Although I still need to post Caleb’s breech delivery birth story, it is still a work in progress. I did have our second baby 1 week ago. Here is her birth story.
Isabella Mae July 17, 2015, 6:23am.
Isabella’s Birth Story
Richard and I did not find out the sex of our baby, and her due date based on an early dating ultrasound was July 27th, 2015. I Started having contractions Thursday morning July 16th at 5am. They continued throughout the day but were quite spaced apart. Anywhere from 5-15 minutes apart. Richard and I went into the hospital at 8 am to get an assessment, as my mom was hoping to be present for the birth, that way I could let her know to be on her way. She had to come from out of province about a 12 hour drive away. At the assessment I was 3 cm but my cervix was still high at -2 (meaning the baby hadn’t dropped completely). I called my mom anyway because I had a feeling I wasn’t far off! I kept busy all day. Actually at 3 pm we even went and had maternity photos done. I was even having contractions off and on throughout the 1.5 hour photo shoot.
My contractions stayed spaced until 10 pm. I would actually say I was in Pre-labour until then. Early labour probably started at 10:00 pm because that is when my contractions got more consistent between 5-8 minutes apart. I laboured for a while keeping busy. My mom made it at midnight.
The odd contraction caught me off guard and were really strong. Richard and I went to bed at 2:00 am to try to get some rest. I woke up at 3:15 am having MUCH stronger contractions now spaced 3-5 minutes apart. Richard woke up too and started watching me and rubbing my lower back. I was on my side lying down and during a contraction I rolled over onto my hands and knees, when I immediately felt a thump on my cervix! I literally was like “What the hell was that? That felt really weird?” That’s when Richard decided it was time to go to the hospital! Our bags were already in the van, except one which he grabbed; he was also smart and grabbed me a towel to sit on in the van. While putting my shoes on, I started to have some trickling of fluids, and on my way to the van. The hospital is only a 5 minute drive from our house. The only thing was that the front doors of the hospital are closed after 9 pm. So we had to go through emergency. We arrived at the hospital at 3:45 am. Richard let my mom and I out at the doors while he went and parked the van. I had to yell hello at the two nurses in the emergency check in, because neither were at the front desk and didn’t see us. One of them came up to the counter, immediately understanding the situation at hand, she let us in and told us where to go. Richard caught up to us. I had to walk because they had no wheelchair available. We had to take the elevator to the fourth floor. My water broke on the walk down the extra long corridor to the maternity ward. Richard was a few steps ahead of me and my mom. Me waddling down the hallway with a pink towel between my legs. Richard ran ahead when he overheard me say my water broke and told the nurse at Triage “my wife is in labour and coming behind me and her water just broke down the hallway!” My mom and I at the this point were giggling because it was a funny scenario and exciting at the same time. The nurse asked for a pee sample and gave me mesh underwear and a pad to wear. When I saw the pad I started to laugh hysterically! Not sure if you have seen them before but it was big enough to be a period pad for an elephant! My mom came in to help me as I was still having contractions close together and she ended laughing at the humongous pad too. The nurse had me lay down and checked my baby’s heart rate. She then checked my cervix. She thought I was 8 cm but when the doctor checked I was actually only at 4cm. Very discouraging!!! So they admitted me, and wheel me to a private room. Once there my contractions got really intense! The nurse had me sit up on all fours on the bed to bring on dilation! Right away my contractions got stronger almost to a point I couldn’t breathe through them. I also did some walking, and sat on a birth ball. They checked me again after half an hour at which time I was at 6 cm. I laboured for probably another 45 minutes mostly on all fours on the bed. The doctor came back and checked my cervix. I was relieved to hear that I had dilated to 8 cm. However my baby was occipital posterior “sunny side up” and the doctor said that could be why transition was taking a little longer and why I was having intense back labour. Both Richard and I feared the worst for a short time frame, thinking about possible c-section. Richard even asked the doctor if everything would turn out okay. Apparently posterior presentation it is quite common, nothing to worry about and with a few position changes baby would most likely turn back. My contractions got VERY close and extremely painful! My mom was trying to get me to focus and slow my breathing, but it was so intense I got mad at her! Richard was at my side rubbing my back, telling me I had this and it wouldn’t be long. The doctor left for a couple minutes then came back and stayed in the room from there on. I had only 3 or 4 more contractions after that, all of which I had urge to push, the doctor checked again. The baby had mostly turned and I was 9.5 cm dilated. He had me get in a position I found comfortable, which was a partial upright position. He told me then that one push should bring me to 10 cm. He then had me push just once then checked me again. I was relieved I was 10!!!
I started pushing. My support team and the doctor were soooo supportive. They kept telling me that I was doing great, and to trust my body and instincts. The doctor even sat back a bit in between contractions then moved in when I went to push. I held Richards hand and my mom was at the head of my bed rubbing my shoulders and cheering me on. The doctor helped me birth her head. He then pulled out one arm. The doctor then told Richard and I to pull out our baby. We both reached down and pulled her out! We still no idea the sex, we put her up on my chest and the doctor announced excitedly that she was a little girl. I started pushing at about 6:12 am and she was on my chest at 6:23am! She was out in 4 contractions and only 11 minutes! She was 7lbs 3.8oz, and 19.75 inches. She latched to nurse with no issue!
❤️We are on cloud 9. She is beautiful, and so good so far.
Isabella Mae