Chloe Noelle, 36 weeks, Drug-free, Induced VBAC!!

Niccij101 · #1 August 17th, 2009, 12:10 PM

Chloe�s Birth Story

I had an appointment at 3:00 pm on July 30th for a biophysical profile to check my fluid levels because my amniotic fluid had been on the low side for the past month. I was scheduled to see Dr. Kindel for my check up right after the sonogram. Braedyn and I arrived (late) around 3:10, checked in, and headed upstairs for the sonogram. About halfway up the stairs I felt a small leak/gush but didn�t think much about it. We sat down in the waiting room and about ten minutes later, we got called back to the sonogram room. I sat down on the sonogram table, and felt another gush. This one was a bit more fluid than the first time. I sat for a moment wondering if it could possibly be my water. I moved a bit, and felt another good-sized gush of fluid. I knew at that point that my water had broken. I told the sonogram technician, �Umm, I think my water just broke.� She looked at me like I was crazy, and asked what made me think that. I explained, and she did a very quick sonogram to check my fluid level (6.7, down from 7.1 and 8.6 previously). She then called downstairs to ask Dr. Kindel if I should come down for my check up, or head directly to Wesley. Dr. Kindel wanted to see me. The technician told me that in all her years of doing sonograms, I was the first patient to ever rupture on her table!

I checked back in downstairs with the receptionist and informed her that my water had broken upstairs. I had hoped she would immediately take me back to a room instead of making me wait in the lobby. No such luck. Braedyn and I stood there for about 10 minutes waiting; I made phone calls to Joey and Mom to inform them of what was going on. At this point, I am gushing more and more fluid, and my pants are soaked (luckily they were black). Finally, the nurse took us back to a room and had me undress for an exam. Dr. Kindel came in, lifted up the sheet, and said she didn�t need to test to check if it was amniotic fluid. It was obvious by the amount that I was leaking. She did check my cervix; I was 1 cm, 80%, and -1 station. She told me to head over to Wesley. Braedyn and I went outside to the parking lot where we waited for Paul to come get him. It took Paul about 20 minutes. During that time, Braedyn said he had to pee. I told him to pee right there because there was no way I was walking back into that office while gushing fluid. I�m sure people were looking at me and thinking I was only 6 months along or something because of the size of my belly. Braedyn peed on my car tire and was very proud of himself. Finally, Paul arrived, and followed me to Wesley where he took my car and Braedyn. I met Mom in the lobby, and we headed up to labor and delivery. It was shortly after 4:00 at this point. I got checked in and settled into my birthing room, and Joey arrived shortly after. They started pitocin around 5:15 pm, and I was still 1 cm. They increased the pitocin every 15 minutes, but my contractions weren�t really getting any stronger. Every time I moved, they would fade, and then take a while to pick back up. Around 11 pm, the pitocin was at a level 40, the max, and I was only 2-3 cm. Around midnight, I was 3 cm, and they decided to shut off the pitocin for 3 hours. I was able to get a bit of sleep at this time, but was rudely awakened shortly after 3 am with contractions.

I had asked my nurse if I could walk around. She said no because I was on pitocin and had to be monitored at all times. I asked for a birthing ball and she said they only had 1 and she couldn�t find it. So basically I was stuck laboring in the bed which was not working for me.

Once again, they began increasing the pitocin. They started at level 20, and increased it by 2 every 15 minutes. Within a few hours, I was maxed at 40 again, with almost no pain. The nurses and doctors were in awe that I was at that level of pitocin and not needing any pain meds. They had placed an intrauterine pressure monitor around 3:30 am to better monitor my contractions. They were steady, but not painful and not effective. The nurse informed me around 5 am that they would be talking to me about a C-section pretty soon. I began to mentally prepare myself for a C-section. At 7 am, I got a new nurse.

I got up to use the bathroom shortly after 7 am, and when I got back into bed, I noticed that I was still having contractions, and they were stronger than any I had been having. Dr. Kindel called my nurse at that time, and the nurse gave me the phone. Dr. Kindel asked me what my thoughts were and said that she was comfortable with me continuing to labor if I wanted to. I was not showing any signs of infection, baby was doing wonderfully, and I felt I could do it. I asked her if I could get out of bed and walk around and she agreed that I should. After ending the call, I asked my new nurse about a birthing ball and explained to her what the first nurse had told me. I had a birthing ball in my room within 3 minutes. Around 8 am, I was up walking around. I walked 3 laps around the labor and delivery floor and decided to go back to my room and sit on the ball. Mom and Bridget decided to head to the cafeteria and get some breakfast, and Joey lied down on the couch to take a nap. Shortly after sitting on the ball, I could feel my contractions getting stronger and could tell I was making progress. By the time Mom and Bridget returned to the room, I was unable to talk through my contractions, and they called for the nurse. At 9:54, the nurse checked me, and I was 4-5 cm, 80-90%, and 0 station. I had finally made some progress and knew that I would be able to fight off having a C-section. The nurse asked me if I needed anything for the pain, and I declined. I labored for another 25 minutes on the ball and asked to be checked again because I was having a lot more pain and pressure. At 10:21 am, I was 6-7 cms, 100%, and +1 station. I asked to be checked again at 10:30, only 9 minutes later. The nurse said I was 9 cm. At this point I got off the ball and into the bed. They called Dr. Kindel, and she came right over. She checked me and said I was only 7 cm (10:40 am). The pressure of being on the ball made me seem more dilated than I actually was. Dr. Kindel sat down on the couch because she knew I could go from 7-10 very quickly. She checked me again at 11 am, and I was 8 cm. The pain was becoming unbearable and I began to think I should have gotten an epidural, and that I couldn�t do it anymore. At this point my nurse became like a doula to me and coached me through every contraction. She told me I could do it, every time I said I couldn�t anymore. Around 11:20, I thought I felt like I needed to push, but wasn�t sure because the pain was so intense. I tried one push, but it hurt even more so I stopped. About 10 minutes later they had me try another push. After pushing that one time, I knew I had to keep pushing as I could feel her descending. I pushed one more time with that contraction and was able to wait for the next one. On the next contraction, I couldn�t stop pushing. After a total of 5 pushes, Chloe arrived at 11:36 am. I felt amazing as soon as she was born. My pain was gone, and I realized I was successful at my second VBAC, induced with a crazy amount of pitocin, and had done it on my own, with no drugs! Chloe�s apgars were 9 and 9, and I was so relieved that she was a healthy 36 weeker. She weighed 5 lbs 2 oz and was 18 inches long. She had a bit of trouble holding her temperature the rest of the day. I sent her to the nursery that night where they put her under the warmer and were finally able to give her a bath. After that she kept her temperature up, breastfed like a champ, and was able to come home with us after 48 hours.