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Birth story (warning, it's long)
And here it is.....sorry so long, I literally just copied and pasted from the email my doula sent me:
Hi Heather,
Just wanted to write down some notes as I was thinking about them so
that you had them. You did amazing and I am so proud of the both of
you! You were so strong and so composed (I know you don't think so
during the final stretch), but you did an incredible job and an
admirable laboring and pushing mama! Here's some of the recap to the
best of my memory...can't promise it's 100 percent accurate :-) Enjoy~
1/31
5:00 left a message for me that you had your appointments that day and
then an ultrasound after the NST wasn't showing what they wanted to see
and to give you a buzz
8:00pm- called to let me know that contractions had been going on
throughout the day, and in the last hour they were more consistent and
around 5 minutes apart and sometimes 2-3 minutes apart (you were keeping
track on your iphone app). you said the ball and taylor sitting on the
floor were the most comfortable. i suggested you try to take a bath or
warm shower to try to wind down and to try and get some sleep
11:56pm- contractions were 2-3 minutes apart and starting to get more
intense. you were able to rest for about an hour and then couldn't lay
down any longer because contractions were too uncomfortable. you had
tried a couple positions but ball was the best. suggested you get in
the tub and that we check in in an hour or two.
2/1
1:57am- Scott called to say that contractions were getting more intense
and 2-3 minutes apart and lasting 45-90seconds. he said you had very
controlled breathing and were doing great. you were getting a little
anxious about going to the hospital, but wanted to stay at home as long
as possible and weren't sure. you had tried hands and knees and
squatting in the tub, but didn't care for either of those positions, it
felt best to sit and lay back and try and rest in between. having low
back pain with contractions. we talked about trying another 30 minutes
or so in the tub and then checking in again.
2:57am- Scott called back and said contractions definitely more intense
and still around 2-3minutes a day and lasting up to 90 seconds. i could
hear you making some good birth sounds in the background. Scott kept
saying how great you were doing and how much control you had. we
decided i would head over and help assess where things were at.
3:20am- the roads were snow and ice covered and it was windy and
freezing out. when i got to your house, you were leaning back against
the tub and then during contractions you would become bouyant and feel
your baby in your belly with your left hand and gently rotate your right
wrist, you were so poised. Scott got everything gathered and packed in
the car. it took a bit to get out of the tub and grab the rest of your
bathroom things because contractions were so close and so intense.
4:05am- i followed you guys down to methodist. the roads were very icy
and trecherous. on MLK you guys began to slow down and flash your
hazards, my stomach dropped as i initially thought 'oh my goodness,
she's pushing!!!', but then i saw Scott open the driver's door to empty a
bowl you had gotten sick in and then quickly shut it to continue on
your way. we hit mostly green lights and shortly ran the red light at
MLK and cottage grove. you followed me as i slid sideways into the
parking garage and we drove up to the 3rd level, parked and went in
immediately. Scott tried to get in initially but they wouldn't buzz him
in until you got there.
4:30am- the front desk had your papers there ready for you to sign and
your nurse, Melissa, took you into triage immediately as she could tell
you were really uncomfortable. she started the initial 20-min strip,
baby sounded great (heartrate 130-140 and very reactive). Melissa
checked you and you were a....SEVEN!!! you had done such great work at
home. they got room 617 ready for you, i started the tub, and you made
your way, slowly to the corner suite. you went right to the bathroom
and climbed in the tub shortly afterward. they wanted you to wait until
you got your labs drawn, but you were anxious to get in. we turned the
jets on and that seemed to be a good choice for you. you would rest
back in between and then sit up and squeeze Scott's hand with each
contraction.
5:30am- you started to feel more and more pressure and seemed to be
pushing in the tub, so you got out and made your way to the bed. pam
checked you and you were 8 cm and 100 percent effaced. Pam could tell
that baby was facing your right hip bone and thought that may be what
was causing the back labor. she suggested hands and knees and the
ball. contractions became much more intense almost immediately and you
asked for some pain medication. we talked about how close you were and
how that may affect the baby, and you declined and pressed on. you
tried to ball for a little bit and then asked to lay on the bed on your
left side for awhile.
6:35am as you were having a contraction, we all heard the loud 'pop' of
your water breaking. Pam checked to make sure the fluid was clear, it
was, and then wanted to take a listen for baby's heartrate to see how he
was tolerating things. his heart tones were in the 60's, so the room
quickly became intense. pam checked you and, thank God, you were a 10
and ready to push. she turned you to your right side, asked for an IV
to be started, oxygen to be given and to have Dr. Neimheir paged
immediately. suddenly the NICU team, anesthesiologists and additional
staff were rushing into the room. an internal fetal monitor was placed
on baby's head and his heartrate would go up, but then quickly drop
again. they started having you push, and with as much as you had, with
each contraction. the OB needed to assess what position his head was in
in the chance that she would need to use a vacuum to deliver him and
that was really uncomfortable. she was pleased to see that his
heartrate would go up with pushes and was willing to be a little patient
to see what you could do. before your last push, you looked at me and
said 'i don't think i can do this anymore' and with the next
contraction, you pushed with all you had and your son was born, with his
cord over his shoulder and wrapped around his neck two times. the
whole room was estatic and so impressed by how well you had done!! and
your baby was so beautiful with the cutest little nose and chin and
great hair. he came right to your chest, and initially you were scared
to hold him because you were shaking so much, completely normal after
birth. they wanted him to be coughing/crying a little more and pinking
up a little quicker, so they took him over to the warmer for a bit while
Pam stiched up your second degree tear. Scott beemed with pride as he
held your son for the first time. you mentioned that was the first time
you had ever seen him hold a newborn, and he did it so confidently.
6lb8.5oz, 19 1/2" long and born 2/1/11 at 6:55am.
Re: Birth story (warning, it's long)
I am tearing up reading this, Heather.
You did WONDERFULLY. Congratulations so many times.
PCOS and Endo
Ovarian drilling and endo removed 1/3/12
BFP - 3/27/12
Beta's 11, 14, 57, 637, 2800
Sono showed no baby and teeny tiny sac. Waiting to M/C naturally.
The Sand in My Snow Boots
Thank you SO MUCH for sharing this!! You definitely had me tearing up - what an amazing birth story! It sounds like you did an incredible job and I am so happy for you that you got the birth you wanted (aside from the bit of a scare at the end)!!! I am just so giddy for you that YOU DID IT!!! You have given me so much inspiration! Congrats again and great job, Mama! And great job to Scott too - it sounds like he was amazing support for you!
Congrats!!
Sounds like you did a fabulous job.
Planning and Married Bio
My Randomness Blog!!
Heather you are amazing! What an incredible story and what a touch cookie you are to have endured so much. I am totally impressed!
I hope you all are enjoying you new time at home as a family
Oct.'13 Siggy Challenge: Cheers to Easter!
So incredible, I'm crying too!
I normally don't read birth stories, but I'm so happy I opened this post.
Congrats!