Right after birth
Kenya's Birth Story
After a failed attempt at an induction on January 5th 2004 my obstetrician decided to try inducing me again a week later. My due date was Sunday January 11th. I went in to the hospital on Wednesday January 14th 2004 to be induced using cervadil. They started the first 12 hour dose of cervadil at 6am Wednesday morning. Because cervadil is a mild induction drug it often takes more than one dose to go into active labor. I was 1-2 cm and soft but not effaced when I checked in.
The cervadil made me contract regularly and steadily all day Wednesday. The contractions were mild and uncomfortable but not really painful. I was a little discouraged at first but happy to be even a little closer to having my baby! At 6pm on Wednesay it was time to check my progress and take out the cervadil. I was now open to a full 2cm and beginning to efface... my dr said that when he streched his fingers appart my cervix would open to about 4 cm which was really good. My hopes were up.
After they put the 2nd dose of cervadil in at 6pm my contractions began to become more and more intense and painful. At 9pm I went pee and when I wiped there was a whole bunch on mucous and blood and the cervadil tablet! I told the nurse that the cervadil had fallen out with bloody show. My dr decided to let an hour pass and if I continued to contract on my own they would skip the pitocin. Thankfully my body kept working without the pitocin! The contractions stayed steady and continued to get stronger. At around 10pm, after I had gone walking and done some standing and rocking, the nurses checked me again. I was 5cm and 90% effaced.
Everything went pretty fast from 10 pm onwards. Contractions kept steady and were becoming very intense. I was sure that I didnt want an epidural but I did give in and got stadol. It didnt do much but make me feel really really groggy... as for pain.. it didnt take it away!! Im not 100% sure of the time frame from 10pm until I delivered. There was a point where I began to feel lots of rectal pressure and the urge to poop... I knew that was a sign that I was near complete so I called the nurses again. I was 10cm with a small anterior lip left. I really couldnt help but to start pushing at that point. They called my OB who was at home and told him that I was near delivery.
It was really amazing how out of control I felt with this labor. I had virtually no control over pushing, it was like my body just took over. Both nurses kept telling me to pant through the contractions or just to do little pushes until the dr got there. I couldnt do it! I dont remember feeling that intensity with my first labor. It felt like the contractions were running into each other, I barely had a break between them. About 5 minutes before I delivered the water bag popped on its own. I had never heard of a water bag staying intact so long! As soon as it broke the babys head was about to crown. I delivered at 1:32am. About a minute after the baby was born my Ob came running into the room... he was a little late!! I had a small tear and maybe 6 stitches. My son Kenya weighed 9lbs 4.75 oz and was 20 1/2 inches long.
After all the waiting Im so glad hes here! The entire induction took 19 1/2 hours. Active labor was about 4 1/2 hours. I do have to admit that Im a little sad that my boyfriend, mother and even my doctor missed the birth! A nurse named Maya delivered Kenya. Thankfully my doula training came in very handy. I was able to mentally coach myself through each contraction. The difference in this labor compared to my first labor was my acceptance of the pain. Even though I was alone I was very much at peace with my delivery. It was actually rewarding to deliver a baby without much help! Baby Kenya is a very welcome addition to our family :)
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