I predicted it. I started with my BH contractions on Friday, May 2nd. I had them from early morning and they were every 10 min (Julian's were every 5 min right away). I knew I needed sleep so I went to bed after a warm bath. Dan went to a Kris Kristopherson concert and got back past midnight, but I still slept. I slept pretty well, but definitely woke up a lot more than normal uncomfortable pregnant sleeping.
Saturday, May 3rd. Dan had one more activity (a big soccer game with his club team) on Saturday afternoon. Right before he came home (5pm ish) the contractions started to hurt. They were stronger and longer and every 5-10 min much of the time. I helped my mom make dinner and being on my feet made them come more often. I knew I was "in labor", so I ate a TON. I drank so much water and ate more. After dinner I showered and my contractions felt so much better. I just ran the water over my abdomen when I had a contraction.
I went to bed around 9pm. I was sure that I'd be going into full blown labor soon and go to the hospital that night to have the baby, but I made sure to rest. I slept and was wakened at 11:30 pm with strong contractions. I tried to breathe through them for an hour. At 12:30 I told Dan to wake up because I couldn't do it alone anymore. He called our midwife, Jan, and she arrived around 2:30 am. I "slow danced" (my arms around his neck while he supported me and rubbed my low back) with Dan through the really strong contractions and she said a baby was going to come.
The bad and ugly: Jan needed to check me to see how far I had progressed. First of all it hurt so badly. I was moaning in the worst pain. Then came the ugly, she told me I was only 2 cm dilated. I cried and cried. I couldn't believe the pain, my back was killing me (I thought for sure I had back labor) and I was only 2 cm? I lost it. (I was 70% effaced and head -3 station).
One thing she told me, which became my mantra, was that I was fighting the contraction and that I needed to RELAX EVERYTHING and LET MY TUMMY DO THE WORK!" Wow! I realized I fought every contraction with my hips and body. I wouldn't just let it come, I felt my body fight against it. I then started visualizing, starting with my head and going down to my feet, relaxing every part of me when a contraction would start. It worked. I actually felt myself let go.
My abdomen stayed so firm in between contractions that she said she couldn't tell what position baby was in. Jan said that this could last for 20 hours and I needed to rest. We all needed to rest. She wanted me to eat and drink but I was so nauseous. I tried to drink blue power aid and it left the grossest after taste in my mouth.
I wrapped up on the couch, had a heating bad on my low abdomen and the TENS unit on my back. I had to stay conscious with the TENS unit. I really liked it, but it would shut off every 15 min, so I would only turn it on for a contraction. I zapped myself quite a few times by turning it up instead of down and I wasn't resting...I was concentrating. I pulled off the TENS and stayed with just heat, but asked Dan for a hot water bottle for my back. I couldn't believe I had back labor again.
Julian woke early (I'm guessing at 5ish) and came out to the living room with us. They slept on the floor while I labored and rested on the couch. Sometime I moaned, but he didn't seem to care in the least. Sometime in the morning I moved to our bed to labor without J having to see me. I was depressed and felt defeated. I knew that to get labor to progress I'd have to be upright, but all I wanted was to get an epidural. I decided to lie in bed and "rest" more, though I felt every contraction was unnecessary pain that wasn't going to do anything because I wasn't upright and if baby was posterior, there would be no progress.
My mind raced. I wanted the epidural so badly, but knew I wouldn't be allowed to go to the hospital until I was 5-7 cm. I knew I'd have to get upright, so at 7 or 8am I started sitting on the ball. Dan was amazing taking care of me and juggling Granny and Julian. Julian did great that morning and didn't even come into our room. I was shocked. I told Dan I needed to get dilated enough to get to the hospital and have an epidural. He told me that that wasn't what I really wanted and I got mad at him. I said, "I can't do this again. I can't go 2 nights without sleeping, no food in me, dehydrated, and have back labor. I don't have the energy. I can't do it again." I felt defeated.
My friend Laura picked up my mom and Julian at 10:30 to take them to church. Bonnie took them to her house until dinner time, so they had an AWESOME day!
Jan came at 10:30 as well with Greer (the student midwife). I was leaning on the ball on all fours and told Jan I needed an epidural...that I needed to get dilated enough to get to the hospital....I could't do it on no sleep or food. She said she'd respect my wishes but knew that that isn't what I had wanted. I told her I couldn't talk about it and cried.
Time for the check. I told her I was terrified. I said it hurt SO BADLY last night. She apologized and said that she was very gentle, but I countered that I couldn't believe the pain. She still couldn't tell baby's position, but thought he was anterior. The check was not as painful, just the contractions. I was 7 cm!!!!!! What??? I cried. I actually thought she was lying to me. I said I still wanted an epidural. (I was fully effaced and head was -3 station).
I got ready, thought my water would break, and Dan drove us to the hospital...as gently as possible :)
We arrived to the birthing suite and I got my IV (after 2 attempts) and they IV pushed (didn't use a pump) to give me my penicillin. I got into the birthing tub and was LOVING it. I couldn't believe how perfect the water felt. It was very deep (up to my armpits while squatting) and I rested my arms on the side to keep the water off my IV. Dan put cool cloths on my neck and face when I contracted and massaged my shoulders as well. He was perfect. He reminded me to relax everything and let me abdomen do the work. Dan named him Miles Xavier while I was in the tub. I got pushy feeling after a while and fought it, but my midwife said I could go with it if it was really strong. I took sips of water and power aid. As the contractions got stronger I vocalized with very low tones (something that worked really well with Julian). When I was tired of my back pain, I would do lunges with each leg during contractions. I knew that helped a lot with Julian's birth too.
My midwife wanted me to check myself to see if I felt his head. I felt something that I had no clue what it was and the bulging amniotic sac. I couldn't feel his head. I asked if she would break my water at some point. She said I was progressing perfectly and she didn't see any reason to do so. I nodded reluctantly. After 3.5 hours my midwife wanted me to try and pee and then do a check and give me more penicillin. I got out and it was so much more painful to be out of the water (I didn't want to give birth in the water anyway). She checked me and thank God she didn't tell me that I was only 7 cm. Ugh! I would have been heart broken I think. I was in a lot of pain being on my back and contracting and she asked if she could break my water. I said yes, but did wonder why (in my foggy brain). It took her forever to do so and when she did, it was Niagara Falls again...just like Julian's birth. Wow, that hurt. There was meconium in the fluid as well, my second risk factor on top of group B strep.
I started having the strongest contractions ever. I wanted to get off my back. I felt the baby coming "out my butt". They didn't get the penicillin. She wanted to check me again and he was right there...I was fully dilated in seconds (or a minute?). I asked her what position I could get into. Jan told me to lean over the back of the bed. I don't know how many pushes, but maybe 4 or 5 and his head was out. Then they all said to push the rest of him out when I got another contraction. I didn't get one. I tried to push on my own but nothing. All I thought is, "this is really weird. My baby's head is hanging out of me and I can't do anything to get his body out." Finally a contraction came and he was out. I flipped around and the pediatrician wanted the Miles right away. They wanted to do delayed cord clamping, so they stalled a bit and got 3 minutes before clamping. He checked Miles. I was surprised that they don't do any suctioning of the mouth or nose at anytime, even though there was meconium in my amniotic fluid and I had Group B strep. Miles was fine and I got him back quickly.
I got the oxytocin shot in my leg...ouch, and my placenta came quite quickly afterwards. There was a membrane that came off it, but while my 2nd degree tear was being sewn up, they found it. I did inhale nitric oxide for my suturing...well, the numbing portion. Silly, I give birth and then I snort gas.
Miles fed like a champ. He was gulping in the birthing suite. I was there for a good hour or so, got a shower (that was crazy) and my baby was so dirty. They don't give baths and it's day 5 and he still hasn't had one (crazy, but it's winter and cold houses...I haven't had the guts to do it yet). Bonnie brought Mom and Julian to the room with flowers and chocolate. Julian loved seeing the baby. Laura came before her long journey to Australia.
I got to my room that I shared with another mom. I was on a high and couldn't believe that I didn't get an epidural. I so wanted one, but never asked when I got to the hospital. ha ha. I didn't sleep...Miles wanted to be held and honestly I didn't mind.
The second day I was going to go home in the afternoon. The peditrician "resident" type saw him have labored breathing and wanted to wisk him away to get a chest Xray and IV line. I wasn't keen. She said he'd probably be admitted to the NICU. Here my healthy baby was going to be what? I really questioned her and pushed against it, but also wanted him to be safe. She said he just had the 2 risk factors and it was better to be cautious, but in any other baby they would just watch him. I asked her to just watch him. Anyway, she went off, talked to her boss and came back. Miles was fine and not breathing hard (because he wasn't being messed with) and she said they'd hold off, but I'd have to stay for 24 hours. I was fine with that. I won and Miles was safe and monitored every 4 hours...all great vitals!
The second night I was desperate for sleep. My roommates baby was loud! He was on formula, so she had to ring for it, give it, etc. The beds are awful. Miles wouldn't let me put him down. Finally a midwife got him in his isolette and I got 2 hours of sleep after 3 nights of not.
Miles was seen by the "resident" the early next morning. I think she felt badly, but I assured her that I was thankful that she was being cautious with my baby. He passed the hearing screen, but was missed by the orthopedics who check baby hips. Dan came and got us at noon.
We returned home and Julian was asleep. He actually slept 3 hours. He was thrilled to have us both home. It was awesome to be home and on a beautiful sunny day.
Julian loves Miles. He is adjusting so well, but we had a lot of tears and tantrums over the smallest things. He goes from pure joy to pure rage or upsetness that lasts for a long time. Today is day 5 and we haven't had a meltdown yet. That was a strange surprise, but good!
Welcome Miles Xavier Osland!
Sunday, May 4th
3:29 pm
7 lb 6 oz
21" long
(Julian was 7 lb 7 oz and 21")
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