The "birth story" started on Wednesday, May 15th. I was 40.4 weeks and had my routine OB appointment that day. Everything looked great at the appointment! Aubrey was healthy and I was feeling wonderful. Possibly too wonderful... Technically past my due date (which I know doesn't mean anything anyway) but I was not having any contractions or signs of labor. I had been walking, tried acupuncture, ate pineapple, bounced on a ball... all the old wives tales that were supposed to start labor naturally, and no signs of activity. I wasn't concerned at all and kept thinking "she'll come when she's ready". Well the glitch in my plan came when my OB told me she was on call the next day (Thursday the 16th) and then again the Friday of next week (the 24th). So, if Aubrey wasn't coming on her own and I wanted to schedule an induction, I would have to do it the next day or wait until I was 41.6 weeks. Talk about one of the most stressful decision I've ever made!! I am a HUGE supporter of waiting to go into labor on your own... I believe it is better for the progression of labor and decreases chances of having a c-section. But, the downside of working in Labor & Delivery is that I also know the risks of going to 42 weeks. So, after a lot of discussion with Josh, family, and coworkers, and a lot of time in prayer, we decided to put me "on the books" for an induction the next day. My OB also stripped my membranes in the office, in hopes it would stir something up that night.
We had an uneventful night, so at 0500 on Thursday, May 16th we woke up and loaded up our bags for the trip to the hospital. We were going to have a baby today!! My amazing nurse who I mentioned earlier, Brittany, was there with everything set up and ready to go for my induction. I had requested to induce with the breast pump, instead of pitocin. The idea is that pumping will release natural oxytocin to stimulate labor, rather than using the synthetic medication. So at 0709, we started pumping. I had such a great environment and support group around me. My coworkers were in and out checking on me in the early hours while I was pumping. My family (mom, dad, and sister) drove in from TN to be there with us. Everything was going great and the day was flying by. At 1123, I was 4 cm dilated.
At that point, I chose to stop pumping and walk the halls for a while hoping that my contractions would continue on their own. I walked around the unit until about 12 and could tell that my contractions were fizzling out. I was so bummed, but didn't want to lose momentum so we started pumping again at 12:00. At 1330, I was 4.5cm/65/-2. To me as the patient, that seemed like great progress! To me as a nurse, I knew that we were getting into the afternoon hours and I still was not in "active" labor... My cervix was still fairly thick and Aubrey was still high. I was uncomfortable, but I knew that my contractions would have to get much stronger in order to have this baby. So, after another one of the hardest decisions I've ever made, we started pitocin at 1610. One of the reasons this was such a hard decision was because if you get pitocin at any point during labor, you cannot use the labor tub, and I had my heart set on using water to cope with the pain. Another reason is because I wanted to have as little intervention as possible. However, Brittany was amazing and started the pit on the lowest dose possible and increased it slowly, making sure that Aubrey and I were both tolerating it well. After a couple hours of the pitocin, my water broke on it's own at 1821. At that point, I was 5cm/70/-2 and had gotten my new nurse for night shift, Daphney (who is the natural guru of the unit :) ). I continued laboring in the bed for a few more hours. At 2000, I was 5.5cm/70/-2. At 2206, I was 6.5/85/-2. Slowly but surely, I was dilating and my cervix was thinning out more but she was still fairly high. Let me tell you, these cervical checks were getting uncomfortable! Finally at 2312, she dropped a little and I was 8cm/90/-1. At that point, I felt like I HAD to get out of bed to cope with the increasing discomfort.
I got in the shower on the birth ball and boy was that a relief!!! To move around and get the monitors off my belly was so helpful at that point. Josh was such an amazing support person the whole time. He sat outside the shower and sprayed my belly with the shower head while encouraging me through each contraction. I was transitioning and it had finally gotten to the point where I really felt like I was having to get through each contraction, one at a time. I had such an amazing support system with me. My mom and sister would pop in and out every once in a while to check on me. And my friend Brittany (who had already worked a full 12-hour shift) stayed with me after shift change and until Aubrey was born. I truly couldn't have done it without the people around me. Anyway, back to the story...
Daphney checked me at 0103 and I was 8.5/100/0. Yes, it was a new day... it looked like Aubrey's birthday would be the 17th now! Looking back on it, I can't believe I labored for that long but it FLEW by while I was in the middle of it. It was getting so painful at this point and I felt like there was nothing I could do to get any bit of comfort or relief. I remember sitting on the toilet (for some reason, that's a good place to labor) and praying harder than I've ever prayed before that God would give me the strength to do this and the energy to continue this last stretch of labor. I remember coming back out into the room and trying to find a way to get comfortable through the contractions. At that point, I said "something's got to give"... I knew I didn't want an epidural or pain meds, I just wanted her OUT! Daphney asked me which side was the most uncomfortable and I told her laying on my left side was the worst. So, sure enough she told me to lay on my left side :) After only a few minutes there, I felt a completely different type of pain. She checked me at 0230 and I was 10 cm! Talk about craziness after that!!! Brittany ran out to the waiting and got my mom and sister for delivery. They called my OB, the tech and nursery nurse. Everyone was there for the birthday party! I felt the overwhelming urge to push and at 0248, our sweet baby girl entered the world. All 7 lbs 13 oz and 21.5 inches of perfection. It was a feeling like none other. I brought this squishy, slippery little baby up to my chest and it was love at first site for me and her daddy. The rest was a blur... After a few minutes with me, they took her to the warmer to get a quick weight and trim the rest of her cord off. That's when she heard daddy's voice and was locked into him from that moment! It was the most precious thing to see. They brought her right back to me for skin-to-skin and she started nursing right away. I can't even put into words the rush of adrenaline and emotion I felt. We were so in awe that God chose us to be parents to this perfect blessing. Bringing Aubrey Lane into this world was the most amazing experience and I am so thankful to the coworkers, friends, and family who were by our side the whole time!
A lot of people have asked me why I chose to go unmedicated. First, I will say that I don't believe there is one "right" or "wrong" way to have a baby... as long as mom and baby are healthy and happy. I do believe that we are slowly losing the experience of birth as a culture, and going unmedicated was a way for me to be fully involved in welcoming Aubrey into the world. For me, it was my Everest to climb. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat. And God willing, I plan to with all of my children. But that brings me to my other point... I learned first hand that you have to keep an open mind and be flexible with your birth plan. Ultimately, He is in control.
So, here are a few of my favorite photos from Aubrey's birth!
Until next time friends!
