Heidi's Birth Story

I became pregnant in Feb '98, approximately 2 weeks after coming off the pill. I really didn't think that I would become pregnant so soon, but when GOD is in charge the impossible becomes possible.

My pregnancy progressed nicely except for some pretty bad round ligament pain, a UTI in my seventh month and being tired ALL the time.

During my 35 week checkup I told my midwife that I was experiencing a very light show and that the baby had dropped. Well, with these symptoms she did an internal and said that my cervix was short and soft. Labor could be days or weeks away. That Friday, I was at work and I started contractions that gradually progressed to every 4 minutes. So off to L&D I went, and my husband met me there. When I finally got in to be checked my midwife was there and my contractions were 3 minutes apart. I was dilated to a fingertip (outer portion of my cervix) and 50% effaced. They were concerned that it was still to early to deliver so they gave me seconal to help me sleep and hopefully stop the contractions. Went home took the medicine and went to sleep, woke up to go to the bathroom and lost my mucous plug.

I stayed in this pattern of contractions for 2 weeks. I was exhausted. I finally prayed that if this was true labor that my water would just break.

The day before I turned 37 weeks my water broke at 2:30am! I gushed and gushed. It felt weird, but I was sooo happy because now I knew I was in labor and wouldn't be going home without my baby. So off to the hospital I went, hoping that because I had been having hard contractions that I would be dilated to about 3-4cm.

Well I got checked in at 3:30am & they confirmed my water had broken (all they had to do is look at my pants which were soaking wet). They did an internal, still 1 cm and 90% effaced. They started an IV and hooked me up to the monitors and I tried to relax for the next several hours, with contractions coming 5-7 minutes apart. Well at 8:30, the mid-wife who ended up delivering me came in and checked me, still 1cm, but completely effaced. My desire was very few interventions, natural childbirth etc. So she allowed me to get up and walk, disconnected the IV and said come back every 30-45 mins so we can check the baby. Well after walking the hospital for 4 hours, and the contractions getting stronger, I went to get checked. I was still only 1 cm, so after much discussion with my midwife we opted for the pitocin.

My plan was to still do this as naturally as possible. Well by 12:45 the pitocin was started, and the internal monitors were inserted and then the 1st contraction hit me like a brick wall. I was not prepared for that! It finally ended and I tried to catch my breath, I didn't even get a chance before the next one hit. I believe that if they hadn't hit so bad right away I would have made it without meds. I told my husband I needed something for the pain and they gave stadol. What horrible stuff! I remained out of it for hours even after giving birth. Well around 2:30pm the pain relief was gone so I opted for an epidural. Well when they checked me I was 3-4cm and since I was progressing so fast they recommended an intrathecal. This numbs the abdomen for 2-3 hours and is used when labor is progressing fast. The needle is put into the spinal space itself instead of the epidural space. I leaned over my husband during the procedure and while they were at it they set me up for an epidural just in case. Then they placed the oxygen on me and inserted a catheter.

By 4:30pm I was 9cm and definitely pushy and by 5:00pm I was complete. By then the intrathecal had worn off and I felt every contraction and urge to push. The worst part is the baby's heart rate would drop and they would make me breath through every other contraction. I did lose it a couple of times, but everyone was really great. I wasn't pushing well so my midwife "played tug of war" with me which finally helped me push correctly and after 2hrs and 10mins of pushing I had my wonderful son. He had a cone head form being in the canal for so long and a loose cord around his neck, but he was great. Apgars 8/9.

Born 25 Oct 98 @ 7:10pm 6lbs 2oz 19ins

Even though I didn't have the labor I envisioned I had a wonderful experience. Though never again will I take the stadol, I really think that hindered my pushing, made breastfeeding difficult, I even forget to have my husband take pictures.

First I must give all HONOR & GLORY to GOD. I suffered from endometriosis for 12 years, when the LORD healed me and as you can see no problems whatsoever conceiving. To my wonderful husband who was GREAT during this whole thing, also to my friend Jackie who was in there as well. Last but definitely not least my CNM and labor nurse whose caring and compassion were beyond measure and made my experience absolutely fantastic!