Lucas Christian’s birth story
Three days have really blurred into a whole new reality… I am a mother. Though I believe that the past three days and the next days that my son and I are separated are probably the most taxing days of my life, I have to focus on the positive and let the negative go. Lucas is in good care.
Our son was born 4/7/08 at 12:29 am – 6 lbs, 2.3 oz – 20 inches long at 36 weeks, 5 days gestation. A lot of times babies are “done” by then; ours still needed some lung maturity. The NICU, where he is staying now, refers to this as “wimpy white boys.” Apparently the caucasion male is the last to get his lungs ready.
I had my last baby shower on April 5th and felt great. I still had 3 ½ weeks to go in my pregnancy, and at the last weekly doctor’s visit had been told I was 70% effaced and fingertip dilated. I felt happy that my body seemed to be progressing on its own which pointed to not being induced, I had hoped.
I noticed at midnight of the same night (April 6th now) that I had a difference in discharge. I would not call it a mucous plug, but it was a change. The CM was stretchy like fertile CM with a faint thin line of blood that I would not have noticed had I not thought the discharge was “different.”
At 2 am, just two hours later, I was sleeping on my left side and felt a release and gush and was in the bathroom very fast. I knew immediately that my water had broken. My first instinct was a mild panic and then told Jeff to check the bed – waking him up from a deep sleep as well. He woke up in disbelief and confusion and checked. We both started pacing asking each other what to do. I checked some notes/books that I had and realized the only risk that made me nervous was if the water broke, a baby can move down and somehow compress the cord. I went ahead and called the doctor on call to find out the plans.
The doctor on call was very nice (not my regular OB) and just told me to come on in to the hospital. I was not having any sort of contractions that were regular at this point, just some cramping. We went ahead and arrived at the hospital on Sunday, April 6th at 5 am. We kept saying to one another that it was so neat to know that we would be returning home as a family.
I knew in the back of my head that without contractions beginning BEFORE my water broke, the lack of sleep, that I was being set up for a LONG labor (possible to speed up with pitocin), but also had read that water breaking can also signal labor to begin. I don’t know, I felt very confident but yet nervous about being “early.” I started mentally preparing myself for all the different scenarios. If labor started fast and hard would I be able to work through those sort of contractions? What if labor didn’t start and there was pressure for augmentation with pitocin? What if labor drug on and on and I was just too tired to work through labor?
We were checked into Labor and Delivery and in the room by 7 am. I was 90% effaced and 1 cm dilated. I had already had the beginnings of bloody show. But, I was told I could not eat or drink once in L&D except for ice chips. I was asked if I wanted to augment my labor with pitocin. I declined. I went ahead and signed consents for anesthesia because I really did not know what I would be faced with as far as length of labor. I was told Ampicilin 2 gm every 4 hours would be started at 2 pm to prevent infection. I was fine with that as well. The first nurse I had was coming off the night shift.
We made some phone calls to let immediate family know.
I had a new nurse at shift change (7 am) and was asked about pitocin again to get labor going. I declined. I decided at that point that what I needed to do was to walk. I walked up and down the ramp at the hospital and ended up after 4-6 hours was dilated to 3-4 cm. I was able to use Bradley relaxation along with what I call old school Lamaze focal point/breathing to stay completely in control of my contractions. I asked for a fleet enema and gave it to myself. I was hoping this would help to speed labor and prevent me from having a BM on the table! (By the way, it worked!) The nurse also mentioned that no one ever asked for them anymore. I’m so glad I thought to do it! And really, it wasn’t bad at all.
It wasn’t until 5 pm or so that regular contractions every 4-5 minutes happened. I was still mostly in bed at this point staying on top of the contractions. I was really focusing more.
Shift change happened again at 7 pm and a wonderful nurse who I was told was more “granola” would be assigned to me. I was excited! By shift change I was about 5-6 cm and felt really close at times to losing control but my nurse and husband kept encouraging me. I sent my husband home to take care of our dogs (crazy I know!) while still hovering at 5-6 cm. I didn’t feel I was progressing as fast as I was hoping.
My wonderful nurse told me it was time for us to get labor moving. I was being a bit lazy laying in bed at an angle breathing and focusing. She pulled out the yoga ball, I labored there for 3-4 contractions. She had me sit in the glider for several contractions. She had me on all fours on the bed for several contractions. We stood and “slow danced.” Jeff was great! I was feeling a sense of losing control during most of the contractions during this time. I wanted to watch TV, listen to music, but then when a contraction would come I would writhe a bit feeling a sense of panic. The nurse checked me, and I was 7-8 cm.
At this point it was almost 9:30 pm – 19 hours since my water broke. I had no food, etc… I was so exhausted that in between contractions I would start to doze and would lose the ability to start the contraction correctly. Instead, the contraction was already peaking and I was definitely resorting to writhing and begging for help. In between contractions though, I would regain composure. I would describe the contraction at this point as a shark biting my midsection. It took over every fiber of my being.
I was checked again – still 7-8 cm. I asked for an epidural. I saw the look in my husband’s eyes when he asked if I was sure. I told him that I was. I was exhausted. I had totally eliminated every bit of energy I had after almost 24 hours with no sleep the night before and felt out of control. I asked would it be possible to get half a dose? Apparently only one dose available here. Anesthesia was called, and I went through 3 more intensely crazy contractions where I felt cold/clammy and had the urge to vomit (but nothing to vomit). The epidural was not at all painful and 15 minutes after administration, was checked and was 9 ½ cm! Basically I was in transition right before the epidural or very close to it.
I was told the doctor on call was wrapping up a delivery down the street and could take a nap. This was the best thing I’ve ever heard in my life at this point! So I fell asleep after letting the family come in to let them know I was fine, had an epidural, and that we would begin pushing when the doctor was back.
As far as the epidural goes, there was one point where my blood pressure fell to 85/50 though I never was nervous. I rolled to my left side, and it immediately went back up. The baby’s heart rate never went down the entire time. In fact all day I had used the sound of his heartbeat (when hooked up to the fetal monitor) to help me know when the next contraction was beginning. I was also able to tell somehow when I was contracting with the epidural. I could barely move my feet, but I could.
The nurse woke me up at midnight and asked if it was ok for us to start pushing as the doctor was on his way. I was very excited and relaxed at this point. The nurse checked me, and I was 10 cm! I pushed 3 times per contraction for two contractions, and the nurse asked me if I wanted to feel his head. I did, and it was so sweet! I felt so good. I cannot tell you enough the feeling I had of enduring labor as far as I did and then be able to really enjoy this last part.
The nurse was holding in his head and asking for someone to tell the doctor to hurry. The doctor barely arrived for Lucas Christian’s birth at 12:29 am on April 8th.
He was immediately put on my chest where we made eye-to-eye contact but NICU had to be called present for the delivery since his gestational age was 36 weeks, 4 days (anything less than “full term” 37 weeks). They evaluated him with an APGAR score of 8 both times but noticed when he was not crying that his nostrils were flaring and he was retracting in the lung area. I was told that he would need to be admitted to the NICU for possible respiratory distress syndrome due to a possible lack of surfactant (lungs not mature) and did I want to hold him again?
I held him again, and talked to him/made eye contact, and he stared at me and stopped crying. He knew my voice and knew who I was. We took some pictures and then he was taken away.
Of course, there were mixed feelings about it all. How soon would he be home? I was told early on that he wouldn’t be discharged with me. It was hard to stay on the same floor with other new mothers and their visitors with babies crying up and down the hall. My baby was in the NICU. If someone came to visit, they could not see him. I had to show him pictures on my laptop.
Lucas had to have surfactant/CPAP/oxygen. He started oral feedings on April 8th. I am pumping and waiting on my milk to come in. I’m hoping to have my sweet precious son home in a few days.
Right after he was born, he was put on my chest where we made eye contact; however hospital policy didn’t allow for recording devices during pushing until after baby evaluated. This is Lucas given to me for a visit before he was taken to be admitted to the NICU.
35 weeks!
5 weeks remaining. Is this even possible? Has this pregnancy really reached its final weeks? Did my OB really tell me that if he were born today, I could take him home? I’m amazed. Although there are days I feel time is dragging, overall I’m in complete amazement of how fast it seems at different times. Like today.
I’m 1 cm or fingertip dilated and very soft cervically speaking. The head is low in my pelvis which apparently was the pain I was feeling a week ago when I had a bit of a freaking out session. Overall, I have gained 33 lbs. A little more than I had originally wanted, but I suppose if I look at it in another way, 4 months prior to getting pregnant this time, I weighed just 23 lbs less than I do now, I suppose it’s all relative. I am planning on starting Weight Watchers online right away so that I don’t get myself in that situation of not starting good habits post partum. I want to run a 5K in August and a half marathon next April – when our son is a year old. I’d rather do another marathon – but I won’t have the time for that sort of training for awhile!
So far so good as far as vaginal birth though compications could still happen between now and then, so far so good!
What the neighbors said…
After playing in the snow last weekend, a group of us (neighbors) went to eat breakfast together. Of course, I waddled in a bit to the table and was fully prepared to dig in. The conversation was brought up by one of the women regarding labor and how I would do it. Why people feel comfortable about asking something so private seems a bit strange. It’s almost like these same neighbors wouldn’t ask other personal questions, yet when it comes to labor, it seems to be an open private topic. Everyone has their opinions about it, too, and they want to find out where you stand and then blast you with their opinion. I didn’t as for their opinion first of all, and second, they could never possibly understand my train of thought with labor, my training in medicine, and last the different things that could ultimately be out of my control. Labor isn’t necessarily something so planned. So when someone asks me, “How will you do it?” I usually start out by saying that I have a plan for what I would like, but things can happen and we’ll have to see. But even mentioning med-free up front seems to rile up most women and men. The reaction I did not want:
“Are you wanting to win a trophy for that?”
I really wanted to go off on her right there about her lack of compassion, the judgemental feeling, and her lack of even looking at me as someone who could possibly accomplish it – any woman really. I don’t know. It just hit me wrong.
No, I don’t want a trophy. In fact, the next person that asks me how I want to labor, I’m going to tell them that it’s a private decision and to wish me luck. I just am tired of going into it. I’m tired of hearing everyone’s horror story about how it didn’t work for them. I am well aware of most things that can go wrong and most are out of my control. That’s not what they are asking me. They are asking me how would I like to labor… not to predict the future! I cannot predict the future.
And ultimately all I want is a healthy baby. If an epidural, narcotics, and/or pitocin would be in my best interest in healthwise for the baby and me, I will gladly succomb to them.
First birth in our group
An email from our Bradley instructor announcing the first birth in our group!
M and Davi had a baby boy on Monday evening about 5pm
she labored for 24 hrs including 2 hrs of pushing. Does NOT sound like fun.
that does not count the 12 hrs of early early labor or putsy putsy
labor. Oh gosh thanks for adding that part… wouldn’t want to think that it wasn’t hard labor for 24 hours. And 2 hours pushing? Are you SERIOUS?
baby was 6lbs 1 oz and 19 1/2 inches long.
he is beautiful.
he had trouble breathing when born and needed oxygen and to go the
NICU - Hmmm…. sounds suspicious. Was it all the time in the birth canal?
it was suspected he had caught group b strep and also had meconium
(baby poop) in the uterus and possible some in his lungs.
he will be watched for 5 days in hospital and they will let parents
stay also. 5 days????????????????
Happy Birthing!
I sure hope that the same doesn’t happen to me. The thought of all that time in labor really wears me out. And I’m almost certain this was unmedicated as the goal of the Bradley classes teach…
Birthing From Within
I have bought many books over the last three months in regard to preparing for labor. Most women seem to focus their efforts on when the baby gets here overlooking one of the most joyous processes — labor. I realize that some women don’t have a choice in having the kind of labor that others can choose due to surgeries on their uterus having to defintely choose the c-section route or in the case with multiples or a breech baby, but I’m very excited about the prospect of having a birth like my mother had. There are just a few things that I have to do to help increase those odds, one of those being to avoid induction at all costs. I know there’s a chance if I hit 42 weeks that I will have to go that route, but I’m hoping with the high level of activity among other things I will be attempting around 38 weeks.
From an article:
When to Start
Most women go into labor between their 37th week of pregnancy and their 42nd week. Even if your due date was two weeks ago, most health care professionals wait until 42 weeks’ gestation before considering a pregnancy overdue. If your or your baby’s health seems to be compromised, though, then there will be some extra pressure to have labor induced or have a cesarean section performed before this time. Talk with your doctor or midwife to see if labor induction is the best decision for you.
For healthy moms and babies, some health care providers may offer to let you continue your pregnancy after 42 weeks. However, most will usually suggest medically inducing labor once you hit the magical 4-2.
Problems with Being Overdue
Aside from being very uncomfortable and impatient, there are some issues associated with going past your due date. After 42 weeks, concerns start to rise about possible complications with the baby. Most notably, there is a slightly increased risk of stillbirth (about 1 in 1,000 babies). But evidence suggests that inducing labor can help reduce this risk.
If you’re past your due date, there are a few tests that your health care provider will do to monitor the health of your overdue baby. A non-stress test is commonly performed, which will monitor your baby’s heart rate. An ultrasound will also let you see that your baby is doing just fine. At home, you can count the number of movements you feel from your baby throughout the day. The more he moves, the better.
Natural Ways to Induce Labor
If the medical methods of jump starting labor sound a bit off putting, there are a number of home remedies for inducing labor naturally when you are past your due date. But remember: none of these remedies will start labor unless you have already begun to dilate. However, some methods can help you to tone and soften your uterus.
1. Eat spicy foods or pineapple.
2. Go for a walk or march up some stairs. This is thought to bring on labor because of the pressure of the baby’s head pressing down on your cervix. At the very least, walking can help get your baby into a better position for labor.
3. Have sex. A favorite for many pregnant women, sex can help by releasing a hormone called oxytocin, which causes the uterus to contract. Additionally, semen contains a substance known as prostaglandins, which will help soften the cervix.
4. Nipple stimulation. For those who find sex just too uncomfortable right now, nipple stimulation may be a better choice. It helps to bring on labor in much the same way sex does, by releasing oxytocin. However, this method may take a bit more effort than sex to start labor.
5. Stretching of the uterine opening membranes. This can be done by your doctor or midwife and has been found to increase the chances of labor starting within 48 hours.
6. Complementary therapies. Acupuncture, massage, teas, herbs and homeopathic remedies can be helpful when it comes to inducing labor. However, make sure you go to a licensed practitioner who has experience treating pregnant women.
One home remedy that is often recommended to pregnant women is castor oil taken either alone or with orange juice. While some women swear by this method, many experts and women who have tried it will strongly advise you against it. Castor oil may or may not bring on labor but it will definitely make you nauseous, cause you to vomit, have diarrhea and suffer severe cramps so just steer clear of this home remedy.
All to say so far my favorite book is Birthing From Within. I love the diagram in the book that has a quote at the top. “Labor is hard work, it hurts, and you can do it.” I think that will have to be my mantra in just 8 weeks. Maybe I’ll get a bit lucky and he’ll come a week or two sooner, and I won’t have to worry about being induced and all the risks associated with forcing a uterus to contract before its time. I think at this point I’d be more set for an epidural at this point than an induction because it seems that induction is where the fault lies in both complications and issues with breastfeeding (latching issues) afterwards.
I do want the pitocin after birth to help shrink my uterus though and help shorten the bleeding time post partum. 
7 WAYS TO BOOST A NATURAL DELIVERY
2. Eat right. Overeating may cause you to gain too much weight and your blood sugar to be too high. Both of these factors increase your chances of having a baby too large to be delivered vaginally.
3. Exercise regularly. In-shape women have faster labors and lower weight gains than couch potatoes.
4. Employ a professional labor assistant. Studies show that mothers who use a professional labor assistant (PLA) are much less likely to have a surgical birth.
5. Be upright. Back lying is the position for surgical birth; the more time you spend on your back, the more likely you are to have one.
6. Get moving. Avoid spending most of your time lying in bed wired to monitors – like a surgical patient. When you get moving, your labor will, too.
7. Trust your body. Believe that your delivery system will work. Believe that your pelvic passages are designed to birth your baby. A fear that you can’t go through with the delivery can be a self-fulfilling prophecy, since fear frightens the uterus into not working efficiently. Surround yourself with positive advisors. Even if your family tree or circle of friends is full of cesarean deliveries, know that you can beat these statistics.
I love this post…
Trust God with our finances, our cares, our lives… but birth is a different story!
Thank you so much for writing this…
I found a wonderful quote…
My baby will be born on its birthday, not its due date.
I am not in a hurry.
I am not on a schedule.
I am patient.
When I am in labor, I will not rely on the clock to tell me how fast to go.
I am not factory. (This is a custom order.)
I am a powerful woman, birthing a new person into the world.
~Daniella Indie
A doula from Paso Robles, CA
Bradley Week 2
Meant to update: was canceled due to the teacher (also a doula) going to attend in labor.
It was the second labor she emailed to everyone about with the same ending:
”…ended with a c-section.”
So, I’m gearing myself up for ANYTHING. I refuse to be one of those women who will be disappointed with the labor I get. I will do the best I can as far as medication free but will remain open-minded in the common goal the doctor and I share:
Healthy Mother; Healthy Baby
Week 3 is tomorrow… I forgot earlier on and had volunteered to work overtime that evening so will miss that class. There’s a make-up class 1/31 I believe. Hopefully will do that one.
Bradley Class Week 1
I’m a little late on writing about the first week of our Bradley Class, but nonetheless thought that I’d go ahead. I had discussed with my obstetrician concerning the type of classes that we would be doing – Bradley and Lamaze, and he asked (much to my dismay) why not just Lamaze?
Then he proceeded to tell me some stories of some Bradley-trained women and how they viewed him as the enemy. He’s a really laid-back doctor; he’s not at all judgmental or bragadocious about what he knows. He’s the first to admit he doesn’t know something. So he did his usual humble, “though I have to admit I don’t know what the training IS, it’s the attitude and the “no this… no that…”"
My heart fell. Keep in mind this is in total obgyn #5 in the order of things. #2 with this pregnancy. I’m thinking… The Farm sounds good in Summertown right now.
But, he went on to tell me of the mother coming into the hospital with her birth plan and handing it over stating she was in labor. Then the doctor (Dr. M.) coming in and wanting to examine her, and her saying not yet. So he waits. An hour goes by, and he asks again – rather patiently. She relents (she’s in pain at this point).
My sweet Dr. M. says, “Ms. ______, we have your birth plan, and it is complete. I wish I could have examined you earlier to make what we are going to have to do easier… Your baby is breech, and you have dilated to 6cm. We have to do a c-section due to the risks of shoulder dysplasias, etc…”
So not all birth plans are in stone. I’m cool with that. In my case, if my baby is breech, I will definitely get a c-section. No questions at all!
My goal is healthy mom/healthy baby. Dr. M’s is too. He says he’s willing to let me have a go at med-free. See how it goes but to please stay open minded about the possibility of things not going perfectly… because they rarely go perfectly. OK. I will have an open mind. I mean I’m pharmaceutically trained, after all.
Back to Bradley. So hubby and I walk into a classroom of about 7 couples total in the HOME of the instructor (which is nice). Things progress to introductions. There’s a sweet Jewish couple expecting a girl and actually 4 other expecting girl couples. One unknown. And then the last two couples – us and another – boys. There is a couple that are pharmacists for a chain store married to one another. (sweet – someone else to bounce things off of from my point of view)
We go over some exercises: squatting with heels flat on floor (I can do this with no support, which is nice… my Mom taught lamaze and had already told me to squat all the time for as long as possible. So I’ve been doing that). Then there’s kegels. Bradley instructor said do 150/day. I’ve been doing hundreds per day for a long time – it helps sex by the way. My mom preached that to me a few years ago. Then I have started learning the Lamaze breathing through my mom’s old instructor manuals.
We watched an old 70’s birth video. Chick looked like she was gorked out on morphine the whole time. Seemed funny in a sense.
We had snacks.
We did some massaging – mostly hubby massaging me which was loverly.
Then we adjourned. 3 hours well spent! And it actually made me feel more empowered and a bit better about the conversation with Dr. M. He’s my net should something go wrong. Ultimate goal: I can do this!
(if we are so lucky to have a second child one day… I’d love to have a water birth!)
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