Emily's Birth (Positive Induction Story)

ufmelissa824 · #1 August 1st, 2012, 12:39 PM

I was scheduled to be induced 2 days early due to pregnancy-induced hypertension. Because I was 80% effaced and 1-2cm dilated, my OB figured it would be a pretty easy induction so I reported to the hospital on Sunday night to start cervidil with plans to start pitocin the next morning. After getting settled in my room, the nurse inserted the cervidil at around 8:30pm and DH watched the Olympics to pass the time. DH stayed for another hour and then I told him to go home and rest up for our big day.

I was just about to turn off the TV at 11:30pm when I felt a pop and gush of warm fluid. At first I thought maybe the cervidil gel capsule had broken but when it kept coming, I realized my water must have broken. Just then the nurse stopped by to check on me and she confirmed it. I asked her what that would mean and she said I was only 2cm dilated and it would probably still be sometime the next morning before I went into active labor. She left and I called DH to see if he was still up and he was so I told him to be on alert. Within 10 minutes, I started getting regular contractions that were 40 seconds long and 1 1/2 minutes apart. They were intense and very painful. I called DH and told him it was the real deal and he said he'd figured that and was already dressed and heading to the hospital.

The nurse still didn't seem concerned but I told her I was in a lot of pain and they were coming even closer together which made it impossible to get relief. She said she'd see if the anesthesiologist could give me some nubane or something but thought it was still pretty early for the epidural. I labored for another half hour or so. DH got there and not long after the anesthesiologist came by on the way to a c-section. I don't think I've ever been so happy to see someone. She went ahead and administered the epidural and I felt so much better. Soon after that, the nurse checked my cervix, thinking that I would be around 3-4cm but much to her surprise I had gone from 2 to 8cm in 2 hours!!! Once they finally realized this baby was coming soon, they jumped into high gear and started prepping the labor suite for delivery.

By 3am, I was at 10cm and I kept feeling the pressure to push but the nurse told me to slow down since the on-call OB was in a c-section. Easier said than done... Finally, around 3:15 the dr came in and said I could start pushing. I was having a really hard time getting the hang of it and every time a contraction would come, the baby's heartrate would plummet. I remember thinking that pushing was so much harder than I expected and I didn't know how I was going to do it. The OB asked if she could try the vacuum, otherwise we might be looking at an emergency c-section because of the baby's heart rate. DH was a nervous wreck. I told her whatever it took, just do it. Once she was able to bring the baby down a little bit, I had a much easier time pushing and at 3:42am on July 30, Emily Renee was born. She was much tinier than I expected at 6lbs 15oz and 20 inches long. They immediately placed her on my stomach and I was in awe.

I had a second degree tear that was pretty long so I got what felt like 30 stitches that I could feel every part of

Other than that, I couldn't believe how quick my labor went. The nurse said that 4 hours for a FTM is almost unheard of. It was an amazing journey and I'm so happy to have my beautiful baby girl.