Roccobabyk birth story!
Aug 10, 2016 19:54:34 GMT -5
Post by roccobabyk on Aug 10, 2016 19:54:34 GMT -5
After two failed membrane sweeps, I spoke to my OB who gave me two options: induce Sunday 7/31 or wait just a few more days and induce Tuesday 8/2. He was so sure I would go into labor spontaneously by that point that I decided I could be patient just a little bit longer to give myself the best chance possible at a successful VBAC. Well, all those days came and went and on Tuesday evening we headed to the hospital to start the induction at 8pm.
The birthing unit was really busy so we didn’t get started until around 10pm. My OB came in to check me (2cm 80% effaced) and talk everything over with me again. We started the part that I was most nervous about which was the foley balloon. The nurse had to tug on it every 30 minutes and it would come out when I was 4-5cm dilated. My OB told me to get some rest throughout the night before everything got really crazy (yeah right). Like with my daughter the balloon started contractions almost immediately but they weren’t extremely painful. The nurse came in again after a half hour to pull on it and it came out! My very first thought was “oh no, they’re going to have to put it back in” because it came out so soon. With my daughter it was in for 12 hours! Then I realized it just did its job quicker. I was so relieved. Since I was having regular contractions on my own, the nurse gave me a little bit of time in the tub to relax before they had to start Pitocin.
With doing a VBAC I had continuous fetal monitoring and two IVs placed. I was seriously connected to about four things at any given time which was a little restricting but not as bad as I thought. They started the Pitocin around 11:30 at a 1 and increased the dose every 20 minutes. It didn’t take long for things to get a lot more intense. Mostly all of my labor was in my back and it was manageable for a while with H putting counter pressure. Around 2 or so was the first time I asked for the epidural but when they checked me I hadn’t made any progress so we decided on a pain med instead. It really helped me to relax and hold out a little longer without the epidural. I decided to rest some and manage contractions on my side. After that wore off I tried to get up and walk some and bounce on the ball but it was all becoming unbearable. I was throwing up with almost every contraction and no amount of pressure on my back was taking away the pain. I tried two more doses of pain meds, neither of which did anything so I asked for the epidural again around 6:30am. I was starting to feel a little down on myself that I couldn’t handle it anymore and H really helped pull me through. When she checked me I still hadn’t dilated anymore but my cervix had moved way more forward. She let them know I wanted the epidural but told me it would be a little bit with shift change. The epidural finally came around 8:30am and it was the best decision I could have made. I could finally relax and get some sleep.
After that, every time they checked me I had progressed a little bit further and around 1:00pm my nurse checked me again and said I was 9-9.5cm dilated! She went to get the OB and he agreed and they decided to break my water and then turned down my epidural some. They came back in a little after 2:00pm and said we were going to do some practice pushes however, when I started pushing his head was right there! I pushed for 20 minutes and Graham made his appearance!
I think I was in shock at how smoothly this labor went in comparison to my DD’s. My H and OB were so supportive and optimistic about the VBAC and it really helped get me through. I always felt a lot of emotions about my c-section and while probably not rational they were always there. I feel like this experience was healing in a way.
The birthing unit was really busy so we didn’t get started until around 10pm. My OB came in to check me (2cm 80% effaced) and talk everything over with me again. We started the part that I was most nervous about which was the foley balloon. The nurse had to tug on it every 30 minutes and it would come out when I was 4-5cm dilated. My OB told me to get some rest throughout the night before everything got really crazy (yeah right). Like with my daughter the balloon started contractions almost immediately but they weren’t extremely painful. The nurse came in again after a half hour to pull on it and it came out! My very first thought was “oh no, they’re going to have to put it back in” because it came out so soon. With my daughter it was in for 12 hours! Then I realized it just did its job quicker. I was so relieved. Since I was having regular contractions on my own, the nurse gave me a little bit of time in the tub to relax before they had to start Pitocin.
With doing a VBAC I had continuous fetal monitoring and two IVs placed. I was seriously connected to about four things at any given time which was a little restricting but not as bad as I thought. They started the Pitocin around 11:30 at a 1 and increased the dose every 20 minutes. It didn’t take long for things to get a lot more intense. Mostly all of my labor was in my back and it was manageable for a while with H putting counter pressure. Around 2 or so was the first time I asked for the epidural but when they checked me I hadn’t made any progress so we decided on a pain med instead. It really helped me to relax and hold out a little longer without the epidural. I decided to rest some and manage contractions on my side. After that wore off I tried to get up and walk some and bounce on the ball but it was all becoming unbearable. I was throwing up with almost every contraction and no amount of pressure on my back was taking away the pain. I tried two more doses of pain meds, neither of which did anything so I asked for the epidural again around 6:30am. I was starting to feel a little down on myself that I couldn’t handle it anymore and H really helped pull me through. When she checked me I still hadn’t dilated anymore but my cervix had moved way more forward. She let them know I wanted the epidural but told me it would be a little bit with shift change. The epidural finally came around 8:30am and it was the best decision I could have made. I could finally relax and get some sleep.
After that, every time they checked me I had progressed a little bit further and around 1:00pm my nurse checked me again and said I was 9-9.5cm dilated! She went to get the OB and he agreed and they decided to break my water and then turned down my epidural some. They came back in a little after 2:00pm and said we were going to do some practice pushes however, when I started pushing his head was right there! I pushed for 20 minutes and Graham made his appearance!
I think I was in shock at how smoothly this labor went in comparison to my DD’s. My H and OB were so supportive and optimistic about the VBAC and it really helped get me through. I always felt a lot of emotions about my c-section and while probably not rational they were always there. I feel like this experience was healing in a way.
