Well, after three false alarms, Max finally made his arrival on Thursday, September 29th at 11:09 pm. He weighed 6lbs 8.7oz and was 20in long.
It was a very rough journey!!! I was stuck at a 2 and 70% effaced for two weeks. But on Wed night/Thurs morn, I started contracting fairly consistently so Will came home from work and we went to the hospital. After arriving and getting checked... there was still no change. They had me walk for an hour contractions were still regular and strong) but then when they checked me... I was at a 3 and 75%. Not much difference. His head just wouldn't come down and engage. After much discussion with the dr and my nurse (who is also a longtime family friend), we determined that I really was in early labor but that it could be several more days before active labor started. So they gave me the option of pitocin to kick start things and that when we passed a 4 the dr would break my water, then once my body took over we would back off the pitocin.
So at about 4:30, they admitted us and started me on pitocin very slowly. They would up it every couple hours or so. The contractions were getting more intense and closer together but it was taking a while. At one point my friend checked me and the dr checked me – I was at a 3 /4 and was feeling some awful pressure. A second nurse checked me because his heart rate dropped quite suddenly. He had turned and dropped and was really pushing on the cervix, which was a good but very painful thing.
Finally at 9:45, I was at a 4/5 and the dr broke my water. Within a very painful hour, I progressed from a 5/6 to a 7 and was feeling the urge to push. But since I wasn’t complete yet, I had to breathe thru those excruciating contractions. Thankfully, within 15 minutes I was complete and could push. After two pushes, he was out and the relief was intense and almost overwhelming. I was so glad it was over!!! I had done it made it thru my second birth without any pain medication. However, it isn’t for the faint of heart. The pain is much more intense and harder to manage. The neat part was watching, in the mirror, him coming out.
Ironically enough, after it was all over, the dr said that since it took so long for another week. I am so glad we went ahead and induced/kickstarted. Max is a sweet baby. Very alert and contented. He latched on immediately after delivery and sucked for 30 minutes. He is still feeding quite well. Nursed for 4 hours straight last night! The downside is the contractions that come with nursing. When they say that they get stronger with each child... they are right!!! They are VERY painful.
He is now 5 days old and is a voracious eater. He has taken up the practice of nursing ALL NIGHT long. Just going from side to side to side to side. Needless to say... I am rather sore. (sigh) He is also almost 7lbs already. Hmm... seems that breastmilk is pretty good stuff. I just hope that it doesn't take three weeks to get past this toe-curling latch on like it did with Elisabeth.
Elisabeth is a wonderful big sister and loves to be around Max. She is already very protective of him and wants to make sure he is okay at all times. :) Gotta love a little mama.
Toe-curling latch, I thought I was the only one that had to deal with that :( I'm hoping to skip that, or have it lessened, since I'm still nursing Josiah.
Posted by: Francesca | October 04, 2005 at 08:33 PM