I had fully intended to go completely natural. I wanted soft lights, my partner and family there with minimal distractions. I wanted to labor in the shower, feeling the pain slip away as the water pelted my skin. I wanted to use an alternative birthing position rather than just laying on the bed. Nothing but the end result of meeting my daughter went as planned.
I was having contractions for more than 3 days straight, strong long lasting contractions that the Dr on call at the hospital wasnt taking seriously. I was in the hospital twice and each time sent home because though I was progressing they said I had to progress a cm an hr to be counted as being in labor. I was apparently just dehydrated. Finally I was told that I would be induced on Monday at 6 am non chemically via the breaking of my water by a Dr I actually liked called Dr Ogburn. I saw a light at the end of the tunnel. I was 40+3 and beyond ready. From the beginning I was told I wouldn’t make it to my duedate and now I was 3 days past it, depressed, in pain and over the entire experience. I never knew that just 1 week post partum I would miss it so much that I would cry to my hubby about it. It’s still very emotional for me.
The night before the induction hubby and I walked around various stores in the area together.My contractions were pretty strong but knowing they wouldn’t do anything because of my induction the following day, we just kept active. We cooked dinner and relaxed, watched netflix and tried to make it an early night. At 6am, one week ago on March 4th 2013 we were admitted into the hospital and taken to the labor room. We settled in and called my Nana, mom, and sister who is 13 months my junior. We had had our bags packed for weeks waiting and it was surreal that by the time we left the hospital, we would never be alone again. We would be bringing our daughter :) A nurse named Shenay put in my IV. First in my right hand then tried again in my left forearm by my tattoo of the 5 birds. Marian, a German nurse who was a bit older took some more of Michael and my stats then focused on fluids.
At 7:53 am my water was broken my Dr Ogburn. I was 5cm, 70% effaced. 20 minutes after the breaking of my water, I got my first contraction of the day. It was 5 minutes long, intense and I felt okay. I was more excited than anything else! Michael was sweet and supportive and was fully on board with going natural. He held my hand or stroked my hair when the contraction came and several times, he kissed my forehead. I love when he does that.
Michael, for some back story, was always very supportive and loving during the pregnancy. His view of me and my body never changed the whole time. He welcomed the appearance of the bump, longed to feel her kick and move and fell in love when we found out its a girl. The last month was hard because he wanted to meet her so badly. It depressed him because work was hard and the waiting post duedate and with all of the supposed false starts, he was drained.
My family arrived some time around 10 I believe and they sat in front of the bed like a birth audience. My mother, though we were never close and I held a lot of childhood resentment toward was supportive during the pregnancy as were my grandparents and some friends. The contractions got progressively worse/better and I remember turning down the heat in my room to about 60 degrees and everyone was freezing, even my grizzly bear of a hubby I have. At 8cm I was sobbing because of the pain, I couldn’t breathe, my sister started crying and that’s when Michael said that it was okay if I needed the epidural. I felt like a failure but my hubby kept telling me that its our first, I had never known actual pain other than my tattoos and piercings, and no matter what, Madison would be safe. I progressed from 7cm quickly and I felt a little better after the epidural had worked. By 2:30 pm I was complete and I was able to push. My sister had wanted to watch her be born but it got too much for her. I knew it would be knowing her personality so everyone left to go the waiting room, Dr Ogburn reappeared and we began to push. I felt the pressure but my epidural made my legs heavy and hot. Michael held one of my legs and another nurse held my other leg. I kept trying positions to push in. Sitting up, lying back…I was so uncomfortable. My contractions began to slow and I felt so upset. A nurse named Amanda directed my pushes and I was told she kept stabbing down into my vaginal wall with her fingernails. Michael was so happy to see her coming and I got a mirror so I could see her head. The lights were off most of my labor and delivery and I was so happy about that. I was calm and relaxed but a little snippy at times because of my pain pre-epidural.
I pushed for an hr and 20 minutes and at 3:40pm, on March 4th, 2013 Madison Marie McKenzie Prestis was born weighing 6lbs, 13 ozs, 20 1/4 inches long. Michael cried when she was born and despite his germaphobia which has proved difficult postpartum, he kissed her vernix covered head. Lots of thick dark hair, long legs and arms and her pointy pixie ears….we were so in love. I got an hr of skin to skin and my family were allowed in.
Things I remember only in pieces:
I only had a poptart for breakfast so I was starving. All I wanted was an Oreo mcflurry and a sweet tea from McDonald’s.
My hubby rubbed my calf during my contractions pre-epi. I kept calling it my thigh.
I had a second degree tear that was sewn up by Dr Ogburn who was educating a surgical student. I don’t mind being a teaching experience. My tear was not perinial however and it was a rip in my lower vaginal wall. Michael is convinced its because of the nurse Amanda. -_-
My recovery has been hard especially the first few days. I was sobbing every time I would pee and showering was extremely painful. I was so swollen.
I believe I suffered from baby blues, not post partum depression.
Madison has the perfect latch and she is a very very very aggressive feeder.
One nurse said to me ‘not to sound weird but you have perfect nipples for breastfeeding’. Her name was Caitlin.
I wasn’t allowed to cosleep but we did anyway.
I got 45 minutes of sleep my whole hospital stay and couldn’t use my butt donut because it all hurt too bad.
I can only sit in certain types of chairs, I can sometimes pee comfortably.
Michael didn’t sleep at all for 4 days.
Madison has her father’s eyes and hair but my nose and lips.
She lost a little weight in the hospital. She dropped to 6lbs, 7ozs.
She has chubby cheeks now and is very sassy. She does what Michael calls ‘Leonard Nimoy eyebrows’
I have postpartum swelling in my lower body.
I’m struggling with my belly. But its getting a lot better.
Michael still rubs my belly and it makes me cry because he would pet Madison all the time.
They wouldn’t let Michael stand during my epidural because a lot of men faint.
Her cord stump fell off at 4 days old.
Michael cries because he hates how much of a germaphobe he is and because he thought Madison doesn’t like him. He gets depressed and feels hopeless.
She would not sleep in the bassinet in the hospital, hates all things that go over her head and can sleep through anything. Madison hates to sleep.
A nurse named Lori who checked my swelling actually made it worse.
A nurse named tiffany tried to take Madison to the nursery so we could ‘get some sleep and not have to deal with her crying’
The hospital photographer took the worst photos of my daughter because she was rough removing her onesie and it scared Madi.
Madison cluster fed her first 24-36hrs of life.
Michael changed all of her diapers in the hospital except when she pooped the last day.
Madison was called advanced from day 1. :)
She has very strong suction when she latches.
I loved my LC Amber because she was open to AP and was still ebf-ing her 19 month old
Madison is an observer. She has always loved looking around.
My family was there everyday we were in the hospital even though my mom lives 2 hrs away and my nana is an hr away.
I don’t think I can remember anymore. If you have any question or things to say, email me: erickaaphillips@gmail.com
