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My Birth Story, some TMI, (Verrry Long)
Hmm, let's start at 9pm, Sunday night. I was definatly feeling contractions and had started timing them. They were about 4-5 mins apart but I could still talk and move around with them. Around 10pm they were getting pretty bad so I called the MW on call at the hospital and told her they were getting "pretty unbearable". She still seemed to be doubting my predictions of being in labor and told me I could meander in sometime over the next few hours, but chances are that I was just in early stages and probably wouldn't be dialated so they would most likely send me home. 
Between 11:00 and 11:30pm I was on my knees in my bedroom breathing having to breath through each contraction while rocking back and forth. Back Labor. We got into the hospital around 12:30am Monday, were put in a triage room and hooked up to a monitor. The on call MW was in a labor room, so they gave me the student MW and the triage nurse. I was definatly having contractions but the still wanted to test for amniotic fluid. At that point I was 2cm dialated, and indeed had been leaking fluid since 3am Sunday morning. They said I could stay or go home. I wasn't going anywhere until I had that baby. In the time it took for them to get a room ready, I began to leak amniotic fluid all over the bed I was on. I finally asked Matt to go get someone because it was going everywhere. A nurse came had me get dressed and walked me (leaking everywhere) down to my room. The nurse asked if I wanted to try sitting in the shower, and within 10mins of knowing her I was stripping down in front of her, I just wanted to be comfortable. At this time Matt had kind of disappeared into the room and was sitting wide-eyed on the foldout couch, trying not to get in the way and trying to let me do my thing. I was fine with this and actually spent my active labor with the nurses. The shower was great and I spent probably from 3:30am to 6am in there, leaning over a chair rocking back and forth, resting my forehead on the back in between contractions. I tried sitting on the ball for a bit but was still feeling a lot of pain. Around 6am I asked the triage nurse (now my nurse since my assigned nurse was assisting the MW in the other room) what my options for pain meds were. I didn't want an epidural and we agreed that Nubain would be a good choice. She came back shortly after and said before I could have it I needed to be checked for dialation I was at 6cm. They also suggested that I try the tub since my labor was still in my back and I was in a lot of pain. So naked, I paraded through the room not caring who saw me and climbed in the tub where they gave me my shot. It did give me some relief but not what I was thinking. The tub was great so I stayed there until I had reached 10cm. It was at this point that I became too comfortable, well, when I wasn't having the urge to push, and between each contraction I was resting and it seemed that the contractions were coming slower. They convinced me to try sitting on the toilet for a bit as that might get things moving faster again, later my husband told me he overheard the nurses and MWs talking and they really didn't want me in the tub anymore, I was too relaxed. (TMI Alert!) All the pushing gave me awful hemmorhoids and I was actually feeling kind of self concious of them, so while I was in the bathroom, I confessed to the student MW that they were really bothering me and she began suggesting positions that would lessen the pain of them. Which led us to the bed, on my side, right next to DH, who was still wide-eyed and trying to stay out of the way. He was cornered. I layed on my side and began the actual pushing process, the nurses were all soo awesome and kept telling me I was safe, and yes it hurt, but my body could do it. Around 8:15am they let me feel for the top of Delia's head, oh my. Then at 8:20 they told me I could have her out in just a few more pushes. So I pushed, and pushed and at 8:29am Delia Hazel Gallagher came into this world. I was so relieved it was over. I had her on my chest and she just stared right at me with the most beautiful big eyes. Both DH and I were concerned because she was blue, the nurses reassured us it was normal. I delivered the placenta, DH and I both looked, not sure why but we did, hm interesting. At this time I didn't know it but I was hemorrhaging and they were working to get it to stop. I had no idea, they gave me some pitocin to get the uterus contracting that began to help, but not completely. DH had cut the cord and they wanted to try to get me to the bathroom thinking that if I peed things would begin to work correctly. So they gave Delia to DH, and began walking me to the bathroom, about the time I got halfway they said if you feel dizzy.....I passed out in their arms, when I came to I had no idea what had happened and even forgot where I was for a few seconds. So back to the bed, and told it was time to rest, I could pee later. I got back in the bed and was told I needed to eat. I had some trail mix and almonds in my bag so I tried those and began to feel better. I nursed Delia, and started in on my role as a mommy. But I still wasn't allowed out of bed. An hour or so later they wanted me to try using the bathroom and get cleaned up. Only this time on a portable potty chair next to the bed, I wasn't going to be allowed on the big girl potty. My nurse called for a back up nurse just in case and it was good thing, as soon as they started showing me how to use they hygiene products and how to stay clean, I passed out again. This time I knew what had happened when I came to and I woke up saying, "I passed out again, huh?" The nurse said yes and back to bed I went. I wasn't allowed to get out of bed from that point on until I had eaten. So I eventually ate and began taking visitors. I secretly got my wish and my dad was the first person to hold her from the families. We had most of our visitors that night and came home on Wed. afternoon. So yeah, that's my birth story..I will end it with my most memorable moments from the event..
Saying to the nurse, " So there won't be anytime for sleep, huh?" probably dialated to 6cms at this point
Asking the nurse to run when she went to ask about the Nubain.
Waving to DH from the tub across the room in between some very painful and close contractions..
Wondering why my forehead hurt on night 2 in the hospital and remembering leaning on the back of the shower chair..
Looking at the clock shortly after they told me only a few more pushes, and deciding that she will be out by 8:30am....8:29am not bad...
Seeing DH fall completly head over heels in love with our little girl...
Re: My Birth Story, some TMI, (Verrry Long)
Thank you for sharing this with so much candor!! Childbirth just ain't pretty, there's no two ways about it. But at the same time, it's so damn beautiful.
Congratulations again!!!
I agree with all the ladies. Thanks for sharing! It is totally a unique process where all modesty goes out the window!!
She is absolutely beautiful!!
It sounds like you had a wonderful birth experience! Congrats again!
A little late to the party, but thank you so much for sharing your story, and huge congratulations Lori, she's lovely!!!
The aim of life is to live, and to live means to be aware; joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely aware. -Henry Miller
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