~*~*Beth's (countrygirl83) Birth Lodge*~*~

[lomelindi]

Awww!!! Look at that little sweetie! Congrats!!!

[countrygirl83]

Cassy's birth story really starts on Thursday Sept 3rd at 3:30 am. I woke up unable able to sleep because my stomach felt upset. I went to the restroom and realized I was having contractions. They were not horribly strong, but they were definitely not Braxton Hicks. I timed them and they were anywhere from 5-15 minutes apart. I knew they would either get closer together or stop, so I tried to sleep as much as possible. However, I was unable to fall asleep and ended up staying awake. They spaced out as the morning wore on, so I took DS to WalMart. I was feeling pretty achy, but the contractions continued to be sporadic. My main fear was that my water would break while I was in WalMart. The contractions continued to be 15-30 minutes apart all day long and I started losing bloody mucus. I knew I was probably in early labor, but had no idea how long it would last. So I kept doing the last-minute things that needed to be done. That evening, DH and I took a mile and a half walk (our nightly routine). It felt so good to walk, and I remember thinking maybe I was just going to have contractions like this for several days.
I woke up Friday morning at 230 with the same contractions only they were a little stronger and now they were around 7-10 minutes apart. I was unable to sleep through them, but I was able to breathe and relax and sleep between them. I found myself instinctively moving around to get comfortable. I was on the exercise ball, kneeling, sitting straight up, standing and leaning on the counter. At around 5, they were 5-7 minutes apart, but I was still tolerating them well. I woke DH up and told him that I was probably in labor. He had to be at work at 7, so we had decide soon if I was going to go to L&D. I wasn't sure if I should go yet, as I wanted to be at home as long as possible.
We hung around and after he watched me during the contractions for a while told me WERE going to the hospital. We dropped DS off at my friends and got the hospital around 630. They checked me around 7:30 am and I was 5 cm and 100%. I was a little disappointed since I had been in labor for a while. I was hoping I would move quickly this time.
I got settled into a L&D room. DH finished a surgery and came down at about 830 (he works at the hospital I delivered at). The contractions were strong, but I was able to breathe through them and move around as much as I needed (they let off the monitors for 45 mins out of each hour). The nurse I had was really good about just letting me do whatever I needed to do and encouraging me to stay natural. At 1030, I was only 6 cm. The contractions were stronger, but not horribly close together. The most comfortable position was sitting straight up in bed with my heels together. So I alternated between this and getting up. At 1:30, I was 7 cm. At this point, I was getting frustrated. I did not want to be doing this all day!
At 3:30, I was still 7 cm. I could have cried. I could feel myself getting worn out. I hadn't slept Wednesday or Tuesday night very well at all so I was really low on sleep. The contractions were strong, but not unbearable so I tried to stay positive and just let my body do what it needed to. At 4 pm, I let the OB break my water. When she did, she said I was almost complete with just a small rim around the head. I thought, "Yes, I am really doing this!" The L&D nurse warned me it would make the labor more intense, but would probably move things faster. For an hour the contractions steadily got stronger. At 5, they were VERY intense, but I was tolerating them well with moaning and just relaxing. I got up to use the bathroom and it was very uncomfortable to get up (I started puking at this point), and I hung around DH's neck and squatted to make it through the contractions. I was hoping this would move baby down, but I never felt her budge. When I was back in bed, she checked me again and the "lip" was still there. At 530, it was still there. I was getting scared as the contractions were REALLY hard and nothing was happening. She had me roll to the right side and instantly my back felt like it was being torn apart. She had me roll over to the left side after a few contractions. She felt like the baby was somewhat crooked and needed to turn to be able to descend properly. While I was on my left side, she had me push a little. That was really hard, as there was NO urge to push and the contractions were worse on my side. She was getting concerned and the word "abnormal" was mentioned. The baby still wasn't moving. I was losing my resolve and pretty much begged DH to get me an epidural.
My OB assured me baby would be here soon if only we could get that "rim" of cervix out of the way. She wanted me to try pushing on my side again, but I felt like my body was working against me (I was on my side with my head lower than my feet). I was really losing touch with reality and getting scared that this baby was not going to be born vaginally. I tried to push but when the contraction came, all I could do was moan and say, "I can't". I asked if I could try to push on my back, as it felt better to be on my back or sitting up a little. We tried, but nothing happened. The OB said something about an epidural might give just enough relaxation to move the baby down. At this point, the anesthesiologist came in. I don't remember what time it was (around 6:15 or 6:30). I had three contractions during the few minutes it took him to get the epidural in and they were crazy intense because by this point I wasn't thinking about relaxing or trying to go natural. I just wanted the baby here and safe.
He just gave me a quick injection of medication since I was so close to delivering, but he left the catheter in "just in case we need to do a C/S". As soon as the epidural was in (before I even laid back down), I felt the baby move down and I needed to push. I could still feel almost everything, but my body took over at that point and it felt good to push. 3-4 good pushes, and a good yell, and she was born at 6:55. It was amazing actually feeling her being born. Even the tearing didn't matter. DH says I yelled when I felt the tear, but I don't remember it really being that bad. I just remember feeling her move down and thinking, "She's actually being born!". It hurt, but was so exhilarating.
After she was born, I was so awake and alert. With DS, I don't remember even being excited that he was born, I was so drowsy. This was so much better. I didn't need pitocin afterwards, and only had three stitches.
In a way, I was really disappointed that I didn't make it totally natural, but I think I did everything I could to make it happen. DH made the comment that if the baby had come a few hours earlier, I'd probably been able to do it, but he felt like I was so worn down by the time I got to the point of pushing, that it made it much harder. I think he was just trying to make me feel better I probably should have asked her to break my water earlier, but there's always something that I could say "might" have made things different. She is healthy, I am healthy, it is over, and she is perfect.

[graysonsmom]

Ahhhh you guys look awesome!! Sounds like a long labor for you. I'm sure you were exhausted and that didn't help things move quickly. I had my labor broken earlier in labor with #3 and I don't know that I think that is a good idea I'm glad your doing well and I look forward to more pictures as things get back to normal for you!

[OperaDiva]

Wow, it sounds like you had a really long labor, but it really does sound like the epi was exactly what you needed, and you really only needed it for those last few minutes! I agree that breaking your water earlier may not have helped, it didn't really sound like it changed things much for you.

I hope you are enjoying your beautiful baby girl! Congratulations again!

[kaype]

congrats! she is beautiful

[Karrie5]

Congratulations!!

I agree with the other girls about breaking your water earlier. With DD my water broke before contractions started and it was TOUGH. I think it sounds like things went really well for you and the epi was a good thing.

[Meemers]

You did such a good job, Beth! I am so proud of you. She is beautiful and you look so happy in that picture. Great job. I think you did the best you could and having the epi in the last few minutes was probably what you needed to get her to come down. Everything worked out. Like you said, you are both healthy and that is what really matters.

[countrygirl83]

Thanks ladies. I really felt so guilty after I got the epidural, but it certainly seemed to be what I needed. Plus, I was able to walk immediately and never had the residual numbness or problems that sometimes occur with epidurals.
Well, things are definitely different with two kids. Truman seems to like his sister, but doesn't understand the concept of being gentle around her. So far she hasn't been injured, but I've had a few moments of panic.
My milk came in when she was only two days old. I have not been sore at all from her nursing. She has been nursing every 1 1/2 hrs during the day and about every 3 hrs. during the night. Why can't I have one of those babies that sleeps 6 hrs straight when they are only a few days old?
She has gained back to above her birth weight.
I feel so good this time. I don't know why, but things just aren't as "out of whack" as they were when I had DS. I seriously don't feel like I had a baby. The only problem is that I get so frustrated that I feel so good, but can't do everything I want to do. I seem to be holding a baby or changing a diaper constantly and can't keep up with the housework and other things like I want to. I keep reminding myself that those things will always be there to do, but I won't always have a newborn and a 15-month-old to hold.
Truman and his "bebe":

[lomelindi]

I totally hear you about feeling really good and not feeling as out of whack this time around, that's how I felt after having DD. Get your rest and enjoy this special time with your little ones! Glad to hear she's nursing so well for you, wtg mama and baby!

[ShiningLight]

Oh what a sweet, beautiful little girl! I am proud of you for how you handled everything. Way to Go Mama!