Heineken is right: Devon 2019 and 2020 should be fun. We should have a COTH meet and greet/reunion with all of our kiddos there!
My āstoryā is kind of different. I had the worlds easiest pregnancy- never sick, rarely tired, uncomfortable for only the last few days, but my labor was not so smooth. Since LO was face up, I was in back labor for 36 hours- never got any pain in front, just felt like my vertebrae were breaking or getting ripped out of my body every three to five minutes the last 12 hours I was contracting.
I went to the hospital the first time only to get sent home at 4 cm. because I didnāt want to get sent home again, I waited until i couldnāt handle the pain for another second longer to go back. Got to the hospital, sat in a wheelchair, 20 seconds later, my water broke. In the delivery room, they checked me and I was fully dilated, so im glad i went when I did!
Because I was having back labor and not typical contractions, laying in a bed or sitting was impossibly painful. So, despite wanting to go natural, I decided on an epidural, even though it was late and they only work for 50% of people with back labor.
ladies. dont be ashamed of needing or wanting pain meds. That epidural saved the day- it was the best decision I made the whole time. No need to be a hero! I was CONVINCED that I would go natural come hell or high water and there was no other choice for me- the universe decided to show me not to be so arrogant and inflexible:)
Baby was kind of stuck in my pelvis (being face up is not conducive to the dropping) so I labored for three hours while fully dilated before pushing for another hour and a half. We tried all sorts of things to try to get him to flip but nothing workedā¦when they come that way, not only does the hard part of their skull bump down your back the entire way but the way their head comes out is the greatest circumference possible. SO. He comes into the world, is beautiful and healthy and screaming, and all of that miserable, scary pain and uncertainty is completely washed away. I would do it all over again a million times. The only reason i am putting the non fun stuff out there is not to scare anyone, itās because I want everyone to know that even if you have to compromise on your plan, have tons of difficulty, and generally donāt have a good time, it is sooooo worth it all. Just go with the flow, do what you feel that you need to in the moment, and know that everything will be amazing.
I got to spend 35 minutes with him on my chest before they sent me to the OR for a manual placenta extraction, since mine wouldnāt detach. I also had a third degree tear which was repaired while I was in there, since they do the extraction vaginally.
Even with the extra complications, I feel good daily and only taking Motrin. So, chances are you also walk away from the experience feeling better than you expected!
Again, it all sounds super scary and awful but if you trust your doctor and your instincts, youāre going to be ok!
someone the other day was talking about a 10 lb 12 oz newborn and I looked down at my 10lb 2oz 9 week old in horror! Mad respect for anyone that can handle that!
Congrats to all and Iām so glad we have this thread.