Stacey's VBAC
"He's never coming." I had convinced myself of this. You see, I KNEW Madison was coming early...and she was 5 days past the EDD, so I was SURE Kyle was coming mid or late September. He was due September 10, so I was expecting him around the 20th.
When I woke up with slightly painful contractions, I was in denial. I rolled over and looked at the clock, 3AM. "This isn't it." I rolled back over and tried to go back to sleep, but there was another contraction, 3:05. "This is so annoying! I just want to sleep. I know this isn't it, so please stop practicing!" 3:10, a third contraction. "Ok, I'll go get some water...and my ball just in case." As I came back upstairs I thought, "Well, this could be it, but I don't want to get my hopes up. He isn't due until Saturday." After about 30 minutes (~6 contractions), I decided to wake DH. He had been sleeping in the guestroom because his snoring was keeping me awake.
"Honey, wake up. I think it is time." "Huh? Ok," rolls over and back to sleep. "Wake up! It is time." "Ok. I'll get it," clearly still sleeping. "HELLO! I'M IN LABOR! GET UP!!!" "What? Ok, let's go to the hospital!" He was finally awake. We looked at our sheet to see when to call Dr. T..."It says to call when contractions are 6-8 minutes apart." We called and Tia informed us that Dr. T was already at the hospital. "How far apart are the contractions?" "5 minutes. Been that way for almost an hour." "Go to the hospital." We called Annette (doula) and asked her to meet us at the hospital. Then we called our neighbor to come stay at our house with our daughter. "She can have cereal for breakfast. And here is her cup, milk first then juice or water. She can eat a lunchable and some fruit for lunch. Her clothes are on my bed. She..." "Relax, momma. You get to the hospital and have that baby. I'll take care of everything here." We packed up the car and were on our way.
Upon arrival, the hospital doors were...locked! Luckily, a guard was walking by and let us in. DH went to park the car and the guard wheeled me upstairs. Check in was smooth. DH arrived shortly after I checked in and they took me to my room where the questions began. Just as the nurse was finishing, Annette arrived. Thank goodness she was there! I had forgotten my birth plan at home but Annette saved the day!
Dr. T came around 5AM to check me. "She's still smiling...She's 6 cm. Looks like you're staying." Thank goodness! I would have died if I got sent home! I needed to stand, that felt better. I hugged my husband's neck and we swayed. Ok, that doesn't feel good anymore. All fours? I need ice. It's hot. I need to stand up. Ugh, nothing will dull this pain! "Relax your shoulders." Thanks for the reminder, Annette. Breathe, Stace. You can do this. I squatted and OMG! That hurts! "It will help open things up." I know, Annette, but...breathe, Stace. You can do this. I had to, so on the next contraction, I squatted. "That a girl!" I've never been more encouraged! Thanks again, Annette! "I need to be checked."
Dr. Tate returned to check me again, 8:15 and I was 8.5cm. At this point, contractions were rough, but still bearable. No request for pain relief. I was ready to have this baby. "Do you want me to break your water?" "But that means more pain...ok, go ahead. If there is ANY chance that will speed things up." He broke my water. The next time he came back, they got the "tools".
Around 10AM, Dr. T checked me and said I was 9cm, almost 10 and that we would push through to 10. I had an anterior lip that he had to get around the baby's head. It was time to push. "Every time you have a contraction, I want you to take a deep breath and hold it. Push for 10 counts. We want to get 3 pushes for every contraction." I got the instructions, but it didn't sink in at first. As a contraction came, he instructed my husband to hold up my right leg and Annette to hold my left. Deep breath. "1, 2, 3..." Wooooo. "No, I said hold it for 10 counts. You're letting it out." Deep breath. "1, 2, 3, 4, 5..." Wooooo. "You gotta hold it. You aren't holding it." Deep breath. "1, 2, 3...." I got breathing down. Now to push properly. Who knew it required so much thinking?
"When you push, I want you to bear down like you are having a bowel movement. Get those legs up." "This hurts." PUSH! "Nope, you aren't pushing right." "I don't know how." "You can do this." "I'm tired." "Why do you think they call this labor? I see. She doesn't believe she can do this." Great job, Dr. Tate. "I can, just not right now." PUSH! I was so tired. "Alright, here we go, she's having another contraction." My ever so concerned DH says, "Babe, are you having a contraction?" "No." As Dr. T. feels my stomach, "She's lying." Wooooo. "I'm tired, I just need to take a break during that one." "Every one you do that through is a wasted contraction." I love Dr. Tate's straightforwardness (if that is word). This had to be the longest 30 minutes of my life! PUSH! "I made a mistake, I need drugs." "Too late for that. You gotta push this baby out." "No I don't, I have options. What if I was unconscious. DH, hit me!" Ok, I need help. "Get the forceps and pull him out." "I won't pull him out, I will guide him." "Whatever, get this kid out of me!" Once they were on, it took one good contraction and 4 pushes.
I felt everything! What a different experience it was? I felt his head come out and the tear . I thought that would hurt the most and I felt it, but it wasn't painful at all. I felt his head come out on the 3rd push of a contraction and everyone was ready to wait for another one. I couldn't wait, I took a breath and pushed...Kyle was here! They picked him up and put him on my stomach. "Roll him over so his stomach is facing this way and DH can cut the cord." I did it! I did it! I couldn't believe it, I did it! DH was crying and just kept saying, "You are amazing!" Kyle was officially born and 10:31AM on September 8, 2011.
While they weighed him, I got worked on. They were stitching up my tear. "Are the almost finished?" "Not quite, honey." Annette was familiar with this process and she knew it would take awhile. "I just want to close my legs." I totally understood the skit I had recently seen in "Be Bold". It felt like it was taking years and all I wanted to do was close my legs. Finally, they were finished and handed him back and I began nursing. He was a pro and latched right on, no issues. Words cannot express the way I felt/feel...I'm still in disbelief and he is 6 weeks old.
"He's never coming." I had convinced myself of this. You see, I KNEW Madison was coming early...and she was 5 days past the EDD, so I was SURE Kyle was coming mid or late September. He was due September 10, so I was expecting him around the 20th.
When I woke up with slightly painful contractions, I was in denial. I rolled over and looked at the clock, 3AM. "This isn't it." I rolled back over and tried to go back to sleep, but there was another contraction, 3:05. "This is so annoying! I just want to sleep. I know this isn't it, so please stop practicing!" 3:10, a third contraction. "Ok, I'll go get some water...and my ball just in case." As I came back upstairs I thought, "Well, this could be it, but I don't want to get my hopes up. He isn't due until Saturday." After about 30 minutes (~6 contractions), I decided to wake DH. He had been sleeping in the guestroom because his snoring was keeping me awake.
"Honey, wake up. I think it is time." "Huh? Ok," rolls over and back to sleep. "Wake up! It is time." "Ok. I'll get it," clearly still sleeping. "HELLO! I'M IN LABOR! GET UP!!!" "What? Ok, let's go to the hospital!" He was finally awake. We looked at our sheet to see when to call Dr. T..."It says to call when contractions are 6-8 minutes apart." We called and Tia informed us that Dr. T was already at the hospital. "How far apart are the contractions?" "5 minutes. Been that way for almost an hour." "Go to the hospital." We called Annette (doula) and asked her to meet us at the hospital. Then we called our neighbor to come stay at our house with our daughter. "She can have cereal for breakfast. And here is her cup, milk first then juice or water. She can eat a lunchable and some fruit for lunch. Her clothes are on my bed. She..." "Relax, momma. You get to the hospital and have that baby. I'll take care of everything here." We packed up the car and were on our way.
Upon arrival, the hospital doors were...locked! Luckily, a guard was walking by and let us in. DH went to park the car and the guard wheeled me upstairs. Check in was smooth. DH arrived shortly after I checked in and they took me to my room where the questions began. Just as the nurse was finishing, Annette arrived. Thank goodness she was there! I had forgotten my birth plan at home but Annette saved the day!
Dr. T came around 5AM to check me. "She's still smiling...She's 6 cm. Looks like you're staying." Thank goodness! I would have died if I got sent home! I needed to stand, that felt better. I hugged my husband's neck and we swayed. Ok, that doesn't feel good anymore. All fours? I need ice. It's hot. I need to stand up. Ugh, nothing will dull this pain! "Relax your shoulders." Thanks for the reminder, Annette. Breathe, Stace. You can do this. I squatted and OMG! That hurts! "It will help open things up." I know, Annette, but...breathe, Stace. You can do this. I had to, so on the next contraction, I squatted. "That a girl!" I've never been more encouraged! Thanks again, Annette! "I need to be checked."
Dr. Tate returned to check me again, 8:15 and I was 8.5cm. At this point, contractions were rough, but still bearable. No request for pain relief. I was ready to have this baby. "Do you want me to break your water?" "But that means more pain...ok, go ahead. If there is ANY chance that will speed things up." He broke my water. The next time he came back, they got the "tools".
Around 10AM, Dr. T checked me and said I was 9cm, almost 10 and that we would push through to 10. I had an anterior lip that he had to get around the baby's head. It was time to push. "Every time you have a contraction, I want you to take a deep breath and hold it. Push for 10 counts. We want to get 3 pushes for every contraction." I got the instructions, but it didn't sink in at first. As a contraction came, he instructed my husband to hold up my right leg and Annette to hold my left. Deep breath. "1, 2, 3..." Wooooo. "No, I said hold it for 10 counts. You're letting it out." Deep breath. "1, 2, 3, 4, 5..." Wooooo. "You gotta hold it. You aren't holding it." Deep breath. "1, 2, 3...." I got breathing down. Now to push properly. Who knew it required so much thinking?
"When you push, I want you to bear down like you are having a bowel movement. Get those legs up." "This hurts." PUSH! "Nope, you aren't pushing right." "I don't know how." "You can do this." "I'm tired." "Why do you think they call this labor? I see. She doesn't believe she can do this." Great job, Dr. Tate. "I can, just not right now." PUSH! I was so tired. "Alright, here we go, she's having another contraction." My ever so concerned DH says, "Babe, are you having a contraction?" "No." As Dr. T. feels my stomach, "She's lying." Wooooo. "I'm tired, I just need to take a break during that one." "Every one you do that through is a wasted contraction." I love Dr. Tate's straightforwardness (if that is word). This had to be the longest 30 minutes of my life! PUSH! "I made a mistake, I need drugs." "Too late for that. You gotta push this baby out." "No I don't, I have options. What if I was unconscious. DH, hit me!" Ok, I need help. "Get the forceps and pull him out." "I won't pull him out, I will guide him." "Whatever, get this kid out of me!" Once they were on, it took one good contraction and 4 pushes.
I felt everything! What a different experience it was? I felt his head come out and the tear . I thought that would hurt the most and I felt it, but it wasn't painful at all. I felt his head come out on the 3rd push of a contraction and everyone was ready to wait for another one. I couldn't wait, I took a breath and pushed...Kyle was here! They picked him up and put him on my stomach. "Roll him over so his stomach is facing this way and DH can cut the cord." I did it! I did it! I couldn't believe it, I did it! DH was crying and just kept saying, "You are amazing!" Kyle was officially born and 10:31AM on September 8, 2011.
While they weighed him, I got worked on. They were stitching up my tear. "Are the almost finished?" "Not quite, honey." Annette was familiar with this process and she knew it would take awhile. "I just want to close my legs." I totally understood the skit I had recently seen in "Be Bold". It felt like it was taking years and all I wanted to do was close my legs. Finally, they were finished and handed him back and I began nursing. He was a pro and latched right on, no issues. Words cannot express the way I felt/feel...I'm still in disbelief and he is 6 weeks old.
Stacey's HBAC
Nov. 9, 2013
I woke up at 6:30am on Nov. 9 and I felt refreshed. For the first time in weeks, I had pretty much slept the entire night, only waking two or three times to roll over. I had to use the restroom, but was hesitant. Going to the bathroom would start my morning contractions and I just wanted to continue relaxing. Nevertheless, I went, but no contractions. I laid in bed thinking abt the day. We planned to go to the zoo to encourage the baby to come. At 730, Maddie came in and I put on cartoons for her while I went to the bathroom again.
With this bathroom break, I had some concerning stool. My contractions also started around this time. Slightly more painful than yesterday, but I wasn't sure. I had about 3 from the toilet, to washing hands, and back to my room. These hurt! By 8, I had gone to the restroom again and decided I should be timing the contractions. I sent my midwife and doula a text. "We may have a baby today." Both of them responded with "what is going on?" "contractions abt 5 min apart lasting a min and 15 sec" My cell rings, it is my midwife, but I'm having a contraction. I call her back and she says she is on her way. Then my doula calls. She too thinks she needs to head our way. I try to relax. Nate was feeding the kids breakfast and I was on my ball watching the contractions.
By the time Lisa arrived, I had moved downstairs. Nate called my cousin to come watch the kids and they were finishing breakfast. I was so glad to see Lisa. I didn't have to do it alone anymore! She started my bath for me and said that should help. Nate put the kids in the basement to play and things got going...
At this point, contractions were a 1.5 min apart and a little over a min long. I got in the tub and immediately felt better, but nothing slowed down. Nate was back and forth from the kids and I was feeling pushy. "Lisa, get Nate. And call B(midwife). Where is she? I don't want to have the baby without her." Another contraction, and I'm really scared. I can't stop my body from pushing. I pooped again. I wanted to feel for the baby's head but I was terrified to find out he was crowning so I didn't. Lisa was awesome and emptied the tub and got new water going.
10:00-in walks my midwife. Thank God! Nate gets in the tub and sits on the back ledge. I put my arms over his legs and got in a squat position. B reached down and put pressure on my perineum. I thought she was going to check me, but after so many deliveries, she knew I was complete.
Another contraction and you could see my belly take on a new form, push! My bag of waters poked out still in tact. Another big push and there was his head. "The head is out, baby girl. Come on let's meet the baby. Wait, the cord. OK, I got it off." I push again...nothing. "big push! Bigger!" I push again...nothing. I can feel his head and everything in me wants the rest out but it seems my efforts are in vain.
"Get her up!" Nate lifts me by my arms so that I am in a more upright position. I feel a contraction and some weird and uncomfortable movement. "Don't do that." "It isn't me, it is the baby." I push again and this time B has her hand up to help. The baby is stuck. I'm pushing, she is pulling...one more contraction and he is here! He is also huge! I'm sitting in the tub, holding my baby. He takes a few seconds to cry but he is OK. Then we hear, "I think his arm might be broken." I'm on such a high, I just keep talking to the baby. Nate is worried, but we both relish in what just happened. Nate pulls back his leg, we have a boy! I ask Lisa to go get the kids from the basement.
When they arrive, they both seem in shock. "Is that your blood? Look, its a new baby!" Madison had watched several videos so she was kind of familiar. Kyle points and says "bebe". As I'm sitting in the tub waiting on the placenta, MB(midwife’s assistant) walks in and shortly after that, my cousin Mary walks in. "We have a baby!" "What? Already!?!?" We called my mom to give her the news. Nicholas was born on her birthday.
Once the placenta came and we were out of the tub, we moved to the bed to cut the cord. It, like everything else, was large. We had to wait bc the supplies were still being sterilized. It all just happened so fast! Once they were ready, B got Nate and clamped the cord. He cut it and she gave us a lesson. "Here are the three vessels. Oxygen in, food in, and waste out." She gets out her scale to weigh him. Everyone puts in bids. "9lbs" "8# 12oz" "10# 2oz". B was right on! He was 10lbs, 2 oz. We wrap him up and everyone is cleaning up as we sit and love our new baby. I noticed some blood and called B. The cord was so thick, the initial clamp had cut through. She got another band and put it on and everything was fine. His arm was also moving OK, so we figured it was fine as well.
What an amazing team. B checked out my baby and they all kept commenting on how awesome things had gone. I was in disbelief. We did it! B checked me for a tear. "There is a small one, but I don't think you need stitches." So I sat back and tried to start nursing. He gave me a little trouble nursing, but he got it eventually.
We ended up calling my chiropractor to come look at him and he got his first adjustment. She also suggested we go get x-rays. It was a Saturday evening, so we scheduled a visit with the family doctor and then for the earliest xray appt we could get. We found out Tuesday that Nicholas does have a broken arm. Not exactly how I would have liked things, but after doing some research, I’m glad my midwife knew what to do and how to act appropriately in an emergency. His arm will heal in a few weeks and he is handling it like a champ. Overall, I’m glad we did it and I am so in love with my new little man!
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