This post is meant to document my baby girl's birth story. It's a long one because I was contracting for 2 days before she was born. It has also been written over the course of about 4 days, so if it seems choppy, it is.
I was 4 days past due. Past due is never a good thing, especially in the case of pregnancy. Our family had been sick about a week before my due date which was February 18th. At the time, I felt perfectly content waiting for our little girl to make her arrival. I didn't want her weak little immune system to have to ward off so many germs right when she was born. And so we waited....and waited....and waited what seemed like forever.
Every little cramp, ache, bit of nausea or heartburn made me wonder - is this labor starting? By my due date, I so hoped that it was. We were all healthy and everything, and I mean everything, was ready for our baby girl to arrive. I had mentally prepared myself for 9 months for the huge change we were about to experience. I had anticipated what it would be like to stay at home with 2 babies in diapers. I was ready to tackle this obstacle head on and face the challenges of mothering a newborn. But baby girl wasn't ready just yet!
On my due date, I had an appointment with my OB. She was beginning to think that an induction might be necessary and possibly desired by me. I informed her that I did not want to be induced at all. It would be my absolute last resort. My labor was induced with my first pregnancy. Each contraction was absolutely excruciating. I so wanted to be able to experience the natural labor that my body would start on it's own. I asked her how far past my due date she would let me go. She told me Saturday, the 27th would be the latest I could go.
I was also feeling troubled by the fact that some of Andrew's family would be heading out of town for a week starting on February 26th. I did not want them to miss out on meeting the new addition to the family and I know they didn't want to miss it either. I decided to go ahead and schedule the induction for February 25th with high hopes that we wouldn't have to wait that long and that this baby girl would make her arrival on her own.
Early Monday morning, the 22nd, I woke up around 5:30. I haven't been sleeping well lately and figured this morning was just like every other. About 15 minutes later I felt some cramping going on. It went away, then came back about 12 minutes later. Then again, and again, and again. I was getting excited that this might be the start of labor, but I did not want to get my hopes up. I decided to use my contraction timer app on my iPhone to see the numbers documented. About an hour later, I decided to wake up Andrew and let him know what was going on. I shook him and told him in a soft voice that I'd been having contractions for the past hour. He all but jumped out of bed, excitement in his voice and said he'd better call out to work then. I texted my mom and told her what was going on and told her to keep on standby. Andrew called his mom and told her as well so that she could be ready to come pick up Judah when necessary.
Now I was really getting excited. It was finally happening! Andrew's mom called us back a little bit later and asked us if we just wanted her to come get Judah right then so that when things got intense later we wouldn't have to worry about it. We got Judah ready for the day singing songs and tell him that he was going to be a big brother before the day was over!
The contractions continued and we continued to time them to see if there were any changes. There weren't, they were still steadily 12 minutes apart. A few hours later, I got really tired from having woken up so early. I decided to lay down, because all of the books and websites say that when you're in early labor you should rest. It was the best thing, right? I laid down for about an hour but couldn't really sleep. I was excited and trying to pay attention to contractions. I finally drifted off but when I woke up it seemed like the contractions had stopped. I was disappointed but hoped that things would get going again. Andrew suggested that we go for a walk. It was pretty cold outside so instead of going out, we decided to head to the mall. We walked for a long time. I felt tired just because of that. I had rarely exercised during the pregnancy. But I felt like I was having contractions again. We ran a couple of other errands and then headed home. Things were still really slow. Sometimes 8 minutes and sometimes 12 minutes apart. It seemed like at times the contractions were more intense than before.
Much later in the afternoon I decided that since this was my second pregnancy, I should let my doctor know that I'd been contracting all day and before her office closed for the day. They told me I should come to the hospital. I was kind of surprised, but I figured they would know, right?
In the car on the way to the hospital, the contractions seemed to be 5 minutes apart and getting more intense. I was glad we had left for the hospital when we did, especially not knowing how quickly this labor would progress. My doctor's office would be closed by the time we got to the hospital, so they told me to check in at the Family Maternity Center. I was taken to the triage area and hooked up to the monitor for the baby's heart beat and to monitor my contractions. The nurse checked my cervix and found that I was still only dilated 2 cm, which is what I had been when my doctor checked me at my 40 week appointment 4 days earlier! I was so frustrated that a whole day of contracting had gotten me nowhere. On top of that, as soon as I laid down on the examination bed my contractions stopped. I think I had one in the 20 minute span that I was being monitored. I was so frustrated. They of course sent me home.
All kinds of thoughts were going through my head about how long this was going to draw out and if I would end up needing an induction either way. I couldn't believe how slowly this labor was progressing, if you could even call it progression at all. When we got home I decided I was done trying to keep track of how far apart the contractions were. It was just frustrating me. Grandma brought Judah home so that he could sleep in his own bed. I went to bed, still contracting, and managed to get a few hours of sleep. Around 4 am I woke up and felt like I was having much more intense contractions. I decided to go downstairs with my yoga ball and keep a record of the contractions. After about an hour of contractions that were 5 minutes apart I decided to wake Andrew. I was definitely feeling the increasing intensity of these contractions. At times they were even 3 minutes apart. I decided to get in the tub since I've heard that is supposed to ease the pain quite a bit. It did and was very relaxing. My contractions continued and I thought that we should start thinking about going to the hospital. Andrew and I both got showered and dressed and we called his dad to come watch Judah. My contractions continued and I was mentally focusing and talking myself through them. I remember marching around the bedroom over and over, telling myself that I was bigger and stronger than the contraction and that I wasn't going to let the pain overtake me. It was working, and with each conquered contraction I felt stronger.
Andrew's dad arrived and we decided to get our butts out the door. When we got in the car, we called my doctor's office. They had just opened - it was 8 am. They asked me if I was in the neighborhood of the hospital and I told them we were on our way from our house. They told me to come straight to their office so they could check me out. After being checked, I was at 4 cm. Hey that was progress! They decided to put me on the monitor and see what was going on. Of course, as soon as I got on the monitor my contractions stopped completely. I was so stinking frustrated. I couldn't believe it! My doctor asked me if I just wanted to be admitted to the hospital, have my water broken and possibly be put on pitocin to speed up labor. At that point I didn't care anymore and told her yes. She checked with the Family Maternity Center, but they didn't have enough beds for me because my labor wasn't active enough.
Again, I was filled with frustration. We were being sent home for the 2nd time. I wasn't mad at the doctor's office and I didn't feel stupid for going to the hospital too soon, because according to all the guidelines I went at the right time. I just couldn't believe how slowly this labor was progressing. In the long run, however, it was for the best. Looking back, I am glad that I couldn't be admitted and that I got to labor at home.
At this point I was so tired. I had barely slept the past 2 nights and all the emotional ups and downs were making me exhausted. I just wanted to go home and sleep. I decided to lay down when we got home. I was able to doze off a bit for maybe an hour. When I woke up, I was having intense contractions again. They were very painful and I was needing Andrew's help to get through them. Judah was still home at this point and he wasn't sure what to think of seeing his mama in pain. We called Andrew's mom and asked her to come get him. I continued to contract strongly every 3-5 minutes for the next couple hours. I didn't want to go to the hospital again until I was sure that this was the real deal. I decided to get in the tub again. Andrew lit a bunch of candles for me so that I could try to relax in the bathroom. The tub definitely helped, but the contractions were very painful. Andrew decided to call my Dr. again and they asked us to come in. I had been contracting strongly for long enough that I was sure I had to have dilated more.
The worst feeling for me was having to lay or sit during a contraction, except for when I was in the tub. I didn't know if I could handle being in the car for 20 minutes and having contractions. I brought along my heated rice pack to help ease the pain while we were in the car. I didn't end up using it at all. Every time I had a contraction, my amazing husband helped me breathe through it. It was such a good distraction from the pain.
We arrived at the hospital and got into my Dr.'s office once more. Dr. Chien walked into the exam room as I was dancing around the room through a contraction. She smiled at me and said "Now you look like you're in labor." I laughed and said, "Yeah I think I am." She checked my cervix and for a split second she had a look of panic in her face. I thought maybe she was going to tell me that I was completely dilated to 10 cm. She later told me that was her fear, that I was dilated to 10 and she was going to have to deliver the baby right in the exam room! Nope, just 6 cm, but enough to admit me to the hospital! She also told me that the baby's head was way down. Definitely a good sign! Dr. Chien asked me if I wanted an epidural and I told her oh yes, right away!
We walked over to the FMC and were admitted right away. I had a few contractions along the way, but Andrew helped me breathe through them. It was about 4 pm. We got situated in the room, the nurse started my IV and we were getting things rolling. My contractions continued and Andrew continued to help me through them. The nurse commented on how well I was doing and that Andrew and I made a great team. She suggested we film a birthing video to teach other couples how to breathe through contractions. Ha, no cameras please! The epidural was on it's way, I just had to wait for the anesthesiologist. The nurse again told me that she thought I was really pacing myself well and taking each contraction with stride. She said, ya know I bet you could go without an epidural and be just fine. That made me feel great. But I smiled and said, "Thanks, but I think I'll file that away for use at a later date." It just wasn't for me to go natural.
The anesthesiologist made it to our room. He was great. A great sense of humor and made Andrew and I both feel at ease. I had a few contractions while he was trying to place the epidural. Kinda scary to think about how still I had to be, but it all worked out.
My nurse checked me after it was placed and I was at 8 cm! Wow! I think I could have done it without drugs, but again it's just not for me. After the epidural my contractions were slowing down a bit. They were between 5-8 minutes apart. My Dr. came in to break my water, but the contractions didn't speed up after that. I wasn't too concerned and neither was my nurse, but she asked me if it was okay to start a little bit of pitocin to get things moving a little faster. I didn't care at all. I had my epidural and I wasn't going to feel the pain.
Andrew had told my parents where we were at and they showed up to my room soon after. We actually got to hang out together in the room for a while. I was so relaxed. It was nice to be able to rest so well after 2 days of labor. We had a good time in the room together. No stress, no worries, no pain.
I asked my nurse how my contractions were. She said they were practically coming one on top of the other so she turned the pitocin off. She kept asking me if I felt any pressure to push. No...not quite yet. I remembered very well what that pressure felt like.
My parents decided to leave and get something to eat. As soon as they did, I felt like I thought I needed to push. My nurse checked me and sure enough I was dilated to 10 cm and the baby's head was right there. It was time! I had pushed for an hour and a half with Judah, so I was prepared to throw all of my effort and energy into these pushes, knowing that the more effectively I pushed, the sooner she would be here. She had me push once and told me to stop because I was going to deliver that baby right then.
She called my Dr. and not 3 pushes later, Audrey June was born at 7 pm! I seriously pushed for less than 5 minutes. I couldn't believe it! Way too easy!!
She was beautiful! Andrew and I were filled with so much joy! I was so happy to finally have her in my arms. She didn't cry too much. She was quiet in comparison to her brother. But she was just as soft and sweet. All 7lbs, 7 oz of her.
My parents came back 20 minutes later. They saw my nurse in the hallway and asked if it was okay to come into the room. They didn't know what had just happened...My nurse told them they'd better come talk to me. They couldn't believe that she had been born in the half hour span they had been gone! They came in and saw us for a few minutes, then let the 3 of us spend some time together alone.
What a beautiful, wonderful day!
