Birth Story (long)

[katiek]

Super short version: on Friday, July 18 at 3:54 pm, Milo Douglas was born after 14 hours of labour. I was 39 weeks, 1 day pregnant. He's 7 lbs, 1 oz and 20 inches long.



Long version: On Thursday, July 17, I had a routine 39 week appointment at the doctor. She was going to do my first internal check, and found I was 3cm dilated. She then did a stretch and sweep without telling me, which hurt like hell. She said she thought the baby would come over the weekend. I started having painful contractions every twenty minutes or so around 10am, shortly after my appointment. I had been having irregular period-like cramps and Braxton Hicks contractions for about a week and a half, but these were my first painful contractions. They kept settling into patterns for a while, then deviating, which was frustrating.

At midnight we decided to go to sleep, but the contractions became too painful to sleep, so we got up around 2am. After timing them for an hour, they were consistently 2.5 minutes apart and 40-50 seconds long, so we decided to go in to the hospital. We got to the hospital around 4:30am, where we had to wait for what felt like ages. I finally got hooked up and checked. I was 5 cm dilated, with contractions that were consistently 2.5 minutes apart. The nurse said that usually people dilate 1 cm per hour, so that was my approximate expectation. She also said that my contractions were so strong that they probably wouldn’t get any worse until my water broke, which was reassuring at the time, but horrifying considering how long I was in labour.

So I laboured. At some point my doctor came in to check me. I had planned not to have an epidural, so I refused it. H coached me through each contraction, and at one point I was actually able to doze off in between contractions. After nine or ten hours of labour, my contractions managed to get stronger, but I was still only 8 cm dilated. A few hours later, after labouring for 12 hours, my doctor decided to break my water in an attempt to get me to dilate the last little bit. The contractions after my water was broken were even more intense, and it was extremely difficult not to push. I finally had to push during a few contractions, because I physically couldn’t help it. The nurse finally let me push as much as I wanted when she saw that the last bit of cervix would move out of the way. I pushed for 1.5 hours before he was born. It was incredibly physically taxing, probably not helped by the fact that I hadn’t eaten in almost 24 hours and I had been having contractions every 2.5 minutes for 14 hours.

If I had known how long it would take, I probably would have gotten an epidural, but I think it worked out well. My labia tore in multiple places, which is apparently an uncommon place to tear. I’m very very swollen still, but I managed to poop twice since we got home, which is something I was afraid of. Nursing is going pretty well. My milk hasn’t come in yet, but he’s latching fairly well every 2-3 hours. My nipples are extremely sore, though. Every time he nurses, my uterus contracts, which I know is a good thing, but my uterus is so tired of contracting, haha. We love him so much! He has the cutest array of grouchy faces.

ETA: I'm an awful wife for forgetting this, but I can't sing my H's praises enough! He was so amazing, there is no way I could have done it without him. He coached me through all my contractions, which must have been super boring and long. He stayed by my side the whole time, rubbed my feet to relax me, gave me water. There were a few times when I said "I don't think I can do this anymore" and he encouraged me to get through three more contractions, giving me time to regroup. The nurses and doctor were so impressed, they said he should be a doula.

[KaraOrNot]

Congratulations!

[bk1]

Sounds like you and your H were both rockstars!! Sounds like he was amazing at helping you through it. Soooo happy for you!! 

[estrellita]

Thanks for sharing! Your H sounds great, he should give mine pointers for when the time comes

[melsamoony]

Congratulations! Good job!

[luv2rn4fun]

Congratulations katiek! He truly is adorable! So sorry to hear that you had 14 hours of labor but am incredibly amazed at your strength and endurance and going med free! Simply amazing girl! And many kudos to your DH! I agree with estrellita- maybe he can teach my DH a thing or two when the time comes! So many congrats to you and your DH...praying for a speedy recovery!

[D2M]

Ouch! Way to go, Katie!! I am very impressed. Hope you recover well.

[Deleted]

congratulations to you and your H!!! Milo is beautiful

[laurenh]

Congratulations!!

[azurely]

Congrats! You're a rock star and your H sounds wonderful!

[jayded]

Congrats!!

[statlerwaldorf]

Congrats! My little boy's name is Milo too.

[pennylane]

Congratulations! Your little guy is adorable!

[flamingeaux]

Congrats!!!

[ngdgtco]

Congratulations! Glad your H was so helpful!

[curbsideprophet]

Congrats!

[kballerina]

Congrats! Amazing job!

[awick14]

Congrats!! Add my DH to the line up for getting some help in the coaching in labour.

[travelbug]

Your DH sounds so sweet and incredible!!! Hope you feel super quick!

[robinsbff]

congrats!! so cute!

[amy726]

Congratulations!

[vtdiamond]

Congratulations!!

[kams]

What an incredible physical test. Congratulations on your beautiful Milo! And way to go, H!

[MrsDarcy]

Great story, thanks for sharing! Congrats!

[zarapipe]

Congrats!!

[Blue Moon]

You go, katiek! Congratulations on the birth of your precious son. I hope your recovery goes well. He's adorable!

[Poppy]

Wow, congratulations!

And I just had a duh moment where I figured out that they don't call it labor for nothing! I am so thankful for these birth stories because I feel like I have learned so much. Thank you for sharing!

[blushing]

Congrats! He is so cute.

[specialk]

Congratulations! So happy for you. Milo is adorable and I love the name.

[picksthemusic]

Congrats!! What a sweet face he has!