In the 3 months that have passed since birthing our sweet Cora I've felt many emotions regarding her birth. Although it did not go as we planned I will say that it would NEVER have gone as well as it did and I wouldn't feel as positive about it without Hypnobabies and especially our amazing Hypnodoula, Anne. What a blessing she was to all of us in this time!
Bubble of Peace FOR CHANGE OF PLANS/OUTCOME
In the wee hours of the morning (4 am) I awoke to birthing waves! We were 40w4d, had seen the OB the day prior and praise God he was even on call this very day!
Bubble of Peace FOR CHANGE OF PLANS/OUTCOME
In the wee hours of the morning (4 am) I awoke to birthing waves! We were 40w4d, had seen the OB the day prior and praise God he was even on call this very day!
To back up a bit…
I initially wanted a home birth, hubby wanted hospital so we landed on a wonderful birth center with Midwives. At 27 weeks we risked out of Midwife care (even in the hospital) due to two huge/large fibroids, one right near my cervix. We were prepared that we would most likely need a C-section but instead prepared for a vaginal birth just in case.
We started Hypnobabies classes "late" at 33 weeks - thankfully at 35 weeks we found out the larger fibroid moved and we were cleared for a hospital vaginal birth with our Hypnobabies!!!
Back to the day it started…
After many weeks of practice waves I was hesitant that it was real, but when they never died down and only got longer and stronger and closer together, this was it! Already in hypnosis (and using my center switch all day) I was already thankful for the time practicing (although I was not a star student!! haha)
Around 2 pm we let our Hypno-doula, Anne, know we were ready for her. She came for a few hours but then let us be for awhile to hopefully help me focus. I took a bath and not long after she got back things kicked up a notch!
I initially wanted a home birth, hubby wanted hospital so we landed on a wonderful birth center with Midwives. At 27 weeks we risked out of Midwife care (even in the hospital) due to two huge/large fibroids, one right near my cervix. We were prepared that we would most likely need a C-section but instead prepared for a vaginal birth just in case.
We started Hypnobabies classes "late" at 33 weeks - thankfully at 35 weeks we found out the larger fibroid moved and we were cleared for a hospital vaginal birth with our Hypnobabies!!!
Back to the day it started…
After many weeks of practice waves I was hesitant that it was real, but when they never died down and only got longer and stronger and closer together, this was it! Already in hypnosis (and using my center switch all day) I was already thankful for the time practicing (although I was not a star student!! haha)
Around 2 pm we let our Hypno-doula, Anne, know we were ready for her. She came for a few hours but then let us be for awhile to hopefully help me focus. I took a bath and not long after she got back things kicked up a notch!
Around 8 pm we called the doctor's office as we felt we were ready to go in. After finding out the hospital was on divert (full and/or understaffed) we decided to try and wait out the 3 hours until they re-evaluated. (the other hospital our doctor can deliver at, we are not insured at….)
3 hours later, they were still on divert. SO while I continued to move through waves in hypnosis Hubby and Anne sorted through hospital stuff and insurance at which point I said to Dan, "I want you to know I'm not stressed about this" (Thanks Anne for recording these details so well!) This was just after 8 pm
Thank you Hypnobabies practice for helping to keep me calm!
Just before 11 pm waves were every 3-4 minutes and 2 minutes long, and it was about then I threw up (unknowingly for the first of many times! haha)
So we packed up in earnest and went to the new hospital that we had never been to with an unknown Doctor!
What I didn't know until later… I was only at 3 cm upon check in, but they kept us anyways.
OVER THE NEXT 6 OR SO HOURS WE TRIED….Lift and tucks
Time in the tub
Walks
Talking through fears
Time on the toilet
Acupressure points
Nipple stimulation
Shake the apple trees/rebozo on butt
Hands and knees position
3 hours later, they were still on divert. SO while I continued to move through waves in hypnosis Hubby and Anne sorted through hospital stuff and insurance at which point I said to Dan, "I want you to know I'm not stressed about this" (Thanks Anne for recording these details so well!) This was just after 8 pm
Thank you Hypnobabies practice for helping to keep me calm!
Just before 11 pm waves were every 3-4 minutes and 2 minutes long, and it was about then I threw up (unknowingly for the first of many times! haha)
So we packed up in earnest and went to the new hospital that we had never been to with an unknown Doctor!
What I didn't know until later… I was only at 3 cm upon check in, but they kept us anyways.
OVER THE NEXT 6 OR SO HOURS WE TRIED….Lift and tucks
Time in the tub
Walks
Talking through fears
Time on the toilet
Acupressure points
Nipple stimulation
Shake the apple trees/rebozo on butt
Hands and knees position
And I was at a 4 (I still wasn't aware of dilation)
SO WE THEN DID…An inversion
Walcher’s position (towel under butt and legs hanging off bed)
Left side with peanut ball
Sitting on the toilet
Walking with Lift and Tucks
5 hours later around 11am we were at 5cm.
At this point we were 34 hours into our birthing time and had very little progression. Needless to say we were all quite tired and not seeing much progress with everything we were trying so we chose to try some pitocin to help.
***I DO WANT TO SAY THAT I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU WILL READ (AND MANY THINK) ABOUT HOW THE PITOCIN KICKED OFF THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS AND INTERVENTION THAT FOLLOWS. WITH WHERE WE WERE AT IN OUR BIRTHING TIME, 34+ HOURS IN, AFTER DOING MANY THINGS TO HELP OUR BIRTHING TIME PROGRESS NATURALLY, THIS WAS THE BEST WE FELT WE COULD DO. WE USED OUR BRAIN ACRONYM AND DISCUSSED THINGS. WE NEVER FELT PRESSURED AND MADE DECISION IN OUR OWN TIME. ALL THANKS TO OUR HYPNOBABIES TRAINING!***
The pitocin certainly did help things progress a little bit, but that is when the discomfort started too. Tired, frustrated and needing some respite, we chose to get an epidural.
At this point the baby's (we didn't know boy or girl) heart rate dropped into the 60s (aka - not good)
After 9 more hours of trying more/different positions and attempting to raise the pitocin we were barely at 8cm and baby's heart rate had dropped for the third time.
Now we were nearing the 44 hour mark. The doctor (who completely respected us doing what we did to this point) officially recommended a C-Section.
We took our time to talk about it and decided it was time, baby was not tolerating this part well.
So - at 00:39 (I loved the military time writing of this - haha! It was 12:39 am) 45 hours into our birthing time we met our sweet Cora.
Many things did not go as planned. Her birth was the longest, fastest, hardest, best, saddest and happiest 2 days of my life.
But one thing is for sure, it would not have gone the way it did without the knowledge we gained in class and the support of our amazing Hypnodoula, Anne - we are forever grateful for you and Hypnobabies!!
SO WE THEN DID…An inversion
Walcher’s position (towel under butt and legs hanging off bed)
Left side with peanut ball
Sitting on the toilet
Walking with Lift and Tucks
5 hours later around 11am we were at 5cm.
At this point we were 34 hours into our birthing time and had very little progression. Needless to say we were all quite tired and not seeing much progress with everything we were trying so we chose to try some pitocin to help.
***I DO WANT TO SAY THAT I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU WILL READ (AND MANY THINK) ABOUT HOW THE PITOCIN KICKED OFF THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS AND INTERVENTION THAT FOLLOWS. WITH WHERE WE WERE AT IN OUR BIRTHING TIME, 34+ HOURS IN, AFTER DOING MANY THINGS TO HELP OUR BIRTHING TIME PROGRESS NATURALLY, THIS WAS THE BEST WE FELT WE COULD DO. WE USED OUR BRAIN ACRONYM AND DISCUSSED THINGS. WE NEVER FELT PRESSURED AND MADE DECISION IN OUR OWN TIME. ALL THANKS TO OUR HYPNOBABIES TRAINING!***
The pitocin certainly did help things progress a little bit, but that is when the discomfort started too. Tired, frustrated and needing some respite, we chose to get an epidural.
At this point the baby's (we didn't know boy or girl) heart rate dropped into the 60s (aka - not good)
After 9 more hours of trying more/different positions and attempting to raise the pitocin we were barely at 8cm and baby's heart rate had dropped for the third time.
Now we were nearing the 44 hour mark. The doctor (who completely respected us doing what we did to this point) officially recommended a C-Section.
We took our time to talk about it and decided it was time, baby was not tolerating this part well.
So - at 00:39 (I loved the military time writing of this - haha! It was 12:39 am) 45 hours into our birthing time we met our sweet Cora.
Many things did not go as planned. Her birth was the longest, fastest, hardest, best, saddest and happiest 2 days of my life.
But one thing is for sure, it would not have gone the way it did without the knowledge we gained in class and the support of our amazing Hypnodoula, Anne - we are forever grateful for you and Hypnobabies!!
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