Every Ounce Earned

If you’ve read the experience of my last birth, that of Torpedo, you know it was an accidental home birth.

However, the birth of our last, a BOY, was a complete opposite situation.

Due to my age, extra fluid (noticeably more), and the fact that my body was not progressing as it had with the other pregnancies, an induction was on deck to help welcome little dude.

Side note: no pseudnoym for little bro yet; still deciding.

This was not my ideal or desire by any means.

I prefer to be left alone and wait for spontaneous labor, but my doctor had other plans and I struggled to agree and concede to the suggestion.

I did, though, not willingly, but I did.

And let me tell you, getting a bed for an induction is the most frustrating thing on the planet.

The doctor tells you an induction is necessary, then you’re pushed around for hours over the possibility of an open bed.

I called at 5, there was no bed; call back at 7.

Called back at 7; yes, there is a bed.

They called me at 8: no bed.

They called me again at 9: yes bed.

Called me back at 10, no bed.

I was done.

I was emotionally drained from the back and forth and the giving in to a birth direction I really didn’t want.

So I went to bed; I needed sleep.

Sayonara.

2:35 am – *ring ring ring* A bed is available.

“Can you come in.”

“Well, I don’t like it, but I will.”

We made arrangements for the girls and proceeded to the hospital and the entire drive I am just hating what my body is about to go through – even though I have never been induced prior to this point- so I literally have no idea, just hear stories from others.

And not great ones at that.

I get in, exhausted, emotional, and overwhelmed.

They ran me through the 8,000 questions and began prepping me for pitocin.

On a positive note: my body had progressed even from the day before (my 40 week appointment), which did mean less medicine.

I was really anxious.

I thankfully had relatively uneventful birth experiences before (aside from quick births), no interventions, etc.

So this was throwing me for a loop.

I wanted my doula and friend, Tina.

She knows my wishes.

She knows how to push me and knows when I’m at a breaking point.

And with her and my husband there, I knew I could get through it.

They started the drip about 7am and my doula encouraged me to rest until I couldn’t.

From about 7-9:30, I had contractions, but nothing significant.

Just uterine tightening that I had experienced for weeks already.

Once I was up and moving, my water broke.

Great.

Hear that with sarcasm.

Mine have never broken until a baby is ready to appear, so to have it break so early was not my desire.

It makes the pain of contractions much harder since the cushion is gone.

We all three began walking the halls of the hospital.

Because I desired to go natural even with the drip, they made everything portable so I could move and do what I needed.

We would walk and talk and I would inform when I had a contraction and my doula took notes and watched the timing.

About an hour of walking the halls, I needed to lean against the wall and rock my hips side to side to alleviate the discomfort.

My contractions were now 2 minutes apart and becoming more uncomfortable and moving lower.

I needed the exercise ball and for someone to press down with decent force onto my shoulders.

The counter pressure it provides helps offset the pain.

I did this and curb walking (portable stairs in the room) for about an hour, then the contractions really started rolling.

Not only were the contractions tougher, but they were piggybacking off one another.

Three of them to be exact.

HOLY CRAP.

There was no break.

This was about 11:15am and I began contemplating an epidural.

I really didn’t want one.

I delivered my last three without it, and I desired the same here.

But the difference here: I was exhausted on so many fronts.

I just wanted to hold my baby.

I was just shy of begging for an epidural, but my doula kept saying, just give me a few more contractions.

To some this may seem harsh, but she knew what I wanted and knew the head game that would follow if I didn’t.

Her and Brent were so encouraging – I cannot say that enough.

I just needed something to take the edge off.

The pitocin really does have an effect on pain.

So my doula suggested nitrous.

Genius, let’s do it.

Y’all, watching these nurses bring in the gas and try to open it was something from a sitcom.

They couldn’t get it opened, and when they did, it began hissing loudly.

My doula chuckled and said, “I guess we’re all gonna get some nitrous! It’s gonna be a party!”

But here’s the deal, you may as well call that stuff placebo gas.

I don’t think it did a thing.

Nonetheless, I gave it a shot.

Around 11:30 in between contractions, they checked me.

I was ready.

Next thing I know, the room fills with a crap ton of people.

The bed changes.

The spotlights are on and bright.

Nurses are putting on gloves, gowns, and glasses.

I can’t remember the exact time I began this part of labor, but it wasn’t too long.

I had to push him down into stations, which isn’t something I normally have to do. The middle three I just had to keep from falling out.

My body was tired and I struggled getting a good position to assist in the process.

Then they brought up the handles.

Game changer.

A few pushes and he was out.

I had my eyes closed, so I didn’t even know right away.

My doctor said, “he’s here!”

I did it.

And even writing this, I’m teary-eyed.

Holding him was pure bliss and exactly what I waited for, and worth it all.

He was perfect.

I would have chosen and different route for labor and delivery if I had the choice, but God really showed up in the midst of it all.

1. The girls were really stressed about the back and forth of me going to the hospital for the induction. The fact that a bed only became available late into the morning meant I could keep their routine the same for bedtime. The routine gave everyone ease.
2. I had more fluid than I realized. I was literally gushing while pushing him out.
3. Upon his arrival, he had the cord wrapped around his neck. Thankfully, it wasn’t knotted, or cinched, just a nuchal. They easily and quickly unwrapped it – so much so, I didn’t even know that happened until after he was in my arms.
4. I was able to deliver healthy baby boy without an epidural even with pitocin running through my body.

Baby brother is a really sweet addition to our family.

My body, mind, and emotions went through a roller coaster to meet him, but it was worth it.