Monday, June 30, 2014
Friday, June 13, 2014
The Birth Story of Aidy Denise Demiter
I woke up just before 830am on Memorial Day, May 26th. Knox came into the bedroom to let me know that he couldn't find any shorts so I went and pulled the clothes from the dryer. As I was folding clothes in the laundry room my water started leaking. I knew it was happening because I had the same experience when I went into labor with Knox. I immediately went back to the bedroom and said "Matt, call your mom because my water is leaking. Wait don't call your mom yet. Let me change my pants and then I will let you know in just a bit." I did just that and within a few moments I confirmed my suspicion and Matt contacted him mom so that she could start making the drive over.
Although my water was leaking I didn't start laboring. I was having contractions but they were sporadic and not very strong. Phone calls were made to Nicole, Serena, and Holly to put them on alert. I also call triage so that the midwife on call would know to expect me. When calling triage I spoke with a nurse and she sweetly said "well we will see you shortly". I let her know that I wasn't laboring yet and I would be waiting until my contractions got stronger and more regular.
A few hours later Jen, my midwife, called to check on me and find out what my plan was. I told her that if I wasn't laboring by around 8p I would contact her and we could determine what we wanted to do next. She encouraged me to take a nap while I could so that I would have the energy to labor into the night if needed.
Unfortunately I'm not a napper and I didn't get a nap in. I did try to close my eyes and rest but it didn't last long. As the day progressed it didn't seem like much was changing in the way of my contractions and I was getting a little frustrated. I was considering taking a walk to get things going and then my contractions started to get closer and stronger at around 5pm. By 7pm they were about 5-6 minutes apart and lasting over 1 minute. I knew we were getting closer so Matt called our friend Melanie to come over and be with the boys so that we could go into the hospital. By 8pm we left for the hospital and my contractions were 4 minutes apart and last at least 60 seconds. They were stronger and I was having to breathe through them.
We arrived in triage at about 8:30pm and my contractions were 3-4 minutes apart, lasting 60 seconds and getting stronger.
I knew that I was in active labor and hopeful that I was dilated to at least a 5. No such luck! The nurse checked me in triage and I was a 3 and 90% effaced. Knowing my effacement did keep my spirits up. I thought for sure that I was going to move along quickly. In my mind I was sure that I would have this baby by midnight.
I was admitted and went to my room and continued to labor with the assistance of Matt, Nicole, and Serena. My contractions continued to get stronger and I breathed through them just as I had with the boys. By 11pm I started grunting with my contractions which gave Jen the clue that I was getting close. I was leaning against the bed and squatting with each contraction. The baby warmer and instrument table were brought in. Matt and Jen put on their gloves in preparation to deliver. I hadn't been checked for dilation since we were in triage. Jen decided to check to make sure I was ready and told me I was dilated to a 6. To say that I was disappointed is an understatement. Dilating 1 cm per hour is wonderful progress but I had expectations that baby #4 would move along much more quickly.
I continued to labor knowing that transition was approaching. We tried all sorts of positions and laboring tactics to relieve the discomfort and to help baby move down. Serena had a robozo scarf that she used which did relieve my hip pain. I sat on the ball, squatted, and rocked. I got into the tub and labored there for what seemed like hours. Serena and Nicole took turns using a bed sheet around my hips and rocking it back and forth during my contractions. By 1am I was so tired that I felt as though I could barely stand. I wanted to crawl into bed and go to sleep. My contractions were so strong that I was sure I had to be close to delivery. I asked Jen to check me and she told me I was dilated to a 7.
Until this point I was laboring well and getting through my contractions. Knowing that I had 3 more centimeters to dilate, being extremely tired, and with the contractions being on top of each other really took it's toll on me. I began asking for an epidural. My heart was telling me that I didn't want it but the contractions were so strong that I began crying during them. Serena and Nicole offered to continue try different options for relief of the discomfort. Matt's main concern was that I didn't regret my decision. He did say "you have climbed this mountain twice before so I know that you can do it". I kept repeating that I was tired and I didn't want anyone to stall....I wanted the epidural. I was feeling as thought I was giving up too easily but each time I had a contraction the pain overshadowed that thought.
Just after 2am the anesthesiologist arrived. Before she moved forward I asked Jen to check me again. The anesthesiologist was not kind to say the least and said "are you not sure that you want this?". I told her that if I was complete then I didn't want it. Jen checked me and I was 7 1/2 centimeters dilated. Another hour and only a 1/2 of a centimeter. I told the anesthesiologist to move forward. It took a 1/2 hour to get everything prepped and complete. By 2:30am I was laying in bed and fairly numb from the waist down. I was clear with her that I still wanted to feel when I needed to push so I wanted to ensure that the dosage wasn't to high. I didn't want to have anyone count for me. It seemed as though I perked right up. I thought I would sleep a bit but I became a chatty Cathie for the next 30 minutes. I could feel the contractions but they were not 1/2 as strong. Holly went to the waiting room to try and get some sleep in and Jen along with the nurse left me to rest. At 3am I let Matt, Nicole, and Serena know that I needed to push. To confirm this urge I checked and could feel Aidy's head. Everyone returned to the room and prepped for delivery.
I pushed for less than 10 minutes and Matt delivered Aidy with the assistance of Jen at 3:17am.
I had Aidy brought straight to my chest and she was with me for the first hour. She weighted 6 lbs. 8 oz and was 18 inches long.
It has been just over 2 weeks since Aidy arrived and I do think about getting the epidural. I wonder how much longer it would have been. Did I only have another 1/2 hour to go? Did the epidural help me to relax so that I could dilate? I will never know. Do I regret my choice to get the epidural......I'm still unsure.
Although my water was leaking I didn't start laboring. I was having contractions but they were sporadic and not very strong. Phone calls were made to Nicole, Serena, and Holly to put them on alert. I also call triage so that the midwife on call would know to expect me. When calling triage I spoke with a nurse and she sweetly said "well we will see you shortly". I let her know that I wasn't laboring yet and I would be waiting until my contractions got stronger and more regular.
A few hours later Jen, my midwife, called to check on me and find out what my plan was. I told her that if I wasn't laboring by around 8p I would contact her and we could determine what we wanted to do next. She encouraged me to take a nap while I could so that I would have the energy to labor into the night if needed.
Unfortunately I'm not a napper and I didn't get a nap in. I did try to close my eyes and rest but it didn't last long. As the day progressed it didn't seem like much was changing in the way of my contractions and I was getting a little frustrated. I was considering taking a walk to get things going and then my contractions started to get closer and stronger at around 5pm. By 7pm they were about 5-6 minutes apart and lasting over 1 minute. I knew we were getting closer so Matt called our friend Melanie to come over and be with the boys so that we could go into the hospital. By 8pm we left for the hospital and my contractions were 4 minutes apart and last at least 60 seconds. They were stronger and I was having to breathe through them.
We arrived in triage at about 8:30pm and my contractions were 3-4 minutes apart, lasting 60 seconds and getting stronger.
I knew that I was in active labor and hopeful that I was dilated to at least a 5. No such luck! The nurse checked me in triage and I was a 3 and 90% effaced. Knowing my effacement did keep my spirits up. I thought for sure that I was going to move along quickly. In my mind I was sure that I would have this baby by midnight.
I was admitted and went to my room and continued to labor with the assistance of Matt, Nicole, and Serena. My contractions continued to get stronger and I breathed through them just as I had with the boys. By 11pm I started grunting with my contractions which gave Jen the clue that I was getting close. I was leaning against the bed and squatting with each contraction. The baby warmer and instrument table were brought in. Matt and Jen put on their gloves in preparation to deliver. I hadn't been checked for dilation since we were in triage. Jen decided to check to make sure I was ready and told me I was dilated to a 6. To say that I was disappointed is an understatement. Dilating 1 cm per hour is wonderful progress but I had expectations that baby #4 would move along much more quickly.
I continued to labor knowing that transition was approaching. We tried all sorts of positions and laboring tactics to relieve the discomfort and to help baby move down. Serena had a robozo scarf that she used which did relieve my hip pain. I sat on the ball, squatted, and rocked. I got into the tub and labored there for what seemed like hours. Serena and Nicole took turns using a bed sheet around my hips and rocking it back and forth during my contractions. By 1am I was so tired that I felt as though I could barely stand. I wanted to crawl into bed and go to sleep. My contractions were so strong that I was sure I had to be close to delivery. I asked Jen to check me and she told me I was dilated to a 7.
Until this point I was laboring well and getting through my contractions. Knowing that I had 3 more centimeters to dilate, being extremely tired, and with the contractions being on top of each other really took it's toll on me. I began asking for an epidural. My heart was telling me that I didn't want it but the contractions were so strong that I began crying during them. Serena and Nicole offered to continue try different options for relief of the discomfort. Matt's main concern was that I didn't regret my decision. He did say "you have climbed this mountain twice before so I know that you can do it". I kept repeating that I was tired and I didn't want anyone to stall....I wanted the epidural. I was feeling as thought I was giving up too easily but each time I had a contraction the pain overshadowed that thought.
Just after 2am the anesthesiologist arrived. Before she moved forward I asked Jen to check me again. The anesthesiologist was not kind to say the least and said "are you not sure that you want this?". I told her that if I was complete then I didn't want it. Jen checked me and I was 7 1/2 centimeters dilated. Another hour and only a 1/2 of a centimeter. I told the anesthesiologist to move forward. It took a 1/2 hour to get everything prepped and complete. By 2:30am I was laying in bed and fairly numb from the waist down. I was clear with her that I still wanted to feel when I needed to push so I wanted to ensure that the dosage wasn't to high. I didn't want to have anyone count for me. It seemed as though I perked right up. I thought I would sleep a bit but I became a chatty Cathie for the next 30 minutes. I could feel the contractions but they were not 1/2 as strong. Holly went to the waiting room to try and get some sleep in and Jen along with the nurse left me to rest. At 3am I let Matt, Nicole, and Serena know that I needed to push. To confirm this urge I checked and could feel Aidy's head. Everyone returned to the room and prepped for delivery.
I pushed for less than 10 minutes and Matt delivered Aidy with the assistance of Jen at 3:17am.
I had Aidy brought straight to my chest and she was with me for the first hour. She weighted 6 lbs. 8 oz and was 18 inches long.
It has been just over 2 weeks since Aidy arrived and I do think about getting the epidural. I wonder how much longer it would have been. Did I only have another 1/2 hour to go? Did the epidural help me to relax so that I could dilate? I will never know. Do I regret my choice to get the epidural......I'm still unsure.
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