Baby Story, take 2

I had been having false labor on and off for three weeks. It always came in two hour increments and sometimes the contractions were as close as five minutes apart, but they never felt strong enough to be real. Scott was gone on an out-rotation for two of those weeks. He came home September 10th and Henry was Due Wednesday, September 14th. My mom had been visiting while Scott was gone, but she would have to leave by September 17th, so I had a window of just a few days with both my mom and Scott to help out.

Monday, Sept 12th I had a routine doctor's appointment at which I was dilated 2 cm but not effaced. At the urging of my mother, I had the doctor strip my membranes in the hope of hurrying the process along. When the Doctor realized the timing of my mom's visit, he offered to have me induced the following day. I was hesitant, but I wanted my mom to be there when I delivered (and so did she). After talking it over with Scott later that day, I decided to be induced.

The hospital called me around 10:00 a.m. Sept 13th to let me know they had a room ready for me. So, off to the hospital we went! I was hooked up to the pitocin, blood pressure cuff, contraction/heart monitor, and antibiotics (I was group B positive) by 11:15, and then we waited. I labored entirely in the bed, switching from side to side. By 1-2 o'clock my contractions were getting pretty painful. I didn't feel quite as in control of the pain as I had been with Grace. By 3 o'clock they were bad and I was starting to panic just before each contraction because I couldn't find that calm breathing and mental relaxation that helped me so much before. I, instead, felt a tingling sensation all over my face and down my arms as well as the brutal pain of the contractions. It was distracting and caused me to feel jittery and out of control. I later talked with a sister-in-law who has felt the same feeling during some of her labors and she attributed it to the antibiotics. I will, too. I think they were screwing up my mental/physical equilibrium.

Lucky for me, at 3 o'clock the nurse came in and told me I was progressing quickly, but the Doctor wouldn't be back for another hour, so she stopped my pitocin to slow down my labor. The result was almost instant. After 2-3 more contractions, my contractions were about 25% less painful, far more (dare I say) comfortable with more breathing time in between, and labor continued to progress.

The Doctor got there around 4 o'clock with a Resident in tow. They set me up in the stirrups (which are the most awkward invention for mothers ever) and waited. The Doctor asked if I felt the urge to push. I said no. Then near the end of one of my next contractions I said yes, but only slightly. So we waited. I remember Scott, the Doctor and the Resident making small talk about medical school and what-not. They were chatting and laughing. I didn't mind because I felt less pained than I had been an hour before. The Doctor and Resident were sitting in chairs about five feet away from me. The atmosphere was relaxed and completely opposite to my previous birth experience. I remember recognizing that and being grateful. I went through about three or four more contractions before I really felt like pushing. The nurse was there, too, and she was very gentle, but very persuasive in getting me to push more per contraction than I thought I could. I think I pushed Henry out in three contractions. Unlike Grace, when I pushed Henry out, there was no obvious head and then the rest of the body came easily. He was like a log! His head and body were bulky.

At 4:39 Henry's 7 lbs 8 oz was born with a head full of dark lush hair. The nurses just cooed and I couldn't have been more pleased. The whole experience was so much more peaceful with a healthy pregnancy and robust baby. The Doctor was calm and gentle. The hospital stay was fabulous. I loved every single one of the nurses and dining at the hospital was like going to a healthy, trendy restaurant for every meal! Taking Henry home with his full head of hair was exciting and joyful and I'm so glad my Mom and Scott were there.