C. & I want to let you know that we had our daughter--8 lbs 6 oz, 21 inches--on 7-8-10 after 24 hours of natural labor and delivery (well, I got 2 mg of Stadol at transition--which I think relaxed me enough in between contractions to get to 10 very soon after!). We couldn't have done it without taking the Bradley course--and thank you again for the rice sock, it was definitely utilized!
I don't know what my doc did (we delivered at Froedtert), but I didn't see any residents, or medical students and--no capped IV! I was able to get in the shower for as long as I wanted, and get in the whirlpool tub while I was in very active labor. She stayed after her clinic in the afternoon and actually sat in my labor room and coached for about an hour (I think). She stayed for the delivery as well which was so amazing.
We stayed at home for about 12 hours ( and C. kept saying "I think we should go in--I think we should go in), and then I was ready to go in. I was 6 cm. It was the optimal hospital experience. Unfortunately, right after delivery, I hemorrhaged and required an IV, 2 bags of Pitocin (among other things to help my uterus contract) and then 2 units of blood. We though it was so ironic that we did it with minimal intervention and them wham! Thank you again for sharing your expertise and knowledge with us--it was truly invaluable.
S. & C. in Wauwatosa
PS--C. did not once ask me "what do you want me to do?" :)
Monday, January 3, 2011
At Home Until Transition
I am happy to say that yesterday, June 22nd at 4:06 am I gave birth to a healthy baby girl. her name is Caliana. My birth story is a bit unique. The whole labor from start to finish was 6 hours long! Can you believe it? I couldn't imagined it going any better. :)
I was at home for about 4 hours when I realized I was in transition. That is when I asked my Mom and my doula to come over. I even called a friend nearby in case I needed to get to the hospital before they arrived. I called the doctor and told her I was in transition. I don't think she took me entirely serious until we finally got to the hospital and the nurse said I was 10 cm dilated and completely effaced. I was practically crossing my legs not to push.
We waited 15 more minutes for the doctor to arrive and in 4 pushes she was out and on my chest! I was in the hospital for a total of 40 minutes before she arrived.
I just wanted to say that the whole time I was at home by myself I was looking at all my notes from class and that really helped. I don't know that things would have gone so well had it not been for all that you taught me. Thank you and I can't wait for you to meet her. :)
Ashley in Milwaukee
I was at home for about 4 hours when I realized I was in transition. That is when I asked my Mom and my doula to come over. I even called a friend nearby in case I needed to get to the hospital before they arrived. I called the doctor and told her I was in transition. I don't think she took me entirely serious until we finally got to the hospital and the nurse said I was 10 cm dilated and completely effaced. I was practically crossing my legs not to push.
We waited 15 more minutes for the doctor to arrive and in 4 pushes she was out and on my chest! I was in the hospital for a total of 40 minutes before she arrived.
I just wanted to say that the whole time I was at home by myself I was looking at all my notes from class and that really helped. I don't know that things would have gone so well had it not been for all that you taught me. Thank you and I can't wait for you to meet her. :)
Ashley in Milwaukee
No Time for Drugs
We wanted to let you know we had our baby last night. He arrived this morning at 1:28 am, 2 weeks and 6 days early, but he is 19.5 inches, 7 lbs 2.2 oz. both mom and baby are doing well.
We barely made it back from Superior after house hunting for the weekend. Water broke at 10:30 pm. First contraction was about 11 pm and baby was here at 1:28 am!
We called the hospital around 11:15 pm or so and her contractions were about 1-2 minutes apart, but only lasted about 30-45 seconds. The hospital said to wait. She was getting more uncomfortable with about 1 minute between and fairly long contractions. Honestly, it was so fast, we couldn't really time them as I was getting everything else ready to go. We got to the hospital ER about 12:30 am and she felt like pushing in the car. Got the OB triage and they measured and found zero cervix so we got whisked upstairs, not even time for a bracelet on mom or anything. She started pushing right away and the baby came very quickly with two tears, but one was very small and just 1 stitch in that one. She didn't have any drugs, although there really wasn't any time for them even if she would've wanted any thing.
It was a pretty hectic day and weekend with looking at roughly 25 houses for our move north in August, a 9 hour drive home due to construction, traffic, and a blown tire and then a labor that was only 2.5 hours. All is well though!
K. and J. in West Allis
We barely made it back from Superior after house hunting for the weekend. Water broke at 10:30 pm. First contraction was about 11 pm and baby was here at 1:28 am!
We called the hospital around 11:15 pm or so and her contractions were about 1-2 minutes apart, but only lasted about 30-45 seconds. The hospital said to wait. She was getting more uncomfortable with about 1 minute between and fairly long contractions. Honestly, it was so fast, we couldn't really time them as I was getting everything else ready to go. We got to the hospital ER about 12:30 am and she felt like pushing in the car. Got the OB triage and they measured and found zero cervix so we got whisked upstairs, not even time for a bracelet on mom or anything. She started pushing right away and the baby came very quickly with two tears, but one was very small and just 1 stitch in that one. She didn't have any drugs, although there really wasn't any time for them even if she would've wanted any thing.
It was a pretty hectic day and weekend with looking at roughly 25 houses for our move north in August, a 9 hour drive home due to construction, traffic, and a blown tire and then a labor that was only 2.5 hours. All is well though!
K. and J. in West Allis
April 15th Baby Better than Tax Refund
We would like to introduce our little Abi. She was born at 2:44 am on April 15th, and is way better than any tax refund! She is 7 lbs 1 oz and 20.5 inches.
We did have to be induced to start labor and keep contractions going, but we were still able to do a natural birth. Kris did a great job and we never could have done it without the classes. In fact, Abi has already told us that she misses hearing your voice every Saturday morning. :)
Matt & Kris in West Allis
We did have to be induced to start labor and keep contractions going, but we were still able to do a natural birth. Kris did a great job and we never could have done it without the classes. In fact, Abi has already told us that she misses hearing your voice every Saturday morning. :)
Matt & Kris in West Allis
Parent's Advice--Stay Flexible
One piece of advice--stay flexible with your plan. Make sure to keep the top of your plan the big picture--everyone safe so that you can focus on the important part. As we learned, plans are only as good as the situation and your ability to adapt them. That said, even though almost every part of our plan went out the window, we wouldn't change anything and it was a wonderful experience. Coral--you were right, feeling listened to (the hospital staff [St. Mary's, Mke.] was phenomenal at every turn--on top of the amazing nurses, every time something deviated from our plan they came in and talked to us about it to make sure it was OK) and a great coach (Derek was perfect) makes all the difference.
So after our due date we were trying EVERYTHING on the list to induce labor. While on the breast pump Monday, 4/5 my water broke. It was clear with some pinkish blood. I was super excited (although embarrassed when right afterwards the doorbell rang with some guy selling door to door meat--I answered with my legs crossed and a blanket wrapped around my top--awkward). Unfortunately, labor didn't start. All afternoon, evening and night I tried to start labor. Sleeping, walking, bouncing, breast pump, etc.
Mid-day Tuesday we decided it was time to go to the hospital and tell the doctor since it was coming up on 24 hours. At 3pm I was still not effaced an only 1 cm dilated, -2 station. They put in Cervidil for 12 hours and I rested. By 10 pm I was having contractions fairly regularly but spaced apart--not yet active labor. They started the Pitocin at 1:30 after the Cervidil feel out.
By 4 am I was having intense contractions 1 minute long, 2 minutes apart. I stayed really calm and my ritual was to know how many deep breaths it took for one contractions and breathe them slowly and count them down so that I'd remember that it would end soon. Once I couldn't count out loud Derek counted them for me.
By 7 am I was 2.5 cm and 50% effaced. The downside to this is that because of the need to be induced I was on continual monitoring and an IV and every time you move at all some alarm goes off that one of your tubes isn't working well and you have to stay still while they futz with it. Our plan really derailed at 7:30 pm--they upped the Pit and my contractions started coupling--which was OK with me--but not with them. The only way to stop that is to up the PIT more--so they did. I started having all the symptoms of transition and threw up with each deep breath--on top of that, the contractions never really ended--they peaked each minute, then went to about half strength, then peaked again.
I got to where between not breathing and not getting any recovery I just couldn't do it--especially since I figured I was still just starting active labor. I decided that drugs would be necessary eventually since I figured I had several hours of this left) so to start them then. I got the epidural at 8:30 and fell immediately asleep for 1/2 an hour in total exhaustion. Once I woke up things were great and by 10 pm I was 7.5 cm, totally effaced, and 0 station. By midnight, fully dilated.
I started pushing at 2:30 am and she was born Wednesday the 7th at 7:10 am (yes that's just under 5 hours--but that's because with the epidural she flipped posterior and I couldn't push for very long in that many positions (although still did hands and knees, and sitting on a bedpan on the end of the bed to simulate a toilet--with Derek regularly suggesting changes)--it wasn't that bad.
At 7, the attending came in and said--all right lady here's the deal--you have 10 minutes to push this baby out or we need to vacuum extract or C-section. I got her almost all the way out, but it took one small pull with the vacuum to make her whole body fit out. I think that having them describe the options helped stimulate things to go a bit faster. By the end of the pushing I had a fever and her heart rate had stopped decelerating and was really fast so I was on antibiotics and she got checked by NICU right away. They quickly decided she was OK and put her on my chest while they sewed me up. She rooted and made suckling faces right away. She came out alert, eyes open and looking around. She was 6 lbs 12 oz and 20.5 inches.
Thank you all for your support and companionship--and Coral a bazillion thanks for helping us to feel so prepared and calm about the whole experience--we couldn't have done it without you.
Kelly, Derek in Milwaukee
So after our due date we were trying EVERYTHING on the list to induce labor. While on the breast pump Monday, 4/5 my water broke. It was clear with some pinkish blood. I was super excited (although embarrassed when right afterwards the doorbell rang with some guy selling door to door meat--I answered with my legs crossed and a blanket wrapped around my top--awkward). Unfortunately, labor didn't start. All afternoon, evening and night I tried to start labor. Sleeping, walking, bouncing, breast pump, etc.
Mid-day Tuesday we decided it was time to go to the hospital and tell the doctor since it was coming up on 24 hours. At 3pm I was still not effaced an only 1 cm dilated, -2 station. They put in Cervidil for 12 hours and I rested. By 10 pm I was having contractions fairly regularly but spaced apart--not yet active labor. They started the Pitocin at 1:30 after the Cervidil feel out.
By 4 am I was having intense contractions 1 minute long, 2 minutes apart. I stayed really calm and my ritual was to know how many deep breaths it took for one contractions and breathe them slowly and count them down so that I'd remember that it would end soon. Once I couldn't count out loud Derek counted them for me.
By 7 am I was 2.5 cm and 50% effaced. The downside to this is that because of the need to be induced I was on continual monitoring and an IV and every time you move at all some alarm goes off that one of your tubes isn't working well and you have to stay still while they futz with it. Our plan really derailed at 7:30 pm--they upped the Pit and my contractions started coupling--which was OK with me--but not with them. The only way to stop that is to up the PIT more--so they did. I started having all the symptoms of transition and threw up with each deep breath--on top of that, the contractions never really ended--they peaked each minute, then went to about half strength, then peaked again.
I got to where between not breathing and not getting any recovery I just couldn't do it--especially since I figured I was still just starting active labor. I decided that drugs would be necessary eventually since I figured I had several hours of this left) so to start them then. I got the epidural at 8:30 and fell immediately asleep for 1/2 an hour in total exhaustion. Once I woke up things were great and by 10 pm I was 7.5 cm, totally effaced, and 0 station. By midnight, fully dilated.
I started pushing at 2:30 am and she was born Wednesday the 7th at 7:10 am (yes that's just under 5 hours--but that's because with the epidural she flipped posterior and I couldn't push for very long in that many positions (although still did hands and knees, and sitting on a bedpan on the end of the bed to simulate a toilet--with Derek regularly suggesting changes)--it wasn't that bad.
At 7, the attending came in and said--all right lady here's the deal--you have 10 minutes to push this baby out or we need to vacuum extract or C-section. I got her almost all the way out, but it took one small pull with the vacuum to make her whole body fit out. I think that having them describe the options helped stimulate things to go a bit faster. By the end of the pushing I had a fever and her heart rate had stopped decelerating and was really fast so I was on antibiotics and she got checked by NICU right away. They quickly decided she was OK and put her on my chest while they sewed me up. She rooted and made suckling faces right away. She came out alert, eyes open and looking around. She was 6 lbs 12 oz and 20.5 inches.
Thank you all for your support and companionship--and Coral a bazillion thanks for helping us to feel so prepared and calm about the whole experience--we couldn't have done it without you.
Kelly, Derek in Milwaukee
Sinai--a Good Experience
Hi. I had emailed you a while back about where in Milwaukee to birth. I ended up going with Sinai... and was SO impressed. I was transferred [from midwives] to the high risk doctors because of gestational diabetes and they ended up breaking my water at 40 weeks and 4 days. I labored with no drugs. I had a great nurse who left about an hour and a half into labor. She was replaced by an equally good nurse who stayed with me most of the time, rather than being uninvolved, and in all truth would have made a great doula--a stop above, a hundred steps above the average nurse. She encouraged me to walk around, change positions, save my energy, shake my booty, etc. She assured me that my baby knew what he was doing and that his movements (which were hurting me) were helping to bring him down and that he was working hard to come out. When I was in transition and trying to tell my doula that I wanted a "walking" epidural the nurse sided with my doulas and told me that my labor would be done soon and that getting an epidural would be pointless. She did other great things too but it's a bit hazy.
My experience with the doctors, especially the resident doctors who were the ones mainly involved was also great. They said they had never let the cord stop pulsing before they cut it but that if that was what I wanted they didn't have any objections. The two docs just sat and watched as I was squat pushing and let me, my nurse, doula and hubby alone until the very end when they came to catch the baby. They immediately put baby in my arms and weren't in a big hurry to take him away. They didn't push the issue of shots for baby...they didn't push any issues actually.
I was pretty happy about their excitement for breastfeeding, as well as their view in episiotomies, which was that there better be a darn good reason to do one, if it ain't saving a life what's the point (maybe not every one's view but the two docs I worked with felt that way).
So thank YOU so much for your recommendation. Mary in Milwaukee
My experience with the doctors, especially the resident doctors who were the ones mainly involved was also great. They said they had never let the cord stop pulsing before they cut it but that if that was what I wanted they didn't have any objections. The two docs just sat and watched as I was squat pushing and let me, my nurse, doula and hubby alone until the very end when they came to catch the baby. They immediately put baby in my arms and weren't in a big hurry to take him away. They didn't push the issue of shots for baby...they didn't push any issues actually.
I was pretty happy about their excitement for breastfeeding, as well as their view in episiotomies, which was that there better be a darn good reason to do one, if it ain't saving a life what's the point (maybe not every one's view but the two docs I worked with felt that way).
So thank YOU so much for your recommendation. Mary in Milwaukee
Peaceful Mama, Peaceful Baby
We did it! More specifically, S. did it while I help back tears of joy and amazement. What an incredible experience we had bringing our baby into the world on Friday, May 21st. Mom and baby are both doing wonderful. And I'm pleased to report that the birth was 100% natural. No high fructose corn syrup, no pesticides, wait...I'm getting carried away with the natural thing. Sorry.
The labor was about 12 hours. We arrived at the hospital around 4 pm. The contractions were about 3-1-1 a that point and S. was 4 cm dilated. We went through whole variety of different positions, relaxation techniques, used the whirlpool tub, etc. Each hour S. was becoming another 2 cm dilated. By around 7:30 she was ready to push. Just over 40 minutes later, baby made her entrance. S. did an amazing job pushing and I wasn't half bad either (said while patting myself on the back). The hospital staff was supportive of our birth plan and , I have to say, completely blown away by what S was able to do. She made it look easy. You should have seen her. It brought me to tears to see here realize her dream. I'm a proud husband and father, that's for sure!
We can't wait for you to meet our little 7lb 5 oz, 20 inch juggernaut. She's beautiful and healthy. Both S. and I agree that without your guidance this wouldn't have been so wonderful. Thank you for giving us such an unforgettable, magical experience. We can't thank you enough. C. in Milwaukee
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