Ellie's Birth

I considered a homebirth during my first pregnancy, but dh was frightened by the idea and I quickly dropped the idea. I also considered a birthing center run by a CNM and a backup doctor, but that birthing center was a two hour drive (not counting potential traffic)and I was due in January. So, I chose an OB and so began my prenatal journey.

The first 36 weeks of my pregnancy were uneventful. At my OB's recommendation, I had quit working working out at Curves at the beginning of my pregnancy, so I was no longer getting any exercise. (BTW, I disagree with this recommendation and I did workout through my second pregnancy with my midwife's okay and had a fast, easy labor. This OB only endorsed walking for exercise.) I continued working full-time. At my 36w appointment, my blood pressure was slightly elevated so my OB told me to rest as much as possible after work each day and to come back in a couple days. When she checked me for dialation, I was 3cm and 80% effaced. When I returned a few days later, my bp was again elevated (it was fine when I monitored it at home) so she sent me to the hospital for monitoring. I stayed overnight, and even started contracting regularly during this time but the contractions stopped. OB sent me home on bedrest. My bp was 130/80 and I was not spilling protein or sugar in my urine. I was able to get up to pee and take a shower once a day, but otherwise I was to rest. At the time, I did not research this recommendation and I simply took my OB's advice as gospel. :(

When I returned for my next visit at 37w5d, she recommended that I go to the hospital to be induced, but that she wished to wait until I was 38 weeks along. So we scheduled the induction for two days later. On Friday morning, I woke up at 5am and began preparing to go to the hospital. I was to call and make sure they had a room for me, and alas, when I called there were women delivering in the hallway. No room in the Inn! :( Discouraged, I went back to bed since I wasn't supposed to be doing anything (overkill I think!). All day long I got the same response, and finally my OB returned my call to let me know that we needed to wait until the next morning. So the next morning was a repeat of the previous day, except this time they told me to come on in.

We arrived at the hospital shortly after 6am to fill out paperwork (I had supposedly already filled out pre-admittance forms, but it took forever anyway). By 7am, I was esconsed in a labor and delivery room. They checked me again and I was still 3cm, 80%. They put in the IV, blowing three veins (they blew three veins the week before as well, so my arms were covered in nasty bruises in all my pictures). Once the IV was in, we just laid around and waited. and waited. I didn't connect with my nurse at all, she was rather standoffish and at times downright rude. An hour or two later, my OB came in and broke my water (AROM). Suddenly, I was feeling the contractions and very uncomfortable. Getting up to go to the bathroom was a pain because of the IV and the straps (they wanted continuous monitoring) but I kept getting up because it felt so good to squat on the toilet. After a few hours of this, they gave me an ultimatum- internal fetal monitoring or stay in bed. Instead of telling them to take a hike, I chose the internal monitoring. I wanted so much to labor in the shower, but they wouldn't let me do that either. I felt so imprisoned. At this point, I believe I entered transition. Every contraction squeezed another little gush of water (what little was left) and I was moaning in agony. The nurse kept pushing an epidural despite my birth plan (which was completely ignored) stating I would request pain relief if I wanted it. She told my mom (right in front of me) that it would be dinnertime before the baby was born, it was about 2:00pm. I ended up conceding to a shot of Nubain. I did not do well at all with the narcotic, I was sooo nauseated and had a horrible case of vertigo- and the contractions hurt just as badly. The pictures of me laboring just after my shot show a drunken laboring woman hanging from my hubby's neck. Oh my, that's me. Not my finest hour!

Finally, there just was no stopping me... at 3:00pm the need to push was overwhelming. They kept saying things like "don't push" and "pant!". Who are they kidding? I ignored them and just tried to survive the pushing stage. Pushing in lithomy position is agonizing! When I tried the squat bar, dd's heartrate lowered so I was back to the lithomy position. Arrgh! I pushed for approx. 38 minutes and dd was born at 3:38pm after a deep episiotomy was cut into my perineum. :( Ellie was born weighing in at 6lb 2oz and 18 inches long. A very delicate, petite and sleepy baby. Nursing Ellie was hard work (Breastfeeding) and I believe it due to her not being ready to be born and the narcotics. My pelvic floor muscles were so overworked from pushing in a semi-lying position and my episiotomy stitches were very sore. If it hadn't been for that, I would have felt wonderful. Because I had an IV for so many hours, I was swollen and left the hospital weighing 5lb less than when I went it despite birthing a 6lb baby, placenta and amniotic fluid. Thankfully I did get to enjoy a birth high, although not as great as the birth high following my second birth. :o)

I took control of my next birth by planning a homebirth, on my turf and hiring a wonderful midwife. It was a very healing experience. Although my first birth was not what I hoped for, I have my beautiful daughter- and I learned from it. :)