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stephc2010's Pregnancy
My Due Date: May 9, 2016I have given birth!
Age: 31 years old
Location: Maryland, United States
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My birth story!
By stephc2010 » Posted May. 13, 2016 12:54am - 730 views - 8 comments
Sorry it's taken me so long to get on here! It's been a busy couple of days. We got released Wednesday evening and are still trying to get into the swing of things at home. :)
So those who read my previous journal entries know that I was getting early stage labor all weekend. Shortly after posting my 40 week update, I decided the pain was getting too intense and contractions were getting closer together. We left our house around 9:30am on Monday morning, we're about an hour from the hospital. We dropped Allison off at my in-laws house (hardest thing for me to do!), then headed to the hospital. I had tried calling the midwives at my doctor's office and kept getting put on hold and then disconnected, so I just showed up at L&D and explained that I couldn't get through to the midwives. We were all checked in by 11:30 and my nurse didn't seem too thrilled that I didn't call ahead of time. After being checked, I was told I was at 4.5CM and 80% effaced. While I was getting changed into my hospital gown, she told me to make sure I take my bra off in case I wanted an epidural, when I told her that I would leave it on as a way to help convince myself to go without an epidural, her response was "I doubt it will work, but okay!" I was so annoyed with her... She insisted on starting fluids just in case I asked for an epidural, and we were still waiting on the antibiotics for the group B strep... So I was hooked up to the fluids and the monitors and felt like my contractions were getting closer/stronger, but she told me they were getting further apart. She said it "may be a while" so my husband went out to run some errands. The nurse came into my room around 1:30 and said that the midwife wanted to start pitocin at 2:15. I knew I didn't want pitocin, especially so early into labor. She suggested I request to be checked before starting pitocin, since it clearly looked like my contractions had gotten worse (I was in tears with every contraction!). Sure enough, the midwife checked me at 2:30 and told me I was 7cm and 100% effaced and baby's head was at station 0! My husband still wasn't back, so I was frantically trying to call him. He was stuck in traffic but was nearby, luckily! They broke my water and I went from 7cm to 9cm fairly quick! My mother in law made it just in time for me to start pushing (I know I said I didn't want her in there, but had a change of heart a week before I gave birth...) I'm not sure how long I was pushing for, maybe 15 minutes or so, and at 3:24pm Madelyn Grace was born! She weighed 7lbs 2oz and was 20 1/2 inches long. I gave birth without pain relief (a personal goal of mine!) and delivered her while on my hands and knees due to really bad back pain during contractions. She gave us a little scare, she had her cord wrapped around her neck (and her feet and legs were tangled in it too!), but she came out quick and the midwife was able to untangle her right away. We are so blessed! Since I was group b positive, we had to wait at least 48 hours after delivery before we could be discharged, since my labor went so quickly and I was only able to get 1 dose of antibiotics, they didn't consider Madelyn protected and we had to wait for blood cultures to come back negative. It was a rough hospital stay!
Recovery has been okay for me, the after pains are pretty bad this time, and I did tear again. 2nd degree, I believe. I had a 2nd degree tear after Allison as well, so I think it was just in the same spot. We have our first appointment with the pediatrician tomorrow morning. Allison is coming around to the idea of "baby" as she calls her. :) She gets a little upset when I'm holding Madelyn or nursing her, but she's no longer completely ignoring me like she did when I was in the hospital. The baby blues are starting up, so hopefully it doesn't last long... I hate that raw feeling... I am just grateful to have 2 healthy baby girls.
I'll post a picture with my birth announcement :)
My Journal
My birth story!
By stephc2010 » Posted May. 13, 2016 12:54am - 730 views - 8 comments
Sorry it's taken me so long to get on here! It's been a busy couple of days. We got released Wednesday evening and are still trying to get into the swing of things at home. :)
So those who read my previous journal entries know that I was getting early stage labor all weekend. Shortly after posting my 40 week update, I decided the pain was getting too intense and contractions were getting closer together. We left our house around 9:30am on Monday morning, we're about an hour from the hospital. We dropped Allison off at my in-laws house (hardest thing for me to do!), then headed to the hospital. I had tried calling the midwives at my doctor's office and kept getting put on hold and then disconnected, so I just showed up at L&D and explained that I couldn't get through to the midwives. We were all checked in by 11:30 and my nurse didn't seem too thrilled that I didn't call ahead of time. After being checked, I was told I was at 4.5CM and 80% effaced. While I was getting changed into my hospital gown, she told me to make sure I take my bra off in case I wanted an epidural, when I told her that I would leave it on as a way to help convince myself to go without an epidural, her response was "I doubt it will work, but okay!" I was so annoyed with her... She insisted on starting fluids just in case I asked for an epidural, and we were still waiting on the antibiotics for the group B strep... So I was hooked up to the fluids and the monitors and felt like my contractions were getting closer/stronger, but she told me they were getting further apart. She said it "may be a while" so my husband went out to run some errands. The nurse came into my room around 1:30 and said that the midwife wanted to start pitocin at 2:15. I knew I didn't want pitocin, especially so early into labor. She suggested I request to be checked before starting pitocin, since it clearly looked like my contractions had gotten worse (I was in tears with every contraction!). Sure enough, the midwife checked me at 2:30 and told me I was 7cm and 100% effaced and baby's head was at station 0! My husband still wasn't back, so I was frantically trying to call him. He was stuck in traffic but was nearby, luckily! They broke my water and I went from 7cm to 9cm fairly quick! My mother in law made it just in time for me to start pushing (I know I said I didn't want her in there, but had a change of heart a week before I gave birth...) I'm not sure how long I was pushing for, maybe 15 minutes or so, and at 3:24pm Madelyn Grace was born! She weighed 7lbs 2oz and was 20 1/2 inches long. I gave birth without pain relief (a personal goal of mine!) and delivered her while on my hands and knees due to really bad back pain during contractions. She gave us a little scare, she had her cord wrapped around her neck (and her feet and legs were tangled in it too!), but she came out quick and the midwife was able to untangle her right away. We are so blessed! Since I was group b positive, we had to wait at least 48 hours after delivery before we could be discharged, since my labor went so quickly and I was only able to get 1 dose of antibiotics, they didn't consider Madelyn protected and we had to wait for blood cultures to come back negative. It was a rough hospital stay!
Recovery has been okay for me, the after pains are pretty bad this time, and I did tear again. 2nd degree, I believe. I had a 2nd degree tear after Allison as well, so I think it was just in the same spot. We have our first appointment with the pediatrician tomorrow morning. Allison is coming around to the idea of "baby" as she calls her. :) She gets a little upset when I'm holding Madelyn or nursing her, but she's no longer completely ignoring me like she did when I was in the hospital. The baby blues are starting up, so hopefully it doesn't last long... I hate that raw feeling... I am just grateful to have 2 healthy baby girls.
I'll post a picture with my birth announcement :)
Comments for this Journal Entry
 | Comment from niknik86 » Posted May. 19, 2016 9:08am Congratulations! :) |
 | Comment from football_girl » Posted May. 13, 2016 11:14pm That first little while with a newborn is so difficult and wonderful and painful and tiring. You're gonna nail it and your girls are gonna love each other! |
 | Comment from stephc2010 » Posted May. 13, 2016 8:32pm Thanks ladies! We're slowly getting the hang of taking care of a newborn and a toddler. It's definitely challenging, but Allison is coming around! :) |
 | Comment from Mrsfingerscrossd » Posted May. 13, 2016 4:56pm Congratulations!! Despite the nurse and tear it sounds like you did really well. Not many women could go pain relief free. Well done mumma. The baby blues will pass soon enough. Enjoy your beautiful new bub! |
 | Comment from pbc910 » Posted May. 13, 2016 10:59am Congratulations! |
 | Comment from Libelula264 » Posted May. 13, 2016 9:16am Congratulations lady! Madelyn is gorgeous (so much hair!!)! |
| Comment from Starmama14 » Posted May. 13, 2016 7:31am Sounds like you had a good birth experience despite that crabby nurse!! Hang in there....the baby blues won't last forever and you will feel like yourself soon. Congrats again and keep us updated on how you are doing :) |
 | Comment from Galanthus » Posted May. 13, 2016 4:21am That nurse doesn't sound like she has the best of people skills. Good thing you stood your ground. All in all it sounds like a really good birth experience. Congrats again :) <3 |
