Hudson's Birth Story

Hudson's birth story begins at 7:10pm on February 13th (39 weeks along), I was waiting for my cousin's to drop by for a visit, and as I was sitting on the couch after putting Loralai to bed for the evening, I got this sudden urge to go to the washroom...and well it just did not stop...my water had broken and unfortunately there was meconium.

I called my cousin to tell her that I needed to reschedule, I called Todd who was on his way to Orillia, I called my mom, I called Carrie, and then I called the midwife. Fortunately my cousin Laura was already on her way, and helped me pack my hospital bag (yes I had been procrastinating...see previous post). The midwife had suggested that I go to the hospital because of the present meconium, so we met at 8pm at RVH's labour and delivery so that she could monitor the baby for any distress. 

Hudson's heart rate was perfect and stable, I was having very light contractions, really nothing to report but the midwife did check me  at 9:09pm before she convinced me that we should head back home to labour, and I was 2cm 50% effaced. 

I laboured at home, the contractions were coming fast (between 1-2 minutes apart) and hard however only lasting between 30-45 seconds, I did take a bath at the suggestion of my midwife and it did help to take the edge off, but at about 3am, I had enough and wanted to go into the hospital for some pain relief (apparently I do not have a high pain tolerance as I hoped). The midwife met me there and checked me at 3:30am and I was only 4cm dilated but 100% effaced. 

I am not sure what time I received the epidural, but it was not too long after I went into the room that the anesthesiologist arrived. The numbness took effect, and went a little higher on the right side then they would have liked to see, so they propped me up a bit so that gravity could work on my side and it would start to work its way a little lower.

If your not aware when you recieve a epidural your care is then transferred from the midwife to a obstetrician and nurses care, I was extremly lucky in that when I met Dr. Steen he stated that he would respect my decision to have my baby delievered by the midwife, and that he would just be in the room to observe, and that he would also be the one who would clear the babies air way when his head came out...because of the meconium being present in my amniotic fluid. There would also be a respiratory therapist present to ensure that none of the meconium was in his lungs. 

The midwife checked me at 8:40am and I was 7cm and +1, and then again at 10:40pm and I had only dialated to 8cm, so what they decided to do was provide me with some oxytocin to try and get the contractions closer together and a little more regular then they had been up until that point (sometimes epidurals can have this effect). 

By 12:20pm I was 10cm dilated and ready to start pushing. The contractions again seemed to have spaced themselves out, but that could be my perception of the time lapsing between pushes. The midwife said that I had excellent control and took her direction well. The only thing that I will say about the pushing was that once Hudson's head was out and I had to wait for Dr. Steen to clear his airways as well as wait for another contraction...it felt like time had stopped! Hudson was born at 1:15pm! :) I only had a slight tear that did not require stitches (yay me), Hudson was able to be placed briefly onto my chest (which I had really wanted) before being taken over to the respiratory therapist to check him out. He was perfect, weighing in at 7lbs and 7oz, and 21.5 inches long. He did not have any issues at all, his lungs were clear, and that was because they did not allow him to cry before his airways were suctioned out. Another one of my midwives was there to take care of Hudson's well being (measuring, scoring, weighing, etc,), while the other midwife continued with my care. 

Although I did not make a birth plan intentionally because you really do not know how your going to feel, or what might happen during labour and delivery, my intention was to try and go naturally, but it was not in the cards for me and I am perfectly ok with my decision, it was even better in that my midwife was able to deliver...it was the best of both worlds! 

I am overjoyed with how this delivery went, although it was a little sooner then I was anticipating (I was 2 weeks overdue with Loralai and thought the same might happen this time again), and lasted 18 hours from start (water breaking) to his birth...I wouldn't have changed a thing...I mean I did get the most amazin Valentines Day gift anyone could have ever received!