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#1
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Jaden's birth story (very, very long!)
I started having contractions at 36 weeks. They continued for two
weeks, getting increasingly uncomfortable, and even prompted a "practice run" to the birth center during week 37. At 38 weeks, my doula advised crawling around to help the baby turn into a better position and hopefully get the contractions to stop, since I was having a hard time dealing with how long they were dragging on. The crawling worked! They went almost completely away for the next week. At 39 weeks, 3 days, I had two hours of contractions that were the classic textbook early labor "waves", then started seeing a slight but steady bloody show over the next day and a half. The contractions kept stopping and starting, so based on previous experience I just got more annoyed than hopeful or excited. The next evening starting around dinner time, I had much stronger, very frequent contractions. DH tried to time them but it was hard for me to remember to give him clear signals when they started and stopped. At 8:00 I called my sister and asked her if she'd rather come to spend the night then, and have it turn out to be another "practice run", or risk being called in the middle of the night. She chose to come then, arriving around 9:30. Around 9:00 we called our doula, Gloria, and she came to the house, arriving sometime around 10:00. Shortly after Gloria arrived, the contractions stopped, *again*! Gloria (who's also a DEM) checked me and tried to determine the baby's exact position. I was about 2-3 cm and though the head was very low, she couldn't feel the skull well enough to tell which way he was facing, but thought he might be transverse to posterior (just the head - his overall body position was certainly vertex). She said to pay attention to how long each individual contraction lasted, when they started up again, to help determine when to call her again, and that they should be consistently between 45-90 seconds long, and increasing in length over time. I'm sure she didn't particularly want to come out a third time for nothing! She went home, and we went to sleep around 11:30. At 1:00 am I got up, feeling very uncomfortable, and went downstairs. These contractions were very intense, much more than anything previous, with very little "warm up" sensation before getting really painful. I got DH around 3:00 and we timed them. I had no trouble telling him when they started and stopped this time! They were all about 75 seconds long. We were still totally unsure what to do at that point after so many false starts, but eventually decided it was worth waking Gloria up. But we got her answering machine at home, and no response to her pager. By that time I had decided I wanted to go to the birth center, Right Now. So we called to let them know we were coming, and they asked us to call my midwife, Joan as well. I paged Joan and she agreed we ought to head in. Getting dressed was a challenge because the contractions were coming so frequently. I put one shoe on, then went to put on the other and couldn 't manage. I could still talk during the contraction, but just barely. Saying to DH, "Could you put on my other shoe, please?" became only a plaintive, "shoe?". The 20- minute car ride was awful, since I couldn't move at all. As we pulled into the hospital complex, I had a bad one and DH encouraged me by saying, "last one in the car". Not so - I had another one halfway to the emergency/nighttime entrance, and had to wait for yet another to end before getting out of the car. We were hastily taken up to the birth center, getting into our room at 4:00 am. I barely remember it now, but the nurse assisted me into a hospital gown (my choice - could have worn my own) and I'm sure must have taken my temperature and blood pressure, and listened for the baby' s heartbeat. (They do that every 15 minutes during the first hour of admission.) I got in the shower. It felt good where the water was hitting my belly, but the rest of me was freezing cold and I couldn't find a comfortable position so I got out after only two or three contractions. I started a pattern of leaning on the edge of the bed with my hands, and side-stepping around to the other side of the bed and back during each contraction. The nurse let us know that she'd heard from Gloria, who was on her way there. At 4:30 we decided to do a check to see if I could get in the tub yet. I was about 4 cm, and needed to get to 5. I continued my side-stepping for a while, and Gloria encouraged me to use the birth ball as well. I couldn't endure contractions while sitting on it at first, but she talked me into staying on it between them at least, and I did manage a few contractions on it as well. A short time later I was no longer able to move during the peak of the contraction and just stayed wherever I had ended up in my circuit of the bed. I could not stay relaxed, and my low-pitched moan kept rising in pitch. Gloria was absolutely wonderful, talking me down, getting in my face and moaning with low pitches for me to match, telling me to keep breathing, relax my jaw, etc. I would have lost it completely if not for her. At 5:00, we started talking about the tub again. Even though it had only been half an hour, the contractions were so intense they thought it possible I'd dilated another whole centimeter. I suggested we wait another few contractions. I don't actually remember that check being done, but I know they started filling the tub. I got in and the warmth of the water felt so good. One end of the tub had a molded reclining seat with arm rests and foot holds; the other end had a shelf that I could lean my arms on to kneel or squat. It was quite deep, and I could float easily. I started out in the seat, but kind of needed the foot rests to be about an inch closer to me (I'm short). So I got upright and used the shelf for support. Even in the water, the contractions were getting extremely intense. As each one built up, I would start swaying from side to side like a hungry caged lion, and it seemed to me I was shouting (Gloria told me later I wasn't really that loud) obscenities. (Em, our mkp "muscles working" mantra did work for me for Julie's birth, but the F and S words just felt much more appropriate this time As each contraction peaked, in whatever random direction I happened to be pointing, I'd ram my head into the side of the tub - oh, oops, it's hard - ow! After a few times of doing that I managed to control myself enough to slam my head into the towel they'd folded thickly and hung over the side instead. I was floating most of the time, belly down, legs drawn up, probably looking a lot like a frog. I reached down and felt inside, and could feel his head! I let them know this and they checked and said I was at 6 cm. I mentioned that 6 cm was the last check I had before starting to push with Julie. I also mentioned that I'd had a long rest phase just prior to transition with Julie, and she came really fast after that, because even at this point I was still slightly worried about being sent home, still pregnant! After a few more contractions I suggested they start draining the tub so I could get out well before the urge to push hit me. They wanted me to stay in as long as possible, for my comfort, so said they'd wait a bit longer since I was "only" at 6 cm. The next two contractions, I totally lost control, then on the third one started pushing! I was screaming that I was pushing, they were trying to get the water drained out to below the level of the door so I could get out. My midwife, Joan, came scrambling around the side of the tub to try and help me get control, slipped on the water on the floor and fell, spraining her ankle. She got right back up and put my forehead on her shoulder, with her arm tight around my head, telling me to breathe and not push in her lovely but commanding Irish accent. I got back in control, then she said, "now we're going to turn around" and walked me around to the other side of the tub to where the door was. With much help, I made it out of the tub and onto the bed. I started pushing on all-fours, though my arms were very tired and it quickly became face-and-knees rather than hands-and-knees, and my legs kept sliding out from under me on the slippery blue plastic pads. It wasn't working, so they asked me to roll over. I somehow got into a semi-sitting position. It took me a contraction or two to realize my body wasn't going to overpower me and push this baby out on its own, as happened with Julie. I had to make a conscious effort to push this time, and it was really hard work. Joan was a great coach, having me sometimes "grunt him out, little grunts", other times, "push now, hard!" , and as he crowned, "pant, pant, let him ease out, give it time to stretch", and using warm compresses to give me lots of support. The ring of fire hurt enough that it made me not want to push but they got me to do it anyway. Finally his head was out and I breathed while they suctioned him. Then I had to push really hard again, and felt each shoulder as it popped out, quickly followed by the rest of him, at 6:46 am. Pushing had taken about 10 minutes. Then suddenly all was calm as he laid on my stomach and we greeted each other. I couldn't believe he was really here and felt so totally overwhelmed with both love and relief. After a few minutes DH cut the cord. When the third-stage contractions started up, I asked DH to hold him, which he did until the placenta was out and I was stitched up. I had just one small tear, along the scarline from my previous tear, and a skid mark next to it. They also weighed him during this time, 8 pounds and 1 ounce. All other procedures were delayed until after he'd nursed. He latched right on and has been nursing wonderfully ever since. Two hours later, the amazement of what I'd just done really hit me, along with how great it was to have not had a single intervention. And also elation at the thought, "I am never doing this again!" I'm feeling really good, not even all that sleep-deprived. A little achy through the hips, but ibuprofen takes care of that. Jaden is so contented. I know no one believes mothers who say this but he has been smiling real smiles since one day old. He only cries when hungry or having his diaper changed, and when not eating, spends the rest of the time sleeping anywhere, with quiet, alert states here and there. Julie has been coping fairly well, though it's been harder for her since DH's parents went home two days ago (they stayed with us 6 days and did everything for me). Julie wants me to do more for her than I really can at this point and any separation (e.g. bedtime) has been problematic since the ILs left. She loves Jaden though, and gives him kisses all the time. (If anyone makes it this far,) thank you to the group for all the support, especially during the last couple weeks. Wishing you all healthy pregnancies and happy babies. -- Cheryl S. Mom to Julie, 2 yr., 5 mo. And new arrival, Jaden Cleaning the house while your children are small is like shoveling the sidewalk while it's still snowing. |
#2
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Jaden's birth story (very, very long!)
Cheryl S. wrote: (If anyone makes it this far,) thank you to the group for all the support, especially during the last couple weeks. Wishing you all healthy pregnancies and happy babies. Hah! I bet everyone makes it this far. What a lovely birth. Congratulations to all! Mary |
#3
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Jaden's birth story (very, very long!)
Wonderful birth story, Cheryl. It was well worth the wait! I admit, I was
getting impatient! Congratulations again, to you and your family! -- Amy~ Tre' (6/92) Keelyn (6/95) Peyton (10/00) Halli (8/15/03) |
#4
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Jaden's birth story (very, very long!)
"Cheryl S." wrote:
(If anyone makes it this far,) thank you to the group for all the support, especially during the last couple weeks. Wishing you all healthy pregnancies and happy babies. -- Cheryl S. Mom to Julie, 2 yr., 5 mo. And new arrival, Jaden Cleaning the house while your children are small is like shoveling the sidewalk while it's still snowing. What a great story Cheryl. I guess when Jaden REALLY decided to come there was no doubt:-) Congratulations again! Great job! Love, karen |
#5
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Jaden's birth story (very, very long!)
Congrats!
Mark "Cheryl S." wrote in message ... I started having contractions at 36 weeks. They continued for two weeks, getting increasingly uncomfortable, and even prompted a "practice run" to the birth center during week 37. At 38 weeks, my doula advised crawling around to help the baby turn into a better position and hopefully get the contractions to stop, since I was having a hard time dealing with how long they were dragging on. The crawling worked! They went almost completely away for the next week. At 39 weeks, 3 days, I had two hours of contractions that were the classic textbook early labor "waves", then started seeing a slight but steady bloody show over the next day and a half. The contractions kept stopping and starting, so based on previous experience I just got more annoyed than hopeful or excited. The next evening starting around dinner time, I had much stronger, very frequent contractions. DH tried to time them but it was hard for me to remember to give him clear signals when they started and stopped. At 8:00 I called my sister and asked her if she'd rather come to spend the night then, and have it turn out to be another "practice run", or risk being called in the middle of the night. She chose to come then, arriving around 9:30. Around 9:00 we called our doula, Gloria, and she came to the house, arriving sometime around 10:00. Shortly after Gloria arrived, the contractions stopped, *again*! Gloria (who's also a DEM) checked me and tried to determine the baby's exact position. I was about 2-3 cm and though the head was very low, she couldn't feel the skull well enough to tell which way he was facing, but thought he might be transverse to posterior (just the head - his overall body position was certainly vertex). She said to pay attention to how long each individual contraction lasted, when they started up again, to help determine when to call her again, and that they should be consistently between 45-90 seconds long, and increasing in length over time. I'm sure she didn't particularly want to come out a third time for nothing! She went home, and we went to sleep around 11:30. At 1:00 am I got up, feeling very uncomfortable, and went downstairs. These contractions were very intense, much more than anything previous, with very little "warm up" sensation before getting really painful. I got DH around 3:00 and we timed them. I had no trouble telling him when they started and stopped this time! They were all about 75 seconds long. We were still totally unsure what to do at that point after so many false starts, but eventually decided it was worth waking Gloria up. But we got her answering machine at home, and no response to her pager. By that time I had decided I wanted to go to the birth center, Right Now. So we called to let them know we were coming, and they asked us to call my midwife, Joan as well. I paged Joan and she agreed we ought to head in. Getting dressed was a challenge because the contractions were coming so frequently. I put one shoe on, then went to put on the other and couldn 't manage. I could still talk during the contraction, but just barely. Saying to DH, "Could you put on my other shoe, please?" became only a plaintive, "shoe?". The 20- minute car ride was awful, since I couldn't move at all. As we pulled into the hospital complex, I had a bad one and DH encouraged me by saying, "last one in the car". Not so - I had another one halfway to the emergency/nighttime entrance, and had to wait for yet another to end before getting out of the car. We were hastily taken up to the birth center, getting into our room at 4:00 am. I barely remember it now, but the nurse assisted me into a hospital gown (my choice - could have worn my own) and I'm sure must have taken my temperature and blood pressure, and listened for the baby' s heartbeat. (They do that every 15 minutes during the first hour of admission.) I got in the shower. It felt good where the water was hitting my belly, but the rest of me was freezing cold and I couldn't find a comfortable position so I got out after only two or three contractions. I started a pattern of leaning on the edge of the bed with my hands, and side-stepping around to the other side of the bed and back during each contraction. The nurse let us know that she'd heard from Gloria, who was on her way there. At 4:30 we decided to do a check to see if I could get in the tub yet. I was about 4 cm, and needed to get to 5. I continued my side-stepping for a while, and Gloria encouraged me to use the birth ball as well. I couldn't endure contractions while sitting on it at first, but she talked me into staying on it between them at least, and I did manage a few contractions on it as well. A short time later I was no longer able to move during the peak of the contraction and just stayed wherever I had ended up in my circuit of the bed. I could not stay relaxed, and my low-pitched moan kept rising in pitch. Gloria was absolutely wonderful, talking me down, getting in my face and moaning with low pitches for me to match, telling me to keep breathing, relax my jaw, etc. I would have lost it completely if not for her. At 5:00, we started talking about the tub again. Even though it had only been half an hour, the contractions were so intense they thought it possible I'd dilated another whole centimeter. I suggested we wait another few contractions. I don't actually remember that check being done, but I know they started filling the tub. I got in and the warmth of the water felt so good. One end of the tub had a molded reclining seat with arm rests and foot holds; the other end had a shelf that I could lean my arms on to kneel or squat. It was quite deep, and I could float easily. I started out in the seat, but kind of needed the foot rests to be about an inch closer to me (I'm short). So I got upright and used the shelf for support. Even in the water, the contractions were getting extremely intense. As each one built up, I would start swaying from side to side like a hungry caged lion, and it seemed to me I was shouting (Gloria told me later I wasn't really that loud) obscenities. (Em, our mkp "muscles working" mantra did work for me for Julie's birth, but the F and S words just felt much more appropriate this time As each contraction peaked, in whatever random direction I happened to be pointing, I'd ram my head into the side of the tub - oh, oops, it's hard - ow! After a few times of doing that I managed to control myself enough to slam my head into the towel they'd folded thickly and hung over the side instead. I was floating most of the time, belly down, legs drawn up, probably looking a lot like a frog. I reached down and felt inside, and could feel his head! I let them know this and they checked and said I was at 6 cm. I mentioned that 6 cm was the last check I had before starting to push with Julie. I also mentioned that I'd had a long rest phase just prior to transition with Julie, and she came really fast after that, because even at this point I was still slightly worried about being sent home, still pregnant! After a few more contractions I suggested they start draining the tub so I could get out well before the urge to push hit me. They wanted me to stay in as long as possible, for my comfort, so said they'd wait a bit longer since I was "only" at 6 cm. The next two contractions, I totally lost control, then on the third one started pushing! I was screaming that I was pushing, they were trying to get the water drained out to below the level of the door so I could get out. My midwife, Joan, came scrambling around the side of the tub to try and help me get control, slipped on the water on the floor and fell, spraining her ankle. She got right back up and put my forehead on her shoulder, with her arm tight around my head, telling me to breathe and not push in her lovely but commanding Irish accent. I got back in control, then she said, "now we're going to turn around" and walked me around to the other side of the tub to where the door was. With much help, I made it out of the tub and onto the bed. I started pushing on all-fours, though my arms were very tired and it quickly became face-and-knees rather than hands-and-knees, and my legs kept sliding out from under me on the slippery blue plastic pads. It wasn't working, so they asked me to roll over. I somehow got into a semi-sitting position. It took me a contraction or two to realize my body wasn't going to overpower me and push this baby out on its own, as happened with Julie. I had to make a conscious effort to push this time, and it was really hard work. Joan was a great coach, having me sometimes "grunt him out, little grunts", other times, "push now, hard!" , and as he crowned, "pant, pant, let him ease out, give it time to stretch", and using warm compresses to give me lots of support. The ring of fire hurt enough that it made me not want to push but they got me to do it anyway. Finally his head was out and I breathed while they suctioned him. Then I had to push really hard again, and felt each shoulder as it popped out, quickly followed by the rest of him, at 6:46 am. Pushing had taken about 10 minutes. Then suddenly all was calm as he laid on my stomach and we greeted each other. I couldn't believe he was really here and felt so totally overwhelmed with both love and relief. After a few minutes DH cut the cord. When the third-stage contractions started up, I asked DH to hold him, which he did until the placenta was out and I was stitched up. I had just one small tear, along the scarline from my previous tear, and a skid mark next to it. They also weighed him during this time, 8 pounds and 1 ounce. All other procedures were delayed until after he'd nursed. He latched right on and has been nursing wonderfully ever since. Two hours later, the amazement of what I'd just done really hit me, along with how great it was to have not had a single intervention. And also elation at the thought, "I am never doing this again!" I'm feeling really good, not even all that sleep-deprived. A little achy through the hips, but ibuprofen takes care of that. Jaden is so contented. I know no one believes mothers who say this but he has been smiling real smiles since one day old. He only cries when hungry or having his diaper changed, and when not eating, spends the rest of the time sleeping anywhere, with quiet, alert states here and there. Julie has been coping fairly well, though it's been harder for her since DH's parents went home two days ago (they stayed with us 6 days and did everything for me). Julie wants me to do more for her than I really can at this point and any separation (e.g. bedtime) has been problematic since the ILs left. She loves Jaden though, and gives him kisses all the time. (If anyone makes it this far,) thank you to the group for all the support, especially during the last couple weeks. Wishing you all healthy pregnancies and happy babies. -- Cheryl S. Mom to Julie, 2 yr., 5 mo. And new arrival, Jaden Cleaning the house while your children are small is like shoveling the sidewalk while it's still snowing. |
#6
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Jaden's birth story (very, very long!)
"Cheryl S." wrote in message
snip hours later, the amazement of what I'd just done really hit me, along with how great it was to have not had a single intervention. And also elation at the thought, "I am never doing this again!" I'm feeling really good, not even all that sleep-deprived. A little achy through the hips, but ibuprofen takes care of that. Jaden is so contented. I know no one believes mothers who say this but he has been smiling real smiles since one day old. He only cries when hungry or having his diaper changed, and when not eating, spends the rest of the time sleeping anywhere, with quiet, alert states here and there. Julie has been coping fairly well, though it's been harder for her since DH's parents went home two days ago (they stayed with us 6 days and did everything for me). Julie wants me to do more for her than I really can at this point and any separation (e.g. bedtime) has been problematic since the ILs left. She loves Jaden though, and gives him kisses all the time. (If anyone makes it this far,) thank you to the group for all the support, especially during the last couple weeks. Wishing you all healthy pregnancies and happy babies. What a great, powerful story Cheryl! I felt very "edge of my seat" while reading it, not because there was anything bad happening, but because there was so much *action*. I had to lol about the "muscles working" thing. Maybe it is a first time baby thing only? Based on your and Tiina's recent experiences with second babies, muscles working gets tossed aside in favor of f*** & s***! Congratulations again and welcome to baby Jaden! You did such an excellent job! -- Em edd 9/23/03 (38w2d) |
#7
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Jaden's birth story (very, very long!)
Great story Cheryl, thanks for sharing it )
Welcome to little Jaden! And omg at your midwife slipping on the water! -- Andrea If I can't be a good example, then I'll just have to be a horrible warning. |
#8
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Jaden's birth story (very, very long!)
What a great birth story! Thanks for sharing it, Cheryl. :-) Congrats!
-- Alpha alphawave at earthlink dot net |
#9
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Jaden's birth story (very, very long!)
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#10
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Jaden's birth story (very, very long!)
cheryl,
your birth story sounds wonderful...i would LOVE to have a tub...it sounds like it was just the thing for you. i am sure that he is beautiful too. melanie |
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