Brandon Birth Story!
Feb 10, 2015 2:35:35 GMT -5
Post by flyster on Feb 10, 2015 2:35:35 GMT -5
Finally have a chance to type up Brandon's birth story. He was Born Wednesday Feb 4th and we have been home since Friday.
I went into labor around 2 am Tuesday, thank goodness after we got an additional 8 inches of snow on Monday. The contractions felt way different from what I had before, so I spent the whole morning hoping they wouldn't go away...I was 2 days past my DD at that point, so very ready. DH got up around 7 and we went to the hospital to get checked around 10 when the contractions were doing the minute long, 5 minutes apart for an hour thing. At the hospital found out that, yes contractions were happening, they thought this was likely real labor, although it could stop, and I was fully effaced. Still only 1 cm dilated, so they sent us home.
We stayed at home the rest of the day. I was pretty much just in my own headspace and kept sending DH away. He was doing some work around the house and kept coming into check on me, but I just wanted to be left alone. I didn't do the walking around thing, I was mostly just hanging out in the comfy chair in babies room, half sleeping/half zoning out during the contractions. The worst part was that they pain was almost all in my butt. It felt like I had to take the biggest, most painful poop ever, which is apparently, a fun cousin of back labor and is not super common.
I wasn't sure when we should try going to the hospital again because I really didn't want to get sent home a second time, and I wasn't screaming/writhing in pain or anything. Around 11:30 or 12 am Wednesday I went to try and use the bathroom again, and my water broke. I was strep b positive, so that was the final cue to head back to the hospital. Got there around 12ish and found out I was fully dialated, so no epidural for me (not quite the plan). It took a while for me to get the hang of pushing, and I wasn't good at listening to the nurses/midwife on call, but after about 3 hours pushing Brandon arrived! I was so happy to just be done. I had been up, in labor for about 26 hours at that point, and just exhausted. I wasn't even that happy, just huge sense of relief that it was all over. DH didn't get to cut the cord because there had been meconium in the amniotic fluid. They were planning on not having Brandon cry right away so they could suction his airways but he came out screaming and cleared his own lungs. We were in recovery for a while since I had a 2nd degree tear and it took a bit to get me stitched up and ready to go. We tried nursing while I was there, but combination of things, nursing didn't get going. We are finally getting the hang of it, although I need to use a nipple shield for now.
Things at home are wonderful! I was so so happy today just sitting and nursing and watching more snow out the window just smelling his head DH and I have been taking shifts sleeping, which is working well, so I don't feel all that sleep deprived yet. That will come to an end when he goes back to work. Overall everything has been great. Labor went better then I expected, and recovery has been pretty smooth. Breastfeeding has been a challenge, but we are working through it, and I love seeing DH with Brandon. Even the Demon Cat has been well behaved. We are now getting ready for Brandon's bris on Wednesday. My mom and sister are coming up later today, so things will be busy again. Today was very relaxed at home, just the 3 of us (and cat) snowed in again.
I went into labor around 2 am Tuesday, thank goodness after we got an additional 8 inches of snow on Monday. The contractions felt way different from what I had before, so I spent the whole morning hoping they wouldn't go away...I was 2 days past my DD at that point, so very ready. DH got up around 7 and we went to the hospital to get checked around 10 when the contractions were doing the minute long, 5 minutes apart for an hour thing. At the hospital found out that, yes contractions were happening, they thought this was likely real labor, although it could stop, and I was fully effaced. Still only 1 cm dilated, so they sent us home.
We stayed at home the rest of the day. I was pretty much just in my own headspace and kept sending DH away. He was doing some work around the house and kept coming into check on me, but I just wanted to be left alone. I didn't do the walking around thing, I was mostly just hanging out in the comfy chair in babies room, half sleeping/half zoning out during the contractions. The worst part was that they pain was almost all in my butt. It felt like I had to take the biggest, most painful poop ever, which is apparently, a fun cousin of back labor and is not super common.
I wasn't sure when we should try going to the hospital again because I really didn't want to get sent home a second time, and I wasn't screaming/writhing in pain or anything. Around 11:30 or 12 am Wednesday I went to try and use the bathroom again, and my water broke. I was strep b positive, so that was the final cue to head back to the hospital. Got there around 12ish and found out I was fully dialated, so no epidural for me (not quite the plan). It took a while for me to get the hang of pushing, and I wasn't good at listening to the nurses/midwife on call, but after about 3 hours pushing Brandon arrived! I was so happy to just be done. I had been up, in labor for about 26 hours at that point, and just exhausted. I wasn't even that happy, just huge sense of relief that it was all over. DH didn't get to cut the cord because there had been meconium in the amniotic fluid. They were planning on not having Brandon cry right away so they could suction his airways but he came out screaming and cleared his own lungs. We were in recovery for a while since I had a 2nd degree tear and it took a bit to get me stitched up and ready to go. We tried nursing while I was there, but combination of things, nursing didn't get going. We are finally getting the hang of it, although I need to use a nipple shield for now.
Things at home are wonderful! I was so so happy today just sitting and nursing and watching more snow out the window just smelling his head DH and I have been taking shifts sleeping, which is working well, so I don't feel all that sleep deprived yet. That will come to an end when he goes back to work. Overall everything has been great. Labor went better then I expected, and recovery has been pretty smooth. Breastfeeding has been a challenge, but we are working through it, and I love seeing DH with Brandon. Even the Demon Cat has been well behaved. We are now getting ready for Brandon's bris on Wednesday. My mom and sister are coming up later today, so things will be busy again. Today was very relaxed at home, just the 3 of us (and cat) snowed in again.