StaceysNGeorgia: Liam's Delivery

Posted Wednesday, November 11, 2009 1:26 PM

"For me, I needed to push because I felt like if I pushed, then my pain would be cut back; and, if I didn’t push, the pain would become unbearable..."
 

40 weeks and counting

At forty weeks and four days, I discovered that I was having my bloody show, as I got up to take a shower before my doctor's appointment. I was super excited just thinking that I was actually progressing, since I had shown no real signs before this. At my doctor appointment, I was having minor cramping, which I assumed was from the bloody show. I was 1 c.m. and 80% effaced. I was hooked up to the monitors and was informed that I was having contractions, and that they were five minutes apart. My doctor decided that, since we were going to induce on Thursday anyway, he would send me over to labor and delivery to see how things have progressed and maybe push things along with a little pitocin.  I honestly could not tell that I was even having contractions at all. Little did I know -- all that was about to change. 

Let's get this party started

At 10 a.m. on Tuesday, I checked in,  I checked in, changed, and was hooked up to the monitors. Suddenly, I found myself scared to death that it was finally happening. My mom and DH were there, and we played cards and talked for the next hour. The contractions got strong enough for me to feel, but it still wasn't anything awful.  I felt like I was having the worst menstrual cramp pains, but everything was still totally bearable. I took deep breaths and tended to ignore my surroundings as I had a contraction. Around 3 p.m., I was at about 2 cm, and I was on my side, breathing through a contraction. Then, I heard a pop. I sat up, and, sure enough, my water broke -- the fun had officially begun.

Cocktail hour

They decided to start me on a low dosage of Pitocin to assure that the contractions came in good frequency and that my dilation moved forward. They got super strong, really fast. I had maybe thirty seconds in between the contractions, and, after an hour of it, I asked for my epidural cocktail (roughly 4-4:30 p.m.).  It wasn't bad AT ALL-- my back was numbed, and I took slow, deep breaths to remain still during the contractions for the epidural to be placed. In it went, and gone was the pain. I could still move my legs, and I had a little itching at the beginning of it, but it went away after about fifteen minutes.

Pressure, progression...

After an hour, I could start to feel lots of pressure down stairs, and it was almost painful. I asked to be checked, and I was 4 c.m. Ten minutes later, the pressure was stronger, and I asked to be checked again. They were hesitant, but I said that my instincts were telling me I had progressed. Sure enough, I was 5-6 c.m. In the next hour, the pressure got progressively stronger, and I felt like I needed to push. For me, I needed to push because I felt like if I pushed, then my pain would be cut back; and, if I didn’t push, the pain would become unbearable.

...And pushing!

By 6:15 p.m., I was 10 c.m. and could FINALLY PUSH! I pulled my legs up to my chin, took a deep breath and pushed with all my might. DH was amazing and was beside me the entire time, holding my leg -- and his breath -- every time I held mine. I am a pretty strong lady, but that day, my entire strength came from the support that he gave me. I get tears in my eyes, even now, just thinking about how I could never have done it without him. Around 6:30 p.m., the doctor came in, and the baby’s head could be seen. His heart rate was dropping a little with each contraction, so they decided to use the vacuum to help a little.

A champ is born

At 6:44 p.m.,  Liam was born, and DH got to cut the cord. I didn’t get cut, nor did I tear, but I did have a minor “skid bump,” which they equate to a rug burn. Liam scored a nine on the Apgars and had the cutest little cry imaginable. Recovery has been good; the hardest part has been dealing with the pain when I pee, as a result of the catheter. He nurses like a champ, and I am finding that nursing itself is much easier than I had been expecting. He feeds almost every hour. My milk hasn’t come in yet, and I am thinking that once it does,  he’ll need to feed a little less. Here's our little champ's starting stats: Born on July 14 at 6:44 p.m.; 7 pounds, 5 ounces; 19.5 inches long.