shapla79
Where Does The Time Go?
Member since 11/07 4619 total posts
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Lyla Ara - September 13, 2009
On Sunday, September 13th, I was relaxing with DS and DH at home. I had been having contractions since I was 30 weeks, so the contractions I felt that day were no different than usual. A little after 4 pm, the pain from the contractions felt a little different and I was feeling twinges in my lower back. I had a feeling this could be it because I had back labor with DS and didn't even know it. I started keeping track of the contractions on contractionmaster.com. Thank you to which ever LIF'er recommended this site!
I told DH to warn his parents that this may be it (they live 2 1/2 hours away) and that we would call them again when I called the OB. I was waiting for my contractions to be 5 minutes apart for an hour (as instructed by my OB). However, I never saw that pattern. They jumped from being 10-15 minutes apart to all of a sudden staying consistently 3 minutes apart, each lasting for 1 1/2 minutes. The next thing I knew, I heard a loud pop and my water broke! DS was sleeping on a blanket on the floor next to where I was standing when it happened. I was so grateful none of it landed on him!
I yelled to DH that we needed to go and to call someone to watch DS as he napped through all the commotion. I called my OB and he told me to come in right away. I was a little nervous because there was meconium in the water.
Of course on our drive to the hospital, we hit almost every red light. When I got to the hospital I took the elevator up to L&D while DH went to park the car. In the elevator, one of the guys looked at me and said, "Ummm are you okay? You don't look so good." I told him I'm about to have a baby. Secretly I was cursing him for needing to stop on the 2nd floor and wishing the elevator would hurry up.
Once I got to L&D, I learned I was 6 cm and the doc who checked me out at that point (never met him before) said, "Oh, it looks like this baby will be here by 9 pm!" The only thing on my mind was EPIDURAL. I asked if I could have one asap because the pain was getting to be unbearable. He reassured me and told me I could absolutely get one. The nurses put an IV in me and offered me "something to help me relax." I asked her point blank which drug and she said Stadol. I told her absolutely not- I've heard too many horror stories about the effects on mom and baby. I told her just an epidural would be fine. While the nurses were waiting for enough IV fluid to get in me before getting the epidural, they called the anesthesiologist. Eventually, my OB walked in and checked on me. I was 8 cm. Everyone reassured me I still had time to get an epidural. The nurses set up the pump and the anesthesia cart. Everything was ready to go, the only person missing was the anesthesiologist! I was so thankful when he walked in the door a few minutes later. He was checking his cart when all of a sudden I felt this incredible urge to push. The anesthesiologist looked at me and gave me this alarmed look. He and I both knew the epidural was not going to happen. Mentally, I never prepared for a natural child birth and couldn't believe this was happening to me! I cried as the anesthesiologist walked away.
Within a few seconds, a bunch of nurses and docs stormed in the room. I began screaming that I couldn't do this and the OB calmly told me the screaming wouldn't help anything and to focus all my energy on pushing. 4 pushes later, my daughter was here! She let out a beautiful cry and I wanted to hold her so badly. I had second degree tears again (also had them when DS was born). The OB then gave me pitocin to help get the placenta out. While I was getting stitched up, the shivering and chills kicked in from the rush of hormones. While recovering, DD latched beautifully and began feeding on me. Eventually she was taken away to get cleaned up. Two hours later, I was transferred to postpartum.
My total labor from first real contraction at home to delivery was a little under 2 1/2 hours. I learned that second labors happened quickly, but I had no idea it would be that quick! DS's labor was 39 hours from start to finish, with the last 14 hours spent at the hospital.
Looking back, while having a natural child birth was empowering...it was also one of the most traumatic experiences of my life. I guess it was because I planned on getting an epi and wasn't mentally prepared to deal with going drug free. Writing this is bittersweet, because this was my last pregnancy. DH and I planned on having two kids and now feel like our family is complete. Who knows though, maybe we'll change our minds in a few years or receive another surprise. So far DS is very curious about his little sister. He keeps poking her and treating her like a toy. He wanted to stay and play with her instead of going to daycare this morning. I'm hoping they'll grow up to be the best of friends since they're 17 months apart!
Without further adieu...
Lyla Ara
September 13, 2009
6:35 pm
7 pounds, 2 ounces Image Attachment(s):
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