> Charlotte's Story (Due Date: June 2008)

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I just wanted to let everyone know that I delivered Brenden Matthew on Wednesday, June 26th at 12:15 PM. I was 39 weeks, 5 days.

My contractions really started on Monday the 24th and continued every 15 minutes until about 8 pm on the 25th. At that time, I thought they might be getting closer together and I began to really time them. We played our new Rock Band video game until 10:30 pm when the contractions really picked up (Picture me bouncing to the beat while beating on the drum set!). I sat on the birthing ball and walked circles in the house with my husband until 3:30 AM when my contractions were 2 to 3 minutes apart on average and I decided to head to the hospital. When I arrived at the hospital at 3:45 am, I was dilated to 6-7 cm and 90% effaced. The contractions were very painful and I was exhausted, but I was so excited that I was actually dilated. They moved me up to labor and delivery and insisted on starting an IV even though my doctor had agreed to heplock me so I could be free to walk, etc., and have a natural birth. Unfortunately my veins are notoriously difficult and after 30 minutes of digging into my arms the IV was in, but my concentration was broken and my pain level skyrocketed to a 10 out of 10. Despite my husband’s great coaching, I begged for an epidural and just couldn’t take the pain or move into a position that would help me. The epidural went in at 6:30 am and at 7 am the doctor arrived to check me and noted that I had an edematous cervix and the head was no longer anterior as it had been. I was dilated to 9 cm. My contractions had never been equally spaced the entire time I was monitored and I would have double and triple contractions for 6 or more minutes straight and then a wimpy one that was low on the toco monitor and then a big one. They were so random. During the big ones and the double/triple ones, the baby’s heart began to decelerate. They decided to try dextrose in my IV to fuel my very tired uterus. This went in at about 7:30 am. They also tried turning me from side to side repeatedly to get baby’s head into the correct position for delivery. The doctor prepared us for the possibility of a c-section if these techniques didn’t work to get the head into better position for delivery and get the cervical swelling to go down. For some reason, my contractions went further apart, but were strong, causing decelerations of the heartbeat. After a few hours of this, they decided to try pitocin, although this was risky as the baby was already having a hard time tolerating my big contractions. After the pitocin started, the heartbeat of the baby went flat, no variability, indicating more stress of the baby. The doctor was notified and he checked me one more time. I was now about 7 cm dilated.

My doctor looked very disappointed in having to do the c-section as we had spent a lot of time talking about birthing naturally. I really fought the good fight, considering my uterus had been contracting for about 6 months. I was terrified, but I got through it with my husband at my side holding my hand and me picturing being on a sailboat in the Caribbean on clear blue waters with a warm wind on my face. It turned out that Brenden was not presenting with the crown of his head with his chin tucked to his chest, but the top of his head with his head flexed. He had a large bruise on top of his head.

Brenden was wide-eyed and alert at birth and my husband was able to get him back down to me within the first hour to put him to breast. Breastfeeding has gone beautifully every since. I am so relieved that the IU has stopped and I can now focus on breastfeeding my beautiful new son and the next phase of my life. He looks like his sister, so she is thrilled. My son is so excited to have a brother and to be a big brother. I love spending time cuddling him against my chest and the quiet times we get in the middle of the night when he feeds and everyone else is asleep. I am so blessed and despite the terribly difficult pregnancy and a c-section recovery, it was all worth it....everything....all the things I missed when I had to lie in bed and incubate him to term...all the tears and frustration.....it was all worth it. I thank God for the blessing he gave me....my Brenden!

Take care,

Charlotte

Texas