Jeremy's Birth

My labour was incredible!

I had to be induced at ten days overdue so I went into the hospital Thursday morning and was 2 cm dilated and 80% effaced when they inserted the cervadil at 11:15 and we began the two hour monitoring session. Very shortly I began feeling the contractions. Seemed to me like something wasn't right though because I didn't feel I was getting a break in contractions. By the end of the two hours I was crying on the bed because I wanted nothing more than to be able to get up and move around and put all my hypnobirthing knowledge into play.

Finally I was allowed to get up and I began walking. I made it maybe twenty steps when I had to stop and I told my husband that something must be wrong. I was having peaks in my contractions but the were never completely subsiding so I wasn't getting a break. He went and told the nurse while I rode through the contractions with one leg up on the bed and the other still on the floor and was bent over holding onto the end of the bed, I found this position to be the best. When the nurse came in and checked me she found I was now 4-5 cm dilated (at 1:30 now).

She quickly took the cervadil out as it was over-stimulating my cervix. It was almost instant relief. I began to feel the downtime between contractions and found that the contractions were easy to breeze through. We moved to a labouring room at 1:45 and Chris ran a bath for me. While I rested in the tub Chris ran home to get supper. By 2:20 the tub was not comfortable anymore and I chose to try another position. The nurse checked me again and I was now 5-6 cm.

Chris returned and arriving at the same time with my mother and little sister and my 3 yr old daughter Rylee.  I visited with them for a half hour before sending them out of the room for a moment so I could be checked. At 3:05 I was now 6-7 cm. I went into the washroom and then went and sat on the edge of the bed. I began gagging and felt like I was going to be sharing my breakfast with the room. On one of the gags I suddenly felt a huge gush and instantly cried "What was that!", then logic came back to me and I realized my water had broken. This was at 3:25 now. I laid down because the nurse wanted to check me and she was unable to even reach my cervix as the head was right there. She began running around like crazy yelling for nurses and doctors and trying to prep the room. Meanwhile I am watching her and finding it quite funny to see her so frenzied and listening to all that is going on around me, and the whole time I am pushing. Not the head-to-chest hold your breath type pushing. But simply listening to my body and breathing and working with the contractions to bring the baby down.

Somehow Dr. Miller (who had been at his office at the time he received the call about my water breaking) managed to make it to the hospital and came running in just in time. I was so ecstatic to see him walk in and know that he would be receiving my baby. He walked to the end of the bed and jolted into action when he realized I was already crowning and that baby was still on the move. He suited up quick and the head was out right away. The cord was around the baby's neck though and he was yelling at me to quit pushing. I finally heard him on the third cry and stopped actively pushing, though according to my husband the baby did not stop coming and Dr M was holding his hand on the head trying to stop the baby from continuing. Then, upon the cord being loosened and removed, he allowed the baby to continue on its path. I felt the instant the shoulders came free and I knew my baby had arrived. Dr. M immediately placed our new infant on my chest and Chris proceeded to inform me that we had a new baby boy!! I couldn't believe it. One of each. And he was perfect. Chris was unable to cut the cord because the baby had already passed meconium so the moved him to check him and weight him. He was fine and only needed a bit of suctioning and then was brought straight back to me.

I didn't believe the nurse when she told me he was a 9 lbs baby. He hadn't felt large at all, in fact he basically flew out of me. Only 7 minutes spent "pushing" after my water broke. I was able to nurse him shortly after birth which was wonderful.

Jeremy Thomas Dunn was born Thursday, July 16, 2009 at 3:32 pm. at 9 lbs and 21"

I have sung the hypnobirthing praises to all I know.  It was incredible to actively feel the whole labour and not in a bad way. Everything was wonderful and brought me closer to holding my baby.

I felt wonderful immediately after the birth. I did not feel like I had just had a baby at all. The worst pain I was in was from my iv and I couldn't wait to get rid of that. I left right after the 24hr bloodwork was performed and even went to my sisters house to celebrate my other sister's bachelorette party with them, though I skipped out on any drinking obviously as I nursed Jeremy. It was wonderful to feel so great after birth, I didn't want to move for weeks after my first and I could not believe the difference when your relaxed the whole way through. My husband was wonderful after taking the class as well, bringing out the back massager and getting the hypnobirthing tape playing and just really reading my mind throughout.

Jeremy is a complete angel and already is giving me 6-7 hr sleeps at night.

I will continute singing the praises of hypnobirthing and sending any pregnant ladies that I can over your way.

My only regret about the whole birth is that I did not have it videotaped. Such a lovely experience. And was over so quick. 4 hrs total labour and my daughter got to meet her new brother less than an hour after he was born.

From the happy family,

Niki, Chris, Rylee, and baby Jeremy.

Written by Niki Pastush, Aug 2009