A Labor Story

Annabeth Day 3
Originally uploaded by Stitching scientist.

In the grand tradition of women posting too much information on the internet, let me give you all the rundown. I read alot of other womens stories, which helped me by both educating me on how different everyones story is and comforting me that I would have one soon too, and I had to do all that I could to make it the way I wanted it.

1:30 am June 1st: I woke up to go to the bathroom (not unusual) and while up felt a cramp, but just kinda thought it as the beef ribs I ate at 11 coming back to haunt me. But about 6 min later another one arrived, then another, they were peaking and fading just like a perfect example of a contraction.

2:00 am: woke Ian to help me time them, we decided that while not exactly regular (4-6 min apart) they were regular enough to get up and start getting ready. I finished packing, made some food for the "long" time to come, put laundry in the dryer...etc. I felt best walking through the contractions pacing up and don the hall.

3:00 am: Called my Doula Mary, she did not sound quite convinced I was in full labor, and after I got off the phone my body held off a contraction just to panic me that I made the wrong call. (like going to the mechanic only to find the car acting fine for him!).
I then showered for about 30 min...until I was bored of that then waited for Mary.

3:45 am: Mary arrived. By this time I could not talk through the conractions. For the next couple of hours I tried the best positions for the contractions: On the birth ball, sitting, laying, on my side. But they never worked for long, my legs would get restless and would have to get up and walk through a couple. We called the Grandparents around 5 am, then the phones went off. (my mom predicted a baby by 9am)

6:15 am: I had a contraction that would not end. When it did end I was ready to change my scenery. Ian took our dog to the neighbors, and I rode out a few contractions lying on the couch, resting between them, not talking as much. I noticed some spotting as well, asked if this could be my water breaking, but Mary thought not.

6:30 am: Ride to hospital was not bad, had 3 contractions on theway, and had to stay in the car to ride one out at the door of the hospital. In waiting room for TOO LONG (ok only 15 min)

7:05 am: into triage where they made me lay down to be monitored for 20 min. The contractions were getting closer to making me consider meds now (I won't lie) and laying down was torture. I was checked at 5 cm and -1 station.

7:30 am: up to L&D, I was looking forward to a bath, but the doctor on call I ended up with wanted continuous monitoring. DAMN. the contractions were making me cry now..oh and breathing goes out the window..Mary would breathe with me and that helped the most. I kept feeling like there must be something I could do to help with the pain, but there was nothing but to ride them out. Tracy the L&D nurse let me sit between contrations but stand/ walk in place through them while I leaned on Ian .

8:09 am: I was 8 cm! I did not greet this with the enthusiasm I do now. I rode out the contractions as best I could they were shorter but closer, I could rest a bit between.

8:43am: the doctor appeared to break my water to check for meconium (I did not want that convinced it would make the pain worse) But by that point I did not care so much and let him do it
...I was 9 cm 100% effaced and it did not change the feel of the contractions.
Tracy said if I felt like it I could start pushing gently and it helped ease the pain a bit... with each contraction could get about 4 pushes in, my legs still ached.

9:38am: the Doctor kept bobbing in and out...that killed me. He is supposed to show up only at the end, right? I was 10 cm.

9:50 or so: up on the bed and pushing. Once Mary told me to hold my breath with the pushes I started to feel progress. My legs were in horrible pain (I think now it was sciatic nerve pain). Tracy was helping to stretch me, and mentioned that it was tight (that was due to 5 months of kegals!) She mentioned that a resident might have to deliver if the Dr. did not come back ASAP. I knew the Dr. did appear when I felt not so gentle stretching during a contraction...I yelled at him to STOP. after that he said he would numb me, Thank god if he was going to keep that up.

I remember looking at the clock at 10:15 thinking I was missing my dr. appt and that someone told her why.

Baby arrived at 10:21, and I was amazed at the size of her and the cord (that thing was huge!).

They put her immediately on my chest and I was able to hold her for the next 1 1/2 hours, and feed her immediately. We had 4 names picked but one came to my mind immediately. I asked Ian which he thought of first and he said the same name....Annabeth.