I spent Easter Sunday, April 24th, 2011, in a little bit of a cranky mood. Which is funny, because many people say you have a burst of energy right before you go into labor. Well, I just had a burst of crankiness! That evening, around 8:30 pm I felt a small gush of liquid. I went to the restroom & was pretty sure that I had not had an accident on myself. But, I wasn't having contractions or anything at this point, so I just went on about the night. I was a little bit excited & anxious, but also did not want to get too excited until I knew that I was actually in labor. About an hour later, there was another small gush. So at this point, I told Paul that it had to be my water leaking. We decided that we should go to bed to get some rest before the big event.
At about 2:00 am (Monday, April 25th), I woke up with contractions that were about 6 minutes apart. This made it hard to sleep, so I got up & got something to eat to make sure I had energy. I spent the rest of the night/morning moving around from chair to chair, trying to get comfortable. Then around 6:00 am I called my family to let them know I was in the early stages of labor. I took a shower, so I would feel better about myself & then we called our midwife around 8:00 am. She arrived sometime around 10:00 or 11:00 am. I'm not really sure, because I was in my own little world. When she arrived, she checked me & I was already dilated to 5 1/2 centimeters. Paul & our midwife then set up a birthing pool for me in our bedroom. I spent most of the day in the pool, because it lessened the impact of the contractions. I was actually able to rest in the water. Things were progressing nicely at this point. Nolin was doing well & I was doing well.
Around 8:30 pm (Monday, April 25th still), our midwife checked me again & I was almost fully dilated. However, Nolin was still up in my pelvic bone, with her head tilted a bit. Shortly after, my water officially broke with a large gush - not mistakable this time! At this point, the contractions became much more intense. I'm not sure how far apart they were, but they were intense! I tried sitting in the birthing pool again, but it wasn't as much help at this point. Paul & I also spent some time walking around the house, to try to get Nolin to move down into the birth canal. I also spent time on the birthing ball & resting my head in Paul's lap. But, the contractions were still pretty intense. I was becoming very tired (as was Paul) & a little discouraged, since Nolin's head wasn't molding to come down. Sometime around midnight (possibly - I was a bit out of it!) our midwife encouraged me to try to lie down & rest. So, I laid in bed trying to rest between contractions. Paul was exhausted also, b/c I had not really let him leave my side, so he went to the other room to get some rest.
On Tuesday morning, April 26th, our midwife checked again & I was fully dilated, but Nolin was still up in my pelvic bone. So she suggested we try a few things to help her move down. I was still very tired & also discouraged. Nothing seemed to be helping, so that afternoon, we decided to head to the hospital. We arrived at TJ Samson Hospital around 3:00 pm. The ride there was super uncomfortable! I was taken up to labor & delivery while Paul took care of the paperwork. The nurses hooked me up to an IV & a fetal monitor for Nolin. Then it was the waiting game. The contractions were pretty intense by now & to be honest, I was screaming through each one! Yep, I was the crazy lady in labor screaming at the top of my lungs! I tried different positions, but nothing seemed to help.
Sometime around 5:30 pm or so, the doctor came in & actually taught me how to push. She fussed at me about the screaming, b/c she said I was using all of my energy! So, with the help of the doctor & the nurses, I was finally doing some effective pushing. The doctor actually had to help me a bit, since Nolin was a big girl. She helped Nolin to fit through the pelvic bone & through the birth canal. The nurses held my legs to help me have leverage to push. Then very shortly after, I was told that Nolin was crowning. She then pulled out all of the materials & turned on a big light. Nolin was born several pushes later at 6:29 pm!
Paul says that they called her a toddler when they laid her on my chest. I wasn't really paying attention...I was in a bit of shock. I could not believe this baby was just in my belly & I just had her naturally!! I held Nolin while the doctor delivered the placenta & stitched me up - yep I had a nice tear. (& honestly, healing from the tear was worse than actually labor & delivery for me!)
So that is the short of the story. But there really was a lot more to it. Paul & I were both physically & emotionally exhausted. We knew that I would not have a quick birth experience, being my first child. But, we had no idea it would take as long as it did. It is strange b/c I was in pain, but I was able to deal with it one contraction at a time. I know during labor I said many times that I couldn't do it, but I survived. I actually felt more concern for Paul during the whole process. I knew that he was concerned for me & wanted to do anything to keep me from being in pain. But, there was nothing he could do, so he was super emotional. I couldn't stand to see him cry, b/c I didn't want him to suffer. I know that he would have a lot to say about the experience from his point of view.
As I mentioned above, healing was worse for me than the actual labor & delivery. I had a third degree tear, an infection, & I also lost a lot of blood after the birth. So, Nolin & I had to stay in the hospital for three days. Fortunately, Nolin was perfectly healthy - thank goodness! I had antibiotics for my infection & I also ended up having to have a blood transfusion - which I am not thrilled about. They waited a couple of days to see if I would get my strength back on my own, but I didn't. Every time I would stand up, I would pass out. That's no way to take care of a baby! Due to the loss of blood & my exhaustion, I didn't really know who I was in the hospital. I was pretty out of it. By Friday I was feeling more like myself again & we were finally able to go home.
Let the healing begin...sort of...turns out a week after the birth, I was hurting where I had torn. We went back to the doctor for a check-up at two weeks & I had lost a stitch. So, I was restitched! After about four weeks, I was finally able to be up & around. But it wasn't until about seven weeks that I was completely healed.
I would have been totally lost if it had not been for Paul. He took care of me, fed me, & helped take care of Nolin while I healed. I am so lucky to have him as my husband! Nolin is super lucky to have him as her daddy!
Despite all of the pain, it was totally worth it!
At about 2:00 am (Monday, April 25th), I woke up with contractions that were about 6 minutes apart. This made it hard to sleep, so I got up & got something to eat to make sure I had energy. I spent the rest of the night/morning moving around from chair to chair, trying to get comfortable. Then around 6:00 am I called my family to let them know I was in the early stages of labor. I took a shower, so I would feel better about myself & then we called our midwife around 8:00 am. She arrived sometime around 10:00 or 11:00 am. I'm not really sure, because I was in my own little world. When she arrived, she checked me & I was already dilated to 5 1/2 centimeters. Paul & our midwife then set up a birthing pool for me in our bedroom. I spent most of the day in the pool, because it lessened the impact of the contractions. I was actually able to rest in the water. Things were progressing nicely at this point. Nolin was doing well & I was doing well.
Around 8:30 pm (Monday, April 25th still), our midwife checked me again & I was almost fully dilated. However, Nolin was still up in my pelvic bone, with her head tilted a bit. Shortly after, my water officially broke with a large gush - not mistakable this time! At this point, the contractions became much more intense. I'm not sure how far apart they were, but they were intense! I tried sitting in the birthing pool again, but it wasn't as much help at this point. Paul & I also spent some time walking around the house, to try to get Nolin to move down into the birth canal. I also spent time on the birthing ball & resting my head in Paul's lap. But, the contractions were still pretty intense. I was becoming very tired (as was Paul) & a little discouraged, since Nolin's head wasn't molding to come down. Sometime around midnight (possibly - I was a bit out of it!) our midwife encouraged me to try to lie down & rest. So, I laid in bed trying to rest between contractions. Paul was exhausted also, b/c I had not really let him leave my side, so he went to the other room to get some rest.
On Tuesday morning, April 26th, our midwife checked again & I was fully dilated, but Nolin was still up in my pelvic bone. So she suggested we try a few things to help her move down. I was still very tired & also discouraged. Nothing seemed to be helping, so that afternoon, we decided to head to the hospital. We arrived at TJ Samson Hospital around 3:00 pm. The ride there was super uncomfortable! I was taken up to labor & delivery while Paul took care of the paperwork. The nurses hooked me up to an IV & a fetal monitor for Nolin. Then it was the waiting game. The contractions were pretty intense by now & to be honest, I was screaming through each one! Yep, I was the crazy lady in labor screaming at the top of my lungs! I tried different positions, but nothing seemed to help.
Sometime around 5:30 pm or so, the doctor came in & actually taught me how to push. She fussed at me about the screaming, b/c she said I was using all of my energy! So, with the help of the doctor & the nurses, I was finally doing some effective pushing. The doctor actually had to help me a bit, since Nolin was a big girl. She helped Nolin to fit through the pelvic bone & through the birth canal. The nurses held my legs to help me have leverage to push. Then very shortly after, I was told that Nolin was crowning. She then pulled out all of the materials & turned on a big light. Nolin was born several pushes later at 6:29 pm!
Paul says that they called her a toddler when they laid her on my chest. I wasn't really paying attention...I was in a bit of shock. I could not believe this baby was just in my belly & I just had her naturally!! I held Nolin while the doctor delivered the placenta & stitched me up - yep I had a nice tear. (& honestly, healing from the tear was worse than actually labor & delivery for me!)
So that is the short of the story. But there really was a lot more to it. Paul & I were both physically & emotionally exhausted. We knew that I would not have a quick birth experience, being my first child. But, we had no idea it would take as long as it did. It is strange b/c I was in pain, but I was able to deal with it one contraction at a time. I know during labor I said many times that I couldn't do it, but I survived. I actually felt more concern for Paul during the whole process. I knew that he was concerned for me & wanted to do anything to keep me from being in pain. But, there was nothing he could do, so he was super emotional. I couldn't stand to see him cry, b/c I didn't want him to suffer. I know that he would have a lot to say about the experience from his point of view.
As I mentioned above, healing was worse for me than the actual labor & delivery. I had a third degree tear, an infection, & I also lost a lot of blood after the birth. So, Nolin & I had to stay in the hospital for three days. Fortunately, Nolin was perfectly healthy - thank goodness! I had antibiotics for my infection & I also ended up having to have a blood transfusion - which I am not thrilled about. They waited a couple of days to see if I would get my strength back on my own, but I didn't. Every time I would stand up, I would pass out. That's no way to take care of a baby! Due to the loss of blood & my exhaustion, I didn't really know who I was in the hospital. I was pretty out of it. By Friday I was feeling more like myself again & we were finally able to go home.
Let the healing begin...sort of...turns out a week after the birth, I was hurting where I had torn. We went back to the doctor for a check-up at two weeks & I had lost a stitch. So, I was restitched! After about four weeks, I was finally able to be up & around. But it wasn't until about seven weeks that I was completely healed.
I would have been totally lost if it had not been for Paul. He took care of me, fed me, & helped take care of Nolin while I healed. I am so lucky to have him as my husband! Nolin is super lucky to have him as her daddy!
Despite all of the pain, it was totally worth it!
Hi, I am from Ohio, i also play derby and i want to be a midwife, Could you send me the info for your midwife? I am hoping she can give me some info for where i need to go to school etc. Congrats on the baby! I hope to see you on the track someday!
ReplyDeleteZoe equinechic13@yahoo.com