We arrived at the hospital at 7am and got settled and waited for the shift change to be over to get started. Once I got all hooked up to monitors and got my IV in at the hospital they checked me and I was STILL 3cm and 75% effaced which I had been for the past 3 weeks. I was not happy. I was, however, contracting every 2-3 minutes altohugh they were not not strong enough to do anything. Anyway at 8:30 they started the Pitocin at the lowest dose and gradually increased it while we pretty much just hung out and watched TV and played on the computer. I could feel the contractions but they were not much more than menstrual cramps. The hospital had wireless internet which was a Godsend. At 2:30, the OB checked me and I was STILL 3cm. I was very frustrated to say the least. She decided tyo break my bag of water at this point to see if the contractions picked up. Lets just say they did. By 3:30 I was ready for the epidural but it was 5pm by the time the anesthesia got there as they were pretty busy that day. I was pretty much in tears at that point. I was contracting every 1-2 minutes and not getting any break in between. Not helpful was my husband who would inform me when the contractions were "lessening" by looking at the toco monitor. Thanks.
The epidural was a Godsend and I had a really good one. I could move my feet and feel pressure but no pain. I was 5cm dilated when I got the epidural placed. Next time, God willing, I would get it sooner. After the epidural, I vomitted once but then felt great and watched Jepordy and Its a Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown. At about 8:30 I was fully dliated but the Dr did not want me to push yet. It was the on call Dr at this point which was fine with me and he apparently likes the baby to drop as much as possible before pushing. At about 9:15 my nurse had me start pushing for about 40 min and then the Dr had me rest again. I managed a little catnap which was nice. We resumed pushing at 11:30pm. Pushing is quite tiring. They has me do 4 reps of 10 counts with each contraction and by the last rep I was done by the 8 count. It felt like I was trying to take the worlds largest poop.
By midnight the bed was broken down and the delivery table in place. The baby had pooped while in utero so neonatatolgy was also there for delivery which actually made me really happy. Meconium is really common and usually no big deal but if the baby aspirates it, it can be a major problem. We ended up needing the vacuum and an episitomy to get him out because despite having rather large hips, my pelvic outlet is quite small and I have almost no perineum....but that is another story. At 12:15 am on 10/29 Liam finally popped out with lots of intense pushing from me and pulling from the OB. He was deep suctioned multiple times for mec but not intubated and cried immediately. Once I was all stitched up, I felt pretty good. I never needed anything stonger than Motrin after the birth and was walking around by 5am.
We are completely in Love with him more and more every second.
