This is for all of you who are interested in the 'gory' details. For those of you who want the summarized version is goes like this: it was long, it was worth it, I appreciated the epidural when it came. I feel like I had two birth experiences in one because I did a lot of natural childbirth followed by a very positive 'medical' birth.
The details:
Thursday. The first contractions begin - very mild but regular. I was hopeful. Isaac and Sue were in Ottawa getting Sue's residency paperwork. We had a chat on the phone, they were sad that they might miss the action but excited about their interview the coming day. One of the other pieces of exciting news we've had this week is that my sister-in-law, Sue, is now a Canadian resident.
Friday - night. I slept poorly, but was able to sleep through contractions - sometimes an hour at a time.
Friday - day. I woke up with continued regular but mild contractions. I called the midwife to see if I should still go to my ultrasound. She said yes, if nothing does begin at least we know that you and the baby are OK and if you don't go today you will have to go Monday. The ultra sound was a sucess. Rafa decided not to go to work (which was great). We scored 8/8 which meant that the baby was in a good position and in good physical state. We went from the hospital to the midwives clinic. She did an internal exam and my cervix was closed but getting softer. She said she wouldn't be surprised if I gave birth in the night or tomorrow. She also wouldn't be suprised if it was Monday. Diego proved very latino - taking as much time as he could. Rafa and I went home to distract ourselves. We went out for lunch. I had a nap. We watched a movie and Rafa timed contractions. There was a definate pattern but it wasn't getting any more frequent. This timing proved a mistake. I'll take the midwives advice next time - take some gravol, go to sleep and ignore the whole thing.
Friday - night. Contractions continue fairly mild but regular. I was still sleeping through several contractions at a time. They continue to come regularly however. I spoke with Isaac and Sue and told them that there might be exciting movement tomorrow. This proved over enthusiastic.
Saturday - afternoon. Contractions are regular and getting stronger. I called Cristy - the doula - just to let her know what was happening. Isaac and Sue came, went for a skate. Mom continues cooking and being a wonderful support. We took a walk. I could have walked through contractions but prefered to stop and lean on Rafa. He commented that the neighbors probubly thought I was drunk or high - leaning on him as I was. We had a good laugh and got some air.
Saturday - 8:00pm Contractions are coming regularly at around 8 minuites and getting stronger. I can't walk through them anymore so we called the doula. She came and set us up for the night. She got Rafa timing - and told him to be awake and vigilant. I was able to sleep between contractions but woke up for each one. Rafa was amazing - he was with me through every contraction - he was calm - he did all the timing and I knew that if the contractions suddenly started gettting close together he'd let me know. This meant I could sleep between. It also meant that he didn't sleep between. By the end he'd had less sleep than me. What a trouper!!!
Sunday - 5:00am After a very long night I got in the bath and Rafa called the midwife and the doubla. They both came - the midwife did a bath revision (she said that was actually easier for her than out of the bath - who knew?) I was still one centimeter but the cervix was well effaced and she was confident that things would happen today. I told her - if they didn't we had to do something because I was not going to make it though another night. Rafa and I chatted and I told him - "I can make it to about 1:00 this morning, then I don't know". Maybe with this conversation I set myself up for a 'fall' at 1:00 or maybe I just know myself. Either way it worked out. The doula stayed for a while and coached me with my breathing a little. This proved very important - I had been really pushing the breathing during the night - and was getting tired out. I suspect this 'over breathing' led to the later, rather debilitating, back pain. I'll know better next time. Christy left around 11:30 - to have lunch. With the parting words - it's still early. I continued with the day - supported by Sue and Rafa. Around 2:00 I called the midwife on call (Lena had gone home to sleep) and she told me to relax - that what I was experiencing was very common in early labor. Early labor!!! This was not was what I wanted to hear. How could I be still in early labor! I had a good cry - a nice bath - a chat with Rafa. I mourned my two days of early labor - which were not early labor - and mentalized myself to continue. Rafa and I also had the conversation about medical intervention, deciding that if we need it we'll take it. We are not going to do another whole night like last one. This helped with later decision making.
Sunday - 4:00pm We called the midwife and the doubla. We were now having contractions every 4-6 minutes, lasting at least one minute. Hopes are rising for things to happen soon. The midwife arrived - I was still at one centimeter but she did a stretch and sweep and got me up to two centimeters. She also hooked me up to the breastpump and that helped. By the time the midwife left to get some food were were busy watching a movie - breathing through contractions and hoping for more action - and soon!
Sunday - 6:45pm We called the midwife. Contractions were coming on strong and steady by this point. She did a quick revision. We were now in active labor (finally!!!!) and head off to the hospital. Mom and Isaac stayed behind to hold down the fort and I took Rafa, Sue and Cristy as labor support. Sue proved a natural, Cristy was a fountain of ideas and Rafa a rock. I couldn't have made it through the night without them.
Sunday - 7:30pm We arrived in the hospital. It was nice to arrive to the delivery room - already waiting for us, thanks to the midwife. We had more space here than we did at home and it felt like we were really ready to work. Crisy, Sue and Rafa were a constant support. Through the worst contractions they stood on three sides of me and helped me though. By the end the midwife took the back and I was boxed in with supportive hands. It was pretty magical really, painful - however you forget that part don't you - but magical.
Sunday - 11:00pm I was in the shower and started feeling the contractions continuous, like there was no break. The midwife hooked me up to the monitor so that she could show me the pattern. I tried to come to grips with the fact that there in fact breaks. I'd given up on the gas by then, it just made me feel more tired. We tried the TENs unit - we tried sterile water injections - they were all distracting but I still didn't have enough energy to get through. I was around 6cm dilated by this time and was looking at at least another 2 hours of work and up to 4.
Monday - 12:30am We decided for the epidural. By this point I was so tired physically that I couldn't move. Once you can't move it is very difficult to deal with contractions - especially when you can't stand to be lying down for them. What came next was pure survival, I was surrounded by support, when most everyone had to leave Christy stayed and kept me breathing - by sheer force of will sometimes. Turns out we lucked out and the woman who did the epidural was one of the best in the hospital, once all the necessary monitoring and questions were done she got the actual IV in in less than two minutes. I am told this process can take up to an hour. I felt the effects in about 10 minutes and by 20 it was perfect.
Monday - 1:30am The epidural took effect - I will never forget the look of the clock as it reaches 1:30 - a magic hour. Rafa and Sue came back into the room - I gave them a big smile and a thumbs up. I have never seen Rafa so relieved in my life. He had been through A LOT and deserved the rest as much as I. The next two hours were spent resting, enjoying my last bit of pregnancy. The epidural left me still able to feel the baby kicking but took away all the pain in the contractions. Really magical.
Monday - 4:30am Diego was born after only 9 pushes. I was originally sent one nurse to help be begin pushing but she called for the rest of the team almost immediately. Turns out that I had been fully dilated for a while (I had suspected but I was so happy lying quietly and relaxing that I didn't say anything to anyone) and Diego had pushed himself down the birth canal and the head was already crowning. He went straight to the pediatricians (there had been some macomium in the fluid) was cleaned and peed on everyone, much to Rafa's delight.
The midwife made sure Rafa got his hands on the baby as soon as possible who brought him over to me. Having a midwife, even with a medical birth, humanized the process so much. It was great having someone watching out for the 'feeling' details and not just the medical ones. Rafa laid the baby on my chest and he kept pushing. He pushed himself right from one side of my chest to the other. I guess he hadn't figured out that he was out yet. Diego latched on and had a little suck - we had a little cuddle. It was a little bit awkward with the intravenous in (I was also be 'attended to' by the doctor 'down there') but we figured it out. Mom and Isaac came to pick up Sue and the nurses let them in to say hello and take a peek.
Monday - 7:30am We left the delivery room for a private room on the maternity floor. We rested, we were poked and prodded by a series of very helpful nurses and students. We gave Diego his first bath. Mom, Isaac and Sue came by to visit, brought food and took away things we didn't need anymore.
Monday - 5:30pm We left the hospital to go home and rest. Mom was there, food was cooked, we slept really well with only one interruption, our fingers are crossed for this sort of night to continue.
Final count (for bragging rights) - 1.5 days of 'false' labor, 23 hours of 'pre-labor', 5 hours of 'active' labor, 4 hours of epidural.
