walking to induce labor the day before my induction {no luck}
From the beginning of my pregnancy, I told kept an mind open when it came to the birth of our daughter. I had heard of stories of heartbroken mothers that had been determined to deliver naturally but instead had traumatic emergency cesareans. I didn't want to get my hopes up for a particular outcome only to have fate deal me a different set of cards. I didn't have a birth plan (gasp!) and really planned to just go with the flow. Although I will say for whatever reason I had a sneaky feeling I would need a cesarean (Dan and I were both C-section babies, I know that means nothing but for some reason I thought it would be the same for our baby). Her due date was August 1st but I also had another premonition she'd be born in July.
Dan had been deployed since March, so luckily my mother was able to come out to Hawaii and be with me for the delivery. I also had two great friends that stayed with me, helped pass the time and brought meals. I was a lucky gal- Dan wasn't able to be there but I definitely had the next best thing.
At my 38 week checkup my labs came back abnormal and my nephrologist (kidney doc) suggested I be induced at 39 weeks. My midwife agreed, as my belly was also measuring small, and at my last appointment she seemed a little alarmed I was only measuring 32 weeks. At my 38 weeks appointment baby L decided to flip into the breech position. I was told I had two options for the following week: either opt for a c-section OR undergo a ECV (external cephalic version) and then proceed with an induction.
39 weeks at the hospital waiting to check in
On the morning of Monday, July 25th I called the hospital at 6AM and they said they had a bed open for me and to head on in. Right as we've about to get off the phone the nurse mentioned, "You haven't had anything to eat or drink today have you?" Say what. I had just downed a coconut water (hellllllo hydrating for my labor!) and a banana. Turns out you're supposed to fast before heading the the hospital for an induction. Well nobody told this girl. "Call back at noon." Yes. 6 hours later. My mom and I spent the 6 hours watching the Nate show (love that guy) and trying to manually flip baby Lyla by propping the ironing board against the couch and laying upside down on it. I wish I was kidding. Then the hunger set in. I had to go without food or drink until noon. It was awful. By the time I called back at noon they told me to pack my bags and head on in.
waiting for the ECV
Once we arrived at the hospital it took another hour or so before I had a room and was all checked in. The waiting room was conveniently playing the Food channel. Rude.
I informed the doctors I'd like to try to flip Lyla and deliver vaginally (as opposed to opting for the c-section). Before the procedure I got an epidural which wasn't nearly as painful as I had expected (keep in mind I was not in labor at this point, no contractions, etc.) The version was a little scary (okay a lot, they prep you like you're getting a cesarean, and basically man handle your belly to flip the baby) but thanks to the epidural I only felt pushing and pressure. Luck was on our side because she flipped on their last try.
Then the induction began. But not before I got to stuff my face one last time (I hadn't had anything to eat or drink all day).
after I polished off a 6 inch sub
We started the pitocin at 6PM and I progressed very slowly. Chelsea and Justine stayed with my mother and me, only going home after we ordered them to go get some rest at around midnight. I remember at around 2AM I began having painful contractions and asked to have another dose of my epidural. The nurse checked me then and I was only 2 centimeters. 2. I slept a little that night but not much. I kept thinking that maybe they would come in and miraculously I'd be fully dilated (I mean it happens in the movies) but no such luck. Lyla Grace was taking her time.
The next morning the nurses gradually increased my pitocin and I progressed little by little. We (Chelsea, Justine, my mother and I- it was a party in my room) spent the day watching movies, watching 16 & Pregnant and hoping the next time the nurses came in they'd say it was time to push.
At around 8PM the midwife came in and broke my water which slowly leaked out. Thats when things got painful. I had another epidural dose and it helped some. I woke up around 11PM in a lot of pain- turns out the epidural had fallen out and then needed to reinsert it. Again, not painful. Similar to getting your blood drawn, not bad at all. The painful part was having strong contractions while leaning over. The nurse checked me then and I was at 5cm. Progress. We told Justine and Chelsea to head home again for the night but we'd call them immediately if anything happened. Honestly I didn't think I'd have the baby until the next morning.
At around 1:50AM the nurse came in to check me and surprised us all when she said I was ready to push. My mom immediately called J & C who had left just a few hours earlier. She was terrified she wouldn’t be able to help hold my leg for pushing AND film the birth (for D) at the same time. Luckily they made it just in time.
The midwife came in and said that I’d have my baby within the next 15-20 minutes. I think that was the first moment it really hit me that L was on her way. It wasn't the baby registry, setting up the crib, or the kicks in my belly that made it real. It was the midwife putting on her gloves and seeing the sweet tiny baby bed being wheeled into the room that made it real for me.
I remember there were a lot of people in the room. The hospital L was born at is a training facility, so I believe I had 2-3 students in the room, along with my nurse, midwife, Justine, Chelsea & my mother. I know a lot of women would be uncomfortable but I was fine. They were all wonderful- getting me water, cold rags and offering encouragement. Obviously my first choice would be to have my husband with my for the birth of our daughter. But having those women in the room with me was definitely ideal for our situation. Theres something about being surrounded by compassionate, encouraging and loving women during the birth of our daughter that made it feel right.
Pushing lasted for a little longer than they had estimated. Hard hard hard work. I remember there were a few moments where I felt like asking the hospital staff to wheel me for a c-section (um hi when baby is halfway through the birth canal that’s not going to happen just because you're 'tired'). For me, pushing was by far the most difficult part of childbirth. Not because it hurt but because how absolutely exhausting it was. I've heard women compare childbirth to running a marathon and that sounds about right. At one point the midwife told me to reach down and feel her. Yes ladies. Feel her head. Crazy crazy crazy. I remember looking down and seeing her head and on the very top was an alfalfa curl!
After 40 minutes of strenuous pushing, sweet Lyla Grace was born on July 27th at 2:47AM and our lives changed forever. I’ll never forget the sharpness of her first little cries and how they gradually got louder and louder, or her teeny tiny hands clenched into tight fists and her bright wide open eyes.
The first few moments she locked eyes with me has remained so clear in my mind. I hope and pray that I never lose clarity of that moment because that memory is so special for me. She had lived inside of me for 39 weeks, and it wasn't until right then we could lay eyes on one another. Its an absolutely magical feeling.
Throughout my pregnancy my belly measured behind (by about 6 weeks in the end) but she shocked us all weighing 6 pounds 9 ounces (right before the delivery the midwife estimated our little peanut was going to arrived at 5 pounds perhaps less) and 18 inches long.
Thankfully, D and I had been emailing all day and he was able to call me (thank goodness I had cell phone reception) a few minutes after she made her debut. He got to hear her sweet baby cries just after she was born.
Congratulations if you read this entire recap! I'm certain I've covered WAY too many details but they're very important to our family as I'll probably print this out for her one day.
