Birth Story

I had my baby natural - as in NO meds. Not even an IV. It's nuts I know. And I was totally kicking myself by the time I got to 7 cm. But I am getting ahead of myself.

Background:
When I had Zekey, the doctor immediately put me on bedrest and I was induced with Pitocin. (She puts all of her patients on bedrest as soon as they get to the doctor. A little fact I did not know until it was too late. I totally found a new doctor for this pregnancy.) Having Pitocin means that your contractions are a lot harder and more frequent than "natural" contractions. My intention was to have him without an epidural. But by the time I got to 5 cm, I couldn't take it. So I asked for an epidural. I got one. But as soon as I got it, I (realized I) had to get a catheter. Which TOTALLY sucks. Especially when they do it wrong. Which they did. It had some kind of kink in it. So, I had this horrible feeling that I had to pee really, really, bad. Also when I got the epidural, Zekey's blood pressure went way down. For just a second - but it scared the nurses and the doctor.
So that is one reason I wanted to go natural.

Another reason is because I always think it is impressive when I hear of other women going natural or even having a homebirth! And I want to be able to say: "Yeah, I endured the pain of childbirth without meds." (I am known in my family as having a really low tolerance for pain and being a bit of an exaggerator).

So here is what happened:

Thursday AM: Went for my 40 week check up. Saw that I was dilated 1cm. THE SAME as from my 39 week check up!!

Friday AM: started having feeling stronger contractions pretty regularly - about one every 5-10 min. I talked to my mom about it - she was on the way to Atlanta from Cleveland and decided to wear all pink in case this is the day Anaya was to arrive.

Friday 6PM: Since contractions were getting steadily stronger and somewhat closer together, we sent Zekey over to his GG's (Great Grandmother's) house while E and I went to the hospital. My mom met us there when she got into town. Got checked by the nurse. STILL ONLY one centimeter!

Friday 11PM: E went to pick up Zekey from GG's house. We all went to bed. I woke up about once every hour to a particularly strong contraction.

Saturday AM: I sat around while my mom made my house spotless (Yay!) and took care of Zekey. Whenever I had a contraction, Zekey held my hand and said, "It's okay, mommy". E taught him that. It was so cute!

Saturday PM: E and I decided to watch the 7th Harry Potter. We had to pause it every 5 - 7 min because that is when I felt a contraction. And at this point they were too strong to watch a movie through. Also, E's brother J came over to spend the night with Zekey in case we had to leave in the middle of the night.

Saturday (late PM): E went to bed. My mom wanted to stay up with me because I was clearly not going to be able to sleep well. She watched a couple of episodes of Law and Order while I slept every 5 - 7 min and timed my contractions with an app on my phone.

Sunday AM (wee hours of the morning): We went upstairs. My mom finished up the last of my laundry. She kept urging me to go back into the hospital. She was afraid I would have to have the baby at home. But I was terrified that I would be only 1 cm dilated. It would totally piss me off to get sent home again. But I was contracting much harder and much more consistently. So, we decided that she should wash her pink outfit again and then wake up E.

Sunday 5AM: Mom's pink outfit was cleaned. We woke up E.

Sunday 5:30 AM: I come struggling into the hospital.

Sunday 6AM: The nurse checks me. I am 4 cm! Not the 7cm my mom and I were crossing our fingers for - but certainly not the 1cm I was terrified of! The nurse tries twice to give me an IV (which I REALLY don't want). I have an illogical fear of needles. Especially since my veins are pretty big - so they usually don't have a problem finding a vein. Unfortunately (or fortunately) this nurse cannot find a good vein. So, I get to go without the permanent needle in my hand. (Yay).

Sunday AM: Mom and I walk around the hospital to get my contractions going. We realize if I walk around, the contractions come a lot closer together. So we walk and walk.

Sunday noon: E leaves to take Zekey to his GG's house and my father comes. I am STARVING and I mention it to my midwife. Amazingly she tells me to go and get lunch - but not to overdo it.

Sunday 1pm: I eat with my mom and dad in the cafeteria. I am so happy to be eating. When I was having Zekey, they wouldn't even let me drink water. Only ice!

Sunday 2PM: Midwife checks me and I am only 5cm! We discuss breaking my water. The problem with breaking my water is when they do it - I only have 24 hours to have the baby. If labor doesn't progress, they will have to induce me. She breaks my water. It is not clear - which means the baby was in there too long and she may have swallowed meconium. We are glad she broke my water. My contractions get a LOT harder.

Sunday 2:30pm: E comes back from taking Zekey. Just in time. My contractions get EVEN harder. All I can remember about this part is that I am in constant debilitating pain. I am tugging on E, pushing him away, pulling him toward me. Telling him to give me water. My bones feel like they are being crushed. I think that this is the top of my pain. There is no way the pain can get worse. And it gets worse. There is literally no break between my contractions. I try to change positions - because at this point it *can't* get any worse. But it does. And it lasts, and lasts, and lasts.

Sunday 6:45pm: I have the WORST pain. Literally. I am finally at the top of my pain. And they tell me to push. I push about 3 times and they pull her out and place her on my belly - cord still attached.

Sunday 6:53: She is on top of me. Super bloody. I know at this moment I am supposed to be ooohing and ahhing over my brand new daughter. But I am not. Sad to say, I am actually a bit grossed out - and worried about her not crying. Don't babies come out crying? I hold her and the blood is all over my hands. E cuts the cord and they woosh her away, clean her up. Then the crying starts.

I am so relieved. I cannot believe the pain finally stopped.

And I have my little girl! 8lbs 10oz. 21.5" long.


And I am seriously having second thoughts about having 4 kids.