Birth Story
Toby's birth started at 4am on Saturday, August 2nd when we think that my water broke. Contractions didn't start so we decided I would rest until a decent hour. Around 8am we were pretty sure that my water had broken so we met the midwife, Karla at Labor of Love.
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Long story short, we tried for the next 20 hours and a change of the midwives (to the wonderful Michelle) to try to get contractions started. This 20 hours included a trip to the chiropractor, walking, walking, walking, squatting . . . you name it, we tried it.
Then I got the warning that I would have to transfer if things weren't showing progress. I came in at 1cm, progressed to 3cm by the evening. Dustin & Holli (our patient doula) were such amazing supporters for me throughout this process. Always offering a new way to get things going or offering a back rub, food, a hand hold or hug when contractions actually did get going. They were both so comforting to me as a very type A personality who didn't like that things were not going as planned.
Late into the evening/early morning on Saturday we had contractions going pretty strong (2 min apart at one point) but unfortunately I wasn't dilating enough (only 4cm), nor were the contractions staying consistent. The law is that you have 24 hours to labor at a birthing center after your water breaks before you have to transfer to the hospital, if you aren't progressing so . . we reached that point . . . and probably then some b/c Michelle could tell that I wasn't transferring unless I had to. She & Karla were such wonderful guides for sticking with me all day long and not forcing me to go before I was ready. I'm sure they knew very early on that I would transfer but I never got that vibe from them. They kept coming up with new things to try and encouraged me to keep trying as I had the energy.
So around 4am I actually accepted that we were going to be transferring. . . I was incredibly disappointed b/c there was nothing I could do and we were going to the hospital . . . it was literally my worst fear. I had this idea that I would be pushed into a C-section, no one would listen to me, it wouldn't be meaningful. . . . on and on and on. We were going to Florida Hospital Tampa . . . it used to be UCH. . . they take the wrong limbs off. . . I was definitely spiraling about the transfer.
We arrived at the Florida Hospital around 9 or 10am (after resting and letting my team rest from 4-8am) and were greeted by a very friendly and somewhat goofy security guy who helped us get to the L&D rooms. The nurse was quick to get us set up & ask us a million questions. I had to get in the bed and be hooked up to all this stuff for monitoring (not excited) but the nurse, Karen, re-assured me that it would be ok and that she had been through some eventful births with Bea from Labor of Love. She was kind, experienced and confident - it made me feel a thousand times better.
We met the OB who was exactly what I expected, pushy & hospital-like - we talked through our options with her and reluctantly started pitocin to get contractions going again. I'm sure the OB was not a fan of me either b/c I kept second guessing, asking for birthing balls and wireless heart monitors and questioning her. So as predicted contractions started up again and around 2 were becoming more than I could get through (even though my amazing team were such strong supporters for me . . . all still hanging in there! Michelle even came to the hospital to help me make the most informed decisions for me.)
Speaking of my team, I can't go on enough about how patient and long-suffering Dustin & Holli were with me through the whole process. Collectively we didn't have more than 7 hours of sleep between us yet they stayed with me, helped me ask the right questions, made sure the hospital had my birth plan, rubbed my back, whatever I asked . . . they did. I can't thank either of them enough.
So things are in full, wild, feel like I'll split apart any second, unable to breathe through pain - thankfully, my team was there to help me make the best decision about managing the pain. Again, we are so far off my birth plan at this point . . . so we get an epidural. The thing about an epidural that no one tells you until your in it, is that you have to be completely still while you are in the middle of the above described pain. . . .I think I laughed at the nurse when she told me that. But again, my team held me to that we could go down that road.
They said it was time to get some good rest - mine & Dustin's mom's and Amanda came up to check on me - I was really just passed out when they got up there. We sent Holli to take a nap and I think Dustin went to get some food. Unfortunately, after about half an hour when all was quiet, I could feel contractions and I really wanted the OB to check on where things were. I got really agitated for some reason (typical Craig) and wasn't going to sleep until I knew where things were and how we were getting this baby out. They asked me if I had the urge to push and I said yes, just to get someone to come check me. Ha!
So the OB checks me out and I'm fully expecting/hoping that she says you are 7cm or anywhere more than 4cm. She says, "You are complete". . . I blurt out, "What does that mean?" and she says the magical, most holy and relieving words all day . . . "You're 10cm!" I just burst into tears, I couldn't believe it - it makes me teary now just thinking about it. It is the single most relieving moment of my life. And turns out the most energizing as well b/c after more than 30 hours of laboring I roused everyone into action! WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A BABY!
The wonderful nurse Karen said, we'll start pushing in 30 minutes (5:30pm) when we get everything set up. I said you got it! We rallied the team, Holli told me what to expect and we were ready! Karen told us that another mom was pushing down the hall and that she really wanted to meet Toby before she had to leave at 7pm - it's like she'd known me my whole life - I had competition and a goal in mind - We were not only going to have a baby but he was going to be born before 7pm (and hopefully before that other mom). Quiet to the fact that she did say pushing can take up to 3 hours . . .
At 5:30pm we were all in place including Toby - we could already see his head! This is probably TMI but they brought a mirror over so that I could see the whole process - it really motivated me to finally be able to see my baby! Unfortunately the epidural was so strong Holli & Dustin had to hold my legs - I know it probably sounds crazy but I certainly wish I could've felt more of the birth. Regardless, we pushed for an hour and a half and then . . .
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From this point on (and including the wonderful nurse Karen - I seriously thank God for placing her in my path), every nurse followed my very detailed and somewhat non-traditional birth plan. I was so relieved, again! It was funny b/c sometimes I would tell them not to worry about what the plan said on some of the silly small things I included. Everyone was encouraging, caring, very over the top in their service to my family. We loved having the help of the nurses over the following day and a half, no one was pushy, Toby stayed in my room with no questions asked, they helped me to be successful at breastfeeding and cared for us both like we were their family. Anything we wanted they provided. I really can't go on enough about how impressed I was with the care we received at the Florida Hospital. Even though our birth story didn't go anywhere near what we had planned, I can see how God placed the right people in my path to help make this such a meaningful experience for us.
Then I got the warning that I would have to transfer if things weren't showing progress. I came in at 1cm, progressed to 3cm by the evening. Dustin & Holli (our patient doula) were such amazing supporters for me throughout this process. Always offering a new way to get things going or offering a back rub, food, a hand hold or hug when contractions actually did get going. They were both so comforting to me as a very type A personality who didn't like that things were not going as planned.
So around 4am I actually accepted that we were going to be transferring. . . I was incredibly disappointed b/c there was nothing I could do and we were going to the hospital . . . it was literally my worst fear. I had this idea that I would be pushed into a C-section, no one would listen to me, it wouldn't be meaningful. . . . on and on and on. We were going to Florida Hospital Tampa . . . it used to be UCH. . . they take the wrong limbs off. . . I was definitely spiraling about the transfer.
We arrived at the Florida Hospital around 9 or 10am (after resting and letting my team rest from 4-8am) and were greeted by a very friendly and somewhat goofy security guy who helped us get to the L&D rooms. The nurse was quick to get us set up & ask us a million questions. I had to get in the bed and be hooked up to all this stuff for monitoring (not excited) but the nurse, Karen, re-assured me that it would be ok and that she had been through some eventful births with Bea from Labor of Love. She was kind, experienced and confident - it made me feel a thousand times better.
We met the OB who was exactly what I expected, pushy & hospital-like - we talked through our options with her and reluctantly started pitocin to get contractions going again. I'm sure the OB was not a fan of me either b/c I kept second guessing, asking for birthing balls and wireless heart monitors and questioning her. So as predicted contractions started up again and around 2 were becoming more than I could get through (even though my amazing team were such strong supporters for me . . . all still hanging in there! Michelle even came to the hospital to help me make the most informed decisions for me.)
So things are in full, wild, feel like I'll split apart any second, unable to breathe through pain - thankfully, my team was there to help me make the best decision about managing the pain. Again, we are so far off my birth plan at this point . . . so we get an epidural. The thing about an epidural that no one tells you until your in it, is that you have to be completely still while you are in the middle of the above described pain. . . .I think I laughed at the nurse when she told me that. But again, my team held me to that we could go down that road.
They said it was time to get some good rest - mine & Dustin's mom's and Amanda came up to check on me - I was really just passed out when they got up there. We sent Holli to take a nap and I think Dustin went to get some food. Unfortunately, after about half an hour when all was quiet, I could feel contractions and I really wanted the OB to check on where things were. I got really agitated for some reason (typical Craig) and wasn't going to sleep until I knew where things were and how we were getting this baby out. They asked me if I had the urge to push and I said yes, just to get someone to come check me. Ha!
So the OB checks me out and I'm fully expecting/hoping that she says you are 7cm or anywhere more than 4cm. She says, "You are complete". . . I blurt out, "What does that mean?" and she says the magical, most holy and relieving words all day . . . "You're 10cm!" I just burst into tears, I couldn't believe it - it makes me teary now just thinking about it. It is the single most relieving moment of my life. And turns out the most energizing as well b/c after more than 30 hours of laboring I roused everyone into action! WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A BABY!
The wonderful nurse Karen said, we'll start pushing in 30 minutes (5:30pm) when we get everything set up. I said you got it! We rallied the team, Holli told me what to expect and we were ready! Karen told us that another mom was pushing down the hall and that she really wanted to meet Toby before she had to leave at 7pm - it's like she'd known me my whole life - I had competition and a goal in mind - We were not only going to have a baby but he was going to be born before 7pm (and hopefully before that other mom). Quiet to the fact that she did say pushing can take up to 3 hours . . .
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| This is my let's do this face! |
Toby was FINALLY born at 6:59pm on Sunday, August 3, 2014. . . 1 minute early!
From this point on (and including the wonderful nurse Karen - I seriously thank God for placing her in my path), every nurse followed my very detailed and somewhat non-traditional birth plan. I was so relieved, again! It was funny b/c sometimes I would tell them not to worry about what the plan said on some of the silly small things I included. Everyone was encouraging, caring, very over the top in their service to my family. We loved having the help of the nurses over the following day and a half, no one was pushy, Toby stayed in my room with no questions asked, they helped me to be successful at breastfeeding and cared for us both like we were their family. Anything we wanted they provided. I really can't go on enough about how impressed I was with the care we received at the Florida Hospital. Even though our birth story didn't go anywhere near what we had planned, I can see how God placed the right people in my path to help make this such a meaningful experience for us. 
Beautiful.
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