FertilityTies posts tagged with delivery

Labor & Delivery of Olivia

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 06:42:53 -0600

hi ladies, i'm sorry it's taken me so long to post... i've been SUPER tired, but SUPER happy.

i'll have to start off by saying that labor was EXTREMELY PAINFUL! i had NO idea just how excruciating the process could be... the only real labor i knew of and saw was my sister's whose labor seemed pretty standard i.e. her water broke, she went to the hospital w/out contractions, got admitted, had contractions and shortly thereafter got an epidural. anyway, this was NOT to be for me.

last sunday at about 5pm, i started having contractions about every 13 minutes... couple that w/ the fact i was bleeding and i got a little nervous. (the day before, dh and i had sex twice and i was walking around my neighborhood). so i went to L&D where they hooked me up to the monitor, found my contractions to be about 13 minutes apart and that i was dilated only about a "fingertip"... not even 1cm. they discharged me, i went home, had dinner w/ dh and was just hanging around. the contractions were uncomfortable, but nothing new. at around 9pm, the contractions picked up in intensity of pain and frequency... averaging about 7 minutes apart. i kept track of it for a few hours, spoke to my friend via IM and realized they were getting steadily more painful. dh went to bed already b/c the next day was monday.. but i woke him up around 11:30pm to tell him i couldn't take the pain anymore. every contraction felt like someone was stabbing my pelvic area and my back was killing me... yes i was one of the lucky ones to have back labor. we drove back to L&D where they hooked me up again to the monitors, checked my cervix and told me i was only 1cm dilated, they couldn't admit me! i was moaning and rolling around from the pain... by now the contractions were burning and throbbing. the nurse gave me a shot of a pain med in my butt... a combination of phenergan + stadol. i never thought i'd EVER allow them to give me any drugs while the baby was still inside b/c of any dangers, but i was in so much pain, i couldn't even think straight, all i remember her saying was i'm going to give you something for the pain. well, the drug was potent in that it made me very sleepy, but it did NOTHING to ease the pain of the contractions so any ladies thinking of doing that might reconsider. anyway, they wanted to discharge me again and i wanted to cry, but i'm a pretty compliant person and had been throughout my pregnancy (weird, b/c it's not my personality to be like that) and i went home crying. the car ride there and back was miserable, i couldn't imagine having to come back again in a few hours which i KNEW i would have to do. they made it seem like it could still take me days/week to go into real labor, but i knew it was imminent.

anyway, i went home again by 3am and it was miserable. i can't even explain how terrible the pain was. i spent the next few hours just groaning from the pain and found myself praying out loud that God would stop the misery. i tried everything... different positions, warm baths, yelling at dh, ... it got so bad i broke down in heaving sobs thinking that anything would be better than the pain i was feeling. when the contractions were 3 minutes apart, i went back to L&D which was at about 9am. at this point, i was a complete wreck, i couldn't understand what people were saying to me, i couldn't walk w/out stopping (if you can believe it, the hospital had one wheelchair.. WTF) and i was SCREAMING in the triage area (i felt so terrible for the other ladies that had to hear me b/c i was insane by now and don't know what i was saying). anyway, they told the dr. on call that i was now only 2 cm dilated, but thank GOD this dr. was not one of the ones who made me wait until i was 4 cm dilated to get an epi. so then they FINALLY admitted me at about 11am, i got my private room (very nice hospital rooms at least) and was awaiting the anesthesiologist who was taking FOREVER!!! he finally came around 12 pm and he was a nut job. most anesthesiologists are the nicest and so soothing and reassuring... this one... not so much. i said "i'm so nervous" and he replied "so am i"... WTF! no bedside manners whatsoever, no reassurances that everything was going to be ok, nothing. my dh and i were like WTF! anyway, i was at his mercy so i just lay there while he started poking away. oh and any of you ladies who are scared of the epi, don't be, it was NOTHING, compared to the pains of labor and you will welcome the needle prick as i did b/c it distracted me from the horrible contractions. so anyway, they always give a test dose of the epi to see your reaction ... and he told me there are 2 things that could go wrong... 1. the needle goes in too deep (very rare) or 2. he hits a blood vessel. so he said "tell me if you feel ringing in your ears, a metallic taste in your mouth and a weird sensation". well i didn't want to be a weenie and i did hear ringing in my ears and a warmth come over my head, but didn't say anything until my heart started racing, the monitor showed my heart race to 116 beats per minute. i freaked out but it quickly went away. he then came forward and said he hit a blood vessel, that he had to take it out and start it all over again. i was in so much pain, i did not even care, i just wanted him to be done as i was still feeling all my contractions. so he did it a second time and it worked and w/in a few minutes, i thought my life was saved! oh what a miracle and blessing for epis. i was so scared that the numbness would freak me out, but it SO didn't. it was such a welcome relief.

after that, i became a sane person again and dh wasn't scare for me and of me. LOL. but as time was going on, i wasn't really progressing w/ dilation. when doc came to check, i was only 3cm dilated and even after a few hours later, not much had happened so he broke my water. again, a few hours and nothing, so they put me on a low dose of pitocin. few hours, only 1 cm progress so they upped the dose again, they did this 3 times. my contractions weren't as intense as they would have liked and it wasn't making me dilate, but about 9-10 hours later, i was finally dilated to 10 cm about 12 hours later.

pushing was a breeze ... or so i thought. it was hard, but i was so excited! the nurse was awesome, she used ky jelly to keep giving me a perineal massage to prevent tearing or an episiotomy. i stopped to comment to her that i had never known that the pushing part could be so peaceful... it was just me, her and dh in the room, they didn't have bright lights in my face only where they needed the light and it was quiet. after about an hour of pushing, i pulled a muscle in my back and the pain was on par w/ my contractions. i tried to fight through it and keep pushing, but it was just too much and i started crying. when the nurse and dr. tried to assess the pain and massage me, i barked for them to not touch me (so not like me to do that). the dr. seeing that i wasn't going to be able to push anymore made a quick decision to deliver Olivia w/ forceps. he was so awesome in the way he just took charge and was quick about it. so he said to me "in the next few minutes, your baby will be here". turns out, Olivia was sideways in the birth canal so he had to corkscrew her while trying to get her out. anyway, he went in w/ the forceps and w/in probably 1-2 minutes, she was out.

i broke down in tears as did dh, she came out w/ arms stretched in front of her crying! it was music to my ears and just thinking about it now, i'm getting very teary eyed. they promptly put her on my chest, slime blood and all and i got to see my little baby for the first time. after that they cleaned her up and told me she was 6lbs 1 oz... and i actually said "that's it!?!" and the dr. laughed and was like "did you want her to be bigger????". LOL

anyway, i am so in love with her, she makes my day and my life. dh has been so amazingly spectacular. i think watching me go through all the pain to get her out, he has a new found respect for me and mothers in general. he just kept telling me what a great job i did and how proud he was, etc... made me feel good and i asked him a million times to tell me what it was like b/c parts of it i can't remember from pain or being so exhausted.

so anyway, this was a long story but i wanted to tell every detail i remembered b/c i remember how much i loved reading about labor and delivery from the women who gave birth before me. i might have left some stuff out, but i'm SO tired right now, should be sleeping while olivia is, but i wanted to post b/c it's been so long.

i hope everyone is doing well and i miss everyone very much!

oliver12

bleeding after delivery

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:20:35 -0500

I just had my daughter 2 weeks ago and was wondering how long to expect to bleed. It isn't all that heavy, but at times it gets heavier. Is this normal? It is still pretty red, but turning more brown and there are some times I have small clots.

4 months after delivery, still having pain in vagina

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:46:51 -0500

So, after I had Christian I'd get occasional sharp pains on the back wall of my vagina, up near the cervix, on my right side. I figured it was probably from stitches or something in there... or just things being sore... but he's over 4 months old now.... shouldn't that have stopped? Its not constant... but its daily. Its a sharp stabbing pain. Any ideas on this?

Meghan

How do you know when to go to L&D??

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 17:02:45 -0500

Ok, I'm so confused... I am currently 37w4d pregnant and for the past several weeks I have been having some menstrual like cramps. I went to the doctor at 35w6d and was 1cm dialated and 70% effaced. So recently I have been having much harder cramping along with lower back cramps and cramps in my upper thigh. I have also had alot of pressure in my cervix area.

Yesterday I think I may have lost part of my mucus plus because I had a chunk with a string of red in the middle. Then I woke up at 4am with contractions 8-10 minutes apart with a ton of pressure and they lasted about an hour - an hour and a half. But then they went away. Now I am having a ton of cramping that seem pretty close together but they can be close together and then farther apart. So I'm very confused. I hate to call my doctor and I hate to go to the hospital for no reason. So how do I know when it's really time to go to the hospital?

Dr.Q can you help me out on this one? Also I tested + for strep so my doctor said to make sure I get to the hospital right when labor begins so I can get started on antibiotics. So I dont want to wait too long... but how do I know if I am in labor or not? I'm so confused! Thanks so much for your help!

Keller0422

Good News & Bad News!

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 13:31:10 -0500

Well there is news today that has us in tears.

The good news is that my sister in law who is pregnant is having a GIRL!!! YAHOO!

The bad news is that her baby who we already knew had spina bifida, hydrocephalus, and club feet...had spina bifida up to the L2 which the DR. told them that she will be in a wheelchair for life. The club feet are severe needing surgery and the hydrocephalus ventricles are needing a shunt. My sister in law is past the point of termination which they decided against. There is 1 more thing the DR. is going to do. which is amneocythisis to see if it's chromosone 18 and if it is then they will do no heroic measures and the baby probally won't live past 1yr old.

Needless to say we are again shocked by the outcome of yesterday's events.

As for me and my dh we are still investigating our infertility problems and will add this news to the list of things to discuss with the RE when we go. Prayers are welcome for our family!

Smacksies

Weight Loss after Delivery

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 07:28:44 -0500

Just curious as to what to expect. I know everyone is different but can you please share your experiences. I am due in 8 days and I was holding steady at 35 lbs and went to Dr yesterday and I jumped to 40 lbs...YIKES...Im so worried about losing the weight. How much did you all lose after delivery (Ive heard its like 12-15 lbs) and then how long did it take you to get back into your regular clothes.

sbf

hsg showed narrow cervix

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:17:11 -0500

Dr. Q, i had an hsg test done 2 weeks ago. obgyn found i have a narrow cervix. had first iui done on thursday last week. believe i ovulated same day. having the narrow cervix would that mean that when i do conceive and go into labor that i may have to have a csection?

Temple

What does the epidural feel like?

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 09:15:36 -0500

hi all, i keep watching all these baby shows and i am wondering, what does it feel like when you get an epidural? what parts of your body can't you feel? can you feel sensation in your legs? is it a creepy, tingly sensation? does it do anything to your heartrate? i'm starting to get nervous about delivery already! i'm probably jumping the gun. LOL

oliver12

Was in Labor And Delivery for the last two days

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:09:23 -0500

I went in for my U/S with the peri on tuesday and my cervix had shorten and i was contracting. The doctor checked me and cervix was still closed. Baby A was laying her head right on my cervix. And that is why i have been feeling so much pressure over the weekend. I culd barley walk. So the gave me a terb. shot and then gave me the terb every 6 hours from there..and D/C me home with strick bed rest instead of partialI had two beta meth shots which are the steroids to mature their lungs..did a FTN this morning and was negative so that is good. the only problem that i am having now is from the terb and it is giving me bad headaches and makes me shaky after i take it for about 2 hours but that is fine..I hope all is well with everyone..Oh the babies are 2 pounds and 13 ounces so they are on schedule so hopefully everything will go well the doc said i responded very well to the terb so it is working to stop my contractions and the pressure is gone..the babies look good on monitor and heart beats are excellent. doc said babies look very well..Take care

FameraTwins!!

wierd period after delivery

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 13:36:29 -0500

Dr Q,

I had my 1st period 11 W. I am now on CD 17 and the period I had 17 days ago was regular full flow, no mistake in that.

Been crampy last few days and On CD 16 and CD 17 I have red blood(but not full flow) and its similar to what I have on CD 1. Is it possible that something from the child birth is still inside there? Or is it normal to have periods like this after delivery? within 20 days?

Thanks for your response

HopeN

Breast milk

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 05:09:25 -0500

I'm 27 weeks pg and still no signs of breast milk.When should i expect it?My nipples are very sore and sensitive.

asaukv

Post pregnancy question for all the mommies

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 13:57:43 -0500

Did yall experience hair fall after delivery? God Im scared to brush, it just keeps coming. My hair and skin was awsome during the pregnancy with so much estrogen floating around now, its really becoming a mess now. Any advise on how to handle the situation?? WHat did yall do? Im assuming its because of the drop in Estrogen thats screwing me up. Is that true?

Thank you!!

HopeN

periods after delivery

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 22:40:43 -0500

So, I had my bleeding similar to full flow period 12 days ago. I dont breast feed anymore and I got the bleeding about 2 weeks after stopping B/F completely.

My question is have you seen Dr Q, any of your patients, that had bleeding like AF 10 W PP and then didnt ovulate for months together assuming all other influencing factors like weight gain, stress etc are negligible? Can pregnancy cause one random period and then it disappears and arrives at its own will months later?

HopeN

my trip to Labor and Delivery

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:35:25 -0500

Hey ladies just giving you an update 38 weeks tomorrow, had to go to L&D tonight at noon. I was having a sharp stabbing pain under my belly right above the pubic bone. After 3 hours I found out I got a BLADDER INFECTION!!! had no clue no burning sensation nothing just this stabbing pain when I sit for too long. Good news I have moved to 3cm dilated and 80% effaced. L&D dr doesn't think it is going to be long something about it being very soft. So maybe next week not sure... hoping though...

CrystalRose

how long did it take the mommies to dilate?

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 19:01:55 -0500

I know that it can take MONTHS but just curious how long it took everyone to go from 2 cm to active labor?

On Friday I was 2 cm dilated, 70% effaced and a +1 station. (37 weeks) He said he could feel the head and it was very low. I have been feeling a lot of pressure and my belly is very hard but that is been going on for about a week now. Dr. said could be any day but he is thinking at most 2 more weeks.

CrystalRose

First Period After Giving Birth.. I'm concerned...

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 02:19:12 -0500

Well, I was taking a combination birth control pill for 5 days and then I switched back to the mini pill b/c my milk was drying up...

I started having a withdrawal bleed/period, I'm assuming from switching.. and it has gotten really heavy today.. I just soaked through 2 super absorbency tampons in about a 5 hour period!!!!!

Is this normal? At what point should I be concerned about how much I'm bleeding? Could it be a problem that wasn't caught or something? Considering I started spotting about 1 1/2 weeks before my 6 week check up?

Meghan

Harmones post delivery

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 00:50:25 -0500

10 W post delivery here and I am having what I think is my period.

Also, "medically" when is it safe to TTC again? Is the uterus strong enough to hold a new pregnancy? or needs more time to heal? My Dr said 3 months. But thats more being a friendly advise interms of handling 2 infants at the same time.

But from a medical perspective when is it ok?

Thanks!

HopeN

Hey Girls, having a little anxiety....

Sat, 19 Jul 2008 17:59:02 -0500

for some reason, I am starting to get REALLY scared and having anxiety pretty bad about my c-section on Tuesday. I can't pin point what the heck I am so scared of but have a terrible feeling of dread. I should be very excited and happy that little Grady is only 3 days away. I don't know what is going on! Maybe I am just scared of the fact that this is big change for my family and now there will be 2 kids to worry about. Just needed to vent. Thanks for listening.....

jfields

PCOS after delivery

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 23:39:32 -0500

Dr Q,

Does PCOS return after delivering a baby? as in can my harmones be wacked out because of pregnancy and delivery?

I have returned to my pre pregnancy weight and I have not started my cycle (6 wks) which I know can be delayed and I am not breast feeding exclusively.

But just wanted to get your opinion abt PCOS returning without weight gain post partum

HopeN

40 weeks + 2 days!

Sat, 21 Jun 2008 18:46:23 -0500

How do I make this baby come!!!

I am going crazy!

psmcmm