I had been experiencing prodromal labor for days, and it was miserable. The contractions weren't too bad, but they were enough to keep me from sleeping. Add on the fact that I was nesting(like CRAZY), and I was simply exhausted. I had my OB appointment later that day, so I was trying to take some time and just relax.
Fast forward to the appointment. I was 4 cm dilated. My OB told me that I should expect labor to start "any minute" and to come to labor and delivery when I was ready. We had discussed how I wanted to labor at home as long as possible to increase my chances of VBAC(vaginal birth after cesarean). Being at home, expecting moms are more comfortable,and have more freedom of movement, which helps labor progress.
We head home, and I almost immediately start experiencing horrible cramps in my uterus. It was enough to stop me from doing what I was doing, but definitely not enough to go to the hospital. I kind of shrugged the pains off as more prodromal labor and went about my day. I cleaned the house, went for a walk with my daughter, who is 7 now, and took a trip to Walmart to pick up a few things.
While we were shopping, the contractions were hurting more and more, and a few times it popped in my head that they were REAL contractions. But for some reason, I kept telling myself not to get too excited because of the week of contractions that I already had, even though I was 40 weeks to the day.
We stopped at Popeye's on the way home, and I laid in bed and ate my cajun fries and biscuits, still convinced that I was in prodromal labor. Contractions were about 5 minutes apart.
I was up almost all night, dozing off just in time for another contraction to hit, waking me up again.
August 6, 2014
Finally at about 2:30am, I decided that not only was this real labor, but it was real strong labor. The contractions were so strong that I couldn't control vocalizing through them, but thankfully, for now, I was able to control my volume. I didn't want to wake up my daughter, Paul, or my sister, who was there to watch my daughter when I went into labor.
I paced my hallway for hours, making the occasional trip outside for fresh air. Contractions were still 5 minutes apart, but were getting stronger and stronger. I kept telling myself "Relax your body and mind." I had to imagine each contraction as a wave, and each wave was helping my body prepare for birth, I had to imagine myself riding each wave, and try to feel my body opening up; imagine my son dropping into place.
At 3:00am, my vocalizations, which were now completely uncontrollable, were enough to wake up Paul. He came out of the bedroom calmly to make sure that I was ok. I remember it like it just happened. I was in the middle of a contraction, leaning against the wall slightly crouched down when he came out. He walked to me, put his hand on my back, and talked to me in the most comforting voice that I had ever heard. I don't even know what he said, but it was the most comforting thing that I had ever heard. And when the contraction was over, he declared that it was time to go to the hospital. I left that decision up to him, as to when we left, because I knew that I would want to go as soon as real contractions started. But I knew that he could read me enough to decide when to leave.
I woke up my sister while he got dressed. Then, I had to wake up my daughter, because she begged me the week before to wake her up if I left for the hospital at night. She smiled so sweetly after I told her that I was leaving, before falling back asleep.
By now, it was 4:00 am, and we were on our way to the hospital. I was attempting to call my "birthing team" between contractions, which I almost immediately decided was too difficult. So I had Paul do the calling while I suffered through contractions. They had become even MORE painful in the car because I was unable to meditate through the pain-too much was going on.
We get to the hospital, and make it up to labor and delivery. Jesyka got there almost immediately, and with the help of her and Paul, I was able to get back into what I called my comfort bubble, where I was able to relax my entire body through each contraction, which were now 3 1/2 minutes apart and lasting around a minute each.
Lauren was going to be a little while before she got there, because she was scheduled to work, and she was going to finish her work quickly and leave early. They were short staffed, partially due to me being on leave, so I understood. She kept texting us through, getting updates and keeping us informed on how much longer she thought she would be,
At about 8:30am, contractions kept getting stronger, and more difficult to meditate through. I had been at 6 cm from the time I got there, and knew that it would be difficult to progress if I couldn't relax. So, I decided to try a few different positions to see if they would help relieve the pain. It was difficult to move around too much. Due to a previous c-section, I had to be hooked up to a machine that monitored the baby, which was attached to me with a belt around my giant belly. I also had an IV of fluids. Now, anyone who is reading this and possibly preparing for a VBAC themselves, you can normally opt out of constant fetal monitoring to have more of a range of movement. But, due to my previous child, who got stuck in the birth canal and was having serious fetal distress, I chose to be monitored.
I first tried laying on my left side. As soon as the next contractions started, I realized that it was a terrible idea. I rolled to my right side, which had the same result. So, I let myself get back into my comfort bubble for a few contractions before attempting sitting up. Sitting up was probably the biggest mistake that I could have made. As soon as I got to the sitting position, a contraction hit. I begged Paul and Jesyka to help lower me back to laying down, but my IV tube got caught on something and I could not lay down. I started panicking. I was in the worst pain that I had ever experienced, and I felt like I couldn't move because I didn't want to pull my IV out. I was crying and yelling that I couldn't do this. I begged for an epidural. Both Paul and Jesyka tried to calm me back down and get me back to my bubble, but for some reason, I couldn't get back to the relaxation from before. We decided that it was, in fact, time for an epidural.
I told the doctor that I was worried about not feeling what my body wanted me to do, which is partially what I blame for my previous c-section. This is when I learned that I could get an epidural, but with a low dose, which should be just enough to take the edge off. So, the anesthesiologist came in, and, since it was considered a surgical procedure, my team had to leave. He told me that, no matter what, I have to hold still while he's placing it. Keep in mind that my contractions were 3 minutes apart, lasting a minute each. And, placing it took what I estimate to be 10 minutes after he put the needle in my back. And, I was sitting on the edge of my bed, which was what had caused my pained panic leading to the epidural. Thankfully, I had an amazing nurse. She stood in front of me, and as soon as the first contraction hit, about 3 seconds after the needle went in my back, she gained the title of "Best nurse ever". I grabbed her by the scrubs on both sides of her waist, and buried my face into her stomach. She talked me through it. The same happened for two more contractions, until my epi was set and I could lay back down.
As soon as the pain was gone, I fell asleep for a few hours. I was the most glorious sleep that I had ever gotten!!! And, when I woke up, Paul's mom had joined the crew. Everything was much easier now. I still concentrated on my contractions, but I was able to have conversations.
Lauren was still at work, texting us keeping us up to date on when she could leave. She was able to convince someone to cover for her, but not until 1:00pm. By now, it was around 12pm, and I was so happy that she was going to be there for the birth of my son.
12:30pm rolled around, and the doctor came in. I was 10 cm, but the baby wasn't ready JUST yet. I was told to prepare myself to push within the next hour.
12:50pm, and the doctor wanted to have me try a few "practice pushes" to see if the baby was ready. I could feel my body pushing my son down, but I knew that it wasn't time just yet, so I asked to wait another 20 minutes. Each contraction, I had the urge to bear down, but not yet push, so I did just that. Each time, I could feel him getting lower and lower.
When the doctor came back in at about 1:10pm, she asked me if I felt like it was time to push. I waited until the next contraction, bore down, and I definitely had the urge to push. It was time! She went over exactly how to push for the best result. She teased me after my first contraction, when I started pushing. I would push 3 times during each contraction, and the first push was strong, but the other two were pitiful. I was trying to figure out exactly how to get all three in, since its impossible to breath during a push.
After that, I did much better. I could feel his head. Two contractions and I felt his head pop out. And, one more contractions and I was the mommy of a little baby boy!!! 6lbs, 13oz and 19 inches long. At first, Paul looked terrified, his face was white as a ghost, but I later learned that it was because the umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck, and the baby didn't cry immediately. He was terrified. But, baby boy was happy and healthy. And absolutely beautiful.
And wouldn't you know, about 2 minutes after my son came into this world, Lauren walked in.
Welcome to the world, Gabriel Anthony.
Here is Gabe meeting his daddy
Meeting my son
Alex meets her brand new little brother
