Erin Eileen's drug free delivery (not by choice)

DS was born 19 months prior and he was almost 2 weeks early so of course I was expecting the same for DD. Needless to say, it was a completely different experience between the two deliveries. With him my water broke and I was in labor for 30+ hours, had an epidural, was exhausted and he was vacuum extracted after 1.5 hours of pushing because his heart rate was erratic and I didn’t have to energy to push him out.
This pregnancy was quite uneventful until the last month. At 36 weeks we found out she was breech, measuring small and the fluid was low. I was able to get the fluid up with a few days of bed rest and tons of fluids. Unfortunately, she was still breech at 37 weeks so after much thought and research I went in to the hospital to attempt a version procedure. I was desperate to avoid a C Section as I had a vaginal delivery with DS. I couldn’t stand the thought of leaving DS for 4 days and the recovery was too daunting to even think about with an active toddler at home. I was also terrified of surgery as I have never had one before. I was a wreck. My OB told me I was a great candidate for the version procedure being that I had a prior vaginal delivery and she was small. We went in to the hospital and the OB attempted to turn her three times. It was terrible pain but having gone through labor and delivery before it wasn’t as bad as that! She did not budge. She was not moving. I was devastated but knew I had tried. We scheduled a C-section for 10/26. Two weeks later.
I couldn’t leave it be and I had tried the medical route and it did not work so I contacted my acupuncturist. I had spoken to my midwife about using acupuncture to flip her and she told me it didn’t work. I decided to try anyway. I saw my acupuncturist once and she gave me an herb, Moxi to burn over my pinky toes twice a day. The heat is supposed to cause baby to turn. That was Thursday that I started that regiment. I never felt her move. I had a sono that following Monday and Little Miss flipped. I had no clue. I never felt it and was absolutely overjoyed! The acupuncture worked!
DD’s due date was Monday, October 31st. Thankfully Little Miss held out so we could enjoy Halloween with DS. That night I lost a big chunk of my mucus plug. I woke up around 2 am with some contractions. I began timing them and they were 7-10 minutes apart. They subsided around 6:30am. I had an appt at 10:30 so I figured I would talk to midwife then. I had sono (she was still head down) and did NST and everything looked good, she was est to be 6.6 which is still small for 40w1d but I guess I just make small babies because the cord looked good and all tests were good. I was 1-2 cm. and explained I had lost plug and was having contractions. She told me to drink and eat and take it easy and I had another appt Thursday but she didn’t think I’d make it. She told me we were waiting for them to get closer and more intense and then to call her.
Fast forward to 6pm that evening, and the contractions began again. They were coming every 5-7 minutes apart and lasting anywhere from 45 seconds to 1 minute. I took a bath and walked around the house and bounced on the birthing ball. I called my mom and sister who were going to watch DS. My mom was telling me to wait it out before going to hospital because I rotted so long there with DS and wanted to avoid that again. I called midwife at 9pm and she told me if I wanted to come into hospital I could but to remember I can’t get epidural until 4cm so keep that in mind. So I decided to stay home longer. I took another bath. Such relief. I wish I could have had a water birth! Finally at 10:15 I had enough. I needed relief. We left for the hospital. I told my mom we would call her when we got settled. She was going to be there when DD was born. She was a part of DS’s birth too. We got to St. Charles at 10:40pm and had to go through the ER to be admitted. They must have thought I was crazy. I could hardly speak and was miserable. Thankfully they didn’t make me wait. I was checked in right away. They wanted to wheel me to the L&D but I preferred to walk. Sitting was not happening. Walking helped me. I got there and my midwife was like what happened to you. I can’t believe you waited so long. I got changed and she checked me at 11pm and I was 3 cm. She told me I needed a full bag of fluid and labs checked before I got epidural so by the time that happened I should be 4. I was begging for the epidural. I was in such pain. As I got the IV, my water broke. It was a gush and everywhere. I was freaking out in pain. I ran to the bathroom and immediately started throwing up (well not really, it was bile). I was in such pain. The nurse kept telling me to lay in the bed so she could monitor the baby because she didn’t get a tracing yet but I was telling her I couldn’t lay down because I was in such pain. She finally got me to lie in the bed and I was in such pain. At that point the midwife came in and said anasteologist was ready for me but my labs weren’t back and so he left to d a C-Section so I would have to wait a half hour, that was at 11:45pm. I thought I was going to die. I was in such pain. I was grabbing at DH and yelling like a lunatic. I asked him to get my mom. So he text her to come. All of a sudden I had a crazy urge to push and was in even more pain. My midwife checked me and I was 9.5. They started to freak because they weren’t ready to deliver a baby. There was a mad scramble to prepare the room (according to DS…I had no clue what was going on) and then I was ready to push. They made me hold off initially to prepare themselves. Three pushes and Erin Eileen entered the world on 11/2/11 at 12:18am. I couldn’t believe it. I had given birth naturally (not by choice) and she was here. I had instant relief!!! No more pain! My mom walked in 6 minutes later and saw her granddaughter and me on the table. She was shocked! There was no tearing and I got one stitch on the inside because of an abrasion that was bleeding a lot. My hemorrhoids are killing me (Thanks to DS’s delivery) but that is ok. She was here and healthy. She came in at 5.15 ¾ so they rounded it up to 6lbs even and is 18.5 inches long.
My recovery has been great. I left the hospital a day early because I had to get out of there. I feel great mentally and physically as compared to after DS’s birth I was a mess. I honestly think that having no drugs plays a big part in that. I am exclusively breastfeeding and Erin is doing amazing. She was down to 5.8 on Friday and was up to 6.1 already today. She is a champ. She is an absolute dream baby. I love her to pieces. DS has been great and has accepted her. Thankfully he is still too young to understand jealousy so it hasn’t been an issue. I am the happiest woman in the world and being a mommy is amazing.
All through my pregnancy my midwife swore that #2 is so much quicker than #1 and she promised me that the labor would be half the time of my first. Well she was right. It was even quicker than she anticipated. Thanks for reading! Here are some pictures of my lovebug!!

Message edited 11/8/2011 10:21:03 AM.

Re: Erin Eileen's drug free delivery (not by choice)

She has the sweetest little face. I'm so happy she turned for you! Congrats

Re: Erin Eileen's drug free delivery (not by choice)

Re: Erin Eileen's drug free delivery (not by choice)

Great story! Congrats on your beautiful girl!

Re: Erin Eileen's drug free delivery (not by choice)

Wow what a story! She is so cute! Congratulations!

Re: Erin Eileen's drug free delivery (not by choice)

Wow! What a story! I am intrigued that the acupuncture worked to turn her! Congrats!

Re: Erin Eileen's drug free delivery (not by choice)

Congratulations!! That is such an incredible story! She's beautiful!

Re: Erin Eileen's drug free delivery (not by choice)

Posted by Shelleybean11

Wow! What a story! I am intrigued that the acupuncture worked to turn her! Congrats!

Re: Erin Eileen's drug free delivery (not by choice)

congratulations! she is adorable!

Re: Erin Eileen's drug free delivery (not by choice)

great story!!!! congratulations, she is absolutely beautiful!

Re: Erin Eileen's drug free delivery (not by choice)

I had an almost identical birth with my DS!! Everything from being told no epi, to water breaking and going from 3-9 that fast. It was painful but wasn't the result so great? I was the only new mom walking around 20 minutes after giving birth lol.. I'm TTC for #2 and wondering if my next will be quicker than my 5 hr, 2 push labor. Your story proves my Drs right! Best wishes!

Re: Erin Eileen's drug free delivery (not by choice)

i was drawn to this post & had to comment bc my name is also Erin Eileen

congratulations!! she is gorgeous!