My Birth Story 2.0

I’m going to start by talking a little bit about my first birth and then about my pregnancy.

My first daughter (Z) was born via induction at 39 weeks. They started my pitocin at 9:30 or so, and went into active labor around noon. She was out by 2:12. I was classified as a “precipitous birth.” To make matters stranger for a first time mom, I never felt labor pain, just pressure. My entire team was shocked by the entire thing.

Fast forward to pregnancy #2. I ended up with hyperemesis again, and therefore was receiving extra care. When my anatomy scan came around, they noticed my cervix was only 2.5 cm long (should be 3.5 or longer). Two weeks later, I had a follow up ultrasound and it was 3 cm. I was ruled as cervically incompetent due to damage from my last labor. My doctor told me that at the first sign of contractions to come to the hospital due to my previous delivery. I’m scheduled for another 39 week induction.

At 31 weeks, I started having contractions and ended up in L&D. I’m dilated to 1.5 cm and 50% effaced. 2 hours later, things stopped, so they sent me home.

33 weeks, and it happens again, this time I’m 2 cm.

34 weeks and 6 days, and I’m in L&D again. 3 cm and 75% effaced.

At this point I’m beyond frustrated. I was having contractions every day, but nothing longer than 2 hours.

Then the big day comes. 38 weeks and 1 day. I wake up at 6:15 and start getting ready for the day. I start to notice that I am having a really hard time breathing due to and intense tight feeling in my belly. I ignore it and get my daughter ready for the day. My husband gets out of the shower and notices that I’m struggling to breath, and tells me to sit down. He asked me if I was okay, and I flat out said I didn’t know. We decide to take our daughter to daycare together and then decide to go to the hospital or not.

I notice in the 20 minute drive that I am having tightening every 5 minutes. We decide to head in, and fully expect to be sent home again. I had had my 38 week appointment the day before and was still 3 cm, though it was a loose 3. The nurse brings me into a room and performs a check, and tells me I’m a 4.

She tells me they’re going to keep me for 2 hours and check again.

2 hours go by. We walk, I do squats and sit on a labor ball. She comes in and checks, and proclaims I’m almost 5 cm.

She pages the on call OB, and my doctor hears the page and comes running. She explains my history, and they make the decision to break my water. I had felt 0 pain again.

11:45 comes and they break my bag. Not even 5 minutes and I’m in fully active labor. Still no pain. The nurses are flabbergasted. 2:20 comes and they decide to do a check as I’m feeling the urge to push. Sure enough, I’m 9 cm, almost 10. They page the doctor and tel me to do some practice pushing. I was so relieved to do something that I start. Immediately, baby’s head is through my cervix and pushing to start crowing. The nurse starts yelling to page stat, and is literally holding the baby in.

The on call comes flying in, and I hear my OB yelling behind her “DONT YOU CATCH THAT BABY! I GET TO!!” I laugh, and everyone thinks I’m crazy. At this point there are 2 doctors, 6 nurses, my mom and my husband all there. I push again, and she’s crowning.

All I could think about and say was “I’m uncomfortable.” I wasn’t in pain, but it wasn’t an enjoyable feeling. The nurses are laughing and are clearly shocked by how relaxed I am. Another push, and baby’s head is out, already crying.

Another big push, and baby was fully out.

No tears, no stitches, no drugs. I was amazed I did it. My team was floored.

Here she is:

Alyse Eleanor

Born 9/26 at 2:45 pm

7lbs 10 oz and 19 inches