FTM Long and Detailed Birth Story
My due date was July 8th and I was already a week late so I was scheduled to be induced on the 17th at 6PM. Well, when I finally gave up hoping he'd come on his own, I started early labor the morning of the 16th!
EARLY LABOR: I had sporadic mild contractions from 7:30am-8:30pm. They felt like menstrual cramps in my lower back. I loved having the energy to do some final light tidying up around the house, but made sure to rest and eat plenty throughout the day. By 8:30pm I started timing contractions as they were becoming stronger and more frequent. I spent this time bouncing on a birth ball while playing cards with hubby. The birth ball helped immensely to make me more comfortable and I believe it helped my labor progress better.
ACTIVE LABOR: By 10:30pm the contractions were too strong to play cards anymore. I put on my soothing playlist of yoga music and focused on breathing. By then I moved to sitting backwards on a chair and leaning over it while my amazing hubby firmly pushed and squeezed my lower back during each contraction. Eventually I moved to sitting backwards on the toilet as that was more comfortable. (Fun fact: I had a total of 6 soft bowel movements throughout the day.) My OB told me not to come to hospital until contractions were 2-3 min apart for 2-3 hours. By 11:30PM they had been about 3 min apart for the past hour and I noticed I was starting to bleed more (I'd been spotting throughout the day.) So, we got our things together and headed to hospital.
DELIVERY: When I arrived around 1AM my contractions were so strong that I was moaning while lying on the examining bed. The nurse checked my dilation and I was already 7 cm and my water broke as she was checking. After that, contractions became more intense and I felt the strong urge to poop so I yelled, "I feel like pushing!" Little did I know I wasn't that close yet, but at least it got them to move me more quickly into the delivery room which was around 1:30am. From there contractions really cranked into gear. I overheard the nurse saying to get the doctor there immediately because it wouldn't be long. They asked me if I wanted an epidural and I decided not to since I was so far along. That's when transition kicked in and I experienced the true pains of labor that I had learned would make me question my abilities. Each contraction became stronger and stronger and my body involuntarily pushed the baby lower and lower. I overheard the doctor was 15 min away and the nurse thought the baby would come before that. I was actually relieved to hear that because it meant the pain would be over soon. Well, doc made it on time and as soon as she arrived they put down the foot braces and got me in position to push. It took about 4 contractions of me bearing down and pushing to get him out. I felt the burning sensation as his head came down. I tried not to fear the pain and thought to myself that it would be over soon and tried to picture my vagina expanding. The final push was the hardest as I was exhausted and felt like I couldn't expand any further. As soon as his head pushed through, the rest of him came on its own and it felt like a gush of warm fluids and the greatest relief of my life. They put him right on my bare belly and I couldn't believe he was finally there at 3:12AM.
RECOVERY: Unfortunately I tore quite a bit. The OB told me it was because he came out with his elbow next to his head. After delivery they asked if I wanted something for the pain as I was being stitched up and I said yes. They intravenously gave me some drug that started with an S that really doped me up. If I could change anything I wish I hadn't gotten that drug because for my baby's first three hours of life I was too drugged to keep my eyes open and just enjoy him. Luckily he latched immediately and was able to breastfeed right away. I was just disappointed that after my natural delivery I couldn't relish those first few hours with him.
I have been blessed with a happy, healthy, perfect baby boy. Yes, child birth (natural/medicated/vaginal/caesarean) is pain, but I feel that going through it makes me worthy of the perfect, precious angel I get to call mine. My baby and I just came home today because our hospital required us to stay 2 full nights after birth. The lack of sleep at the hospital, the soreness from stitches and overall whirlwind of the last 3 days was beyond worth it for this moment. The greatest love and joy I've ever known is holding my content baby while he sleeps on my chest after a good feed. I wish you all safe and smooth births and wonderful happiness with your babies.
Rory Patrick
July 17th, 2016 at 3:12AM
8lb 5oz, 21 in
Comment
Add Comment
Let's Glow!
Achieve your health goals from period to parenting.
