I'll spare you all of the "what I learned" from this experience. For now. A: because this story isn't over until I go back to work, and B: because nothing should really take away from the amazing birth story of Sunnie Violet Jacobs!
As you may know because of Sunnie's "restricted gestational growth" the doctor's and midwives thought it best to induce me early. The plan was Pitocin, but the midwives, myself and the Jacob's were committed to trying everything (even the last resort!) beforehand.
So, on Monday, November 3rd, Jessi and I went in for the 38 week appointment where the "swept" or "stripped" or "scraped" my membranes. It depends on which form of reality you want to hear. During the "sweep" the doctor counted down from 10 to indicate just how long I would be feeling that discomfort. I used my yogic breathing while she "swept". Jessi winced and grimaced and held her breath in the corner like it was the worst pain ever! It really wasn't that bad. I mean, comparatively. And it was only 10 seconds. At this point I was 5 centimeters dilated and 70% effaced. We all expected that this would easily kick things into gear and we could avoid the Pitocin, or Vitamin P, all together. But, babies have a way of reminding you that you do not get to be in control.
At the appointment we also scheduled for the induction. Just in case. We tried for Wednesday, but apparently Fletcher Allen only takes 2 inductions per day and they were booked until Friday, so Friday it was.
I spent the next 4 days with cramping, mild contractions, nausea and a general discomfort. On Wednesday, I started bouncing on the yoga ball at work and didn't stop for two days. My coworkers panicked each time I took a breath, or thought for too long. I took every opportunity to walk as far as I could. It felt like someone had punched my in the crotch, but I kept bouncing. On Thursday, I started to have extremely irregular contractions. They were 15 minutes apart, then 8, then 20, and then a handful were 3 minutes apart, so I went to Maitri for a labor check.
Nothing. I was the same. 5 centimeters and 70% effaced. The docs and midwives said it could be tonight and it could be tomorrow. Like scheduled. I went back to work. I finished everything I could. I turned my "out of office assistant" on and I headed home, not to return for 6 weeks.
The contractions faded away by 6:30 and I begrudgingly went to bed, for one last time while pregnant.
Friday morning I was awoken with a phone call from FAHC. "Good morning, Maggie. We are ready for you to come in for your induction." Jim and I got Zoey off to school, got Emmet off to childcare and left the house with a final question, "Jim, do you think it's ok if I only bring this one pair of shoes?" Jim did not think it mattered which shoes I brought because it would be unlikely that they would play into any part of our day. So off I went with my bag and my one pair of shoes.
Jim and I arrived at the hospital at 8 ish and headed up to the Birthing Center. Jessi and Ben were already there. Leah, our midwife for the day and Karen, the amazing nurse met us all in the room. Karen said we should expect to be there for days, which we all scoffed at. "I'm having this baby by noon." I stated with confidence.
We started the day by having Leah and Karen break my water, fairly certain that this would be what would put me into labor. Leah described the process as "trying to pop a deflated balloon". Eventually it was popped and then we waited for contractions to begin. Nothing Happened. Not a cramp, not a twinge, not a pain of any sort. I was still 5 cms and 70% effaced. Because of the "restricted growth" and the Single Umbilical Artery (see previous posts) it was necessary that I kept a contraction and a heart rate monitor on my belly at all times, so we diligently watched the screen to see if maybe I was having contractions that I wasn't feeling.
I ran the stairs. I walked in circles for hours. I squatted through the hallway. I tried everything in my power to get this show on the road, but by 1 PM....still nothing.
So finally, at 1:30 we chose to start the Vitamin P. FAHC starts you off very slowly, with just 1 mL/min and then increases 1-2 mL/min about every 20-30 minutes until you establish a pattern of contractions. I didn't start to feel my contractions until we had reached the 5 mL drip (around 2:15), but they were still fairly mild. I asked if we could turn it up to 11. 50% of the people in the room got my joke. I walked around in circles in the hallway, passing another preggo also working to get the show on the road. We smiled and waved and encouraged one another as we passed eachother. By 3 PM we were up to 9 mL and things were starting to get serious.
I had been having 2 contractions per lap for about 3 laps (technical, I know!), but at 3:10, I had a third contraction, right outside the nurses station. Multiple nurses yelled out, "that sounded productive!" Once my contraction had ended and Karen came up and suggested we page Leah and see if she can check in. We headed back to the room where Jessi, Ben and Kacie (our photographer) were sitting and waiting. Leah came in around 3:15 and observed a few contractions and said she was going to get things ready, just in case....
As the contractions proceeded, we continued to talk in the room...It was the first snow of the season and we were watching out the window. Ben was talking to me as a contraction began and I politely attempted to answer him and he asked another question, at which point Jessi said-"stop talking to her." I was grateful!
I crawled up onto the bed where I leaned over the end of the bed while my perfect, amazing, birth partner husband pressed on my back during each contraction. When I say Jim is perfect-I really mean it. He is the most unbelievably, supportive partner in the world. I apologize to all of you who thought your husband was the best. You are wrong.
The contractions continued. Jim pushed on my back. At one point I said, "she's coming down." Leah responded calmly by ensuring that the other medical professionals in the room heard me say that. I was wondering why on earth they were listening to me. I had no idea what I was talking about. I was sure that I was overreacting because after all, it had been about 30 minutes of this intense labor. This couldn't actually be happening this quickly, right?
And yet, I continued to have productive, intense, loud contractions. I turned in the bed, struggling to get the IV's over my head and around my body and the nurses and Leah placed the squat bar at the end of the bed. I would estimate that the time was 3:45 ish. Leah said if I felt the urge to push that I should. I thought, "for real? No way, this could take hours, I can't be ready to push this baby out. Did you look at the time?"
Lo and behold, with the next contraction, I was ready. Leah checked. 10 cms. I pushed three times and the baby came out crying.
And this:
This is the reason that I did this. These faces. This awe and inspiration and wonderment of the first time you see the love of your life.
I am so happy that I chose to turn around when I did because this is the moment that I'd been waiting for.
True love. There's nothing like it!!
Congrats to all of you!!!
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