Post by coozieinmypurse on Mar 14, 2015 12:44:19 GMT -5
Ari's birth story: congratulations in advance if you make it to the end.
Ari Gardner was born at 6:54 am on Tuesday, March 10th, after 27 hours of induced labor.
At our OB appointment at 40+5, I was dilated only a fingertip. My doctor does not like moms to go past 41 weeks because of the increase in infant mortality rates at that point, so we scheduled induction for Monday morning at 41+1. I didn't get much sleep Sunday night - maybe nerves.
We arrived at the hospital at 3:30 am Monday. By 4:30, we were in our L&D and hooked up to a Pitocin IV. DH and I managed to sleep for a few hours, waking up around 7:30. DH went to get some breakfast and I started watching a movie in the room (Thor 2). My OB came in around that time. I was still a fingertip. He ruptured my membranes at 7:30 am.
By the time the movie ended, I really started feeling contractions, but was able to handle them with breathing.
The morning was pretty uneventful. DH and I played cards and my parents arrived around noon. I did not expect to see my dad in my labor room, so that was surprising.
Contractions got stronger during the day. I tried out the labor ball around 2:00 and around 4:00 I opted for Stadol. After being told it would probably make me feel a bit drowsy and drunk, I ended up passing out within five minutes of getting it. It was like doing ten shots in a row. I still felt pain, but I just didn't care.
My OB came in around 5:30 pm. I was at 2 cm and still pretty high. At that point he told me I was headed toward a section and I could opt for it immediately or take until 9 to progress "significantly" (to 3). I obviously opted to wait. DH looked so upset at the idea of surgery.
Within the hour, even though I was still feeling the Stadol, I requested an epi. I figured it would either help me progress or I would be ready for the C-section and I could be comfortable until then. The anesthesiologist was there within the hour and did a fabulous job. I managed to fall asleep not long after it was placed.
At 8:40, the nurse came back in to check me. I told her if I hadn't progressed, she had to stall and give me the extra 20 minutes. No need. I was at 3 cm and good to keep going. I went back to sleep. At 11:00, I was at 5 cm and by 3:00 am, I was at 10 and complete! I texted my parents, but told them to stay home.
Baby was not far enough down my birth canal at this point and the nurse gave us another hour to progress. DH and stayed awake after that, but pretty quickly I started shaking nearly uncontrollably. That lasted for a while.
At 4:00, we started pushing to force LO farther down. At one point I asked when everyone else got there and was told that would happen when we could see LO's head at the base of the canal.
The epi was still very strong and the external contraction monitor was total crap, so we were guessing on when to push most of the time. We did make some progress, though. As my epi started slowly wearing off, I could feel the contractions and was able to help determine when to push. I also started to feel nauseated at this point and threw up in my mouth a couple of time. They handed me a big blue bag just in case I vomited for real.
At 5:15, the nurse called my OB to let him know it was happening and more nurses started to gather in the room. DH said later that he finally figured out why the labor room was so big. Lots of people! DH was also very impressed by the transforming labor bed, especially the way the lower third came off and there was a trash can waiting underneath.
The epi was totally gone by the time my OB showed up around 6:00 and I was in major pain. I tried pushing with him a few more times, but I was so tired and baby's head seemed to be stuck. I also started vomiting. Thank god that blue bag was right there. I clearly remember my OB saying "the good thing about this is we get a good push every time you vomit." Thanks dude.
After about five pushes, I couldn't go on. I was at point A and needed to get to point B, but I couldn't fathom the marathon in between.
My OB offered me a chance at a forceps delivery, but if that didn't work, I would be having a C. I quickly agreed and he called for the OR to be set up for both forceps and a C. The nurse anesthetist was also called.
I ended up curled up to the side of the delivery bed in pain with my hand over my eyes. The ride to the OR was the most excruciating pain I've ever experienced. The contractions were never ending and the movement plus the light were pure hell.
They got me into the OR and helped me scooch over to the operating table. The nurse anesthetist finally arrived and started working. I remember conversation about my height (I'm 6 feet tall) as they tried to determine how much to give me. In the meantime, the pain was unabated. The only good thing through all this is that baby was apparently going strong.
The OB walked in and asked if we were ready to go. The nurse anesthetist practically screamed "No! She is at a zero." Finally, they got some meds working and I was able to calm down a little. It was at this point that I looked around for DH and found him right next to me. I have never been so glad to see him!
The epi fully kicked in and we were ready to push again. They had a curtain up, so I have no idea what was happening down there. I pushed and a nurse called out "there's his head." I was so relieved. If his head was out, then the rest of him was coming that way. One more push and he was out! My OB held him up for us to see and I remember reaching out for him. I wanted him now! It was 6:54 a.m.
Although I had wanted delayed cord clamping and immediate skin to skin, neither were possible because of both the time time my waters ruptured (nearly 24 hours earlier) and the stress of the final hour of his birth. He was whisked off to the warmer to be checked out. DH followed him after a moment. I think he was so stunned about everything that transpired and how quickly it happened.
They finished up with me. I had a tear AND an episiotomy and needed to be stitched up. I also started shaking again. DH finally was able to bring baby over to me. I couldn't take him because I was so afraid to drop him because of the shakes and the skinny little operating gurney.
After a few minutes, they moved me to a real stretcher and handed me my son before wheeling me back to my labor room. There, I got some Demerol to help with the shaking. My parents arrived a few minutes later and my mom went nuts taking pictures of LO and his first bath. I finally got some skin to skin time with baby boy.
I'm feeling okay with how things went. At the end of the day, I vaginally birthed my amazing little boy. And if I had had a C, I'm sure I'd be okay with that too.
And pictures!
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The angry forceps mark in the upper photo faded in just over a day.
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Ari Gardner was born at 6:54 am on Tuesday, March 10th, after 27 hours of induced labor.
At our OB appointment at 40+5, I was dilated only a fingertip. My doctor does not like moms to go past 41 weeks because of the increase in infant mortality rates at that point, so we scheduled induction for Monday morning at 41+1. I didn't get much sleep Sunday night - maybe nerves.
We arrived at the hospital at 3:30 am Monday. By 4:30, we were in our L&D and hooked up to a Pitocin IV. DH and I managed to sleep for a few hours, waking up around 7:30. DH went to get some breakfast and I started watching a movie in the room (Thor 2). My OB came in around that time. I was still a fingertip. He ruptured my membranes at 7:30 am.
By the time the movie ended, I really started feeling contractions, but was able to handle them with breathing.
The morning was pretty uneventful. DH and I played cards and my parents arrived around noon. I did not expect to see my dad in my labor room, so that was surprising.
Contractions got stronger during the day. I tried out the labor ball around 2:00 and around 4:00 I opted for Stadol. After being told it would probably make me feel a bit drowsy and drunk, I ended up passing out within five minutes of getting it. It was like doing ten shots in a row. I still felt pain, but I just didn't care.
My OB came in around 5:30 pm. I was at 2 cm and still pretty high. At that point he told me I was headed toward a section and I could opt for it immediately or take until 9 to progress "significantly" (to 3). I obviously opted to wait. DH looked so upset at the idea of surgery.
Within the hour, even though I was still feeling the Stadol, I requested an epi. I figured it would either help me progress or I would be ready for the C-section and I could be comfortable until then. The anesthesiologist was there within the hour and did a fabulous job. I managed to fall asleep not long after it was placed.
At 8:40, the nurse came back in to check me. I told her if I hadn't progressed, she had to stall and give me the extra 20 minutes. No need. I was at 3 cm and good to keep going. I went back to sleep. At 11:00, I was at 5 cm and by 3:00 am, I was at 10 and complete! I texted my parents, but told them to stay home.
Baby was not far enough down my birth canal at this point and the nurse gave us another hour to progress. DH and stayed awake after that, but pretty quickly I started shaking nearly uncontrollably. That lasted for a while.
At 4:00, we started pushing to force LO farther down. At one point I asked when everyone else got there and was told that would happen when we could see LO's head at the base of the canal.
The epi was still very strong and the external contraction monitor was total crap, so we were guessing on when to push most of the time. We did make some progress, though. As my epi started slowly wearing off, I could feel the contractions and was able to help determine when to push. I also started to feel nauseated at this point and threw up in my mouth a couple of time. They handed me a big blue bag just in case I vomited for real.
At 5:15, the nurse called my OB to let him know it was happening and more nurses started to gather in the room. DH said later that he finally figured out why the labor room was so big. Lots of people! DH was also very impressed by the transforming labor bed, especially the way the lower third came off and there was a trash can waiting underneath.
The epi was totally gone by the time my OB showed up around 6:00 and I was in major pain. I tried pushing with him a few more times, but I was so tired and baby's head seemed to be stuck. I also started vomiting. Thank god that blue bag was right there. I clearly remember my OB saying "the good thing about this is we get a good push every time you vomit." Thanks dude.
After about five pushes, I couldn't go on. I was at point A and needed to get to point B, but I couldn't fathom the marathon in between.
My OB offered me a chance at a forceps delivery, but if that didn't work, I would be having a C. I quickly agreed and he called for the OR to be set up for both forceps and a C. The nurse anesthetist was also called.
I ended up curled up to the side of the delivery bed in pain with my hand over my eyes. The ride to the OR was the most excruciating pain I've ever experienced. The contractions were never ending and the movement plus the light were pure hell.
They got me into the OR and helped me scooch over to the operating table. The nurse anesthetist finally arrived and started working. I remember conversation about my height (I'm 6 feet tall) as they tried to determine how much to give me. In the meantime, the pain was unabated. The only good thing through all this is that baby was apparently going strong.
The OB walked in and asked if we were ready to go. The nurse anesthetist practically screamed "No! She is at a zero." Finally, they got some meds working and I was able to calm down a little. It was at this point that I looked around for DH and found him right next to me. I have never been so glad to see him!
The epi fully kicked in and we were ready to push again. They had a curtain up, so I have no idea what was happening down there. I pushed and a nurse called out "there's his head." I was so relieved. If his head was out, then the rest of him was coming that way. One more push and he was out! My OB held him up for us to see and I remember reaching out for him. I wanted him now! It was 6:54 a.m.
Although I had wanted delayed cord clamping and immediate skin to skin, neither were possible because of both the time time my waters ruptured (nearly 24 hours earlier) and the stress of the final hour of his birth. He was whisked off to the warmer to be checked out. DH followed him after a moment. I think he was so stunned about everything that transpired and how quickly it happened.
They finished up with me. I had a tear AND an episiotomy and needed to be stitched up. I also started shaking again. DH finally was able to bring baby over to me. I couldn't take him because I was so afraid to drop him because of the shakes and the skinny little operating gurney.
After a few minutes, they moved me to a real stretcher and handed me my son before wheeling me back to my labor room. There, I got some Demerol to help with the shaking. My parents arrived a few minutes later and my mom went nuts taking pictures of LO and his first bath. I finally got some skin to skin time with baby boy.
I'm feeling okay with how things went. At the end of the day, I vaginally birthed my amazing little boy. And if I had had a C, I'm sure I'd be okay with that too.
And pictures!
The angry forceps mark in the upper photo faded in just over a day.
