What a long wait for such a precious angel. Little Gabriel decided at 37 weeks to let us know that he would be coming soon, I experienced contractions all night that came 5 minutes apart. After waking the next morning the contractions had stopped, but I had a feeling that he would be arriving in the very near future. Little did I know that he would wait an additional 3+ weeks! I was getting very tired and anxious (not to mention huge!). I went to bed on the night of the 14th (at 40w, 6d) with a few light contractions.
July 15
3:30 am: I started to get contractions that I could no longer sleep through. They were definitely stronger than any that I had felt in the past. I was getting excited and decided to get up and get ready, just in case!
5:00 am: After posting the exciting news on my Pregancy Journal, and a few boards, I decided to call my Midwife and tell her that I thought I was in labour! She agreed, and we decided to meet at the hospital in an hour.
6:00 am: A quick stop at Tim Horton's for coffee, and off to the hospital! I was pre-registered, so checking in didn't take very long. We met my Midwife (Carole) on the 3rd (L&D) floor, and she checked my progress. I was 6 cm dilated, and about 80% effaced. My contractions were 5-6 minutes apart, and not very painful.
9:30 am: My contractions were still not very strong, and they were still at 5-6 minutes apart, and I was 7 cm dilated so Carole decided to break my water and see if that would regulate my labour.
10:30 am: Wow! What a difference it made once my water was broken. My contractions were regular (still 5 min apart) and so much stronger, and I had a very sharp pain in the front of my pelvis. I had to lean over the bed and have Oliver massage my back to get through them. I was starting to think over my pain relief options. I decided that I could still breathe (and moan) through my contractions, so I would hold off a little longer.
11:30 am: Carole checked my cervix again, and it was only at 8cm, I started to get frustrated and wondered how much longer I could take the pain of the contractions (now coming about every 3 min). I was starting to regret not getting the epidural, and I knew that it was too late for a shot of Demerol because it could effect the baby's breathing at that late stage. Carole explained to me that I was in transition, and that it wouldn't be long before the baby was born. She put a call into the secondary Midwife to come and assist because delivery was soon.
11:33 am: As Carole was talking to the secondary Midwife, I felt another contraction coming, only 1 minute from the last contraction. I felt the baby's head putting pressure on my perenium, and realized that he was crowning! I told everyone to hurry-up because baby was coming! They all told me not to push, but I wasn't pushing, Gabriel was coming out all on his own! Within seconds Gabriel's head arrived with his hand alongside of it! The two nurses that were attending started to panic and suggested that they get the OB on call. I couldn't believe how much pain I was in, and just wanted the remainder of baby out! Carole gently pulled Gabriel's arm out and delivered the next shoulder, and out slipped his body, right into Oliver's arms! All that happened in one contraction!
Time of birth was 11:35 am.
11:45 am: My placenta was delivered, and a lot of blood followed it (carole referred to it as a "Dirty Duncan"). I immediately started to hemmorage, and I was given a shot of Pitocin in my thigh to help my uterus contract and stop the bleeding. It took a while for the bleeding to stop, and I ended up losing a lot of blood, but it eventually subsided as my uterus began to contract like it should. The on call OB was called in to check on my bleeding, and he said that everything looked fine, and that it was common with such a fast delivery.
I was able to nurse Gabriel shortly after the birth, and he did very well! I felt an overwhelming relief to hold my little man and study every feature of his tiny face.
I would nomally have been discharged 3 hours after the birth, but because of the hemmorage, I was admitted and kept for 8 hours. We were released from the hospital at 7:30, and greeted by neighbours and family upon our return home! It was wonderful!
Gabriel's older brothers were so excited to meet the little baby, and give him kisses and hugs.
What a wonderful blessing we have been given.:) |
