WELCOME TO THE WORLD
Carter Alan
August 17, 2009
9 pounds 5 ounces
20 inches
BIRTH STORY:
I had an appointment with the midwife. I was 3-4 cm open and still long. My Non-Stress Test and Amniotic Fluid Index were both normal. I was having irregular contractions and Carter was active.
Friday, August 14I lost my mucus plug and got very nervous because labor was close. My contractions were painless and irregular so I knew it was not time yet. My midwife's office called to tell me about and insurance snag. If I went into labor over the weekend, the OB that I hated would have to deliver my baby. In addition, I might owe $2000 in fees for previous office visits. It was not great timing for bad news.
Saturday, August 15I woke up feeling achy. I thought I was coming down with a cold. I tried to get a pedicure with a friend but all I could do was cry. I wanted to be alone, so I asked her to take me home. I slept most of the day.
Sunday, August 16, 40 w 3 d (Tylar's 4th birthday)I went to church and Walmart. Many people made strange comments like "you should get to the hospital", "you are carrying very low", "wow! you look tired". It was unusual to have so many comments in one day.
I put the kids to bed around 8:30 pm.
At 10 pm, I took a bath with Epsom salt to relax. I got into bed at 10:30 pm. I felt achy and crampy so I tossed and turned in bed until 11:30 pm. I texted my doula that I was having strange pains. We didn't know if it was labor so I told her I would call her in an hour.
I decided to call my cousin and have her help time the cramps. We laughed and chatted while she used 2 stop-watches to time the cramps. She told me they were about 3-6 minutes apart, lasting 30-50 seconds. I didn't really believe it. It felt like so much longer between contractions.
Monday, August 17, 40 w 4 dI hung up with my cousin at 1 am and called the doula. She recommended that I get back in the tub because my contractions were getting more intense but they were ot getting closer together. I called my husband at 1:15 am and told him to come home (he was living with a friend). I remember saying that I was 99% sure I was in labor.
My husband arrived at 1:45 am and I still didn't feel like I was in full labor. I was still talking during contractions. I was able to answer questions and respond to text messages. My husband took time to pack the car.
Shortly there after, I started to hum and make small vocalizations. My hypnobirthing techniques were working. I felt like I slept between contractions. My husband timed my contractions and told me they were about 3 minutes apart, lasting 40-50 seconds. I thought they had to be a full minute to be doing anything. I didn't think it was time to head to the hospital until they were 4 minutes apart lasting a full minute, for an hour.
My husband called his Aunt and I texted the doula and told her it was time to come. It was about 2:15 am. I thought I had about 5 more hours at home. I strongly envisioned giving birth around 7 am.
Within a few minutes (about 2:30 am), I had to rush to the toilet. It felt comforting to be in a small, dark space. Suddenly, I had diarrhea. My contractions became intense and I lost the ability to relax. I felt my baby's head descending lower into my pelvis and may legs became weak and shaky. The only thing that felt good was to be VERY VOCAL. My husband thought the neighbors were going to call the police. I started to say (more like scream) that I could NOT go on. I thought I might be in transition but I didn't think it could have happened so quickly. My husband tried to comfort me, but I pushed him away and screamed "Go Away!"
I got back in the tub at about 2:45 am when the babysitter arrived. She watched one contraction and told my husband to take me to the hospital immediately. I was still very loud during contractions and my body was shaking.
My husband helped me out of the tub and wrapped me in a towel. I started to walk to the car but stopped in the living room. I got on the recliner with my knees in the seat and my hands on the headrest. My husband got a dress and helped me put it on because I didn't want to show up at the hospital naked from the waist down.
My doula walked in around 3 am and I asked her to "rock my belly" with a long piece of fabric. Oh how I wished I had told her tom come earlier. I instantly became calm and told my husband to call 9-1-1. He seemed hesitant and said "okay...here it goes". I reassured him that it was time to call.
I began to bear down with the next contraction and my water broke but hardly anything came out because the baby's head was so low. I got off the recliner and squatted on the floor. The 9-1-1 operator told my husband to make me lay down and pant, but the doula told me to follow my body. I began making deep grunting noises while squatting. My doula continued to comfort me and reassure me. She said I was making great noises! She really boosted my confidence and helped minimize fear.
I tried to lay on my back but became uncomfortable within seconds so I moved to my hands and knees. I felt intense pressure in my rectum and a burning sensation as the head began to crown. I pushed as hard as I could because it relieved the pressure. I felt his head recede between contractions, so I tensed all my muscles to keep him from going back in. With the next contraction, I pushed as hard as I could. I had the most intense burning sensation in my vagina but I could not stop pushing. I felt a release of pressure as the head came out! I was in disbelief when the doula told me that the head was completely out. He was posterior (facing my belly instead of my spine)!!! No wonder I had back labor and it was so hard to push. I felt a sense of relief that the worst part was over but also a sense of panic because I didn't know if he was okay.
Skye, the doula, grabbed the phone from my husband and told him to catch the baby. He was still on the phone with the fire department. I pushed once more to release the shoulders and body. My husband received the baby! It was about 3:15 am when he was born. Only about 2 hours earlier I was saying that I was 99% sure I was in labor.
My vagina throbbed with pain but I managed to turn around and sit down. I took off my dress and held my baby close. I began to cry right along with my new baby boy. I was consumed with my new baby. It was hard to focus on anything else.
The paramedics and fire fighters arrived about 10 minutes later. They clamped the cord and let my husband cut it. I got on the stretcher with Carter in my arms and went to the hospital. I remember it was difficult to keep my eyes open and recalling basic information such as my home address was a struggle. The hormones from birth made my mind feel foggy.
At the hospital, I had the urge to push again and the placenta came out at 4:08 am. The nurse packaged it for me to take home for encapsulation.
The hospital was where I had all the problems. They automatically hooked me up to pitocin without my consent. Then they said the baby needed to go to the nursery for observation because he was not born there. I had to beg to feed him before letting him go. I refused the erythromycin for the eyes and the Hep B vaccine, which didn't make the nurse very happy. I consented to the vitamin K injection after several hours. He had obvious birth trauma so I felt it was a good idea. Everything turned out great in the end...I have a healthy baby.
I tore extensively and had to be stitched back together. The doctor said I absolutely cannot drive for 2 weeks (I have a stick shift). I have to sit on a pillow. My husband almost passed out during the stitches (which is not typical for him).
I should not have pushed so hard =(
My doula is in training and this was her first birth. Sadly, it will not count toward her certification because there was not a medical professional in attendance. I feel so bad. My water broke on her foot and she doesn't even get to use the birth toward her certification.
Also, the birth certificate will say that he was born at the hospital because that's where the placenta was delivered...stupid law! We tried to fight it but it was no use.
I imagined my birth being a bit different. I wanted it to be a calm peaceful experience. I wanted to "enjoy" labor. I thought I would have time to eat and relax in the early stages. I thought my doula would be there for longer.
Things didn't really go as planned. At first, I really felt disappointed. I'm sad that I don't have pictures of my belly from that day or a video of the birth. In time, I hope to feel better and learn to accept the crazy turn my birth took =) This is most likely my last pregnancy and my last birth story.
