I had my little man Easton Andrew, on Wednesday, September 26th at 38 weeks and 5 days. He was due tomorrow, October 5th but decided to come early, thank goodness since he weighed in at a whopping 9 lbs 3 oz and was 19 1/2 in long! Here is my *sorry* long labor story!
My husband had been off work for 5 days and was scheduled to return to work on nights for 5 nights in a row on the 26th so I was really hoping I would go into labor before then. On Monday evening I started having some irregular contractions that just weren't progressing. Nothing new for me since with both of my previous labors my contractions never got regular. Early Tuesday morning I awoke with somewhat more painful contractions and pink discharge. I started getting excited because I had never really had contractions turn into labor at home (with my first my water broke and my second I was induced). But by mid-morning they faded away to nothing and I began to prepare myself for the fact that Easton was probably not going to be here by Wednesday night.
That evening I went to the grocery store and on my drive home I was struck by a painful contraction. Shortly after, another. The contractions kept coming irregularly for the rest of the night with more pink discharge but still not getting any more painful. I finally went to bed around 1 since they didn't seem like they would amount to anything only to be woken up not an hour later by more painful contractions. This time I knew it was time and went downstairs to tell my hubby. Poor thing was staying up all night to prepare for his night schedule to start. So I labored at home for awhile while I packed everyone's bags and at 3:45 am we left to drop the girls off with my in-laws and headed to the hospital. By this time my contractions were coming 3 at a time, back to back, with about a 5 minute break in between. We got checked in about 4:45 and the contractions started to finally come regularly, every 2 min or so and getting more painful with each one. I was terrified they were going to send me home for not progressing enough but finally at 5 am I was checked and was at 5 cm, 100% effaced, but baby was still high. So we were admitted and from then on the contractions were back to irregular and coming in waves of back to back, with a short break. I wanted badly to go natural this time as I had 2 horrible experiences with the epidural with my other labors. I was doing great with the contractions, breathing through them until the back labor started. I was 6-7 cm at 6:30 am and I started to break down and ask for the epidural, but thankfully my DH, mom, the nurse and my doctor talked me out of it. I did opt for some nubain though, which was just enough to relax me and get through the contractions that were now coming with no break in between. At 7:40 I was checked again and was 9 cm and baby was right there. I began to feel the urge to push minutes later and at 7:48 am after only 6 pushes my not-so-little man came into the world!
It was the most pain I have EVER experienced but it was so worth it! I was so proud of my self for not getting the epidural and no one could believe I pushed him out that fast and without tearing at 9 lbs 3 oz! He was also born somewhat sideways, with his face facing my left inner thigh, thus the terrible back labor. Because he was so big (I did not have GD) he had low blood sugars at first but after supplementing with formula after his first try at breastfeeding, it came back up and stayed there. We were able to go home the next day with our perfect little guy. Breastfeeding is going well and he is very healthy at 9 lbs 6 oz at his one week check up yesterday!
I could not have asked for a more perfect labor and delivery with my last baby. I had been saying that all I wanted was to have contractions start at home, no epidural, and to have him before my husband had to go back on nights for 5 nights in a row and everything happened just how I planned! Easton completes our family and our daughters (5 and 23 months) ADORE him!
And one more thing that I just have to share, I gained 22 lbs and at 6 days PP had already reached my pre-pregnancy weight! I feel great and no epidural and no tearing definitely help that
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