Thursday, September 12, 2013

not exactly a birth story

For one thing, there will be no mention of my cervix. 

I'll just give you the general gist of Golden's birth. It'll be a "birth gist."

I woke up in the middle of the night with contractions, as you do. At some point in the early morning hours I got up and realized there was NO WAY I was going to go to the hospital and give birth when there were dirty dishes in the sink and the toilet needed scrubbed. So I went on a cleaning tear. Like straight up, on my hands and knees scrubbing the kitchen floor. I felt a little insane.Then we woke the kids up and Jamie made pancakes. I was a little impatient with that and Jamie was trying to shove pancakes down my throat. Not interested. We dropped the kids off at my sister's and headed to the hospital. On the way there, our brother-in-law Mark called to chit-chat about some things. About 10 minutes into the conversation, Jamie said, "Well I better let you go, Abby's in labor and we're almost at the hospital." Mark was like, "Why are you even talking to me?" It was funny. Had to be there.


At the hospital we found out I was at a 6, which  was awesome. I was hoping to give birth without an epidural or drugs and getting to 6 had been relatively easy, so I felt confident that I could do it. My only real preparation for natural birth was reading the Hypnobirthing book. (I really should've taken the class but we didn't have enough time with Jamie's schedule.) I spent the next six or so hours in labor and the contractions were very manageable with good breathing and relaxation.

By about 4:00 or so I was only at an 8 and they told me the baby was posterior (facing the wrong way) and needed to turn his head around to deliver. Every contraction he would turn halfway and then go back. Then the midwife suggested Pitocin because I wasn't progressing past 8 and it would help him turn as well. Well this combination of events got me all sorts of stressed and scared and I lost my zen. Every contraction started hurting about a billion times worse and I would arch my back and grip the bed handle and cry out, "Heeeeeeelp meeeeeee!" It got pitiful real fast. I started begging for the good stuff. The midwife and nurses and Jamie all said, "Well now, you know you wanted to do this naturally. How about one more contraction and we'll see if he turns and then we'll think about an epidural." The contraction came and he didn't turn and I got that awful feeling of, I'm in horrible horrible pain and there is not one thing I can do about it right now and it will probably continue for hours more. More contractions, more epidural begging, etc. At long last, they called the anesthesiologist in and he gave me a spinal block, which is just like an epidural but lasts only about an hour and half. I cried the sweetest tears of relief when the spinal block began to work immediately. They put me on the Pit and within the half hour our Goldie boy was born! The midwife pulled him out and covered him from everyone else until he was on my chest and I could shout out, "It's a boy!!" I cried. Jamie cried. Golden cried and cried. I need not tell you, it was wonderful.




It's still hard to believe we have another kid. This beautiful, warm, fuzzy, milky creature is mine. He is terribly colicky but with my wonderful mother here for almost two whole months and my emotional state the most normal it has ever been postpartum, it's manageable. And he makes up for it by staring into my eyes for ridiculously long stretches and cooing like it's his job. I love him.

 




And that turned into a real birth story, didn't it?

23 comments:

teamcowan said...

I've been waiting on pins and needles for this. Ah, labor.... At least we get adorable babies at the end of it. And I love these pictures. I need to get some better pictures of this next one.

kate said...

I love birth stories more than I ever expected too. It is so weird and painful and magical. Golden is a dreamboat.

hanner said...

i've been waiting for this for so long! i'm amazed you went to 8 cm with back labor (presumably?) and no drugs and you write about it like it ain't no thang. you inspire me.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful!
x
Holly

amyegodfrey said...

This is the sweetest thing I've read in ages. Brought a tear. I couldn't believe you posted because I check your blog every day and it's been months . . . I seriously miss Golden.

amyegodfrey said...

This is the sweetest thing I've read in ages. Brought a tear. I couldn't believe you posted because I check your blog every day and it's been months . . . I seriously miss Golden.

sarah marie. said...

best birth story i've ever read. also the only one i've ever read. but seriously i rolled.

Bon said...

i love this so much. golden is so so beautiful. and why you look like perfection after just birthing a baby, i don't know. lucky girl. congrats!

kate said...

Kate (kakie) couldn't have said it better.

You're gorgeous, Abby girl. Love this story and gosh dangit it make me want to have another one. I LOVED birth once I had the good stuff. That feeling of having a baby placed on your chest for the first time is straight up crack.

Michele said...

wow only you could make contractions/labor look like a beautiful thing. Your pictures are gorgeous and your writing style captures the real poetry of life. If I didn't know what giving birth and sleepless nights with fussy babies was actually like I'd want a hundred babies after reading this. ;-)
Enjoy kissing that sweet darling little boy. :-) Love you guys and glad you are doing well.

Veronica said...

And now I'm about to cry. I love this stuff. Good job!

Veronica said...

And now I'm about to cry. I love this stuff. Good job!

David and Shalynna said...

I'm so glad you posted!!! I can't get over how darling he is with those lips. I'm so impressed with how strong you are. Remember how I said I'd maybe try to go natural? Well, once I was four days past my due date I decided that my reward for such a long (and pretty bad) pregnancy was an epidural. :) I think your experience sounds awesome, Abby!

I'm up nursing Juliet. She's only five days old. I need to email you photos! Love and miss you.

David and Shalynna said...

And you look amazing!

Val and Dan said...

I LOVED it! Birth stories (and "gists") are amazing aren't they? And such sweet pics!

jenniferhoiyin said...

Loved this. Your cleaning rampage killed me, I've totally been there. The day before Nora came we sawed down, sanded, stained and lacquered our kitchen table. I was NOT going to sit on a stool postpartum.

Staring and cooing IS his job. Well done Golden boy.

Elena said...

loved reading Golden's birth story. I was hoping it would be up on your blog before I deliver my baby, which should happen on Monday. I was also thinking about going with no drugs...still not sure, especially after reading your post. But Golden is a doll! and I'm so happy for you! Can't wait to hold my long awaited third baby.

abby said...

Elena! I hope you read this because I'm too intimidated to comment on your Russian blogs. :) But, so excited for you! Good luck!! I think whatever you choose will be perfect. I do think if Golden hadn't been posterior I could have done drug-free. Just remind yourself that the pain has a purpose and is good. I also think essential oils would have been helpful in retrospect. Like there's a doterra one called Breathe that my friend gave me and I put it on a cotton ball and smell it and it puts me in a happy place. Haha. But seriously! Might be worth a try during labor. Can't wait to see pics!

Elena said...

thank you, abby. i was really impressed to read you got to a six without any major struggle. i think my main concern is that i am the biggest whimp when it comes to pain. but i appreciate the info! i have doterra's breathe, will have to give it a try! :)

Elena said...

thank you, abby. i was really impressed to read you got to a six without any major struggle. i think my main concern is that i am the biggest whimp when it comes to pain. but i appreciate the info! i have doterra's breathe, will have to give it a try! :)

sweetlissybug said...

I loved it! What a beautiful boy! :)

Emily Wright said...

I loved the birth gist! Beautiful story and beautiful baby! Looking at his sweet face makes me want another one, even though my youngest is still kind of a baby.

robin said...

i am just now reading this!!! what a BAD blog friend i am. sheesh.

i love this story! parker was posterior as well and you don't need me to tell you that that is the worst imaginable pain. THE WORST. so, good job on the spinal.

and seriously, golden is the most beautiful baby ever.