My due date was May 6th, 2014, that afternoon my contractions started slowly building up. By mid evening I was in labor and having to breathe through contractions. We stayed at home for a few hours and tried methods like birthing ball, warm shower, music, swaying, breathing, but around midnight we made the treck to the hospital. The odd ball, money pincher I am we stayed in the truck for about 15 minutes having contractions so that we could wait to check in after midnight. We checked in and they watched me for a while to see if I continued to progress. I was 3cm when we checked in at 12AM, over the next few hours we would breathe through contractions and sway back and forth.
Around 3 AM I was able to get my epidural, and then was able to relax and was dilated to 5cm at that point. We were able to get a little bit of rest as they continued to let my body contract and labor on its own. Around 6 AM my contractions were slowing down a bit so they added in a little Pitocin to keep the contractions going. At 7 AM Dr. Friesen came in to break my water and then I was 7cm. Again around 9 AM they checked me and I was 8cm, at 10 AM I was 9 cm and at 11:30 AM I was 10 cm. Our nurse started to prepare us for pushing and called the doctor.
Dr. Friesen showed up around 12PM and we started pushing, we pushed for about 20 minutes and Jackson was moving down and was getting closer to deliver, however his heart rate started to dip with my contractions and he was starting to slow down with his decent. Dr. Friesen made the decision to use forceps to assist with delivery. I completely trusted his opinion and his decisions to use forceps. I think it is very important to go to an OB that you trust with your life and the life of your child whole heartedly, and you also trust their partners, since there is a chance your OB wont be available. More on Forcep delivery here: Mayo Clinic- Forceps
Thankfully just a few minutes later Jackson was delivered with forceps with one push. He had meconium (his stool) in his amniotic fluid so the NICU and respiratory therapists were at the delivery in case he needed more support. He came out crying, and big and beautiful. Our Jackson was a big boy at 9 pounds 3 oz, 21 inches long born at 12:41PM on May 7th, 2014.
More on Meconium Aspiration Syndrome and risks of Meconium in amniotic fluid here: Medline Plus
After delivery we delivered the placenta at which time Dr. Friesen found a few clots and a bit more bleeding. With the blood loss along with the delivery I wasn't feeling very good, I would get light headed and feel like I was going to pass out. We stayed on L&D for a few hours prior to being transferred up to my post partum room where my co workers were anxiously awaiting.
After getting to post partum our stay went very quickly. My hemoglobin dropped after delivery due to the blood loss and clots and I felt dizzy when standing so we transfused two units of blood and I felt much better afterwards. Jackson was wonderful at breastfeeding from the beginning, staying awake for feeds.
Two days later we went home and followed up with the pediatrician, although Jackson was nursing good, my milk had not come in yet and his weight was dropping close to 10%. There was talk of supplementing with formula but I chose to feed more frequently and add pumping to supplement with my own colostrum/breast milk. Thankfully a day later my milk came in and I had a wonderful supply.
Our delivery was amazing, I loved going in to labor on my own, and there was no greater feeling than meeting my little baby boy that we had worked so hard for.
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