Birth story
Apr. 22nd, 2007 04:19 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
We're home, less than 24 hours after I went to the hospital. I'm about to go take a glorious shower. Ronan is sleeping in boy's arms after nursing for half an hour (!!!). He slept most of the day--this is the first time he's latched on for more than a suck or two since 5 or 7am.
Coming home from Lowe's Friday night, I felt a couple real contractions, spread far apart. I figured they were just random. I continued to have 3-4/hour all night. They made the sciatica really pleasant. Around 9:30am, they settled in at six minute intervals with 60-80 second lengths. I called the OB around noon to ask when I could go in because I wanted to use the birthing tubs to take the edge off the back pain. He said I should wait until I was 3 minutes apart or my water broke, but that I could go in and use the tubs sooner if I needed to.
I had boy fill our tub with hot water and I got in there for awhile. Afterward, I climbed out and labored on the bed, having boy time the contractions and press on my back.
Around 4:15, I felt a strong intuitive feeling that said "get to the toilet". I sat down, had a small contraction, and my water burst with a huuuuuge pop as the mucus plug ejected with a splash. From that point on, every contraction brought a gush of fluid. We hurriedly finished packing the bag and got in the car and got to the hospital.
The nurse asked for a 20 minute monitor (that was it--no need for being hooked up any longer) and then saw that my contractions were bringing on decels in the baby's heartrate. She asked to do a cervical check and discovered that I was 7-8cm and 95% effaced. I got in the tub after that and proceeded to scream for awhile.
I got out of the tub and eventually made my way to the bed (broken down for squatting) around a quarter of seven. I pushed for half an hour, apparently, with searing sciatica pain down to my toes. I squatted upright and in a semi-upright position with my feet on the bar and pulling up on a towel, like a crazy monkey slingshot. My OB was surprised today--the nurses had neglected to mention to him that I couldn't even *walk* into the hospital unassisted because of the sciatica (Tom had to get a wheelchair). I told him that while the pushing was hard work and uncomfortable (my perineum didn't want to stretch around Ronan's 14" cranium), that the sciatica was the worst part and the only truly painful part because it went from my sacroiliac joint down both legs to my toes, hitting my tailbone, hips, and knees in the process. He said that I did amazingly well and that the birth was about as natural as they come. I have a few skid marks, two tiny tears, and a tear that was about a one and a half on the grading scale for tears (required a few stitches). The OB did his best to aid in stretching and support--no episiotomy. Ronan was born at 7:17pm with his eyes wide open. He was put on my belly immediately.
His cord wasn't cut until after the placenta came out. It was completely white, so he got all of his cord blood. Hopefully, this will derail any neonatal anemia, since I don't exactly have the best iron situation to pass on. I have the placenta and keep threatening to feed it to
explodingcat if he shows any signs of postpartum depression.
We had trouble convincing him to latch on at first. He prefers his two fists (at once) to my ginormous nipplage. I lost a lot of blood (not quite enough for a transfusion and it did stop, so no need to find pitocin that I could take), so I was heavily vested in getting him to suck to stimulate my own oxytocin release. He finally did pick it up--he was just too distracted and alert and interested in everything. He stared at me or Tom for hours. He was also up most of the night nursing (not crying much at all) until he nodded off around 7am. He roomed in in my arms or Tom's all night.
He loves being swaddled and despises being undressed. He doesn't mind skin to skin contact once he's undressed, but he really prefers being bundled up. He's in a Swaddle-me right now.
The OB says that I can resume regular activity/exercise in a week and that I can walk and carry the baby as I feel able now. He said that the blood flow/loss will help me gauge my capabilities. I need to call my hematologist tomorrow and schedule an appointment.
We're very happy. I'm very sore. Gonna go shower now. I'll probably have a short soak in epsom salts later.
Coming home from Lowe's Friday night, I felt a couple real contractions, spread far apart. I figured they were just random. I continued to have 3-4/hour all night. They made the sciatica really pleasant. Around 9:30am, they settled in at six minute intervals with 60-80 second lengths. I called the OB around noon to ask when I could go in because I wanted to use the birthing tubs to take the edge off the back pain. He said I should wait until I was 3 minutes apart or my water broke, but that I could go in and use the tubs sooner if I needed to.
I had boy fill our tub with hot water and I got in there for awhile. Afterward, I climbed out and labored on the bed, having boy time the contractions and press on my back.
Around 4:15, I felt a strong intuitive feeling that said "get to the toilet". I sat down, had a small contraction, and my water burst with a huuuuuge pop as the mucus plug ejected with a splash. From that point on, every contraction brought a gush of fluid. We hurriedly finished packing the bag and got in the car and got to the hospital.
The nurse asked for a 20 minute monitor (that was it--no need for being hooked up any longer) and then saw that my contractions were bringing on decels in the baby's heartrate. She asked to do a cervical check and discovered that I was 7-8cm and 95% effaced. I got in the tub after that and proceeded to scream for awhile.
I got out of the tub and eventually made my way to the bed (broken down for squatting) around a quarter of seven. I pushed for half an hour, apparently, with searing sciatica pain down to my toes. I squatted upright and in a semi-upright position with my feet on the bar and pulling up on a towel, like a crazy monkey slingshot. My OB was surprised today--the nurses had neglected to mention to him that I couldn't even *walk* into the hospital unassisted because of the sciatica (Tom had to get a wheelchair). I told him that while the pushing was hard work and uncomfortable (my perineum didn't want to stretch around Ronan's 14" cranium), that the sciatica was the worst part and the only truly painful part because it went from my sacroiliac joint down both legs to my toes, hitting my tailbone, hips, and knees in the process. He said that I did amazingly well and that the birth was about as natural as they come. I have a few skid marks, two tiny tears, and a tear that was about a one and a half on the grading scale for tears (required a few stitches). The OB did his best to aid in stretching and support--no episiotomy. Ronan was born at 7:17pm with his eyes wide open. He was put on my belly immediately.
His cord wasn't cut until after the placenta came out. It was completely white, so he got all of his cord blood. Hopefully, this will derail any neonatal anemia, since I don't exactly have the best iron situation to pass on. I have the placenta and keep threatening to feed it to
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
We had trouble convincing him to latch on at first. He prefers his two fists (at once) to my ginormous nipplage. I lost a lot of blood (not quite enough for a transfusion and it did stop, so no need to find pitocin that I could take), so I was heavily vested in getting him to suck to stimulate my own oxytocin release. He finally did pick it up--he was just too distracted and alert and interested in everything. He stared at me or Tom for hours. He was also up most of the night nursing (not crying much at all) until he nodded off around 7am. He roomed in in my arms or Tom's all night.
He loves being swaddled and despises being undressed. He doesn't mind skin to skin contact once he's undressed, but he really prefers being bundled up. He's in a Swaddle-me right now.
The OB says that I can resume regular activity/exercise in a week and that I can walk and carry the baby as I feel able now. He said that the blood flow/loss will help me gauge my capabilities. I need to call my hematologist tomorrow and schedule an appointment.
We're very happy. I'm very sore. Gonna go shower now. I'll probably have a short soak in epsom salts later.
no subject
Date: 2007-04-22 09:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-04-22 09:16 pm (UTC)Home already?! That's wonderful, and I'm so glad that things went well. I can't wait to meet the little guy, and to see you and E-cat and Jericho. (Plus, I have weird little gifts for the baby. Heh.)
::hugs:: I hope you enjoyed your shower and will enjoy your soak and that the pain quickly subsides.
no subject
Date: 2007-04-22 09:32 pm (UTC)(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2007-04-22 09:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-04-22 09:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-04-22 09:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-04-22 09:38 pm (UTC)Congratulations
no subject
Date: 2007-04-22 09:51 pm (UTC)The photo last night made me all teary-eyed, too. :)
no subject
Date: 2007-04-22 11:29 pm (UTC)Sounds like he's been alert from the start - is he showing a personality yet?
I'm just so happy for y'all.
no subject
Date: 2007-04-22 11:37 pm (UTC)I sat down, had a small contraction, and my water burst with a huuuuuge pop as the mucus plug ejected with a splash.
HOLY JESUS H CHRIST. Thank God cool people like you can carry on the human race, which saves people like me who are afraid of phrases like "mucus plug" from having to encounter one in person. :)
Congrats again - we're thrilled for you guys!
no subject
Date: 2007-04-23 12:26 am (UTC)(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2007-04-22 11:49 pm (UTC)Damn! I stay offline for 18 hours and the whole world changes! :)
Welcome Ronan! I predict it's going to be an interesting ride. :)
no subject
Date: 2007-04-23 01:09 am (UTC)Congrats to you both,
Welcome!
Date: 2007-04-22 11:54 pm (UTC)Congrats!!!
Date: 2007-04-22 11:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-04-23 12:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-04-23 12:13 am (UTC)ROFL! Gods, I love your twisted sense of humour. You're quite impressive, woman. Enjoy the new squidlet :)
no subject
Date: 2007-04-23 12:16 am (UTC)(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2007-04-23 12:24 am (UTC)*hugs* you all...
no subject
Date: 2007-04-23 01:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-04-23 12:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-04-23 12:45 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-04-23 01:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-04-23 01:16 am (UTC)Congrats again!!!
no subject
Date: 2007-04-23 01:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-04-23 01:29 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-04-23 01:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-04-23 02:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-04-23 02:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-04-23 02:22 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-04-23 02:38 am (UTC)(no subject)
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