by Liz | All Things Kids
I have to admit, while there’s no way to be completely prepared for labor and delivery, I did feel fairly relaxed about the experience. This was largely due to the fact that I had a fairly uncomplicated birth for which we’re very fortunate, but there’s a lot to be said for doing your homework and reading as much credible material as you can.
Rupturing Membranes: My water broke around 1:30 in the afternoon but I didn’t start labor that I could tell. Rather than go straight to the hospital, I opted to see how things progressed on their own. I was close to both my doctor’s office and the hospital in the event I did go into active labor but I was much more comfortable and was able to eat a good meal before being admitted.
Once your water breaks, our hospital has a policy of not letting you go 24 hours past that point without delivering. While I didn’t know this at the time, it was to my benefit that I didn’t hang out at the hospital all that time and was able to relax and do things at my own pace. I would definitely recommend asking your doctor and hospital about any policies such as this so that you’re prepared.
Hospital Admission: While we had been pre-approved by our insurance and had submitted some paperwork to our hospital, there were a whole slew of forms I had to fill out. You can do this ahead of time if you call and ask your hospital. I can’t imagine having to do all that while in the midst of labor!
Medication: I went into the birth experience wanting to try for an unmedicated birth, but I also wanted to keep my options open. Once we arrived and it was obvious that I wasn’t in active labor, our doctor gave us his opinion as to how things would go. While we had a choice to wait longer before choosing to be induced with Pitocin (we waited 4 hours to see if I would start active labor on my own), he did encourage us to make a decision within a reasonable time frame so as not to compromise the 24 hour limit.
In the end, we chose to start Pitocin which immediately kick-started my labor. This also had the added effect of making my contractions more intense and closer together than they might have been without the pit. After four hours of labor, I had progressed about 2 more centimeters but my body was fighting the contractions despite my best efforts. I simply didn’t have enough time between contractions to relax and prepare for the next contraction. At that point, we opted to get an epidural. This procedure takes about 20 minutes (once the anesthesiologist is in the room, keep in mind he might be otherwise occupied!) so definitely plan in advance if you want to choose this option. The epidural brought immediate relief. However, my body relaxed so much that it affected the baby’s heart rate. There were a few intense moments but she recovered quickly and all was well.
Approximately 20 minutes later, I was closing fast on 10 centimeters. In my mind, this was a huge benefit of waiting as long as I did for the epidural. My body was working hard on getting ready for delivery and the epidural allowed me a short recovery period where my body was able to move the baby into position and get ready for the next phase. One hour after having received the epidural, I was ready to push!
Delivery: Even with drugs, this can be an intense and painful process! Everyone responds differently to the meds, I was very fortunate in that I still felt intense pressure during pushing. Some people have reported being completely numb and having no idea when to push, this was definitely not the case with me. While I’m sure that pushing was much less painful than it could have been, I still felt entirely connected to the process. It was a ton of work and felt like an eternity, but 17 minutes later…Adelena was born. My husband had to tell me to open my eyes and look because I was still so locked into the pushing!
Post-partum: I had requested that the baby be handed to me right away and even though she was a slippery mess, it was so amazing to hold her in my arms that first time. It also serves as a great distraction from the delivery of the placenta and any stitching you might have to endure. Keep in mind that, even with a vaginal delivery, you’re going to be in a fair amount of pain for a while.
Take advantage of your time in the hospital! While it’s not exactly restful, it’s a wonderful feeling to know that you and your baby have help at a moments notice if you need it. Between feedings, meals, nurses checking in, babies crying in neighboring rooms or visitors…there’s constant activity. Catnaps are key!
Also take advantage of the expertise around you. Ask all your questions and don’t think anything is too silly to ask. Believe me, they’ve heard it all!
Final Thoughts: Overall, we were relatively relaxed throughout the entire process and I think that played a large role in how it all transpired in the end. There are always complications that may occur and every birth is different. Being prepared for many different outcomes and trusting the experts to guide you in the right direction is invaluable. Remember…at the end of your journey is a huge reward that will change your life forever!
by Liz | All Things Kids
I’m still here! Things have been hectic the last few weeks but are beginning to settle back into.a routine.
The baby has arrived! Adelena Therese was born August 20th and has thrown our lives into complete disarray…in a good way!
Joe has started his new school year and having changed grade levels, he us still working out the kinks.
Within the first week of having Adelena home we had an earthquake and a hurricane. Fun times!
All in all it’s been amazing so far and we have already learned a lot.
More to come soon on the birth experience, items we can’t live without and the benefits of living in a tiny house with a newborn!
by Liz | All Things Kids
You know you’ve been pregnant for 9 months when…
- people have stopped asking when you’re due and have resorted to asking, “Are you still pregnant?”.
- you’ve finally passed the 37 week milestone and are ready for anything.
- the only attention your feet (what feet?!) get is from your pedicurist or your long-suffering husband.
- your pregnancy/newborn reading material has been completely overridden by internet searches for natural induction methods.
- every twinge or cramp is followed by intense evaluation about whether or not it could be a contraction.
- rolling over in bed or getting off the couch involves the same effort and preparation as running a marathon.
- household chores require 30 minutes to 3 hours of rest between each 10 minute burst of activity.
- social engagements are now accepted or declined based upon proximity to your due date.
- one or two social commitments per week qualifies as an insanely busy week.
- every outing is planned around proximity to a bathroom.
- you’ve become intensely grateful that you still have 3 outfits that feel relatively comfortable.
- you’ve actually considered finding yourself a mu mu.
- you’re plagued by intense (and not so secret) jealousy whenever you hear of someone going into labor or giving birth.
- you know the end is near, rationally, but have an intense fear that you’ll be pregnant forever.
- a good night’s sleep involves only four trips to the bathroom, rather than the more common 5-6.
- you’ve completely run out of baby things to sort, wash, re-sort, organize or otherwise titivate over.
- asking for and accepting help has become a habit, rather than a begrudging necessity.
- you’ve resorted to finding inane things to do with your time as you await your next doctor visit!
I know it’ll all be worth it in the end…but man is it tough to be patient! August is a busy month for new babies and I know quite a number who are due to be born any day now. Best of luck to all the new and veteran moms, can’t wait to hear all the good news!
by Liz | All Things Kids, Chaos Hacks
At some point during their pregnancy, every first time mom considers the question of meds vs. no meds. For some, this is a very simple decision. For others (like me!), it can be a long drawn-out brawl and it’s never clear who the victor might be. I’ve been fortunate with my pregnancy thus far and have had no indications of possible complications. Until I hear otherwise, I’m going with the assumption that I will have a vaginal birth rather than a c-section. Obviously this can change up to the last minute, but the more prepared I can be for the marathon of labor the better off I’ll be (at least in my own head).
For my own reference, I’ve used various methods to become better informed and I’m sure I still have a long way to go.
- Talk to friends and relatives: Everyone’s experience is different and everyone’s threshold for pain can vary widely. I found it was really encouraging (for both sides of the debate) to hash it out with friends and relatives about their own birth stories. The thing to remember is, there’s no right or wrong answer. You have to do what you are comfortable with and what is best for you and your baby.
- Read up on the risks and benefits: There are tons of books and websites out there chock full of useful information. Remember though, take everything with a grain of salt. Those who are dedicated to their belief system can be almost fanatical in their opinions. While your source may contain lots of great information, there are bound to be some misleading facts and/or comments thrown in as well.
- Write out a birth plan: This may sound a little silly at first, but it may just force you to consider some of the things you’ve been avoiding. Even if it’s just for your own reference, having all these details in one place can be reassuring and may even help you make some decisions you’ve been putting off.
- Attend the nerdy birth classes: Most hospitals offer these and some are more up to date than others. We attended a breastfeeding class along with LaMaze and are signed up for baby CPR. The LaMaze class, while a bit outdated in some respects, was definitely helpful in informing my husband and reinforcing much of the information I’ve learned over the past few months. We’re going to need all the help we can get, so having a few other tactics available to us definitely made the class worthwhile. It may be a bit of a drag at the time, but what’s 8 hours when you consider the new life that will soon be in your hands?
Regardless of your decision, I firmly believe it’s worth reading up on a natural birth. As women, our lives have been completely overrun with information on how NOT to get pregnant. Now, wonder of all wonders, we’ve managed to accomplish the impossible and are patiently awaiting the newest addition to our family. Due to the wealth of information available, this is both a happy and terrifying experience. You are completely inundated with advice and information that is usually well-meaning, but not always well-researched. As a mother-to-be, it’s now our job to sift through the facts, rumors and outright untruths until we manage to eek out a semblance of understanding about this incredible process.
Use the resources available to you and definitely consult your doctors and midwives. Even among medical professionals, there are many schools of thought and finding the right balance for you is important.
Here are a few resources I found useful:
birthingnaturally.net
Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth
Dona International
Google search “epidural vs. natural” for pure opinion based info
by Liz | Life Snapshot
Wow…it’s been a busy week! Between July 4th and a hectic work week, we have put in some long hours. While we are taking full advantage of our fleeting freedom, our full schedule has definitely taught me a thing or two about how to listen to my own body.
1. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! I feel as if I drink water constantly…at work, in the car, at home…the list goes on. Early on my pregnancy, I sprained my ankle so that’s my litmus test for how I’m doing with my water intake. Lately, as temps grow ever hotter, my ankle has been perpetually swollen. I had to completely readjust my theory of water consumption. The best advice I can give is, take your best guess at how many bottles, glasses (or however you keep track) and double it! I never leave home without a full (large!) bottle and am confident I can refill it at my next stop. Trade sugary drinks for water whenever possible and steer clear of caffeine or anything that may dehydrate you. This will mean frequent bathroom breaks but you’ll definitely feel better in the long run.
2. Bring snacks! I’ve waged an ongoing battle with heart burn since early in my pregnancy. Nothing instigates this symptom faster than an empty stomach. Keeping a supply of snacks nearby helps curb this and also helps eliminate over-eating at mealtimes (another risky behavior for my heart burn!). My favorite snacks lately have been fresh fruit (don’t feel bad about the pre-chopped variety at the grocery store), pretzels/goldfish and fruit chews (especially the natural kind). The odd yogurt or ice-cream never hurts either!
3. Don’t overdo it! It’s always been difficult for us to refuse an invitation to see family and friends. This is especially true now as we know our days with little or no planning are quickly disappearing. Lately though, I’ve had to reevaluate and give more thought to my energy level and give serious thought to what I can accomplish each day. After a long day at work, I’ve realized that I don’t have much left to go on. If I push myself too far, I definitely suffer for it the next day. Who knew you could have a pregnancy hangover from pure exhaustion?! Definitely plan ahead and know your limits. I’m not above a nap either!
