Calista Noel's Birth

Chris and I came into this pregnancy thinking that doctor knows best, and to do whatever he suggested. I had heard about birth plans and such but didn't think that I didn't needed one. We figured that we'd just play it by ear through labor. I had know qualms about any procedures done often.( epidurals, monitering,etc.) Two days late I went to my scheduled appt and we decided to induce the next day at 6am. As planned I was inLABOR by 7:30am. At eight my doctor came in to break my water. There was meconum staining, and the babys heartbeat started to decel. I was put on an internal moniter, oxygen, and something that was to flush out the meconium stained water and replace it with fresh fluid. Her heartrate was still deceling on and off, but she always quickly recovered. I was still ok to go through with a vaginal delivery. Soon the pain was getting barely tolerable. I asked for demerol because I was handling it ok but I just wanted a little help. My doctor in turn suggested an epidural instead. I didn't fight it because I had pretty much reserved myself to the fact that I'd have one. I went ahead with that. At first all was well untill 45 min later I was suddenly in inense pain again. Little did we know that the wire had slipped out of my back. That wasn't dicovered untill about an hour later. The epidural was readministered and on the second try it was back in. Then the machine ran out of meds. That took another 45 min to fix. I really can't say what stage I was in because from the begininng my contractons were 3-5 minutes apart. I went from manable pain to anything but managable pain without any gradual build up. That is what made things worse. I would have been better off never having an epidural and felt that build up, than to be slapped in the face with those contrations. Soon after all this transpired it was time to push. Of course the epidural was turned off. ( the little time it was on gave me very spotty relief) I pushed for about 45 min before the doctor arrived. The nurses said that they started me before the doctor came so the could massage to cut the chance of having to be cut. That sure did work, and I am so glad. This was my first birth, and I had pretty much figured that I would end up with one. The doctor arrived and the babys heart rate was deceling again. He decided to use the vacuum extractor, and born into the world at 4:50 pm Calista Noel was finally here!!! she is 7 weeks now, and the light of our lives. It's the greatest feeling in the world!! I would like to tell you that Chris was the best couch a girl could ever dream for! He was not only my coach, but he helped the nurses out with quite a few things. Through all of the troubles he was supportive and calm for me. For all you women out there pregnant for the first time I want you to consider EVERY aspect of your labor and how you want it. I strongly recommend a birth plan, and stress to your coach that you want it the way you agreed on. You may not be able to stress our own wishes in the way you could if you were not giving birth. Except epidural!!! I think that it would be bad to go into it thinking "I will not have one." On the other hand don't go into it assuming you will, like i did. You, then will be much more likely to give into it even if your not sure if you need it. Please don't let my story scare you out of opting for an epidural. Next time I will be more likely to try harder not have one, but if I really need one I will. I know that what happened to me dosen't always happen, and I also know that if your too focused on the pain you won't be able to hande things as well. In that case I feel it's in your best intrest to go ahead. Thank you for taking the time to read our story. I hope that it will help you!

[Pmailto:Lou708@webtv.net Kristi & Chris