Baby #7 - Part 3 - Labor & Birth!
Labor & Birth!
Around 8pm on Friday night, I had a VERY strong, long, and
painful contraction. This was the first contraction that made me stop and hold
onto something. That was encouraging… but then nothing else happened. My
parents stopped by with a tub of ice cream to share with my kids, and stayed to
chat for a few minutes, before we put the kids to bed. About 8:45 I was sitting
on my exercise ball, holding M, chatting with everyone when M jumped on my
belly and another contraction started. I practically threw M at Dave to get her
off of me, and tried to focus on the contraction without being too obvious. My
mom noticed though, and guessed what was happening. They were on their way out
the door at that point anyway, and when the next contraction hit 10 minutes
later, I was already in M’s bed getting ready to nurse her to sleep. By 10:30
the contractions were consistently 10-12 minutes apart and still strong enough
that I couldn’t move during them, and had difficulty talking during them. I
told Dave what was going on. He was just settling into bed with his laptop to
watch an episode of NCIS. I told him to go ahead and watch the show, and I was
going to listen to a HypnoBabies track that was about the same length… when it
was over, I told him I’d know if we needed to go to the hospital. When we
finished around 11:40, the contractions were still coming, so I told him we
needed to go.
Since our hospital is super close, and my mother-in-law was
still there, we got to the hospital just after midnight. I got to a triage room
and had a gown on by 12:30am, and when the nurse checked me I was already 5cm,
80%, and a -2 station. Yay for progress! I was moved to a birthing suite across
the hall from triage, and got all hooked up. The hospital wanted some base-line
monitoring, but were totally fine with me sitting on my birth ball next to the
bed during that. And that’s where I stayed while they put my IV in. (I’d agreed
to a hep-lock, but didn't want any fluids running.)
This is when the nurse learned just how much I HATE needles
and IVs. I did my best to stay calm and relaxed for her… and ended up passing
out completely while she finished taping the IV in place. Apparently I was out
cold for 10-15 seconds, and when I woke up Dave was behind me rubbing my back,
and my nurse was rubbing my arm and asking if I was okay. I had been fully
supported by the ball and leaning on the bed, but it was still kind of scary.
And that’s the moment when Dr. B walked in, and the heart monitor slipped and
lost baby’s heartbeat. Fun times.
After I recovered a bit, and got a drink of water, I climbed
up on the bed so Dr. B could see how much progress I had made. I also took this
chance to ask her if she would break my water. I had no idea how long this
labor was going to be, but I had a hunch that it would be faster with ruptured
membranes, and I really just wanted to be done. Dr. B said she was surprised to
hear a request like that from me (knowing that I wanted an intervention free
birth), but she’d go ahead if I was sure. She also determined that I was now
7cm, 80%, and a 0 station. (About 1:15am). She broke my water during the next
contraction around 1:20am, and noted that he was posterior. She asked what I
was feeling I wanted to do for positions. Given that he was posterior, I decided
I should try to get on my hands & knees. She agreed, and she and my nurse
helped me roll over and kneel facing the back of the bed.
When the next contraction hit Dave noted that it had only
been 7 minutes since the previous one (before that, they had stayed consistent
at 10 minutes apart). That contraction felt noticeably different than any of
the previous ones… more intense, more downward pressure, more focused, more
consuming. After it was over I turned to Dave and noticed that he looked
concerned. I asked him what was wrong and he explained that he just hoped that
breaking my water had done something and that I wouldn't be disappointed. I
told him it had already made a difference, and not to worry.
Two-three more contractions, this time 2-4 minutes apart…
just as intense and consuming, and with barely any time to catch my breath in
between. Dr. B asked if she could check me to see what was happening. I agreed
and she declared that I was at a +2 station, fully effaced, but there was still
some cervix in the way, so I shouldn't push yet (still about 8cm). I tried hard
to breathe through the next contraction, trying to blow horse-lips, talking to
baby and telling him that we could do this… we were ready, we were strong.
After that, I couldn't hold back any more. I wanted this
baby out, I wanted to be done, I wanted the pain to stop. I started pushing
with the next contraction. I felt him slide down, and sat back on my heels to
try to feel his head. Dr. B and my nurse helped me back to my knees and I
started pushing in earnest, encouraged by how close he was. I also started
screaming as he crowned… not sure why, it just happened. I felt like I had four
good strong pushes… one to get him to crown, one to push his head out, one for
his shoulders, and one for his hips. I have no awareness of contractions during
that time… I just needed to push.
Once he was out, I heard him cry. It was a beautiful sound!
Dr. B asked what I wanted to do next… I said, “I want to hold my baby!!” She
said, “Here he comes!” and passed him to me through my legs. Then she and the
nurse helped me roll over onto my back, and I got to really look at him.
Benjamin Dale Frogley
Born 1:43am, on Saturday, March 16, 2013.
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