It has taken me 3 months to write this. Not out of dread or procrastination ,but simply because life with 3 kids is chaotic and challenging. There are lots of similarities to my previous 2 deliveries and a few differences. In comparing all 3, E's delivery was my easiest but this one was the most positive experience of the 3.
My labors by the numbers:
Baby #1 (W; 39 weeks 1 day): In labor for 24 hours start to finish. Arrived at the hospital at 5 cm and he arrived 6 hrs later pushing only for a half hour
Baby #2 (E; 39 weeks 1 day): In labor for 12 hours start to finish. Arrived at the hospital at 7 cm and she arrived 2 hrs later and after one push
Baby #3 (T; 39 weeks 2 days): In labor for 7 hours start to finish. Arrived at the hospital at 5 cm and he arrived 2.5 hrs later and after pushing for 15 mins
The day I went into labor, we cut up a branch that had fallen in our backyard. I spent the morning and afternoon hauling wood in hopes that it would be put me into labor. A and I decided to go on a date that night because we knew our chances to go out alone were running out. I had contractions off and on and I knew it was the start of early labor but I really had no idea how long it would take to get things going. Around 11 I started timing them and by 2:30 they were getting to be uncomfortable but they sporadic and hard to time. By 3:30 we decided it was time to go to the hospital.
I was checked in to the room by 4 and the "house" dr came to see me. He checked me and said I was at 5 cm and I was pretty bummed. The contractions had kind of died off and I had a feeling we were in for a long day. Then my nurse had to give me my IV. In each of deliveries, the IV has gotten progressively worse. From no issues with W, to getting stuck 3 times with E, to almost passing out with T. They had to lay me flat because I thought I was going to faint and T's heart rate really dropped. The dr came in and we thought for sure we were in for an emergency c-section the way the nurses and the dr were worried. Thankfully he mellowed out fast and the dr from my practice showed up. At this point I knew my dr wasn't on-call (as was the case with my other 2 deliveries because my kids love being born on the weekends) but I once again lucked out and ended up loving the on-call dr more than my original dr. She was actually a midwife and she made the experience so positive. She stayed with me in the room the entire time I was in labor (really only an hour and a half by the time she got there). She had me moving all over the bed to get the pressure off my back to get him to turn because all my babes are always flipped and I have terrible back labor!
I never really had the urge to push but I was ready to try once I hit 10 cm. I found this difference odd compared to the last 2 because I remember having that urge as soon as I hit 10. Another difference was they didn't separate the bed or do anything special (no bar to hold onto, etc) it was this very natural and organic way of delivering. Not sure if this was a traditional delivery for that hospital or if this is just how the midwife did her deliveries. She also didn't get all suited up and put on a mask like both my other drs did. I really loved the personal experience. Although there are no other babies in our future, I would use her for my next baby if that ever were to be the case :) I pushed for about 15 mins and then he was placed right on my chest. He immediately started lifting his head off my chest to look around and the nurses all commented on how they'd never seen a newborn with that kind of head control. He weighed in at 7 lbs 3 oz and 19" which made him my shortest and biggest baby :) W was 6 lbs 10 oz and 21.5" and E was 6 lbs 7 oz and 19.1"
We've adjusted well to being a family of 3. The kids are still head-over-heels in love with their little brother and I have no doubt they will always be his biggest supported and watch out for him. He makes our family complete :)
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