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birth story - super long edition
i always like reading these and i posted with the girls sooo... here is my story : )
Mason july 29th 2011
On Wednesday I had my 38 week appointment. My dr wanted to do a full exam, but thinking that it would jump start labor, I declined. She said next week for sure and I said yes, heres to hoping we get one more week! I went home to my other two babies and played outside until the sun went down.
Early Thursday morning, around 1 am, contractions started. Pretty regularly- about every 10 minutes. I looked over at my husband sleeping soundly and was a little annoyed that I had to be up in pain, alone. I slept off and on until the girls woke up around 6am. I told chris what was going on through the night and assured him it was just early labor and to go to work. So he did. I took the girls outside to play, gave them lunch, and then my parents came over. They asked if I thought I should go to the hospital? I said no, I think we should take the girls to the carousel! A quick trip to the carousel and we were back at home hanging out on our front porch playing I-spy and watching the hawks fly around our house. The contractions were still regular at 10 minutes apart.
My sister called and asked if I wanted her to come and stay over in case I went to the hospital. She said she would rather make the drive down from boston sooner rather than later. I told her that the contractions were still 10 min apart and that maybe in the morning, I would call her. The girls had dinner, took the dog for a walk, and went to bed. Our new neighbor jane came over to say hello. She asked about the new baby and chris mentioned that I had been having contractions? she said if we ever need anything just to call. Awesome! These neighbors are way better than our old ones!
I went to bed around 930? with the same timeable contractions. At 1030 I felt a gush. Yay! My water! My water never broke with the girls. I was so excited. I knew for sure the baby was on its way? until I got to the bathroom and saw blood. I woke up chris and told him we had to get to the hospital. I called my parents to watch the kids. No answer. My sister was in boston- who were we to call? Jane! She came right over and stayed with the kids until my dad got there. I woke my sister up and she headed down from boston. My mom met chris and I there. I showed up in my pjs with a towel wrapped around me. I was still bleeding some. they checked me and the baby. My contractions were 6-8 minutes apart and I was 6 cm dilated 100% effaced. They admitted me. From 1am-7am my contractions did not change much. My mom and chris slept and I thought about all of the things that I forgot at the house while battling moderate pain. At 7am my drill sergeant doctor arrived. She gave me a choice- break my water ( which never broke!) or start the pit. I was mad. I knew the only way out of this was to break my water, but I knew once that happened, the contractions were going to get crazy painful. She broke my water and told me she would be back to add the pit. Um hell no.
At this time my new labor nurses arrived. Dita ? a 60 something spitfire and Amanda- a young trainee from post partum . the epi nurse also arrived. I told them that I was going to try and go as long as I could without the epi. She asked if I had done it before , and I told her yes. Twice. Dita was THRILLED. Dita informed us that she was also a dula. Was it my lucky day or what?
Dita jumped right in and asked what I was comfortable with. Ill try anything once ( except for raw fish, or sky diving, or scuba diving?) anyway, she brought out a ball and told me to sit on it. She strattled me from the back and gave me the most amazing back massage ever. Almost took the pain away from the contractions that were growing more intense by the minute. She stayed with me and talked about labor to my mom and chris and the trainee Amanda. She let chris try her technique , and bless his heart he gave it his all? but it was dita I wanted back.
By 930 I was in a ton of pain, dita asked me to walk a bit and then at each contraction breath and sway while she pushed on my hips and back . she hollered out ?come on baby we are moving you down?. I swear I felt the baby drop each time she did this. As painful as it was , there was great relief when she did this. If this sounds weird. it was and it wasn?t. I felt like dita knew what she was doing and I trusted her. She talked a lot about labor and delivery in other countries, and she herself had been a labor nurse for 25 years.
With mila I walked the hospital until I was 7-8 cm then laid on my back and pushed. With isla I tried the ball and then laid on my back to push. With this baby I knew it would be different. I did get on the ball eventually , we also did more massage, and by 1030 i was in transition. the doctor checked me and I was at 9 cm, she said would be back in a half hour.
I was Shaking, and entering the world that I remember heading off to with isla. I would feel a contraction and then once the pain eased for a minute- I would dream. Dream about my girls mostly. Dita asked me to get on the bed. She put me on all fours with a peanut ball up near my head. With each contraction she lifted one of my legs and counted while I breathed until the contraction came down. The pain was so strong I held tight to my bed raiI, and the peanut ball. It was more comfortable to be on all fours as it took the pressure off of my back. I breathed, hummed, (and swore a little) . it was not long before I felt it. The urge to push was so intense I knew the baby was on its way into the world. I tried to speak up , but whispered the baby is coming. No one moved. I felt the burn and the tingle? I screamed the baby is coming. There was no doctor. Amanda kept calling to get someone in there. Chris ran into the hall and yelled for a doctor. Within seconds a midwife from the labor room next door was ready to catch my baby. I saw my doctor enter the room, but was just focusing on the feeling of the baby with each contraction that blended into on long five minute contraction. The pain had left and all I felt was pressure and burning from my stomach to my toes. One push ? the head. Second push- shoulders. Third push- body. And one for good luck (according to dita)? it?s a boy! I knew it would be different this time around! Mason tripp corey was born at 1133 on Friday july 29th.
It was an amazing experience. I have loved each one with all of my children and I am so happy I did it. Dita was wonderful nurse and Amanda was a fantastic assistant. If you plan to go drug free- see if she is on when you are at the hospital? I was very open to her and she helped me so much during my labor.
Mason is a perfect , dream baby and we are all head over heels in love with him. Three kids! Omg!!!
mila belle aka mimi and belle and miss isla aka ileigh : )
Re: birth story - super long edition
OMG Erica it sounds amazing! I got teary eyed reading your story. Not enough to want another kid though...ha ha!
I can't wait to see more pictures of Mason. I bet the girls are head over heels in love with him!!!
So inspirational
I can't wait to experience it all as well.
It took 5 failed IUIs and a failed IVF, but our FET worked!
My pregnancy after Infertility Blog
Our baby girl was born on April 27, 2011!
"It's not a sprint, it's a marathon." - Alex & Ani bracelet
My blog: Dodging Acorns