Here we go...
I started having "braxton hicks" contractions when I was about 37 weeks pregnant and they began to get more regular on the evening of the 11th of July. For the next two weeks I would contract sometimes as close as every 5 - 10 minutes especially on the days I worked. I one of the midwives check me on the 16th up at work because I was contracting so much and was about 1cm dilated at that time (which I thought was pretty good for my first baby!). I continued to contract regularly anywhere from 5-20 minutes apart until the 21st when I believe my labor began. I had an appointment with out pediatrician that afternoon and at the appointment I was contracting every 5-8 minutes. I went ahead and went on a small grocery trip (we had nothing in the fridge) because I was so used to all the contractions I was convincing myself they would go away as usual. By 4pm I was pretty sure that I was in early labor and at 7pm the contractions started to come every 3-5 minutes.
At 10pm I called my midwife and told her what was going on and that I was going to try to stay home, shower and sleep. Philip and I went on a walk with Penny, showered and went to bed - all the while my contractions were gaining strength. By midnight I couldn't stand to stay in bed so I went out to the living room and sat on my exercise ball trying to let Philip get some sleep since he had been up since 5am and we didn't lay down for bed unit 11pm. I was GBS positive (a normal type of strep women carry that can effect baby during birth) so I needed to have at least 2 doses of IV penicillin before Levi was born 4 hours apart. I was really wanted to make sure and get both doses and I thought I might be lucky like my mom and have a short labor so I didn't want to labor too long at home.
At 1:30am I decided to wake Philip and head to the hospital. We arrived to the observation unit at 2am and checked in. At that time I was 3cm dilated (and a little disappointed I wasn't more!) and was admitted to labor and delivery. After all the admission stuff was done I walked the hall until my midwife arrived. She checked me and I was still 3 cm so we continued to walk and climb the stairs to try to increase the strength and frequency of my contractions and bring Levi into my pelvis more. I made slow progress throughout the day and continued to walk in the hall, sit on the "birthing ball" get into the tub and change position frequently. I was checked every 3-4 hours and was 3cm then 4cm then 4.5cm then 5cm. I was 5cm at about 1pm and we decided to break my water in attempt to speed things along. At this time the contractions became much stronger and closer together and we continued with position changes, using the tub and Philip squeezing my hips to relieve to intense pressure in my pelvis (this burning pelvic pressure was the source of all of my discomfort).
At about 4pm I was still only 6cm and we decided to try the tub one more time to see if I could relax and progress. At this point I had been in labor for 24 hours! After getting out of the tub and hour later I felt like the pressure and contractions were more intense so my midwife checked me again. I was still 6cm and VERY exhausted and frustrated. So, after 25 hours of unmedicated labor we decided to get the epidural as a last effort to help me relax enough to dilate and because I just could not take the pain and mostly exhaustion any more. Philip had been up practically 36 hours and I had been up 32 hours.
My nurse put the fetal monitors on to check on Levi before I received the epidural and after several very close contractions his heart rate dropped to 50 and slowly increased back to his baseline of 120s over about 3-4 minutes, I was given a dose of terbutaline to stop the contractions and protect the blood flow to Levi and a scalp electrode was applied to listen closely and continuously to his heart rate. Of course this greatly upset me, Philip, my nurse and my midwife. This is where I totally lost it and was crying and breathing loudly, but luckily my sweet CRNA along with my wonderful nurse and midwife, calmed me and quickly placed the epidural. Levi's heart rate was perfect before and after this episode and remained as such through out the rest of the labor. After a much needed nap I was rechecked at 7pm and was still 6cm and his head was OP with my contractions very spaced out due to the medication so I had to be put on pitocin to get my labor back to where it needed to be.
My great nurse changed my position frequently and then we ended with about 45minutes to 1 hour of "knee-chest" where to sit on your knees and rest your chest on the bed with your backside in the air. I swayed my hips side to side in hopes to help him turn. After this, at 10pm, my midwife checked me and I was 10cm!! We were all so excited and relieved. Since Levi was only +1 station I labored down for one hour and then was rechecked at 11:15pm and then it was time to get ready to push! It took me a while to figure out how to push and my contractions were sometimes far apart so I ended up pushing for about 1 hour. Levi finally arrived at12:41 am and I only had a 1st degree tear! Once he was out 30 hours of labor didn't seem so long and I can whole heartily say it was worth it and I would do it again.
I really want to say thank you to my three nurses, midwife and CRNA. I won't put names in case they don't want me too, but they were all the perfect people to care for me and I believe God's hand was there to guide the correct people to my side. I also want to say that I have the most amazing husband who is my perfect match! He knew just what to say and do and helped me more than I could have dreamed of! I love him more than ever and he is also an amazing natural daddy to Levi! I am truly blessed.
Well...that's my story. Now I am adjusting to being a mommy and learning to care for my sweet little boy. It hurts (breastfeeding is no walk in the park!) and tiring, but I feel like this is what I was made to do. I can't wait to share more of this experience and to add more one day too! Here are some cute pics of Levi, because you can't have a post without a picture!
