I mean, can you blame me?!
The last 2.5 weeks have been a blur of nursing, diaper changes and trying to sleep whenever I can. My mom was here to help for the first week that he was home with us, and the rest of my family came to meet him last weekend. He is a pretty easy baby overall, with all of the normal needs of a newborn. We're so smitten with his little nose and sweet eyes.
I've been debating whether or not to post my birth story, as it's not exactly ideal. But, it's the truth, and it's what happened (no matter how gruesome!). And, in the end, it brought me my sweet son.
I'll preface this story with what I wanted. I wanted a totally natural and low intervention labor. No meds, drugs, or C-section if possible. Also, I wanted to labor at home as much as possible, so I would avoid the intervention. But, that's not what was in the cards for me.
Here goes...
I went into my 40
week appointment expecting to get my membranes stripped, and my initial blood pressure was
really high. After getting them stripped, the BP was even higher. Doctor
decided it was time to induce. I was so freaked out that I would have to be
induced – the complete opposite of my all natural and low intervention birth
plan. My mom was already staying with us so she came with me to the hospital
while Erin was at work. He would get there around 3pm.
They started me really low on Pitocin at 1pm and then broke
my water at 6pm when my doctor came to the hospital to check on me, since
nothing really was happening. Started upping the Pitocin and it became obvious
really fast that baby was posterior, from my horrible back contractions. I
labored in all positions and had no relief.
By 8pm I was a 4, and at nearly max pitocin, so at least that
was promising. I decided to get into the tub to see if it would help with the
contractions and help me relax and dilate some more. After 20 minutes I
realized the tub wasn’t helping (like I was really hoping it would) because
baby’s head was against my tailbone and making it worse to be sitting in the
hard tub. Got out, and I was still only a 4. I was devastated.
So back to bouncing on the ball and trying to get through
the excruciating back labor. I should mention that Erin was so amazing and
helpful through everything – always there to rub my back and help me relax.
Finally around 2am I was a 6. I felt defeated but the nurses
were optimistic. They asked if I wanted any pain meds and I figured it was
probably a good idea if I did, so I could relax and dilate some more. Before
they could even call my doctor to do the order, I started going into
transition. A baby turning specialist came in to get him to face anterior. Not
sure why this was just now happening, but I guess they do it so he’s not likely
to turn back around. That whole ordeal was awful and baby did not want to turn
around. So I just moaned my way through the worst pain in my life like a wild
animal. The rest is a blur.
I then went to a 9 in an hour.
The last few contractions of transition I could tell were
really forcing baby down. My doctor got in and they realized his cord was
around his neck. They put a sensor on his scalp and his heart rate dropped with
every contraction. C section was imminent and I was really upset but wanted
what was best for baby. When they went to check his position, he was crowning
and doctor said it would be safer to push than to wait and get a C section. So I bore
down and pushed with all of my might. During the last few pushes, I could hear that his heart rate was stopping. It just motivated me more to get him out as soon as possible. 18 minutes later and my sweet son came
out!
I wanted skin to skin but because of his cord being wrapped
around him, they had to take him and pink him up/get him breathing well. I was so terrified but everyone said this is normal, just getting him healthy and ready for me. He gave us a few quiet cries, and after some oxygen, he belted out a very lustful cry. A couple of minutes later, I was holding my little man and our
lives were complete!
Definitely NOT what I wanted in my birth plan but such is
life, right?
The light of my life, Sean Patrick Stanton, 8lbs 8.5oz and
22 inches long!
Xoxo,
Kelsey
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