It has taken me an entire year to write this post. H will be 1 tomorrow.
I will start at the beginning... and I'm sure give way too many details :)
March 14, 2014 I went into the doctors for my last check. She said that if I wasn't 1cm that we would have to go ahead and have my 3rd c-section. I went praying. If I had dilated to 1cm she would strip my membranes and then possibly, just possibly I would be able to get the vaginal birth I have wanted with my other boys and didn't get it. I wasn't quite 1cm. I was so bummed, but she somehow stripped my membranes anyway. That afternoon/evening we went out as a family of 5 to run some errands. I wanted to keep moving and help things along. I was very uncomfortable, but I hopped the more that I moved the more likely I would get to have him vaginally. I went to bed on the couch that night. So uncomfortable. My back was killing me, as it was for the last few nights prior to this.
March 15, 2014 The Hubs woke up and got ready for a day ski trip. As he was getting ready I went into him and told him that I was up all night. That my back was killing me and I was more uncomfortable than I've been. I told him that he probably shouldn't go on his trip. He had to go to the church that morning to make sure all the kids were in order and that the adults knew what was going on. While he was doing that I decided to take a shower. I got out of the shower and called his brother asking him if there was anyway he could come over to watch the boys. Then I called Jon and told him he better hurry home, that I was pretty sure my back pains were contractions.
Once he got home we jumped into the jeep and went to the hospital. Yup I rode in his big burley jeep to the hospital. The most painful, uncomfortable ride ever. Thank goodness it was only a 10 minute drive. What was I thinking when I said we could take the jeep. The picture above is of my contractions when we got there. Proof that I had real contractions :)
We were super excited that we were going to get to meet H and that I was going to get to finally have a vba2c. After the nurse looked at the contraction monitor she was sure we were going to have the babe this day. Since I was planning a vaginal after 2 c-sections I was admitted. The doc on call tried to encourage me to go join for a c-section and filled me with all the dooms day information of a vbac. I knew what my doctor and I talked about and I was comfortable with trying the vaginal. She then told me I should get an epidural as soon as I can. I really did not want to get an epidural, or at least not discuss it at this point. After the doc left the nurse checked me and I wasn't even 1cm. My contractions were strong and non stop but nothing was happening down there.
The doc encouraged morphin to stop the contractions so I could take a nap in hopes that when they started back up it would trick my body into dilating. I went along with what the doc said... after my nap the contractions picked right back up with a vengeance. I still did not dilate, at all. They sent me home telling me to come back when they got worse...worse.. seriously it's been 24 hours of non stop strong contractions.
I went home and labored for a good lot of hours. The boys jumped on me on the couch and snuggled and watched movies with me. Jon stayed clear (apparently I wasn't any fun haha).
March 16, 2014 When I thought the contractions were even stronger we went back into the hospital.
I was checked and guess what... only 1.5cm. We stayed for awhile. Long enough to talk to the doctor on call (a different doctor than the day before). This doctor too encouraged me to go in for a c-section and scaring me with all the dooms day of having a vbac. I still was adamant in having a vaginal birth. This doctor too encouraged me to get an epidural right away if I was going to go ahead with the vaginal. I again said I would like to go ahead and not. He then went in and explained why having an epidural in my case would be the best scenario (if my uterus did rupture than they could whisk me into the OR and start working before I was put out since I had the epidural, rather than wasting time waiting to put me under).
After a good few hours they sent me back home. Again, telling me to come back when it gets worse. Me again thinking ok...
March 17, 2014 I woke the Hubs up around 3am telling him I couldn't tell when my contractions were starting and stopping anymore. I wasn't sure if it was just because I was so tired since I hadn't slept in 3 days or because my body was weak from doing this for so long.
We decided to go in again. I got there and guess what... I WAS STILL ONLY 1.5cm. Seriously people!! The nurses felt so bad!! They knew how many times I've been in. They saw the monitor and knew that there were no breaks in between contractions for the last 52+ hours. The nurse told me to go take a walk.
The hubs and I got two doors down and I couldn't walk anymore. I could barely stand up. I just wanted to go back home and put my arms and lean into the bathroom counter like I was before we left. That was the most comfortable place that I could think of. The nurse came, took my elbow and said, come on let's check you again.
I was at a 4!!! OH MY GOODNESS!! YESSSS!!! Finally something is happening!!
She brought us to a room and began to get me ready. I could not get into the bed. I needed to use the bathroom and use the bathroom and tinkle some more. It was just never ending. Honestly, it's just because every time I stood back up I was in so much pain again. I liked sitting on the toilet. The nurse told me I needed to get back to the bed so they could put the heart monitor on my belly for H. I made my way to my bed and I asked when they check me again. She said whenever you would like. I said, umm NOW please. She checked me and I was at a 6. It wasn't even an hour and I just from a 1.5 to a 6.
I met the on call doctor and like all the rest he asked me if I was sure about doing this. Unlike the rest he didn't push the c-section. He is actually a doctor from Vermont that travels to ND a few weeks a month. I was so excited to meet him and I loved everything about him. I was bummed that it still wasn't my doctor, but the more I talked to him the more excited I was that he was going to be delivering H. Then he said that it might not be him delivering H. Shift change was at 7 and it was somewhere between 4/5am.
After the doctor left I asked the nurse if I wanted to when could I get an epidural. She said anytime now. I said, ok let's do it. After almost 3 days of nonstop contractions and 3 different doctors reminding me and freaking me out about all the risks of having a vaginal birth after not one but two c-sections I decided it would be best to get the epidural.
The picture above is of me after the epidural calling my mom telling her we were finally admitted and going to get to meet H.
I asked the nurse how in the world do I know when things are happening. She told me don't worry you will know. She left the room telling us to call her if we needed anything. Not even 20 minutes later I said to Hubs I think we need to call the nurse in. He asked why. I told him that I was tingling down there and that my tailbone kept throbbing.
We called the nurse in and she checked me saying, yup you are ready! We are going to be pushing soon. At this point they started to get the stuff in the room ready. They said that they had to leave for a few minutes to get some more things. They told me to rest and that they would be back in a little while.
About 5 minutes later H's heart monitor stopped. I assumed it just fell off my tummy (that happened a lot when I had it on with M & G). The nurse came in kinda fast. Her face was a little different than normal. She adjusted the monitor and when it didn't start thumping again she rolled me from side to side. She called the doctor in. The doctor came in and lifted up the gown. H had past his first stool in utero. He told the nurse to call in NICU and that we needed to get him out now.
He threw on his gown and told me I need to push right now. I looked around like, ummm... wait I have no idea how. I've never done this and I don't feel anything. The nurse quickly and somewhat calmly explained what to do.
I pushed. The doctor said, really push. I really pushed. The doctor said I'm sorry we have no time to discuss this the cord is wrapped around his head, I need to cut you and use forceps. PUSH.
3 pushes and H was here!
H was passed to the NICU nurses right away.
They checked him and gave him to me as fast as they came in (thank God)!
The doctor told me while NICU was checking him that he was going to be all bruised when I saw him. He said that with where the bruises are located it shows me that he used the forceps perfectly. He grabbed H's head exactly where he was suppose to. He also said, "you see how bruised he is, you are going to be way worse. All the pressure of the forceps goes against you in order to get the baby out safely. Your recovery will be worse than it would have been if I didn't have to give you an episiotomy and use the forceps. The doctor also said H had the worst cone head he has seen, like ever. Yup that's because it was a 3 push baby.
Sweet little 6lb 15oz boy.
I am so happy that I got to have my vaginal birth. It was not what I was expecting. I really wish I did it with out an epidural, BUT if I did decide not to get it, I wouldn't have had a vaginal. The doc said with the cord wrapped around his neck and the stool in utero there would have been no way I could have pushed him out in 3 pushes and no way the doctor would have been able to use the forceps, he would have rushed us into the OR.
It wasn't the exact birth I was dreaming of. It's not in my charts as a vaginal, it's in there as an operative vaginal, but I don't care. After 4 babies and 3 very different birth experiences I honestly can't say 1 was better than another. I have 4 gorgeous boys and it really doesn't matter how they came out of me!
I do think that H was my longest recovery though. Which is funny since my other two were c-sections.
The day I got home from the hospital I came down with a respiratory thing and a 102 fever. Trying to care for 2 preschoolers, a toddler and a newborn with the fever respiratory thing and my operative bottom (haha) was no easy task. Thankfully I have an amazing husband and a wonderful mommy that were very helpful.
I did not reread what I wrote. I'm very sorry about that. So if there are a lot of mistakes and a lot of huh what is she talking about, oops!! :)
I'm off to bed, because this little guy that you see above... he's going to wake up tomorrow and by ONE!!! I want to be wide eyed and bushy tailed for him :)
