forward to it! I know that sounds odd to many, and that is ok. I'm used to not being "normal" regarding these subjects. Hopefully, Nebraska laws will change by the time we are expecting again and we can legally consider a midwife assisted home birth. I would very VERY much like to try a fully natural birth and honestly, I don't see that as an option in our local hospitals. Especially considering I am still a VBAC patient.
Time will tell I suppose.
Showing posts with label childbirth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label childbirth. Show all posts
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Morgan's Birth Story - Part 2
***Warning***
No warning this time unless you are squeamish about medical stuff. This is in no way a birth horror story. ;-)
Picture this..... You gave birth to your first child at 37 weeks and you fully expect to give birth around that time with your 2nd child. Contractions start. They are lasting a minute in length and are about 5ish minutes apart. They are not intense, but you notice them and they meet the criteria your doctor told you about regarding when to get to the hospital. But your mom isn't in town yet. She will be coming in less than a week and is supposed to hang with the toddler and pup when you are in the hospital. Crap! Well, go to sleep and see what happens.
The contractions stop, but mom freaks out and flies in 4 days early anyhow. Family and friends are all on stitches waiting for your labor to kick in full force. Week 37 passes....and 38....then comes week 39. This is NOT how you planned things to go. You have tried everything short of taking Castor oil to get things rolling. Contractions start, and then stop. Start, and stop. And they are doing nothing.
At my 39 week OB appointment, the decision to induce on March 5th, the day after my due date, was made. I was not effacing or dilating. My body seemed to be asleep. The pressure was on. I had convinced myself at this point that if we actually did end up inducing, it would not work and I would end up with a c-section anyhow. Discouraged, I lamented, AGAIN, to my long distance doula friend.
Now, a month prior she told me about a web site called spinningbabies. She was convinced that I COULD have a very successful VBAC but thought the reason labor would not get into full gear or the baby was still high and not engaging was that the baby's head was not tucked properly and getting stuck on my pelvic bone. I followed some things the site said including getting on all 4's a lot and doing work on the birthing ball. Both she and the web site suggested belly lifts as well. I read how to do it and why it could work, but I just did not buy it at the time and wrote it off.
As my 39th week of pregnancy was coming to a close, on the evening of Saturday, March 3rd, I lamented to her again. She got a tad snippy with me about not doing the spinning babies stuff. Well, I had tried, just not the belly lifts and I needed a reality check. At that point though, less than 48 hours away from an induction, what could it hurt? So, I pulled Ray out of his office as he was putting the final touches on his church services and sermon for the next morning to help me.
The belly lifts were not comfortable and I was pretty sore afterwards. I didn't even bother with a bath to help relax me. Nothing else had worked up to this point, so why would the stupid belly lifts do anything?
At 1:45am, Sunday, March 4th, (my due date) I was waken up by some major cramping. This was nothing new. Anyone who has been pregnant knows how uncomfortable sleeping can get, especially as the end draws near. This was not the first time I had been waken by contractions, so I told myself they meant nothing. But, I was not able to go back to sleep. What started as an almost constant cramping turned into measurable, and intense contractions. It was not until I absolutely knew I could not keep lying down that I woke Ray and told him we needed to start timing these. This was at about 2:30am. By 3:00, we were packing for the hospital and Ray was making arraignments for his back up to handle church services later that morning. Could this really be it? I was still a skeptic.
But the contractions continued and started becoming more intense and painful during the hour long drive to the hospital. This had to be real, but I was still hedging my excitement until I was checked out by the nurse. By the time we got there and I was first checked, around 4am at this point, I was 90% effaced and 3cm dilated. Contractions were textbook. Baby looked great. WOO HOO!!!!!!!! Bring on the baby!
I refused an IV at first, but agreed to a saline lock. Then they allowed me to labor in the tub a while. This was actually a big deal because I was a dangerous VBAC patient who's uterus could rupture killing me and the baby at any moment. (Cue sarcasm. That is how my doctor and the hospital saw things, but I knew better) The water and jets helped at first. But after 20 or so minutes, the jets annoyed me and I realized I was gonna have to change positions. Contractions were still intensifying and getting closer together. This was a good pain and a good sign. I asked the nurse what it was going to feel like or how I would know when to start pushing. She said, it will feel like your ass is going to either explode or fall off. I laughed. Little did I know... ;-)
Then, my OB comes in. He wants to break my water. I rebel at first but realize he could end this trial to VBAC at any time. When your water is broken or breaks, you are pretty much put on a timer. If baby is not born by a certain time, c-section. And, there is no going home if labor stops. Oh, and there is an increased chance of infection. And, of course, the contractions become much more intense and painful. But, as he put it, I had to play ball and I agreed. But I was exhausted and I knew if I was not able to rest, I was not going to have the umpf to push this baby out. I also requested an epidural because rest was not going to happen if the contractions were going to hurt more than they already did.
Doctor broke my water around 6ish in the morning. Now apparently, you need to have one bag of IV fluid in you before they will do the epidural. So she put me on the fastest drip she could to get that fluid in me. During that time, I tried to sit on the birthing ball. That did not help at all. Tried to get on hands and knees. That was also a big fat failure. Counter pressure and massages made it worse. The labor was progressing and I was starting to not handle the pain very well.
I was petrified of another epidural, but my oh my, when it went in just after 8 am, I wanted to marry that anesthesiologist. By this time I was fully effaced and around 5 cm. Ray needed to run to the store for a while and I needed to sleep. The nurse had me turn on my left side while Ray was out. She came back about 35 minutes later and checked me. I was at 6 cm. Doc came in about 5 minutes later and checked me again. I was at 7cm. WHERE IS MY HUSBAND???? They told me not to panic but to give him a call and tell him to head back when he can. I was starting to feel that pressure and knew it was not going to be long.
Now, up until this point, my doctor was STILL convinced that this was going to end in a c-section. He had the staff ready to take me to the OR at a moment's notice. That was, until this cervical check. The look on his face was so very funny. He was amazed and said, "Ok Sharon. I'm on board now. Let's get this thing done." Shew! Nancy Negative has left the building! My L & D nurse knew I was determined to have a VBAC and that my OB did not think it was going to happen. We had been joking the whole time about proving him wrong. Well, it looked like I was going to do just that. You NEVER tell a woman of Irish descent that she can't do something. Sheesh Doc.
Ray stumbles in and I am at 8 cm at 11:25 am. And the nurse was right. While I was not feeling the worst of the contractions, Oh my heavens...the pressure! My ass DID feel like it was going to fall off. She put me back on my side. Less than 15 minutes later, I just can not take the pressure anymore. I have to push and I don't care if there was cervix left. She checked me and.....TA DA....I am at 10 cm and ready to push.
Since baby was a tad bit high, they let me rest sitting up for a hair over 30 minutes. Then I started pushing with the nurse. Purple pushing on my back. When they start seeing the baby's head, full of dark hair, they call in my doctor. The pushing did not hurt. I didn't even feel that ring of fire they all talk about. What did hurt was all the "perineal support" they were giving me between pushes. But, I sucked it up because I knew it was for my own good.
Seriously? Pushing is hard work. Really hard. Like running a marathon hard work. And, I was getting tired. I was not opening my eyes and was having trouble catching my breath between contractions. When I did open my eyes after about 35 minutes of pushing, my doctor in a very calm and caring voice said he would like to use forceps to go ahead and get the baby out. He did not doubt that I could push the baby out, but saw I was getting tired and wanted to give me that option. I asked him how long it would take. He said baby would be out during the next contraction. I said do it.
He did not lie. It took a minute or two to get the forceps inserted and around the baby's head. Next contraction, he actually had to use very little pressure to help ease baby out due to my pushing along with it. I tore, but didn't feel it. 3rd degree and bilateral tears to be specific. I pushed baby out at such a force that her umbilical cord actually tore and shot blood across the room. No harm, they just had to clamp it right away, all was well. And just like her brother, she really did have a head full of hair and after that initial "what the hell just happened" cry, she was content and alert.
Placenta was delivered 3 minutes after the baby, no pitocin or help required. Doc stitched me up and finally, it was over. And, I am not exaggerating, the nurses, surgical assistant and doctor all did a VBAC celebratory cheer and dance. Everyone was excited and happy. I was smug with that "I told you so" attitude and my doctor was amazed. And humble. I ordered some food and Ray, myself and our newest addition were left alone to bond. It was a good day.
Happy Birthday Baby Morgan.
8lbs, 7oz
20 1/4 inches long
14 inch head
Perfect in every way.....
No warning this time unless you are squeamish about medical stuff. This is in no way a birth horror story. ;-)
Picture this..... You gave birth to your first child at 37 weeks and you fully expect to give birth around that time with your 2nd child. Contractions start. They are lasting a minute in length and are about 5ish minutes apart. They are not intense, but you notice them and they meet the criteria your doctor told you about regarding when to get to the hospital. But your mom isn't in town yet. She will be coming in less than a week and is supposed to hang with the toddler and pup when you are in the hospital. Crap! Well, go to sleep and see what happens.
The contractions stop, but mom freaks out and flies in 4 days early anyhow. Family and friends are all on stitches waiting for your labor to kick in full force. Week 37 passes....and 38....then comes week 39. This is NOT how you planned things to go. You have tried everything short of taking Castor oil to get things rolling. Contractions start, and then stop. Start, and stop. And they are doing nothing.
At my 39 week OB appointment, the decision to induce on March 5th, the day after my due date, was made. I was not effacing or dilating. My body seemed to be asleep. The pressure was on. I had convinced myself at this point that if we actually did end up inducing, it would not work and I would end up with a c-section anyhow. Discouraged, I lamented, AGAIN, to my long distance doula friend.
Now, a month prior she told me about a web site called spinningbabies. She was convinced that I COULD have a very successful VBAC but thought the reason labor would not get into full gear or the baby was still high and not engaging was that the baby's head was not tucked properly and getting stuck on my pelvic bone. I followed some things the site said including getting on all 4's a lot and doing work on the birthing ball. Both she and the web site suggested belly lifts as well. I read how to do it and why it could work, but I just did not buy it at the time and wrote it off.
As my 39th week of pregnancy was coming to a close, on the evening of Saturday, March 3rd, I lamented to her again. She got a tad snippy with me about not doing the spinning babies stuff. Well, I had tried, just not the belly lifts and I needed a reality check. At that point though, less than 48 hours away from an induction, what could it hurt? So, I pulled Ray out of his office as he was putting the final touches on his church services and sermon for the next morning to help me.
The belly lifts were not comfortable and I was pretty sore afterwards. I didn't even bother with a bath to help relax me. Nothing else had worked up to this point, so why would the stupid belly lifts do anything?
At 1:45am, Sunday, March 4th, (my due date) I was waken up by some major cramping. This was nothing new. Anyone who has been pregnant knows how uncomfortable sleeping can get, especially as the end draws near. This was not the first time I had been waken by contractions, so I told myself they meant nothing. But, I was not able to go back to sleep. What started as an almost constant cramping turned into measurable, and intense contractions. It was not until I absolutely knew I could not keep lying down that I woke Ray and told him we needed to start timing these. This was at about 2:30am. By 3:00, we were packing for the hospital and Ray was making arraignments for his back up to handle church services later that morning. Could this really be it? I was still a skeptic.
But the contractions continued and started becoming more intense and painful during the hour long drive to the hospital. This had to be real, but I was still hedging my excitement until I was checked out by the nurse. By the time we got there and I was first checked, around 4am at this point, I was 90% effaced and 3cm dilated. Contractions were textbook. Baby looked great. WOO HOO!!!!!!!! Bring on the baby!
I refused an IV at first, but agreed to a saline lock. Then they allowed me to labor in the tub a while. This was actually a big deal because I was a dangerous VBAC patient who's uterus could rupture killing me and the baby at any moment. (Cue sarcasm. That is how my doctor and the hospital saw things, but I knew better) The water and jets helped at first. But after 20 or so minutes, the jets annoyed me and I realized I was gonna have to change positions. Contractions were still intensifying and getting closer together. This was a good pain and a good sign. I asked the nurse what it was going to feel like or how I would know when to start pushing. She said, it will feel like your ass is going to either explode or fall off. I laughed. Little did I know... ;-)
Then, my OB comes in. He wants to break my water. I rebel at first but realize he could end this trial to VBAC at any time. When your water is broken or breaks, you are pretty much put on a timer. If baby is not born by a certain time, c-section. And, there is no going home if labor stops. Oh, and there is an increased chance of infection. And, of course, the contractions become much more intense and painful. But, as he put it, I had to play ball and I agreed. But I was exhausted and I knew if I was not able to rest, I was not going to have the umpf to push this baby out. I also requested an epidural because rest was not going to happen if the contractions were going to hurt more than they already did.
Doctor broke my water around 6ish in the morning. Now apparently, you need to have one bag of IV fluid in you before they will do the epidural. So she put me on the fastest drip she could to get that fluid in me. During that time, I tried to sit on the birthing ball. That did not help at all. Tried to get on hands and knees. That was also a big fat failure. Counter pressure and massages made it worse. The labor was progressing and I was starting to not handle the pain very well.
I was petrified of another epidural, but my oh my, when it went in just after 8 am, I wanted to marry that anesthesiologist. By this time I was fully effaced and around 5 cm. Ray needed to run to the store for a while and I needed to sleep. The nurse had me turn on my left side while Ray was out. She came back about 35 minutes later and checked me. I was at 6 cm. Doc came in about 5 minutes later and checked me again. I was at 7cm. WHERE IS MY HUSBAND???? They told me not to panic but to give him a call and tell him to head back when he can. I was starting to feel that pressure and knew it was not going to be long.
Now, up until this point, my doctor was STILL convinced that this was going to end in a c-section. He had the staff ready to take me to the OR at a moment's notice. That was, until this cervical check. The look on his face was so very funny. He was amazed and said, "Ok Sharon. I'm on board now. Let's get this thing done." Shew! Nancy Negative has left the building! My L & D nurse knew I was determined to have a VBAC and that my OB did not think it was going to happen. We had been joking the whole time about proving him wrong. Well, it looked like I was going to do just that. You NEVER tell a woman of Irish descent that she can't do something. Sheesh Doc.
Ray stumbles in and I am at 8 cm at 11:25 am. And the nurse was right. While I was not feeling the worst of the contractions, Oh my heavens...the pressure! My ass DID feel like it was going to fall off. She put me back on my side. Less than 15 minutes later, I just can not take the pressure anymore. I have to push and I don't care if there was cervix left. She checked me and.....TA DA....I am at 10 cm and ready to push.
Since baby was a tad bit high, they let me rest sitting up for a hair over 30 minutes. Then I started pushing with the nurse. Purple pushing on my back. When they start seeing the baby's head, full of dark hair, they call in my doctor. The pushing did not hurt. I didn't even feel that ring of fire they all talk about. What did hurt was all the "perineal support" they were giving me between pushes. But, I sucked it up because I knew it was for my own good.
Seriously? Pushing is hard work. Really hard. Like running a marathon hard work. And, I was getting tired. I was not opening my eyes and was having trouble catching my breath between contractions. When I did open my eyes after about 35 minutes of pushing, my doctor in a very calm and caring voice said he would like to use forceps to go ahead and get the baby out. He did not doubt that I could push the baby out, but saw I was getting tired and wanted to give me that option. I asked him how long it would take. He said baby would be out during the next contraction. I said do it.
He did not lie. It took a minute or two to get the forceps inserted and around the baby's head. Next contraction, he actually had to use very little pressure to help ease baby out due to my pushing along with it. I tore, but didn't feel it. 3rd degree and bilateral tears to be specific. I pushed baby out at such a force that her umbilical cord actually tore and shot blood across the room. No harm, they just had to clamp it right away, all was well. And just like her brother, she really did have a head full of hair and after that initial "what the hell just happened" cry, she was content and alert.
Placenta was delivered 3 minutes after the baby, no pitocin or help required. Doc stitched me up and finally, it was over. And, I am not exaggerating, the nurses, surgical assistant and doctor all did a VBAC celebratory cheer and dance. Everyone was excited and happy. I was smug with that "I told you so" attitude and my doctor was amazed. And humble. I ordered some food and Ray, myself and our newest addition were left alone to bond. It was a good day.
Happy Birthday Baby Morgan.
8lbs, 7oz
20 1/4 inches long
14 inch head
Perfect in every way.....
Morgan's Birth Story - Part One
********WARNING**********
What follows may seem to some to be a birth horror story. Read with caution. If I had read this story from someone else when I was pregnant, it would not have gone over well. Also, if you are not interested in medical stuff or hearing about reproductive parts, pass on this and the next two entries as well.
_________________________________
Picture this.... you have just given birth via c-section a few days ago to a very stubborn baby boy. He was breech and this is the only reason you are now healing from both birth and major abdominal surgery. During the surgery, the anesthesia did not properly work. While you could not feel the cutting, there was much MUCH more than just a bit of pressure as the baby was born and the doctors began to repair you from the inside-out.
You ask for more pain meds, the anesthesiologist pumps something into your spinal/epidural combo. Nothing. You ask again. She says sorry, I have nothing more to give. Baby is fine and with daddy over on the other side of the room getting checked out, weighed and cleaned up. To your right is the nurse who can only try and keep you calm and clean up the vomit from the pain. And to the left of your head is the thanks.for.no.help anesthesiologist. Finally, it is over. You are reunited with your new family in recovery and yet, all you want to do is cry. Not interested in the baby. Not interested in anything but just closing your eyes and FINALLY being somewhat comfortable.
I was in the hospital for 6 days with our first, Derrek. My OB came to do his rounds each day and he informed me that we were all set for a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) if I so wanted to try for that next time around I was set. My thoughts....You better believe it. I will NEVER go through something like that again.
Fast forward through our son's first six months of life, and then a year long deployment of my husband to Iraq. He comes home and two months later, guess who is expecting again? I make my first OB appointment and my doctor answers all my current VBAC questions. And, for the first time, he just mentions in passing that I don't have a large pelvis. Hmmm.... Funny how that was never mentioned with my first pregnancy.
As each appointment comes, good ole' OB doctor dude continues to heighten the alert regarding the size of my pelvis and how this could make a vaginal birth extremely difficult or impossible. The following are comments and questions he asked me as I approached and entered my 3rd Trimester:
Now, here is the part that only a handful of people know. After my meltdown at that 37 week appointment, I started to work with my husband and my long distance doula friend to come up with a plan. A plan that would allow me to have the best chance at a successful VBAC since my doctor had zero confidence in my body, pelvis size in particular, to get the job done.
We talked about an unassisted home birth. I even ordered an emergency home birth kit. But nobody was fully on board with that plan. At the 39 week appointment, we scheduled an induction. Doctor would NOT allow me to go much past my due date. Since I had been in prodromal labor for almost a month and I was barely effaced and not even remotely dilated at 39 weeks, it was probably going to be a pitocin induction. If I was dilated at all when we got to the hospital, we were going to try a Foley catheter induction first. Doc was ready to go the distance with me, just so I could try. Even so, he had no confidence to the point that I started calling him Nancy Negative to his face. But he humored me.
We did not really tell anyone about the induction. At that point I was discouraged and yet on fire to try and get this baby out the way God created it to happen. I was a scared, angry and discouraged hormonal nut job. And, I was not even remotely interested in hearing any more suggestions, encouragement or ideas. I was tired of trying method after method to get labor started. Baby was very high, not engaging and while my uterus was contracting, it was doing nothing. This continued up until March 3rd. My due date was the 4th and the induction was scheduled for the 5th.
......end of part one.....
What follows may seem to some to be a birth horror story. Read with caution. If I had read this story from someone else when I was pregnant, it would not have gone over well. Also, if you are not interested in medical stuff or hearing about reproductive parts, pass on this and the next two entries as well.
_________________________________
Picture this.... you have just given birth via c-section a few days ago to a very stubborn baby boy. He was breech and this is the only reason you are now healing from both birth and major abdominal surgery. During the surgery, the anesthesia did not properly work. While you could not feel the cutting, there was much MUCH more than just a bit of pressure as the baby was born and the doctors began to repair you from the inside-out.
You ask for more pain meds, the anesthesiologist pumps something into your spinal/epidural combo. Nothing. You ask again. She says sorry, I have nothing more to give. Baby is fine and with daddy over on the other side of the room getting checked out, weighed and cleaned up. To your right is the nurse who can only try and keep you calm and clean up the vomit from the pain. And to the left of your head is the thanks.for.no.help anesthesiologist. Finally, it is over. You are reunited with your new family in recovery and yet, all you want to do is cry. Not interested in the baby. Not interested in anything but just closing your eyes and FINALLY being somewhat comfortable.
I was in the hospital for 6 days with our first, Derrek. My OB came to do his rounds each day and he informed me that we were all set for a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) if I so wanted to try for that next time around I was set. My thoughts....You better believe it. I will NEVER go through something like that again.
Fast forward through our son's first six months of life, and then a year long deployment of my husband to Iraq. He comes home and two months later, guess who is expecting again? I make my first OB appointment and my doctor answers all my current VBAC questions. And, for the first time, he just mentions in passing that I don't have a large pelvis. Hmmm.... Funny how that was never mentioned with my first pregnancy.
As each appointment comes, good ole' OB doctor dude continues to heighten the alert regarding the size of my pelvis and how this could make a vaginal birth extremely difficult or impossible. The following are comments and questions he asked me as I approached and entered my 3rd Trimester:
- Are you sure you want to try this at all?
- When you end up with another c-section, just feel ok about it because it will not be the same experience you had before.
- It sounds to me like you want to run your own birth. You do understand that as a VBAC patient in a hospital, that is not going to happen?
- I have had a uterus rupture and lost the baby in a patient. I have also had 2 babies born with disabilities because the mom was determined not to have another c-section. Don't be one of them.
- I won't really mind if you want general anesthesia if another c-section is warranted. But I do not get to make that call and they are done so rarely in labor/delivery, they many not allow it.
- You can have your trial to VBAC all you want. But from my 27 years of experience as an OB, I can tell you with certainty that you will not be successful.
Now, here is the part that only a handful of people know. After my meltdown at that 37 week appointment, I started to work with my husband and my long distance doula friend to come up with a plan. A plan that would allow me to have the best chance at a successful VBAC since my doctor had zero confidence in my body, pelvis size in particular, to get the job done.
We talked about an unassisted home birth. I even ordered an emergency home birth kit. But nobody was fully on board with that plan. At the 39 week appointment, we scheduled an induction. Doctor would NOT allow me to go much past my due date. Since I had been in prodromal labor for almost a month and I was barely effaced and not even remotely dilated at 39 weeks, it was probably going to be a pitocin induction. If I was dilated at all when we got to the hospital, we were going to try a Foley catheter induction first. Doc was ready to go the distance with me, just so I could try. Even so, he had no confidence to the point that I started calling him Nancy Negative to his face. But he humored me.
We did not really tell anyone about the induction. At that point I was discouraged and yet on fire to try and get this baby out the way God created it to happen. I was a scared, angry and discouraged hormonal nut job. And, I was not even remotely interested in hearing any more suggestions, encouragement or ideas. I was tired of trying method after method to get labor started. Baby was very high, not engaging and while my uterus was contracting, it was doing nothing. This continued up until March 3rd. My due date was the 4th and the induction was scheduled for the 5th.
......end of part one.....
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Derrek's Birth Story
Sorry this has taken so long but we have been a tad busy lately! If you get quezy at the thought of blood, bodily functions and gore and birth, reading a birth story containing a c-section may not be the best read for you!
On Wednesday evening, October 21st, I started to notice a kind of pattern to some back pain I was having. I also felt some contractions, but only like one an hour. Still, it got my attention enough to keep an eye on it. Not too long after that, my sister called. We were chatting about all kinds of stuff, and I mentioned around 6ish about the back pain and contractions. She stayed on the phone with me, and at 8:00 I started writing them down and she helped me with timing them.
My poor sister stayed on the phone with me until 10:30ish, when Ray got home from work. I also tracked down my friend Erin on facebook. I remembered her birth story and how she didn't realize she was in labor because the contractions were not textbook. I picked her brain a bit as well and decided that at the very least, when Ray got home, I was going to call the hospital and see what they said. At this point, contractions were about a minute or so in duration and about 10ish minutes apart.
Ray walked in the door from work, and I said to my sister, "thanks for staying on the phone with me." Ray gave me a funny look and said that was an odd comment. It was and odd comment and I informed him I had something very interesting to show him and to come over to the sofa with me. He did, and I handed him the contraction timing list. He got this very cute and very funny smile on his face. Oddly enough, he STILL has that look today...LOL!
I called the hospital and they suggested that since I had been drinking water constantly since 6ish, to come in and get checked. Ray got our stuff together, made sure the animals were good and off we went in the pouring rain to the hospital. Good thing it was rainy though....otherwise our normal 40 minute trip to the hospital may have been more like 20.
We arrived, they took me to a labor and delivery room and started the intake. I had to pee sooooooooooo bad, so she let me go. Oddly enough, there was some bloody show. First time I had seen it at all. I immediately went on monitoring. Remember when I said I had timed my contractions to be like 10ish minutes apart? In reality, they were 2-3 minutes apart and I was only physically feeling about a third of them. I was totally fascinated with the monitoring strip. After 30ish minutes, the nurse finally checked my cervix and it was only dialted 1 cm and was about 45% effaced. No big deal. They called my doctor and he said to not admit me yet, but hook me up to fluids and monitor for 90 minutes. Check my cervix again after that and call him back. They inserted the IV around 1:00ish am. They also did an unofficial ultrasound, and stubborne little Derrek was still in full on breech, but doing very well with the contractions.
Fast forward 90 minutes later.....by this time, contractions were 1-2 minutes apart, I was feeling every one and laying in bed hoovered!!! They checked me, and I was 85% effaced and "one and a wiggle" cm dilated. The nurse left the room to call my doc and give the update. She came back in dressed in surgical scrubs. "Dr. Gibbens said to have you ready in 30 minutes. You are having your baby within the hour."
Huh? WHAT?????
So, surgical prep started. I got poked by the lab gal, shaved, got to wear my uber fashionable surgical cap and was being talked to by anestesia on the way to the surgical room. Ray stayed in the labor and delivery room until after my spinal/epidural was put in and all was ready to go. They gave me a combo spinal/epidural. The spinal meds covered the surgery and right after. I kept in the epidural for pain relief for a little over 24 hours. I was more scared of the epi than I was of the surgery I think. That fear was misplaced. Once I relaxed, the epi/spinal went in like butter and I started feeling very little.
Ray came in and sat by my head and they put up what they call "the tent." Doctors started working, and while I felt them working, I did not feel any pain. Well, I didn't feel pain right away anyhow. Let me just say that anyone who says that women who get c-sections are cop outs or not real women or don't have real births have obviously never had a section. It does hurt! A lot! Not so much the birth part, but the repair part afterwards. I dealt with labor, although a short bout of it and then dealt with the section. I paid my dues!
Derrek was pulled out rear first.....appropriate for being a full breech baby and he cried right away. Being born at 37/5 was no problem for him. 6lbs, 11oz and 18.5 inches long. APGAR 8/9/9. He was full of vernix but beautiful with a ton of dark hair on his head. They showed him to me quickly, but then rushed him off to the warmer on the other side of the room. Ray went with him and the anesthesia gal stayed with me and talked me through it all.
Did I mention how much the repair part hurt???? She had given me all the meds she could at the moment including pitocin to help get that uterus shrinking back since I could not breastfeed right away as well as nausea meds. I am still amazed that I did not throw up on the table. That's how much it hurt. And, I have a pretty high pain tolerance. At the end, the doctor asked if I wanted staples or stitches. I told him whatever is faster. I wanted it to be over sooooooooooooooo much! At this point, Ray had Derrek all swaddled up and had brought him over to help me get my mind off the doctor's working. He was so sooooo cute. And, he was quiet. Besides some initial crying as he was pulled out and then maybe for about 4 minutes, we heard very little from him. He was just that content and wide awake too. I had to keep asking if he was still in the room.
I was rolled into a recovery room, and Ray, Derrek and I got to spend our first quality time together as a family. The nurse took some pictures of us at that time. After that, it was time to be moved as a family up to the maternity floor. Finally...!!! Some rest.
On Wednesday evening, October 21st, I started to notice a kind of pattern to some back pain I was having. I also felt some contractions, but only like one an hour. Still, it got my attention enough to keep an eye on it. Not too long after that, my sister called. We were chatting about all kinds of stuff, and I mentioned around 6ish about the back pain and contractions. She stayed on the phone with me, and at 8:00 I started writing them down and she helped me with timing them.
My poor sister stayed on the phone with me until 10:30ish, when Ray got home from work. I also tracked down my friend Erin on facebook. I remembered her birth story and how she didn't realize she was in labor because the contractions were not textbook. I picked her brain a bit as well and decided that at the very least, when Ray got home, I was going to call the hospital and see what they said. At this point, contractions were about a minute or so in duration and about 10ish minutes apart.
Ray walked in the door from work, and I said to my sister, "thanks for staying on the phone with me." Ray gave me a funny look and said that was an odd comment. It was and odd comment and I informed him I had something very interesting to show him and to come over to the sofa with me. He did, and I handed him the contraction timing list. He got this very cute and very funny smile on his face. Oddly enough, he STILL has that look today...LOL!
I called the hospital and they suggested that since I had been drinking water constantly since 6ish, to come in and get checked. Ray got our stuff together, made sure the animals were good and off we went in the pouring rain to the hospital. Good thing it was rainy though....otherwise our normal 40 minute trip to the hospital may have been more like 20.
We arrived, they took me to a labor and delivery room and started the intake. I had to pee sooooooooooo bad, so she let me go. Oddly enough, there was some bloody show. First time I had seen it at all. I immediately went on monitoring. Remember when I said I had timed my contractions to be like 10ish minutes apart? In reality, they were 2-3 minutes apart and I was only physically feeling about a third of them. I was totally fascinated with the monitoring strip. After 30ish minutes, the nurse finally checked my cervix and it was only dialted 1 cm and was about 45% effaced. No big deal. They called my doctor and he said to not admit me yet, but hook me up to fluids and monitor for 90 minutes. Check my cervix again after that and call him back. They inserted the IV around 1:00ish am. They also did an unofficial ultrasound, and stubborne little Derrek was still in full on breech, but doing very well with the contractions.
Fast forward 90 minutes later.....by this time, contractions were 1-2 minutes apart, I was feeling every one and laying in bed hoovered!!! They checked me, and I was 85% effaced and "one and a wiggle" cm dilated. The nurse left the room to call my doc and give the update. She came back in dressed in surgical scrubs. "Dr. Gibbens said to have you ready in 30 minutes. You are having your baby within the hour."
Huh? WHAT?????
So, surgical prep started. I got poked by the lab gal, shaved, got to wear my uber fashionable surgical cap and was being talked to by anestesia on the way to the surgical room. Ray stayed in the labor and delivery room until after my spinal/epidural was put in and all was ready to go. They gave me a combo spinal/epidural. The spinal meds covered the surgery and right after. I kept in the epidural for pain relief for a little over 24 hours. I was more scared of the epi than I was of the surgery I think. That fear was misplaced. Once I relaxed, the epi/spinal went in like butter and I started feeling very little.
Ray came in and sat by my head and they put up what they call "the tent." Doctors started working, and while I felt them working, I did not feel any pain. Well, I didn't feel pain right away anyhow. Let me just say that anyone who says that women who get c-sections are cop outs or not real women or don't have real births have obviously never had a section. It does hurt! A lot! Not so much the birth part, but the repair part afterwards. I dealt with labor, although a short bout of it and then dealt with the section. I paid my dues!
Derrek was pulled out rear first.....appropriate for being a full breech baby and he cried right away. Being born at 37/5 was no problem for him. 6lbs, 11oz and 18.5 inches long. APGAR 8/9/9. He was full of vernix but beautiful with a ton of dark hair on his head. They showed him to me quickly, but then rushed him off to the warmer on the other side of the room. Ray went with him and the anesthesia gal stayed with me and talked me through it all.
Did I mention how much the repair part hurt???? She had given me all the meds she could at the moment including pitocin to help get that uterus shrinking back since I could not breastfeed right away as well as nausea meds. I am still amazed that I did not throw up on the table. That's how much it hurt. And, I have a pretty high pain tolerance. At the end, the doctor asked if I wanted staples or stitches. I told him whatever is faster. I wanted it to be over sooooooooooooooo much! At this point, Ray had Derrek all swaddled up and had brought him over to help me get my mind off the doctor's working. He was so sooooo cute. And, he was quiet. Besides some initial crying as he was pulled out and then maybe for about 4 minutes, we heard very little from him. He was just that content and wide awake too. I had to keep asking if he was still in the room.
I was rolled into a recovery room, and Ray, Derrek and I got to spend our first quality time together as a family. The nurse took some pictures of us at that time. After that, it was time to be moved as a family up to the maternity floor. Finally...!!! Some rest.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Oh how time flies....
Everyone warned me that the pregnancy would fly by. I didn't believe them. At times, it felt like it would never end. Indeed though, it did end, on October 22, 2009. And, we welcomed into the world our wonderful little man, Derrek Nolan Underwood!
As you can see, I did end up having a c-section. I went into labor on the 21st, and when we went to the hospital, they determined the little bugger was still in a full breech position. We are all doing well now and recovering well. I'll be adding more updates as I go now that Derrek is sleeping longer during the night and Daddy and I are starting to feel a bit more human. I'll also post the full on birth story for those who like to read them.
As you can see, I did end up having a c-section. I went into labor on the 21st, and when we went to the hospital, they determined the little bugger was still in a full breech position. We are all doing well now and recovering well. I'll be adding more updates as I go now that Derrek is sleeping longer during the night and Daddy and I are starting to feel a bit more human. I'll also post the full on birth story for those who like to read them.
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