Preparing for his birth under these new terms gave me a lot of anxiety.
Starting around 35 weeks, I began experiencing Braxton Hicks. I knew they were BH because I know what real contractions feel like, but I'd never had BH with any of my other pregnancies before. They typically happened when I was sitting down, especially when I was in the car. They got more frequent as I got closer. One night when I was about 37 weeks I had BH every 10 minutes over the course of a two hours. I was curious about them but not worried. And they were doing their job! I was already 3 cm and 50% at 36 weeks and August was really low.
At 38 weeks, I had progressed a little more and I was now getting several hours of BH every day, but still only when I was sitting. My induction was scheduled for Feb 3. By all accounts, it was going to be a crazy week. Matt had his first OBGYN exam on campus (an hour away) on the morning of Feb 2, we had friends in town (including my friend who was also my doula) and my friend who was going to watch the girls was nannying the first half of the week. I was praying that I would NOT go into labor before Feb 3rd.
On Feb 1, the girls and I went to the park in the late afternoon. Matt had been studying all day for his exam the next morning and the girls and I needed to get out of the house. It was a nice day and as I sat there watching them, the BH started up again. They were coming every 5 minutes, but they were short and mild. I didn't think too much about it since I got them every time I sat down. However this time the BH continued throughout the evening. At 9 pm I began timing them. They were every 4 minutes apart, but they still weren't real contractions and they still went away when I stood up. I went to bed at 11pm and after laying down for awhile the BH went away. Matt told me not to take my blood thinner just in case I went into labor for real.
At 4:45am I woke up to a BH.....which was now accompanied by back pain. For about 3 contractions I tried to convince myself that the back pain was from sleeping funny, but it wasn't and I knew it. I timed the contractions on my phone-- 4 minutes apart. Matt woke up to the light from my phone and I told him what was happening. We were on high alert because of Lydia's precipitous labor so after a few contractions we got up, woke up my friend/doula, called our friend who was going to watch the girls and left for the hospital.
I felt miserable. It was Feb 2-- the day of Matt's OBGYN exam.
We went to the hospital at 6 am and after waiting for 25 minutes (ugh!) we finally got up to L&D where the nurse put me in triage and then they left me for 2 hours. 2 hours! I was so frustrated. Of course, while I was waiting FOREVER, my contractions slowed down to every 10 minutes. And they were still mild. Finally at 7:15am, when no doctor had come in to check me, Matt and I agreed that I would probably get sent home and that he should go take his test. My friend/doula had driven separately so she could take me home while Matt was at school. Neither one of us felt like birth was imminent, so he left. Before he left, we agreed that I would not call him at all, no matter what happened.
Around 7:45am a resident came in and checked me. I was at 6 cm and 70%. I wasn't going home. My husband had just left for an exam an hour away, the babysitter was juggling the girls but also nannying, a doctor I didn't like was on shift that day and I didn't have my husband there.
The nurse took me to a delivery room, got me hooked up to the IV, and then she left. I had previously told the nurses and residents that I preferred to be left alone during labor, with minimal monitoring. They respected my wishes, leaving me alone with my friend/doula. The doctor came in and told me that they were going to give me Pitocin, break my water, etc. I told him that I didn't want that. He said that he liked to "be in control and I was his wild card". He was trying to "plan out the deliveries with his different patients." I was irritated!
For the next 3 hours I sat on the bed without moving. My friend/doula was an angel and we just talked and chatted. She kept me distracted during the contractions which were every 4 minutes. I was afraid to get off the bed and/or move around because I didn't want to have this baby without Matt. So I didn't move.
No, not kidding. I sat in the same position for 3 hours. Lucky for me, I had an awesome nurse and great residents who kept the Doctor away for those 3 hours. I will be forever grateful that they did that.
The contractions slowly got worse until I starting feeling pretty tense during them. Finally (FINALLY!!!!!) Matt walked in the room. When he called me after his exam I didn't let on that I was so far along because I didn't want him to speed. I was pretty desperate for him by the time he walked in but he didn't know that! I was so, so relieved to finally have him there.
He walked in the room and then the resident came in and asked if I wanted them to break my water. I said yes! Now that Matt was here, I wanted to speed things up. She broke my water and there was meconium in it.
Over the next 45 minutes the contractions got a lot more intense. My doula/friend provided counter pressure and supported me with a long fabric thing while Matt held me. Finally at noon, I told Matt that the baby was starting to crown and to get the nurse.
I climbed back onto the bed and everyone came into the room. This is where things get fuzzy-- I was totally in the zone. I remember the doctor telling me that I had to lie on my back (I was NOT happy about that) and that I couldn't push because the NICU team wasn't there yet and he was worried about the baby not breathing because of the meconium. I did lie on my back but I ignored him about the pushing. Two contractions later, August was born! And he was breathing and crying (so THERE Doctor!)
And he was beautiful.
(Also, Matt got a 95% on his exam!!)
