Birth Story

Kira's Birth Story!
Tuesday, November 23rdMy last doctor appointment! I went in in the afternoon and was examined. All the contractions from the previous week had dilated me to a 3-4 and I was 80% effaced! My membranes were stripped and I went home. Irregular contractions started right away and lasted all day.
Wednesday, November 24thI was at work on the labor and delivery unit all day. Started contracting first thing in the morning and they became so frequent that I hooked myself up to the monitor. Dr. Ryan showed up just as I did this and predicted from looking at the contraction pattern that I wouldn't make it to the weekend.In the evening, my contractions slowed down. I slept well all night, but was frustrated that I wasn't in labor.
Thursday, November 25th Thanksgiving day and the official EDDWoke up with only occasional and non-painful contractions. Spent the whole day sitting on the birth ball, walking and drinking red raspberry leaf tea. Went to dinner at 5:30 and noticed the still non-painful contractions were in a definite pattern at every 5 minutes. Since everything happened so fast, some of these times may not be accurate…momma amnesia and time distortion at its best!9:15pm: On the way home I noticed the pelvic pressure with each contraction was getting more intense. I never felt my uterine contractions, but the pressure on my cervix was enough that I started my slow breathing and relaxation.9:50pm: My sister dropped by to see how I was doing. I felt great and we talked for about 20 minutes.10:10pm: Got in bed. I felt the pressure in my pelvis 2 more times. The 3rd time I felt the pressure, it was unbearable and I flipped over on my hands and knees. I felt a pop and then a lot of fluid gushed out! I was in denial. I got up because I thought it was my usually full bladder! Got on the toilet when the next wave of pressure hit and knocked me to my knees! I called out for Jeremy who was already asleep and told him my water broke and I needed help. He called my best friend (and labor nurse), Andrea, and she headed over to my house to check me. The pressure went from every 5 minutes and non-painful to every 1-2 minutes and HORRIBLE pressure instantly. I tried to get in the bathtub and pelvic rocks, but nothing helped. My bad hip began to cramp and ache like it was being pushed out of its socket. I also started throwing up nonstop from this point until about 30 minutes after delivery (go figure!). 11:00 Andrea checked and I was 4-5 cm. I decided that even though the contractions were non-painful, the pelvic pressure and hip pain were too much. We headed to the hospital where my room was set up and waiting (the privilege of a labor nurse!)…Had to ride in the back seat of the car on all fours! We walked in through the ER and up to L/D. Andrea got ready to start my IV and Jeremy used our hypnobirthing techniques to help me through the horrible pelvic pain. I was relaxed but could feel myself fighting the dilation of my cervix so I asked for an epidural. 12:00 I knew the anesthsiologist on call, and was so relieved to see him! I wasn't able to even sit up so he put it in with me on my side. After the relief of my pelvic pain, I slept off and on for a couple hours. 2:00 My dr showed up and I was 8cm dilated. 3:30 I was completely dilated but she was high up and not turned right. We waited.4:00 She was turned correctly, but still high up. I tried to push and was effective but she wasn't able to move much. Due to my previous hip injury, and my AWESOME epidural, I opted to use a vaccuum to help her out. 4:24 Kira was born! It all happened so fast! I was able to feel the pressure of her head so was able to help push her out! I couldn't believe it when they held her up! She was HUGE and had a head full of dark hair! She was lifted up to me and all I could do was stare at her! She weighed 9 pounds and was 19 ½ inches long!
In spite of the interventions I had NOT planned on using, my birth was super fast and I felt like it went well! If I could only have figured out how to deal with my hip and pelvis, I would have been able to go without the epidural. But, we got a healthy baby! In spite of a broken or badly bruised tailbone and both perineal and periurethral tears, mom felt GREAT! After all the infertility tests and treatments, months and months of nausea and puking, and a version for breech baby…Kira was finally in the world!