Here's the story: I went into my Midwife (MW) Friday and had her check me. I was at a 3 and 70% effaced. We discussed our options since I was getting tired (I had been having contractions on and off for a week.) We decided to strip my membranes to see if that helped anything. So I went home and nothing changed, contractions were still there but nothing crazy. So I went to work (3 PM). Typically my contractions then decided to become more painful. By about 6:00PM I decided that this might actually be it and something might change so I went home - that drive was fun :).
I live about 45 mins from the hospital so we got Luke into bed and left around 7:30 PM. My contractions were 3 mins apart and getting more and more painful. We arrived at the hospital and they put me on the monitor (for only 15 mins, it was exciting) and they could see my contractions but not much had changed I was a 3-4 and 90 % effaced. My MW came to see me again and she restripped my membranes... 20 mins later my water broke (10:30 PM).
The contractions immediately got A LOT worse. It surprised me how quickley they changed between them popping and the next contractions. Unfourtunely for me they were all in my back.
I spent most of the next 3 hours on the birthing ball. I found that Paul counting out loud as I bounced really helped me control the pain and helped me focus. Lily was posterior (hence the back labour) and so the MW suggested I lay half up on my left side in the bed. THAT WAS HORRIBLE. Laying down hurt really bad and I had to REALLY focus. Paul was an angel and spent most of the time rubbing my back and counting.
There were two things, other than Paul, that really helped me. At one point Paul said, "Amy we know you can do it" and I heard my Nana (she died this past June) say, "We know you can do it Hinny". It made me feel so much better. The other thing - we were in a catholic hospital and so there was a cross on the wall. I was able to look at that cross (not something I usually like) and remember the savior. For some reason the thought that he knew what I was going through, had felt worse pain and loved me really helped. It allowed me to calm down and focus during my contractions.
Lily was still flipped and so the contractions were all in my back. Finally I decided to try using my TENS unit and as soon as we turned it on, Lily flipped over - i'm not sure if that was a coincidence or not but it made things a lot better.
I started pushing - I tried pushing on my hands and knees but since I have plates in my pelvis (from the accident when I was 15) it did not work, in fact it hurt worse than anything else so far. We tried squatting, same issue. We tried the birthing ball, didn't work. In the end I pushed in semi-sitting position with my Paul behind me and me feet up on the birthing bar. It worked and helped relieve the pain in my pelvis. I was surprised by this complication since I hadn't had a problem when I had Luke - but I suppose the Epidural with him stopped the pain from registering.
Lily arrived after about 6 hours of labour and an hour of pushing. She is prefect. It took her a little while to cry she sort of just looked at me but she did it and they gave her a 9 on her APGARS. I tore a little but only required a few stitches, they aren't too irritating thankfully.
THE BEST PARTS - I was up after 20 minutes (and in the bathroom). I had no IV or heplock, no pitocin, and no meds. We were able to nurse straight away and they didn't take her away to weigh her until I got up. She had a bath 4 hrs or so later and Lily never left me the entire 16 hrs we were in the hospital. I came home that Saturday evening and loved it.
The end.
Lily is an funny little girl. She has the Tippetts' temper and gets REALLY mad when you don't feed her fast enough or you change her diaper. She is sleeping okay, waking every 3 hours or so, but we hope that get better soon - sleep is good. Here are some pictures - she looks a lot like Luke did.
