10 lbs., 13.5 oz.

Hospital

After several weeks of NSTs, fluid checks, and offers of inductions, my labor began naturally on the evening of January 18, 2009 while bouncing gently on a exercise ball.  I called my doula and suggested she might want to go to bed a little early that night - sure enough my contractions continued and I called my doula again at 3:00am.  She came over and helped me labor through the night and into the morning.  My contractions began to get more intense after breakfast so we got ready for the trip to the hospital.  We finally got there around 11:00am and my labor was getting very intense.  Unfortunately, the doctor on call was not from my practice (my OB shared on-call duties with another practice).  She was definitely caught off-guard by my chart (which had the estimated 11 lb ultrasound weight on it) and actually had the nerve to ask me if I wanted a c-section.  Ummm - I’ve been laboring all night and morning - and you think I’m going to give all that up now?  No.  My baby will be fine, thanks. 

Anyway - I was already at 9 cm when they checked me (thank goodness!) So things were moving along great.  I knew from my previous labor that things go very fast after about 5 cm (my mother was the same way), but the nurse said she’d check on me in a little bit.  She came back in about 5 minutes later because she could hear my during contractions and thought I sounded “different” - well, yeah - I was in transition at 10cm!  She left again because apparently it usually takes a while for some women to get to 0 station.… And then had to rush off to get the doctor when I reached down and felt the baby’s head.  So in rushes the doctor, who has already told my husband and doula they may have to shove my legs behind my head (ALARM procedure) in case of shoulder dystocia.  I think I freaked her out - going so fast. 

Anyway - after pushing for what seemed like 30 seconds (but was more like 15 minutes) he was out!  He was a bouncing, 10lbs, 13.5ozs!  All natural, non-medicated birth.  I’ll admit I considered some medication but after learning that it probably wouldn’t take effect soon enough it wasn’t worth it.  Plus, as soon as I was off of my back after being checked it was a lot better.  I was pretty upset that they took him back to the nursery for monitoring because of meconium in my fluid - although he was just fine (I knew that.  Grrr.)  They did bring him back to me to nurse after he showed low blood sugar (no wonder, you took him away from me and I couldn’t feed him after he came out!).

Anyway - if I had listened to the doctors and not done my own research, I very may well have induced early.  After learning more about the real risks of shoulder dystocia and c-sections, I was comfortable letting him come when he was ready.