Finally feeling somewhat rested, so hopefully I can get out a birth story while dh is out having adventures with ds.
I went into labor at 2:30am on 5-5-05 (same exact time labor started with my son). I was hoping this time around would be significantly shorter than 26 hours with my son, but alas it was 20 hours. I only got 3 hrs sleep beforehand & I amsuch a light sleeper I was up once contrax started. They were 3-4 minutes apart from the start and by the time I went to the hospital 4.5 hrs later they were 45 seconds or longer in duration. Because of the GBS+ issue I wanted to make sure I got at least one round of antibiotics in, little did I know I'd have time to get 4 doses in...
I was only a loose 1 when I got to triage at 7am, and they admitted me because I was almost 3 by 9am. My doula arrived and dh & ds went home. Our master plan was to call thm back before I was ready to push. I ended up getting a dr. from another practice who rotated with my practice. He seemed really nice in the beginning, completely ok with my birth plan, left us alone etc. The nurse I had was awesome, she was very supportive, but let us be for the most part as well. I walked, showered, used there great big tub, birthing ball in between 20 min. monitoring sessions. I really felt on top of things. Well, 8 hours passed and I was only 4cm. Dr. was with another patient but offered to break my water. I really hadn't wanted to, but I debated with my doula and decided that maybe it would really help at that point. And I knew they would start talking more inducement the longer things dragged...
Well, he broke my water at 5pm and by 6pm I was having what they told me was back labor. Earlier it hadn't felt centered in my back so I am pretty sure that during the last monitor/abx session sitting in the bed she shifted position, or else she was that way all along and that was why it took so long.
They checked me at 6pm and I was a loose 4 still. I got so discouraged and started going downhill confidence-wise. By 6:30pm I was hyperventilating and asked for an epidural.
The nurse was even trying to talk me out of it. I was dissapointed... but I managed 16.5 hrs with no pain meds and I know only getting 3 hrs sleep before took it's toll. For whatever reason things progressed much better (glad, because he was talking pit) and by 10:00 I was ready to push.
Waited a few minutes for dr. When he arrived I spoke up and said no episiotomy, he said ok. They really gave me a doosy of an epidural, I wasn't that numb with my son, but I still managed to push her out in just under 10 minutes. This is where he got jerky- I tore up through my urethra, 2nd degree, and he said "This is why we do episiotomies" really snidely. I wasn't gonna lower myself to argue with him, he added in "more work for me!". Please, I saw him all of 15 minutes out of the 15.5 hrs at the hospital.
And my tear feels fine now, a wee bit sore, but no "weeks of painful urination" like he said.
Anyway, I just was enthralled with Epona and overjoyed she was here after all my worries. Her apgars were 8, 9. She was 9lbs. 1 oz., 21 " long, and had a decent bit of hair (which has blonde highlights suprisingly). She has a sweet little cry and is an easygoing baby so far. Nurses great and often, like babies do.
OH, I forgot! -I called dh at 8-9cm but ds had just fallen asleep and as he'd been up since 5am and we had no one else to watch him we decided that it was ok if they just stayed home. It was sad they missed it, I felt a little bad when doula left and I went to mother/baby unit alone but they came by first thing in the morning.
DH has to go back to work Wensday, we had hoped for a lot more time off but we'll make do.
Here are a couple of pics.
Hey, SheKnows Guest - we need you! The SheKnows TTC boards aren't going anywhere - but perhaps you'd consider helping us grow our 
Epona arrives!
Re: Epona arrives!
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Deanna ~~
