Two in Blue
20-04-2009, 13:33
After almost 8wks I have finally found time to write this. My story begins with the birth of my first son which was a pretty traumatic experience caused by the stress of him being induced at 34wks due to my waters breaking at 30wks. I was induced by the drip and my labour went for 21hrs with an Epi after 12hrs and ended with a forceps delivery, snapped cord & retained placenta which needed a manual retrival and bubs was taken to SCN shortly after birth. So for number 2 I wanted an intervention and drug free birth. Here’s Cooper’s story:
On Tues 24th of Feb I had an OB appointment and I was now 40 + 3 and had been having prelabour for weeks so when the doc asked me what I wanted to do I asked if he check me and then we could make a plan from there. So in we went and he did a VE and during it his face got rather serious and I was thinking “no, I bet I haven’t even started”, I had been hoping I’d be around 2cm. But he said I was at 4cm and my cervix was very soft. Yay!!
He said he’d like to do an Artificial Ruptured of Membranes Thursday morning if I was still around and that if I did have the ARM that I would only have to have the initial CTG then would be free to walk around etc to encourage contractions and progress as normal. Whilst I was apprehensive about having any interventions and also about inducing bub when he still had plenty of time to come on his own I was also excited to finally meet him and have an end date in site so I agreed to the ARM. I was sure bubs was really close and I probably wouldn’t make it to Thursday anyway. We were told to be at the hosp by 6am on the 26th and headed home very excited. We decided not to tell anyone except my mum about the induction as I’d had a terrible experience after being induced by the drip last time so knew my family would worry the same thing would happen. Also we didn’t want family showing up at the hosp straight away as we wanted to have bonding time that we didn’t get with DS1.
Nothing happened Tuesday night so Wednesday I spent the day trying not to stress about the ARM and moving around heaps to try and push things along. As Wednesday went on and there was no sign of labour I started to get really anxious about the ARM and interfering with nature so of cause I jumped on BH and Dr Google, I quickly realised this only increased my anxiety so banned myself from the net. All day I considered ringing and cancelling the ARM but then I also really wanted to meet bubba and was over all the waiting, so I left it. Went to bed praying I would wake during the night in labour, I didn’t.
I woke at 5:30am and realised that we hadn’t set an alarm and had to leave immediately for the hospital, we got there just after 6am, so then had to wait for the Doc to come back from rounds. While waiting we decided to send a text saying that I was in labour to a couple of close friends so they knew that bubs was on his way (or about to be). The doc arrived back and did a VE I was at 5cm and he broke my waters at 6:40am. I had to be on the bed for 20mins of monitoring and during the first 10mins there were a few little tightenings then at 6:50am I had a big rather sharp contraction and thought here we go J the mw unhooked me and said that if we needed her to buzz. I sat on the bed and attempted to read the paper but started to have some regular sharp contractions so had to move around. I needed to pee so went to the bathroom and things instantly went up a level, I was in heaps of pain and having trouble controlling my breathing. I hoped my DH would come and check on me as I been in the bathroom for a good 10mins but couldn’t get out to him in between contractions. After a little while he eventually heard me calling and came:rolleyes:. I got him to run me a hot bath and we put Clary Sage oil in it to help strengthen the contractions. DH was great reminding me to breathe and rubbing my back for me during contractions whilst I was banging the side of the tub to distract myself and trying to focus. I would lose it at the peak but was going okay otherwise. After a little while I decided we should probably get the mw as I wanted some reassurance as in my head I thought the contractions were about a 1-2mins apart but only lasting about 20-30secs and I had convinced myself that they were ineffective and I would be in this extreme pain for hours. We waited and waited and I started to tell DH that I was worried the contractions were going to be this bad for hours and if that was the case I may need drugs. After 20 more minutes the MW finally came and by this time I had just left the bath and was sitting on the loo waiting for DH to empty the tub. I was having terrible contractions and told the mw “It’s all noble and everything to talk about Natural Childbirth… but I want the drugs” (:laughing:, still makes me laugh).
I explained to her that I felt like the contractions were only lasting about 30secs and that that wasn’t good was it? She agreed they should be longer, but then DH pipes up and says no they are about 60sces long and 2mins apart. I think about this and realise it is probably the peak of the contraction that last 20-30secs and that is what I’ve been focused on, I instantly feel more confident and realise I was probably in transition. I have another horrible contraction and the mw says she’s going to grab another mw Jo to come work we us & see if I still want drugs. Once she is gone I have one more contraction and then the next was a huge push. I looked at DH and said “He’s coming!” Once that contraction was over DH said looking a little concerned “Babe there is all this blood and stuff in the loo”. I suddenly felt completely exhilarated and in control and told him “that’s okay, don’t worry bubs is coming” :yelclap:. Had another huge pushing contraction and the new mw Jo arrived during it. Obviously realising what was happening she said I had to move to the bed, I said I couldn’t move and was quite content to stay on the loo, but DH told her he would carry me. Not impressed I looked him dead in the eyes and said “Don’t you dare move me”. Once the contraction had passed I realised I didn’t really want to have my bub on the toilet so told DH he could now move me before another one came. He got me to the bed and Jo pats it and says put your bum here, ha. I ignored her and stayed on my knees leaning on DH or the raised bed head for support and let gravity and my body do the work. The doc arrived and 3 contractions later Cooper Jay was born at 8:20am just 90mins after my first contraction. He was perfect and seemed huge compared to DS1 :valentine:. He was 3650gs or 8lbs 1/2oz and 55cm long, he needed oxygen for a couple of mins due to the speedy exit but they just gave it to me to hold near his face. Then it was time for Daddy to cut the cord, something he didn’t get to do last time & I offered Cooper a feed but he wasn’t interested so he just cuddled on my chest for the next few hours. It was an amazing experience and so different from my first :smiliedance: I still get a rush thinking about it, can’t wait til the next one :yes:
Brand New (http://s683.photobucket.com/albums/vv198/Teal_01/Cooper/?action=view¤t=102_1380-1500.jpg)
Cooper Jay (http://s683.photobucket.com/albums/vv198/Teal_01/Cooper/?action=view¤t=102_1399-2000.jpg)
Sucking his thumb (http://s683.photobucket.com/albums/vv198/Teal_01/Cooper/?action=view¤t=102_1400-2000.jpg)
Serious (http://s683.photobucket.com/albums/vv198/Teal_01/Cooper/?action=view¤t=102_1417-2000.jpg)
On Tues 24th of Feb I had an OB appointment and I was now 40 + 3 and had been having prelabour for weeks so when the doc asked me what I wanted to do I asked if he check me and then we could make a plan from there. So in we went and he did a VE and during it his face got rather serious and I was thinking “no, I bet I haven’t even started”, I had been hoping I’d be around 2cm. But he said I was at 4cm and my cervix was very soft. Yay!!
He said he’d like to do an Artificial Ruptured of Membranes Thursday morning if I was still around and that if I did have the ARM that I would only have to have the initial CTG then would be free to walk around etc to encourage contractions and progress as normal. Whilst I was apprehensive about having any interventions and also about inducing bub when he still had plenty of time to come on his own I was also excited to finally meet him and have an end date in site so I agreed to the ARM. I was sure bubs was really close and I probably wouldn’t make it to Thursday anyway. We were told to be at the hosp by 6am on the 26th and headed home very excited. We decided not to tell anyone except my mum about the induction as I’d had a terrible experience after being induced by the drip last time so knew my family would worry the same thing would happen. Also we didn’t want family showing up at the hosp straight away as we wanted to have bonding time that we didn’t get with DS1.
Nothing happened Tuesday night so Wednesday I spent the day trying not to stress about the ARM and moving around heaps to try and push things along. As Wednesday went on and there was no sign of labour I started to get really anxious about the ARM and interfering with nature so of cause I jumped on BH and Dr Google, I quickly realised this only increased my anxiety so banned myself from the net. All day I considered ringing and cancelling the ARM but then I also really wanted to meet bubba and was over all the waiting, so I left it. Went to bed praying I would wake during the night in labour, I didn’t.
I woke at 5:30am and realised that we hadn’t set an alarm and had to leave immediately for the hospital, we got there just after 6am, so then had to wait for the Doc to come back from rounds. While waiting we decided to send a text saying that I was in labour to a couple of close friends so they knew that bubs was on his way (or about to be). The doc arrived back and did a VE I was at 5cm and he broke my waters at 6:40am. I had to be on the bed for 20mins of monitoring and during the first 10mins there were a few little tightenings then at 6:50am I had a big rather sharp contraction and thought here we go J the mw unhooked me and said that if we needed her to buzz. I sat on the bed and attempted to read the paper but started to have some regular sharp contractions so had to move around. I needed to pee so went to the bathroom and things instantly went up a level, I was in heaps of pain and having trouble controlling my breathing. I hoped my DH would come and check on me as I been in the bathroom for a good 10mins but couldn’t get out to him in between contractions. After a little while he eventually heard me calling and came:rolleyes:. I got him to run me a hot bath and we put Clary Sage oil in it to help strengthen the contractions. DH was great reminding me to breathe and rubbing my back for me during contractions whilst I was banging the side of the tub to distract myself and trying to focus. I would lose it at the peak but was going okay otherwise. After a little while I decided we should probably get the mw as I wanted some reassurance as in my head I thought the contractions were about a 1-2mins apart but only lasting about 20-30secs and I had convinced myself that they were ineffective and I would be in this extreme pain for hours. We waited and waited and I started to tell DH that I was worried the contractions were going to be this bad for hours and if that was the case I may need drugs. After 20 more minutes the MW finally came and by this time I had just left the bath and was sitting on the loo waiting for DH to empty the tub. I was having terrible contractions and told the mw “It’s all noble and everything to talk about Natural Childbirth… but I want the drugs” (:laughing:, still makes me laugh).
I explained to her that I felt like the contractions were only lasting about 30secs and that that wasn’t good was it? She agreed they should be longer, but then DH pipes up and says no they are about 60sces long and 2mins apart. I think about this and realise it is probably the peak of the contraction that last 20-30secs and that is what I’ve been focused on, I instantly feel more confident and realise I was probably in transition. I have another horrible contraction and the mw says she’s going to grab another mw Jo to come work we us & see if I still want drugs. Once she is gone I have one more contraction and then the next was a huge push. I looked at DH and said “He’s coming!” Once that contraction was over DH said looking a little concerned “Babe there is all this blood and stuff in the loo”. I suddenly felt completely exhilarated and in control and told him “that’s okay, don’t worry bubs is coming” :yelclap:. Had another huge pushing contraction and the new mw Jo arrived during it. Obviously realising what was happening she said I had to move to the bed, I said I couldn’t move and was quite content to stay on the loo, but DH told her he would carry me. Not impressed I looked him dead in the eyes and said “Don’t you dare move me”. Once the contraction had passed I realised I didn’t really want to have my bub on the toilet so told DH he could now move me before another one came. He got me to the bed and Jo pats it and says put your bum here, ha. I ignored her and stayed on my knees leaning on DH or the raised bed head for support and let gravity and my body do the work. The doc arrived and 3 contractions later Cooper Jay was born at 8:20am just 90mins after my first contraction. He was perfect and seemed huge compared to DS1 :valentine:. He was 3650gs or 8lbs 1/2oz and 55cm long, he needed oxygen for a couple of mins due to the speedy exit but they just gave it to me to hold near his face. Then it was time for Daddy to cut the cord, something he didn’t get to do last time & I offered Cooper a feed but he wasn’t interested so he just cuddled on my chest for the next few hours. It was an amazing experience and so different from my first :smiliedance: I still get a rush thinking about it, can’t wait til the next one :yes:
Brand New (http://s683.photobucket.com/albums/vv198/Teal_01/Cooper/?action=view¤t=102_1380-1500.jpg)
Cooper Jay (http://s683.photobucket.com/albums/vv198/Teal_01/Cooper/?action=view¤t=102_1399-2000.jpg)
Sucking his thumb (http://s683.photobucket.com/albums/vv198/Teal_01/Cooper/?action=view¤t=102_1400-2000.jpg)
Serious (http://s683.photobucket.com/albums/vv198/Teal_01/Cooper/?action=view¤t=102_1417-2000.jpg)