Aug 17, 2010
Trying to catch you up on my life: The Birth, Pt 1
Thanks to all of you who’ve been so patient as I try and try (and mostly fail) to get anything written about the last two weeks.
TWO WEEKS?!?! I can’t believe the babies are two weeks old already!
So I guess I’ll try to start at the beginning.
The Birth, Part 1
With the help and guidance of our amazing obstetrician, we decided to induce labor at 36 weeks, 4 days. We were balancing risk factors for near-term prematurity (38 weeks is term with twins) against another unexplained full-term stillbirth.
We went into the hospital on Sunday night, Aug 1st. It’s always a surreal experience to walk into the hospital and know you’re not coming out of there without a baby. And then knowing we were leaving with two…it was a strange feeling. It was definitely a horrible night, from a sleep perspective. Every time I moved they’d have to come back in and get the babies’ hearts back up on the monitors. Sometime in the middle of the night I watched ridiculous reality television to pass the time. I was really thankful for them watching the babies so closely, though.
I had some mild contractions throughout the night, due to the small pill I was given to soften my cervix, but nothing too uncomfortable. When the morning came, they started the pitocin and had my epidural all ready for me whenever I wanted it.
I’m a big fan of the epidural. Abraham always comforted me against the haters by saying, “The most natural thing for a human to do is avoid pain. Thus, an epidural is natural childbirth.” I love him. Also, with twins it’s kind of a good idea to be ready for an epidural in case an emergency c-section is necessary.
I labored through contractions until about 5cm, and then decided I might as well just get the epidural going. It was taking quite a while for them to come, and then the chief resident who was also taking care of me came in and dropped this bomb:
“The anesthesiologist won’t give you an epidural.”
I was stunned. Shocked. WHAT?!?! That was my birth plan, lady!
Turns out, because I had a mild bleeding disorder on my chart from years ago, the anesthesiologist refused to give it to me. She didn’t seem to care that I’d had 3 babies, and 3 epidurals and there was no issue whatsoever. The craziest part about it? Her husband is also an anesthesiologist at the same hospital and he’s given me an epidural before, no questions asked! So that was a bit of a shocker.
I got a shot of nubain to “take the edge off” the contractions. Abraham says he thinks it helped. I don’t really remember it helping a whole lot. But I was in a ton of pain, so I have very selective memories about the whole thing!
I took a little over an hour for me to go from 5 to 7 centimeters, and I was in so much pain at 7 cm that I figured, “Okay, I can’t take another 2 hours of this, with the pain just getting worse and worse.” So I called the resident back in and begged for some other pain medication.
Eventually she came back and told me that they found another anesthesiologist who would give me an intrathecal narcotic shot. It’s just a one-time shot in the spine that’s supposed to have many of the same effects as an epidural. So I said, “YES! Tell him to HURRY!”
Now most of my labor was in complete silence up to this point. I’d feel a contraction coming and I’d silently hold up my hand so Abraham would give me his fingers to squeeze while I breathed through it. I seriously cannot imagine talking or even making noise at all. Very Mrs. Tom Cruise of me, right? But seriously, every sound I made took my focus off of just getting through the contraction.
So the anesthesiologist comes in and he’s just chattin’ it up with the nurse about work and such. I’m laying on my side in the fetal position trying not to scream, “SHUT UP!!!” at them.
He gets going on placing the shot and I’m laying there, curled up in a little ball, contracting like CRAZY. I started feeling like I had to push so I yelled back to him, “How much longer do you have?!?!”
“Fifteen seconds,” he replied.
“I feel like I really need to push!” I panicked to the resident doctor (who was amazing, by the way).
“Really?!?!” she asked.
So those 15 seconds were done and I rolled back over on my back so they could check me one last time, and the doctor told me, much to her surprise and mine, “You’re complete. We’ve gotta get you out of here!”
Stay tuned for the dramatic Part 2…
Dang! The suspense is killing me!
Aaaaaa! Come on! How can you DO that! ; )
First, let me remind you and everyone else here that having pitocin does not give you a CHANCE at “natural” childbirth. It makes it tons more intense. I had it for all four of my kids and always felt like a wimp for needing an epidural so soon. But other friends who have had to have pitocin for some of their kids but not others have confirmed that it makes it unnaturally strong and painful. (And you know what, I would probably have used it without the petocin, too! But didn’t get a chance to try.)
I think every time I finally (let me stress FINALLY!) got my epidural (or ITN – the shot) I went to 10cm, too! I distinctly remember getting it with one of them (I was leaning over as far as I could at the edge of the bed) and saying, “it feels like it’s coming out.” Everyone in the room got quiet and started getting things ready, and turned out I was at 10! I think it had something to do with the position… wish I would have thought to get in that position for the next one hours before I did!
Thanks for the update! : )
Well, I’ll say it now when I never would have before you went in: I had pitocin with one child and not with the second. There’s no comparison, either in the experience or the memories. NO ONE who “agrees” to pitocin has a full picture of how awful it is, compared with natural labor. I get such a sympathy cringe when I hear a pregnant friend saying she’s going to have pitocin, especially if she’s never had it. She has no idea….but I never say anything because I realize that she is already (obviously) dealing with limited options.
I’ve had pitocin a couple times now. Pitocin would be no big deal if they let me have an epidural! :-)
Gosh…if pitocin is supposed to make labor more intense, then I’m curious what my natural would have been. When I was given pitocin, my nurse had to tell me when I was contracting – my response was ‘THAT’s a contraction?! That’s nothing compared to my menstrual cramps…bring it!’ Of course, soon after my induction, I had epidural and then ended up with C-section as my child was face up vs. face down. Congrats on these precious babies, Molly…
ok, guess I was missing something there….hadn’t thought of the two in combination….of course, when I had pit it was in the 1960′s….
I had pitocin for my 2nd baby, and while the labor itself didn’t seem any worse, I ended up pushing for 4 hours, and have always wondered if pitocin was to blame! Other than that, it didn’t make a difference in labor. The epidural made it all OK. :)
Hi Molly – I’ve been following your blog for a while now, but have yet to comment… (what can I say, I’m a lurker.)
Anyway, I believe you know my husband, Brannon McAllister. I just want to tell you how thrilled I am for you and your family to have these two new babies! I thoroughly enjoy reading your blog!
I have not yet had any children, but I’ve always thought that epidural was the way to go. When all my friends started having babies, most were all haters of the epidural. I’m glad to hear at least one other person say, “bring it on!” :) Sorry they wouldn’t give it to you this time!
Can’t wait to hear the rest of the birth story! suspense is killing me!
NOOO!!!! When is part two coming? I can’t wait another two weeks!
you crack me up! there ain’t no telling what will come out of a laboring woman’s mouth!
i love abraham’s philosophy on the epidural. i’ve said it before to some of the haters out there.
Oh, the beauty of childbirth. “SHUT UP!!!” (I love it.)
Eeek! Pitocin does suck. Had it with 4/5. Yuck. Wish people wouldn’t hate on others for their pain med choices. I had epi’s with 1-3, none w/4-5. Do what you feel like the Lord is telling you to do. Period. Then don’t judge others for what they end up doing.
Can’t wait to read the rest!
I knew I should have waited waited until you posted part 2 to read part 1. Now the suspense is killing me!
When I delivered our twins, I couldn’t have the epidural until my husband filled in some paperwork. Problem was, he was busy eating a stack of pancakes in the cafeteria (apparently they served the best pancakes) so he could “have energy for the day ahead” as he put it…
He had no idea it would go so fast. So, when he casually strolled into the room, the nurse threw a pair of scrubs at him, made some snarky remark about me suffering all alone and the very kind anesthesiologist gave me my epidural. I had to push 10 minutes later though. I still can’t believe pancakes got in the way of my much-desired epidural!
I had to have pitocin with our first baby that was stillborn. I thought I would DIE. The combination of the intense contractions, and the horrific pain of her resting on my back was almost more than I could handle. Once the epidural was in…Ahhhhhhhhh….
Can’t wait to hear the rest of the story… :)
Love, Kathryn
The story would be more dramatic if instead of saying “You’re complete. We’ve gotta get you out of here!”, the doctor had said, “Uh oh. We’ve got company!!!”
Whoa… sounds like BIG fun.
And I totally agree, pitocin is no big IF you have an epidural. I feel for you friend.
I cannot believe that they wouldn’t give you the epidural! Wow, you are a tough mama!
Oh, the suspense! At least we already know the most important part of the story (two healthy babies and a healthy mama). Plus, you posted pics and their names right away, so I guess I can patiently wait a few more days to hear the rest of the delivery story… :)
Oh I hope you plan to put the 2nd part up VERY soon!!!!!! That rocks!!!!!!!!!
You are a tough mama!
What a neat story that you’ll have fun telling for a long, long time :).
Aren’t you glad it’s over and that they’re here?!
I love epidurals! I will definitely be quoting your wise husband about the natural birth definition. Kevin gave a little hoot when I read that to him. My comment has always been that I found natural birth to be highly over-rated. :) And I once had that intrathecal thingy that is “supposed” to do…something? I, too, was complete and ready to push when it was finished and so it did nada. No affect whatsoever. I’ve had pitocin and no pitocin and honestly, labor is just dang hard (and hurts) once it’s going hard near the end – no matter if it’s natural or synthetic hormones that gets you there. Looking forward to hearing all the details to this cliffhanger story! What is it that makes us all love birth stories…still rejoicing over here at the arrival of the twins!
There were about 2 minutes when I was in labor with Samantha when I thought I wasn’t going to be able to get my epidural. The anesthesiologist had accidentally gone to the wrong patient’s room first, and I was almost too far along for it. I just about cried. Or screamed at my poor midwife. I can’t quite remember. I think heads would have rolled if they would have REFUSED it! I like Abraham’s take on the epidural — it makes things MORE natural, not less. :)
No way, Molly………..YOU CAN”T KEEP US WAITING FOR PART 2!!!!!!!!!
I just love birth stories and you are telling yours perfectly!
I loved your husband’s comment about “natural birthing” because it sounds just like my husband’s philosophy. :>) I’m at 36.5 weeks now – gearing up for our fourth blessing… Can’t wait to hear the rest of the story…
That is so not fair… to leave us hanging like that:) Can’t wait to hear the rest:)
Sara
Wow! What a story! So dd you get the epidural? I couldn’t tell in that last line if they got it in or not.
Love the take on natural childbirth!! Can’t wait for part 2!
[...] When we left off… [...]
Wouldn’t give you an epidural!!!! After already having them before??? Oh, man….that stinks in a very major way.
Oh GOSH. That’s my greatest phobia, having to go through labor without an epidural. (I love Abraham’s take on it, about it being natural to avoid pain. Very wise man you have there.) I’m all hot under the collar thinking about them springing that on you halfway through labor!
I guess we are labor and delivery sisters, Molly. I was so grateful for the epidural, also.
For one delivery, the nurse said that the anesthesiologist had already left to go home for the day (he lived about a half an hour away from the hospital). I can’t quite understand how he left before a new person came on duty, but I pleaded with her, “Please make him come back!” And he did.
I think I read right that you had a full term stillbirth…so this birth story just blesses me so much. I just gave birth to my son last Monday, and he was born still. He had a neural tube defect that we knew about, so I knew he wasn’t going to make it long, if at all. But it is such an amazing comfort to hear birth stories afterwards….I know the Lord will allow that for us in the future…
And you have some cutie cutie twins….CONGRATS!!!! I’m sure they are keeping you busy!!