I am a mommy to a beautiful baby girl!! Please welcome to the world:

Madison Grace aka "Mady" born 1/2/09 6lbs 14oz 19 1/2 inches long



Hi ladies, i have had my hands quit full this past week!! This is the first time i've been able to really sit down and write! First let me add that being a mom is better than i could have ever imagined. I am sooooo in love with her


While i have a quick NY minute, here is an overview of my birth story:


1/1/09- at 6:30am my water broke, I went back to bed to rest for the marathon ahead of me. My midwife said to go to the hospital by 12pm. i had breakfast at 11:30am ( which was my last meal unbeknownst to me) .

Got to the hospital by 1pm. A doctor confirmed that my water did break. Shortly after, i was given an enema
that was not a very pleasant experience!!!

My midwife arrives and gives me a prostaglandin ( not pitocin.. something called cytotech) since i wasn't experiencing any contractions. Since my water broke, this was absolutely necessary in order to jump start labor. Shortly after, i started experiencing contractions however the pain was mostly concentrated in my back! That's right, i had a back labor! It was extremely painful and uncomfortable. I tried everything, i sat on a medicine ball while my dh applied pressure, a shower... nothing!! I was unable to rest in between contractions which is crucial!!

At 5 cm dilated, i decided to get the epidural. I just could not take the pain of my back any more. i knew that i had a lot of work and time ahead of me and i needed the rest esp. since i was not allowed to eat or drink.

i got the epi.which didnt hurt at all!! Shortly after my legs started going numb- great! however, in my case, everything was numb except the back pain!!!!! W** T** F ???? I was soooo upset! i cried! The whole reason for getting the epi was to relieve the back pain yet it was still there!! They gave me more and yet again, it did not go to the area of "attack" I was still in pain and unable to rest/sleep in between contractions. At this point, i am TIRED, HUNGRY, and desperately needing a drink of WATER. The iv hydrated me but i just needed that relief of water going in my mouth. Ice chips did nothing! I was weak and tired and feeling discouraged and the back pain was constant at this point.
We called in the dr. in again to give me another round of epi but he advised against it. My midwife stepped up and said she needed me to be able to rest and be comfortable in order to for me to go on. and let me tell u, thank God!! we did a 3rd round of epi and she made me turn on my side where the pain was concentrated so that the epi could go to that area. i finally had some relief!!
i fell asleep for 2 hours. i woke up to my pain in my spin this time but atleast i was able to sleep.

My midwife said that i was in active labor and that i could start pushing if i wanted!! well, noone told me that pushing a baby out could be an all night process! I was very numb so it was very hard to push correctly. you have to push like you are having a bowel movement however, i literally had to mentally push b/c i couldnt feel anything! eventually the epi started wearing off and it allowed me to push but for some reason i was having trouble with the pushing/breathing method. as the hours passed i got a little better each time but i felt like i was climbing a mount everst! i kept pushing and felt no progress yet everyone was telling me that i was progressing. I was feeling down and out and cried b/c i was pushing for 3 hours at that point and felt like it was never ending.
My midwife and husband kept encouraging me and reassuring me but i still felt deflated. Eventually the midwife brought a mirror so that i could see what was going on. No matter how much i pushed, i kept seeing the same image- a bit of the baby's hair. Another 3 hours later i kept seeing a little more of the baby's head. it still felt endless but i kept seeing more and more.
After total of 6 hours of pushing, i finally got the baby out!!! it was the most amazing experience ever! My husband had the honor of announcing the sex b.c we didntt know but as soon as he announced it, i saw her girly parts!!!! I was in soooooooooo much shock ( good shock) b.c from day one i thought i was having a boy!! everyone told i was having a boy!! i didnt have any morning sickness, i had a beautiful round basketball belly , my face never really changed- except in the end when it got a little swollen. Anyhow, i just couldnt believe it! Not finding out the sex was soooooo worth the wait! and worth the shock on everyone's face when they found out it was a girl! my Mady fooled everyone!!
they put her right on my chest and all i remember seeing is this MASSIVE head of hair!!
It was such beautiful experience. my midwife told me that she was sunny side up, which explained the long difficult pushing but she didnt want me to be discouraged at the time. and despite her massaging the pernium with oil, i tore a little bit- but didnt feel it... she numbed the area and stitched me up. again, i didnt feel anything...

i know i did all the "hard" work but i have my husband and midwife to thank. my husband was so amazing. he was completely hands on, even during the bathoom scene right after the enema - he was right there with me!! i love him so much!!
and after 27hrs of labor, my midwife never gave up on me and never ever mentioned a c-section!

So there you have it! my birth story!! sorry if it was long!!



Here are some tips and words of encouragement:

*eat and sleep well before you get to the hospital, you never know when you last meal will be and once you get going, they wont allow you to eat.. and it will be nearly impossible for you to sleep in between contractions

*pack granola bars, almonds, energy bars for your husbands to munch on ( he needs his energy too!). he doesnt have much time to leave the room to eat so it helps that you have plenty of snacks on hand.our hosp. cafeteria was closed at the time... poor guy had to live off the vending machine.

* Ladies, coming from the girl that swore she would never have a vaginal birth but will have a c-section b/c of her fear of the pain and trauma, please believe me when i say that YOU CAN HAVE A VAGINAL BIRTH! It was so worth it and yes, you do forget the pain!! i remember i had so much pain in my back but if you asked me to describe it, i really cant quite remember how it felt. and the endless pushing, well, its done and over with! i was up and walking shortly after giving birth. i felt great! a little sore and tender down there but i felt like i wanted to get up n go! A vaginal birth is soo worth it! I really feel like my old self and i am able to move around and not constantly rely on someone to help you.

** from my own experience, i loved having a midwife!! maybe its not for everyone, but for anyone considering it, def. look into it! i found one that delivers out of a hospital so i felt like i had the best of both worlds!! and she was there with me for 22 out of 27 hours of labor ( with occassional naps in between of course)
she was amazing, encouraging and i had the best experience ever! i will def. have a midwife deliver my future children!!!

if you made it to the end, thanks for reading!!

Message edited 1/9/2009 3:57:35 PM.

Re: I am a mommy to a beautiful baby girl!! Please welcome to the world:

What a great birth story! Congrats on your new baby!

Re: I am a mommy to a beautiful baby girl!! Please welcome to the world:

Awwww, thanks for sharing!!!! Congrats to you and your family!!

Re: I am a mommy to a beautiful baby girl!! Please welcome to the world:

Congratulations!! She's beautiful!!

Re: I am a mommy to a beautiful baby girl!! Please welcome to the world:

Congrats she is beautiful!

Thank you for writing all of this! It is very encouraging!

Re: I am a mommy to a beautiful baby girl!! Please welcome to the world:

Oh Lisa she is beautiful!!!! I am so happy you were able to oversome your fears and have your vaginal delivery!!! I'm so proud of you!!!

Congrats and enjoy mommyhood! She is absolutely "Delicious"!!!!


Maria

Re: I am a mommy to a beautiful baby girl!! Please welcome to the world:

Congrats!!! Your daughter is beautiful!!!!

Re: I am a mommy to a beautiful baby girl!! Please welcome to the world:

Congratulations !! Shes beautiful!

Re: I am a mommy to a beautiful baby girl!! Please welcome to the world:

Congrats so cute

Re: I am a mommy to a beautiful baby girl!! Please welcome to the world:

because i'm at work - i can't see the photo - but your story is so informative!!!!!!!!!

THANK you for all the info & congrats!!!!!!

Re: I am a mommy to a beautiful baby girl!! Please welcome to the world:

Congrats on your little !

She is adorable!

Re: I am a mommy to a beautiful baby girl!! Please welcome to the world:

Congrats!! What a beautiful girl.
My DC was also sunnyside up but I only pushed for 4 hrs. 6 hours...holy moly!!

Re: I am a mommy to a beautiful baby girl!! Please welcome to the world:

She's beautiful!!! Congratulations!

Re: I am a mommy to a beautiful baby girl!! Please welcome to the world:

Thanks for writing your birth story and adding in those tips!! Congratulation on your baby !! She is beautiful!!

Re: I am a mommy to a beautiful baby girl!! Please welcome to the world:

Oh Lisa! She is just beautifu! I am so happy for all of you.....Sorry she took so long but I know its totally worth every ounce of it!! Best of Luck and health to all of you...Enjoy every minute of her, it goes by too fast!

Shannon

Re: I am a mommy to a beautiful baby girl!! Please welcome to the world:

congrats to you and your family

Re: I am a mommy to a beautiful baby girl!! Please welcome to the world:

Congratulations she is beautiful!!!!!!!
and thank you for that great story

Re: I am a mommy to a beautiful baby girl!! Please welcome to the world:

Congratulations! I am so happy for you--your DDis beautiful and you are such a champ for pushing for 6 hours!!

Re: I am a mommy to a beautiful baby girl!! Please welcome to the world:

Adorable, Congrats to you and DH!!!

Re: I am a mommy to a beautiful baby girl!! Please welcome to the world:

Congrats Lisa-she is beautiful and what a great birth story!

Re: I am a mommy to a beautiful baby girl!! Please welcome to the world:

What a great birth story! Your is beautiful! Congratulations!

Re: I am a mommy to a beautiful baby girl!! Please welcome to the world:

She's adorable! Congratulations on the little !!

I can't believe you pushed for 6 hours!!

Re: I am a mommy to a beautiful baby girl!! Please welcome to the world:

She's beautiful!! Congrats!!!

Re: I am a mommy to a beautiful baby girl!! Please welcome to the world:

She's beautiful! Who was your midwife if you don't mind me asking?

Congrats and good for you for sticking with the pushing for so long!!

Re: I am a mommy to a beautiful baby girl!! Please welcome to the world:

Congratulations, she's beautiful!