My last post was a while ago – but it was about my birth day and the upcoming birth of our baby! Well, baby Eli has arrived, so I thought I’d share with you all about his birth! Overall, Seth and I couldn’t be more thrilled with how Eli arrived into this world! He did a great job, and we couldn’t have done it without each other, and without our WONDERFUL doula, Jennifer Kinnear! She literally held me as I pushed through contractions and then some!
Eli Wayne Rouggly came on Thursday 6/21 and overall it was a GREAT birth experience! I hadn’t been feeling well overall on Wednesday evening, so I decided to take Thursday morning off. I managed to convince Seth to do the same, and it was a great thing we did! My water broke at 11:30am that morning and almost instantly my contractions started. They started at about 5 minutes apart and for about 45 seconds long. About 2pm, we decided to call the Doula because they stayed steady throughout that time. About 4pm we decided it was time to get to the hospital. I didn’t want to risk infection since my water had broken, so they had to do an ultrasound (instead of other methods) to determine that Eli was head down (which was an hilarious process because he was already so low that she couldn’t see his head). About 6pm I was feeling pretty intense after being in the shower a while, I decided to go for my first full check. I was 6cm dilated and fully effaced. I was feeling pretty good about it and was starting to go through transition.
After about an hour, I asked the doula about what the urge feels like to push because I was pretty sure that pushing was coming soon. They decided to do a check and told me I was 7cm. I was REALLY disappointed because I was sure I was further along. The midwife came in and basically said, she thought I was dehydrated and if I had an IV that might push me over the edge. I decided I was ready to be done at the point, so I consented to the IV. During the check, they told me Eli was just a smidge transverse (his head was turned a bit sideways) and so they encouraged me to get up and try walking around or standing, because I had spent the entire time on my birth ball for sure. After a couple of contractions, I tried standing over the ball on the bed, and immediately my contractions changed. I felt like I was going to drop the baby out right then. I managed to do two contractions like that and then went back to sitting. I KNEW the baby was coming so I did one last check and lo and behold – 10cm!! They started getting everything ready and I started to push! I pushed for about 30-45 minutes and then Eli was here!!! It was a great, yet painful process. In the end, he didn’t quite turn his head all the way and he came out with his hand up by his head. But he was out!
I lost a normal amount of blood and fluids during the birth process, but because I tore a bit, I ended up loosing a bit more blood than they thought. The doctor who stitched me up had no idea that I had only been on the IV fluids for about 2 hours. I ended up fainting once I stood up to use the restroom. Both Jennifer and Emily were there to catch me because Sethy was holding his sweet son! I had an IV push throughout the night and then was discharged on Saturday afternoon!
Overall – it really was great and we felt SO pleased with how the midwifes and nurses handled things. They kept telling me I was an inspiration and that they rarely see women do what I did. When they transfered me to postpartum, I overheard them saying, “Ohhhhh, so this is the Bradley girl!!” Then each nurse also told the others as they changed that I didn’t want to be offered pain meds and wasn’t for the first 24 hours, then because of the swelling, they wanted to make sure I was okay, so they gave me some motrin, but other than that motrin after the birth – I was able to bring Eli into this world completely unmedicated, and I’m so glad I did!
I still can’t believe he’s here! We’re adjusting to life as best we can at this point. We pretty much live our life in increments of 2 hours at a time. He’s sleeping for two hours then eating for one, then sleep, then eat, repeat, repeat, repeat. Even in the 2 weeks he’s been here, I’ve noticed a change in him and me! I am starting to recognize his cries, I see how his face has changed, and I see his little rolls of chub starting to appear! 🙂
I’ll keep you posted on Eli, as well as Mom and Dad as best we can! But for now – pray for sleep for all of us! 🙂
Congratulations Karen – what a beautiful story! Thank you for sharing it 🙂
Thanks friend!
do you think it is a “MUST” to induce or would you remmcoend the mother to go into labor on her own…….no matter how long it takes?? Or does it really get dangerous for the baby to stay in for too long? I do not think it is a must to induce because of dates. Due dates don’t actually mean too much. 40 weeks is based on pregnancy lasting approximately 10 moons. The average pregnancy is actually 40+3, average first time is 40+8. This still doesn’t mean much. The average means that if you take all women and average them that is the number. It does not mean we are due to have our babies by that date. It is simply an estimation where you are most likely to have your baby 3 weeks before or 3 weeks after. The other problem with dates is how we calculate them. Ultrasound is very inaccurate and using the first day of your last period does not factor in different length cycles and when you actually ovulated. If you know when you ovulated/conceived that is the best date to use add 38 weeks and know it will more likely go longer than shorter. Unless there are clear indications that there is a danger to the baby, babies should be left to come out in their own time. It is the baby that triggers labor when it is ready to come out, forcing it out sooner can lead to a baby before born prematurely, even if it is 2 weeks post dates. Just kept thinking, what if something goes wrong? What if the cord is around the neck and he/she needs oxygen right after coming into this word? If you have midwives they are fully equipped to deal with these things at home. The cord just needs to be unwrapped and the midwives carry oxygen. Also if you don’t cut the cord the baby doesn’t need to breathe right away because it will still be getting oxygen from the cord.
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totally inspiration to me as we’re praying and hoping for an unmedicated delivery. thank you so much for sharing!!
Well, now I’m curious for mlysef. I have already had a set of twin girls, they were di/di, it was my second birth. I had my first daughter 11 months earlier. I was young and stressed at the time and didn’t know I had options so I had an epidural in case of emergency but was able to deliver vaginally, Baby A was head down, baby B was born breach. They were 4 weeks early. almost 7 years later and after 5 miscarriages I am carrying twin boys. I am currently 18 weeks. Things are much different for me this time, Im in lots of pain (pelvic/pubic bones)and I am always having braxton hicks, sometimes even while just sitting. I guess I won’t be doing much till I have these little guys. Oh and they are also di/di. I have been really interested in accompilshing new things I have discovered. I would really like a natural birth (I am pretty confident of my body being able to do its job) delayed cord cutting, I will settle for Vitamin K shot but no vax, no bottles or water or sugar water to be given. I am just already intimidated about even discussing this with my doctor. He is the only one in his practice. And I am concerned out of convenience I will be forced to have a c section or not get any of my wishes for delivery. My husband and I really wanted an at home birth, but we just don’t have the finances to support it, and I am on baby aspirin and lovenox because of all my miscarriages (3 of my 5 happened at my second trimester). So I know I am at risk for bleeding already. And then reading that bleeding already is an issue for twin births, now Im wondering how a second multiple birth will end up? Anyways, so with di/di twins would I still be able to do the delayed cord cutting?
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