Monday, February 14, 2011

Happy Valentine's Day!

We are so proud, overjoyed, and overwhelmed to introduce our perfect daughter.Born on February 12th at 7:16 pm with a full head of hair (!). 7 lbs, 14 oz. and 21 3/4" long.

I had a long and difficult labour, as she was occiput posterior (facing forward). Back labour is possibly the worst thing ever. Early labour started on Thursday, and after 18 hours of that, my water broke late Friday night. We laboured at home overnight with the midwives here, went into hospital at 7am on Saturday at 7cm dilated, where labour stalled for many hours because of her position.

My birth plan went out the window due to the extreme pain of back labour, a cord wrapped around her neck causing her heart rate to drop during contractions, and my exhaustion after being up three days and two nights labouring. I ended up with an epidural, which then caused the contractions to slow down, and led to oxytocin to induce contractions (there goes the natural, unmedicated birth I was hoping for). It did allow me to catch a brief nap before heading into pushing.

An OB tried to turn her, but she proved stubborn and wouldn't budge. Unfortunately, that manipulation set us back some and probably prolonged labour some more. I stalled again at 9cm, and the threat of a vacuum delivery or, worse, a c-section, loomed. I developed a low fever due to exhaustion, low blood sugar, and dehydration. My blood pressure dropped dramatically. I was pumped up with 3L of fluids.

My midwife checked the effacement and thought if I started pushing, it just might work out. I pushed for two and a half hours, coached the whole time by my amazing husband and midwife. It was incredibly hard work, especially after all I'd already been through. My epidural catheter fell out at some point and soaked the sheets below me - I started feeling the contractions in my back again and was in tears, just about ready to give up because I couldn't handle more of those. Luckily, they managed to get the dose going again.

At the two hour point, my midwife told me that if we didn't get her coming out soon, I'd be heading to the OR. The work of delivery had caused baby to pass meconium in the fluid as well. That gave me the motivation I needed to use my last ounce of strength to get her out.

My husband caught her as she came, cut the cord, and she was rushed off to the warming table and a respiratory therapist and NICU nurses to suction the meconium before she breathed it in (so much for delayed cord clamping and immediate skin-to-skin contact). A few minutes later she was returned to me, all cleaned up and so, so beautiful. While the three of us bonded, I was sutured up from a 2nd degree tear - luckily, a very straight and apparently "easy" tear that will heal well.

We had to stay the night in hospital because of the meconium and my blood pressure scare.

We are finally home and getting used to a whole new life. More to come later.

22 comments:

  1. Congratulations! She's beautiful! Sorry about the hard labour you had to go through, the end always seems to make it worth it though :)

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  2. Bless your heart dear Mommy! You went through a lot but I'm so glad you had the love and support of your midwife and hubby. Congratulations, she's beautiful! Happy Valentine's Day!

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  3. What a gorgeous, expressive, beautiful baby girl!! What is her name? :) And many congrats to you and the hubby!!!

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  4. CONGRATULATIONS! I have following you for years waiting for this post! Well done! What is her name? She is beautiful and soo perfect!

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  5. Oh she is SO cute - I just love her! Yep, we make plans and God laughs! Neither of my labors went as I wanted them to go but in the end I got these beautiful babies so who cares right!

    Back labor is the worst! Little Bear was also facing the wrong way. To be able to push out a baby facing the wrong way is incredibly hard I've heard. My sister did it and said that even with the epi she was in pain! This little girl has one tough Mama!

    How is it going so far? It's pretty overwhelming and exhausting in the beginning but everyday will get easier! By 6 weeks it will be so natural. You will have a routine, she will be sleeping for 5-6 hour stretches at night; life will be good!

    Let me know if you have any questions and enjoy every minute of that sweet little girl. What is her name?

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  6. Yay! she looks beautiful. I am so happy for you all.

    Labour is rarely what we expect. I remember a friend telling me thhe doctor was at her feet teling her doula she had five more minutes before a c-section and that was what did it. She managed to push through.

    We never know where the strength will come from sometimes.

    So, so happy for you all.

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  7. Oh, what a beautiful baby; I love your valentine's presentation. I am so happy for you. I just shouted outloud and DH wondered what I was yelling about :)
    What an exciting story. How special that your husband was able to catch her and you were able to deliver her without a section!!

    I'm so glad that you and baby are safe. Enjoy!!

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  8. She's beautiful! I'm sorry it didn't go as planned, but the end result is the same - a beautiful and healthy baby girl. CONGRATULATIONS!

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  9. Wow, you are so brave for managing to deliver the baby without further intervention after everything you'd been through! I am so happy that everything worked out in the end. That's really awesome..

    Have fun with your beautiful girl! After all this time you finally got what you had been wishing for! Booyah! :D

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  10. Kinda sounds like my experience. Even though it wasn't to plan or what you would have liked it is worth it! Congrats on your beautiful daughter!!!!!

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  11. She's beautiful!! Congratulations!!

    Don't worry or feel bad about the labor/delivery you had with her. With that first birth especially you kind of go with the flow and do what is best for you and baby :-) There is a lot of your delivery that reminds me of my first......the exhaustion from laboring for 3 days, epi, pit...and the meconium in the water. Labor and delivery is tough stuff and you did a great job! What matters is a healthy baby.

    I hope you are able to relax, rest and enjoy those first few days getting settled.

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  12. Oh, yay! Congratulations - she's the cutest little valentine ever! And I can already see you in her, which is amazing (usually babies just look all generic!). And good job getting through that first tough parenting lesson - things rarely go how you plan, but it still works out in the end!

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  13. so glad you have your beautiful daughter in your arms.
    With my first I pushed for 3 hrs and had a large tear as well.... but she's a perfectly great college sophomore now....

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  14. She is just so beautiful! Congratulations! Now the real fun begins :)

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  15. Congratulations!! Happy Valentines Day Mom!

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  16. She is absolutely gorgeous! Congratulations to you and your husband on the perfect addition to your family!

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  17. Congratulations! She's beautiful. I can't believe how long you laboured and pushed for, kudos to you, I couldn't do it that long. I was induced with my second child and had planned to use an epidural so I wasn't trying for a natural birth like you but my daughter was facing the wrong way and also wouldn't turn, no matter what the doctors did. After pushing for 30 minutes (which I thought was long) and feeling ready to give up, the doc had me rest 5-10 minutes and then he came back and I pushed a few more times, he reached his hand up there and pulled the baby out! Mine was 9lbs 3oz. I can't imagine if I had felt the back labour pains!

    Enjoy your time with baby, it's so precious and goes so fast. I am eagerly awaiting my next arrival in 6 weeks.

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  18. She is precious and here and safe. I am sorry you didn't get the exact birth you wanted. I am so happy you didn't have to have a csection. Congratulations again!

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  19. Congrats! Enjoy the ride with your new little one!
    Angie

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  20. Congratulations! She's beautiful. Hope you get some rest and lots of happy moments together this week.

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  21. I am so happy for you - you're finally a Mama!!! She is perfect. Trust your gut!

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