The details will be a little off potentially as I am writing this 13 years after. :-)
But here is Ivy's birth story.
In November of 1999 I turned 18 years old, I was also about 3 months pregnant. I didn't know a lot about babies, or childbirth, or much of anything child related actually. I had at first planned on not keeping the baby, but once I saw her on the ultrasound at our 20 week scan I knew she was my baby and was meant for me. :-) She was a very unplanned pregnancy. I was in my senior year of high school and I was raped. But still I saw her little body and her little face on that monitor and in that one single moment, I became a mother. I became HER mother. I knew that we would work things out and I couldn't give her away.
April 21st, 1999 I woke up feeling a little 'off'. Not in pain, didn't think anything about labor, just felt off. I was not actually 'due' until the middle of May, I was right at 37 weeks so it never occurred to me that it might be "THE day". I called my Mom and told her I felt a little funny. She said to rest and have some toast and see if that helped.
I ate my toast and still felt odd. My mother called a neighbor who happened to be a nurse to come over to check on me. She told me I was in labor and I needed to get to the hospital! I was having "silent" but regular contractions, according to her about 3-4 minutes apart. Huh. So, we called my mom and she came home to take me to the hospital.
It wasn't a long drive, but sometime during the drive I did start feeling the contractions here and there and some were rather uncomfortable. It was a little after 10am when we got to the hospital and they said I was in active labor and hooked me up the monitors and IV's and all that stuff that hospitals do.
I was glad I packed all the stuff I had wanted. I did know that I wanted to have a natural, vaginal birth even as a teenager. Mainly because the thoughts of interventions scared me to death! haha
So I had a cd player and a few mixed cd's with some music that made me happy. Some Led Zepplin, Some Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, ya know, the good ones. ;-)
The doctor came in at one point and decided to break my water because it had 'not done it on it's own'. I had no idea that there was no reason to so I agreed.
After that, I took a little cat nap for awhile. I woke up once because I felt very sick to my stomach and ended up throwing up in a little bed pan, and I remember being very embarrassed and the nurses laughed at me and were very comforting and said it's defiantly not to be embarrassed about and they say that and way worse every day.
The 'head nurse' said I was doing an amazing job handling labor and was amazed I was able to sleep and asked if she could bring some students in to observe me and if they could film the birth. I said I didn't care. They seemed grateful and said most people refuse them. ? Huh
So, a few hours after being in the hospital, I feel like it's time for the baby to come. I hadn't taken any birth classes or anything but I KNEW it was time. I told my mom to get my midwife. (Her name was Mary too)
She came in and verified it WAS time to push! It only took 3 pushes and Ivy was out! Mary said I did an amazing job! No pain medication, no tears, everything was perfect!
Including my little baby girl, who made her appearance during Janis Joplin's "Summertime" :-) And was 6 pounds 14 ounces and 21 inches long. Perfect APGAR scores.
I was in labor that I was aware of for about 5 hours. Great for a first time mom.
Her name is Ivy-Ariana Celeste and she nursed like a champ. It was an amazing birth experience and led me to the things that I am now passionate about even though I went in it naïve.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Rebel (Paige's) Birth Story
Baby Rebel, aka Paige Juliette made her appearance into the world at 3:07 this afternoon after a grand total of 3 official hours in labor!
She came at a little before 38 weeks, weighed in at 6 pounds 8 oz and was 19 3/4 inches long.
Pink and healthy and took to breastfeeding like a pro!
I'm doing well. No complications, vaginal delivery.
We went in for my regular doctor’s visit and I was having some contractions so the doctor had me hook up to a monitor to check them out. They came at 8 minutes, 8 mins, 6 min, 5 mins, so inconsistent.
Since he figured I'd probably go today (I was already at 4cm and 75% effaced) he gave me the option of going home and chilling out there for awhile or admitting me to Triage to have them monitor me for a few hours.
I said, since my last birth picked up speed pretty quick and we are due for a snow storm, I'd take the Triage option and see how things go.
Got to Triage at about 11:30. Triage nurse was going to hook me up to a monitor for about 15 minutes, then at noon, send me to walk around until 1. Come back, monitor for awhile, walk for another hour... etc etc until either I progressed further, stopped progressing, or was officially in labor. So hooked up I got and there we sat.
The contractions were pretty off and on, nothing consistent so the nurse thought it might just be Braxton hicks. Had a couple pretty good ones but still nothing at the level they want or as close together as they want. Nurse was actually on her way into the room to take me off the monitors when the baby's heartbeat starting dipping and scaring her. Here's where things pick up the pace :-)
Hubby and I had noticed when we were in the doctor’s office on their monitor that the heartbeat had dipped down a few times too, and he even asked me about it. I just said, I don't know, maybe contractions or something cause it? But no one came in and said anything, so didn't even think about it. I guess their monitor you can hear the heartbeat but it was really only tracking contractions.
In Triage the heartbeat was dramatically dipping. Like from 140 all the way down to 50 at some point my husband said. The nurse bustled out of the room, came back with an oxygen mask, rolled me over on my side and called for someone else to call my doctor. (All the while looking much panicked but telling me, "its fine. Don't stress".... (Yeah okay) She said, "The baby's heartbeat is dropping and dipping and we don't know why, so you're not going to be walking around. You’re going straight to labor and delivery" My husband asked if the baby's heartbeat dropping like that was "Good, bad, scary..." She said, "Umm yeah, scary... very scary, but don't worry, it'll be fine"
Wish we would have brought it up at the doctor's office. But thank goodness I took the option to hang out in Triage instead of going back home!
They wheeled me straight over to labor and delivery, my doctor comes in, looks at me and says, "Well aren't you being difficult!" (Don't worry; we talk like that with each other.) I said, "Psh, it's not me, it's Baby Rebel in here, she didn't get that nickname for no reason remember!" He said we were concerned about the heartbeat for sure and he wanted to get the baby out as soon as possible. Since we didn't know what was causing the distress and if it would happen again, it was safer that way. So he said we would start by breaking my water and putting me on a low dose of pitocin (Since he knew I was kind of anti induction) and see how quick things pick up. I'm sure if it didn't c-section was the next plan, and I'm glad we didn't get there.
This was, oh, a little afternoon. So maybe by 12:30-12:45 my water was broke and pitocin started once the IV got in. I was doing fine. Baby's heartbeat was remaining steady. They weren't concerned until it started to drop and dip again and that was about 1:30-2:00, I'm not positive.
They came in, and put me back on the oxygen, rolled me over this way and that again and said they were going to up the pitocin a bit since my contractions were still not 'regular' and close and try to get it moving along a little quicker. I had actually not changed in dilation at all; I was still right around a 4-5. But effacement they said was moving, I just don't remember what % they gave me then.
It started to suck shortly thereafter. (Haha) I was not doing well with the contractions and it was moving crazy fast. The nurse came in to check me and said I was at a 6. Left and I had two crazy big hard contractions. I looked at my husband when they had ended and said to tell her to come back with something for pain. I didn't know how long it was going to last, but those pitocin induced contractions were way more intense then my natural labor with my first. I was hurting.
The nurse came in and checked me again and said I was moving quickly. I had went from 6 to 8 with those two contractions and fully effaced. She said she could have something put in my IV or just go with the epidural, and she recommended the epidural. Because there wouldn't be time for it later if I changed my mind then. So I said, screw it. I don't care at this point! I didn't want it but I hurt and I was scared.
So the anestiologist came in with the epidural and they had me (Tried I should say) sit up in bed with my feet over one side and rest my chin on my chest and curve out my back and all that and hold real still. Okay, seriously, whoever thought up this epidural thing was a sadistic. I don't care what you say. This was by far, the worst part or my labor/delivery. Trying to hold still all crunched up like that, in a not labor friendly position while that guy was trying to shove a needle in my spine was horrible. It seemed like it took an hour. I know I went through at least 4 large contractions while he was there. Trying not to move through the most intense part of my contractions was soo bad. BUT he finally got it in, and they checked me real quick to find there wasn't even time to hook it to the pump, baby was fully ready and there! So he just put a little vile or something and said it should do for a few minutes.
They went to get my doctor and were trying to get me "Comfortable" before I started pushing. Which was fine. I could still feel the contractions and was still in pain, but not as bad as before. I guess I was under the delusion I wouldn't really feel anything with the epidural. OR maybe it was because there just wasn't time for it after all and it hadn't really kicked in. My toes were starting to get very tingly which means it must have been working.
Doctor comes in and makes some more jokes about me being difficult. He had apparently thought when he broke my water that I'd at least by laboring for a while, and they would just be keeping a close on the baby's heartbeat... but we proved him wrong. He was shocked we were all ready to go! So he got everything ready, pulled my legs up and told me to get ready. The nurse said to push with the next contraction and did the 10 count three times and there came Rebel!
She was very pink and sounded great! Crying without any difficulty and healthy! I had to have 3 stitches on the inside, no tears or anything outside. So they started taking care of me while getting her cleaned up. A few minutes later they handed her over to have her start trying to feed and she took to it right away! She was even very awake and alert and kept her eyes open looking around. She knew Daddy's voice which I thought was awesome. When he would talk she would look in that direction for him!
She weighed 6 pounds and 8 ounces and was 19 3/4 inches long. Born about 17 days early a little before the 38th week.
We are both doing great and very lucky things went wonderfully! So glad I decided to hang out in the hospital afraid of the snow! Which by the way, actually DID come. There is a big lovely blanket of snow on the ground and no one can make it out to the hospital to visit, lol, but that's okay. It like, never, snows in Knoxville... So this is a special day indeed!
She came at a little before 38 weeks, weighed in at 6 pounds 8 oz and was 19 3/4 inches long.
Pink and healthy and took to breastfeeding like a pro!
I'm doing well. No complications, vaginal delivery.
We went in for my regular doctor’s visit and I was having some contractions so the doctor had me hook up to a monitor to check them out. They came at 8 minutes, 8 mins, 6 min, 5 mins, so inconsistent.
Since he figured I'd probably go today (I was already at 4cm and 75% effaced) he gave me the option of going home and chilling out there for awhile or admitting me to Triage to have them monitor me for a few hours.
I said, since my last birth picked up speed pretty quick and we are due for a snow storm, I'd take the Triage option and see how things go.
Got to Triage at about 11:30. Triage nurse was going to hook me up to a monitor for about 15 minutes, then at noon, send me to walk around until 1. Come back, monitor for awhile, walk for another hour... etc etc until either I progressed further, stopped progressing, or was officially in labor. So hooked up I got and there we sat.
The contractions were pretty off and on, nothing consistent so the nurse thought it might just be Braxton hicks. Had a couple pretty good ones but still nothing at the level they want or as close together as they want. Nurse was actually on her way into the room to take me off the monitors when the baby's heartbeat starting dipping and scaring her. Here's where things pick up the pace :-)
Hubby and I had noticed when we were in the doctor’s office on their monitor that the heartbeat had dipped down a few times too, and he even asked me about it. I just said, I don't know, maybe contractions or something cause it? But no one came in and said anything, so didn't even think about it. I guess their monitor you can hear the heartbeat but it was really only tracking contractions.
In Triage the heartbeat was dramatically dipping. Like from 140 all the way down to 50 at some point my husband said. The nurse bustled out of the room, came back with an oxygen mask, rolled me over on my side and called for someone else to call my doctor. (All the while looking much panicked but telling me, "its fine. Don't stress".... (Yeah okay) She said, "The baby's heartbeat is dropping and dipping and we don't know why, so you're not going to be walking around. You’re going straight to labor and delivery" My husband asked if the baby's heartbeat dropping like that was "Good, bad, scary..." She said, "Umm yeah, scary... very scary, but don't worry, it'll be fine"
Wish we would have brought it up at the doctor's office. But thank goodness I took the option to hang out in Triage instead of going back home!
They wheeled me straight over to labor and delivery, my doctor comes in, looks at me and says, "Well aren't you being difficult!" (Don't worry; we talk like that with each other.) I said, "Psh, it's not me, it's Baby Rebel in here, she didn't get that nickname for no reason remember!" He said we were concerned about the heartbeat for sure and he wanted to get the baby out as soon as possible. Since we didn't know what was causing the distress and if it would happen again, it was safer that way. So he said we would start by breaking my water and putting me on a low dose of pitocin (Since he knew I was kind of anti induction) and see how quick things pick up. I'm sure if it didn't c-section was the next plan, and I'm glad we didn't get there.
This was, oh, a little afternoon. So maybe by 12:30-12:45 my water was broke and pitocin started once the IV got in. I was doing fine. Baby's heartbeat was remaining steady. They weren't concerned until it started to drop and dip again and that was about 1:30-2:00, I'm not positive.
They came in, and put me back on the oxygen, rolled me over this way and that again and said they were going to up the pitocin a bit since my contractions were still not 'regular' and close and try to get it moving along a little quicker. I had actually not changed in dilation at all; I was still right around a 4-5. But effacement they said was moving, I just don't remember what % they gave me then.
It started to suck shortly thereafter. (Haha) I was not doing well with the contractions and it was moving crazy fast. The nurse came in to check me and said I was at a 6. Left and I had two crazy big hard contractions. I looked at my husband when they had ended and said to tell her to come back with something for pain. I didn't know how long it was going to last, but those pitocin induced contractions were way more intense then my natural labor with my first. I was hurting.
The nurse came in and checked me again and said I was moving quickly. I had went from 6 to 8 with those two contractions and fully effaced. She said she could have something put in my IV or just go with the epidural, and she recommended the epidural. Because there wouldn't be time for it later if I changed my mind then. So I said, screw it. I don't care at this point! I didn't want it but I hurt and I was scared.
So the anestiologist came in with the epidural and they had me (Tried I should say) sit up in bed with my feet over one side and rest my chin on my chest and curve out my back and all that and hold real still. Okay, seriously, whoever thought up this epidural thing was a sadistic. I don't care what you say. This was by far, the worst part or my labor/delivery. Trying to hold still all crunched up like that, in a not labor friendly position while that guy was trying to shove a needle in my spine was horrible. It seemed like it took an hour. I know I went through at least 4 large contractions while he was there. Trying not to move through the most intense part of my contractions was soo bad. BUT he finally got it in, and they checked me real quick to find there wasn't even time to hook it to the pump, baby was fully ready and there! So he just put a little vile or something and said it should do for a few minutes.
They went to get my doctor and were trying to get me "Comfortable" before I started pushing. Which was fine. I could still feel the contractions and was still in pain, but not as bad as before. I guess I was under the delusion I wouldn't really feel anything with the epidural. OR maybe it was because there just wasn't time for it after all and it hadn't really kicked in. My toes were starting to get very tingly which means it must have been working.
Doctor comes in and makes some more jokes about me being difficult. He had apparently thought when he broke my water that I'd at least by laboring for a while, and they would just be keeping a close on the baby's heartbeat... but we proved him wrong. He was shocked we were all ready to go! So he got everything ready, pulled my legs up and told me to get ready. The nurse said to push with the next contraction and did the 10 count three times and there came Rebel!
She was very pink and sounded great! Crying without any difficulty and healthy! I had to have 3 stitches on the inside, no tears or anything outside. So they started taking care of me while getting her cleaned up. A few minutes later they handed her over to have her start trying to feed and she took to it right away! She was even very awake and alert and kept her eyes open looking around. She knew Daddy's voice which I thought was awesome. When he would talk she would look in that direction for him!
She weighed 6 pounds and 8 ounces and was 19 3/4 inches long. Born about 17 days early a little before the 38th week.
We are both doing great and very lucky things went wonderfully! So glad I decided to hang out in the hospital afraid of the snow! Which by the way, actually DID come. There is a big lovely blanket of snow on the ground and no one can make it out to the hospital to visit, lol, but that's okay. It like, never, snows in Knoxville... So this is a special day indeed!
Fall is Upon Us
Finally the weather seems to be mellowing out somewhat. It's been a crazy hot summer.
Dropout is talking about moving back to Chicago in a few years. He starts his new job as an Instructor at a College in about a week and wants to get several years under his belt before we go.
I'm excited about the idea of a new city but there's so much here that I will miss.
The Farmer's Markets here are amazing! The Natural Parenting Store I work part time at. The Holistic Moms Network I lead. All the locally owned businesses I've grown to love. The support network that is so big here that we have the HMN, Birth Network, ICAN, Homebirth Group, Babywearing, Breastfeeding Coalition, Mom's Mothergoose, BreastFriends... I mean, How cool is THAT!? The Homeschool circle... So much.
But by that time, maybe I'll be in a new chapter in my life anyway. The little's will be elementary school aged. The older will be GRADUATED!
Changes are a part of life.
Little Riot is getting ready to celebrate the changing of the seasons by starting her transformation.
Her first appointment to start her casting is this Friday.
I'm excited about the process but of course a little nervous and scared.
She is such a mellow baby. I've never had a baby that was so "Low Needs" as opposed to my High Needs kiddos, *laughs* I'm just worried it might change my mellow girl into a fussy unhappy baby.
But hopefully, her being so chill and happy will make this process easier than if it would have been my other kiddos. :-) Maybe these things work themselves out.
I can't believe it is almost fall. It is almost time to start Riot's transition. It is almost time to start Punky's (lil) school for her last year of Middle School! It's almost time for a job change.
So much to get done and get started.
Dropout is talking about moving back to Chicago in a few years. He starts his new job as an Instructor at a College in about a week and wants to get several years under his belt before we go.
I'm excited about the idea of a new city but there's so much here that I will miss.
The Farmer's Markets here are amazing! The Natural Parenting Store I work part time at. The Holistic Moms Network I lead. All the locally owned businesses I've grown to love. The support network that is so big here that we have the HMN, Birth Network, ICAN, Homebirth Group, Babywearing, Breastfeeding Coalition, Mom's Mothergoose, BreastFriends... I mean, How cool is THAT!? The Homeschool circle... So much.
But by that time, maybe I'll be in a new chapter in my life anyway. The little's will be elementary school aged. The older will be GRADUATED!
Changes are a part of life.
Little Riot is getting ready to celebrate the changing of the seasons by starting her transformation.
Her first appointment to start her casting is this Friday.
I'm excited about the process but of course a little nervous and scared.
She is such a mellow baby. I've never had a baby that was so "Low Needs" as opposed to my High Needs kiddos, *laughs* I'm just worried it might change my mellow girl into a fussy unhappy baby.
But hopefully, her being so chill and happy will make this process easier than if it would have been my other kiddos. :-) Maybe these things work themselves out.
I can't believe it is almost fall. It is almost time to start Riot's transition. It is almost time to start Punky's (lil) school for her last year of Middle School! It's almost time for a job change.
So much to get done and get started.
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