A week and a day ago Mark and I headed bright and early to Saint Francis hospital in preparation for an induction. He was a week overdue and for his safety we listened to doctors advice to induce. We started the same way Deans induction began, without medication and with a balloon catheter intended to open my cervix, which was comfortably closed at 1 cm.
After several hours and nothing happening our nurses suggested Cytotec a drug used to open the cervix. This started some minor contractions but several hours later was still 1 cm. Fast forward to 10 pm 2 more doses of Cytotec later I was finally MAYBE 2 cm.
The nurses knew my desire for a natural childbirth so upon starting Pitocin agreed to do it slowly so the contractions were manageable.
We tried to rest a bit that night, but the contractions were too strong to sleep through. The nurses tried to encourage me to move, do squats, etc to get baby to move. Finally at 4 AM they warmed up the tub (my favorite place to labor) and Mark and I had a long emotional chat about what to do next. We had been in labor almost 24 hours, still at maybe 2/3 cm. I was feeling physically and emotionally exhausted. The contractions weren’t unbearable but they were painful and I knew (after two previous natural births) the pain that was to come. We decided in the tub an epidural would be next step.
At 6 we got out of the tub, and 24 hours after we started, the doctor broke my water. She came in confirming still only 3 cm, and then giggled as she walked away when I suggested an epidural.
Then SHIT GOT Real. The first contraction after the water broke was so much more intense than any previous contractions. Mark knew immediately that things were different. I cried through the first several contractions it was all just soo intense and soo fast. I labored the way that I have with my others, but things moved so fast. Running from ball, to tub, to standing from contraction to contraction trying to survive.
I started at this point to feel pressure and our new nurse suggested checking me. Within an hour I had gone from 3 to 7 cm! A few more contractions (or relative... time is so odd in labor) she checked again but I asked to not be told. Mark later told me I was 9! I knew things were getting close though because they started to set up the room for a baby to come in.
Mark and the nurse were so supportive and guided me through the final contractions before I started to feel the urge to push. Once again I knew we were close which was the only thing getting me through the exhaustion emotionally and physically. Many people walked in (always a sign you are close) and they guided me through the quickest and most PAINFUL pushing phase of all my kids. As I put it “this is the most pain I’ve ever been in my whole life why isn’t he out yet?!?” The answer??? He came out with his hand beside his head. Painful for me and made him come out with a fractured collar bone :(
The relief I felt when he was placed on my chest was sooooo noticeable to all. He was finally out. The longest/shortest labor of mine was finally over. And this baby, the one who I was told at 5 weeks was a miscarriage. At 8 weeks a likely miscarriage. In the 2 trimester a strong candidate for a miscarriage. This baby who I had gotten pregnant with Just one month after a miscarriage was finally in my arms and so perfect. My last and final baby and boy. Gordie Robert Aronson was finally here. 8 pounds 2 oz. 19.5 inches 8:48am. Born 26 hours after our induction started. Came out fast in furious in the final hour and a half. And now it’s like he’s always been here.
The boys are over the moon. He eats like a champ and is sleeping as you’d expect a one week old to sleep. Can’t wait to see what adventures me and my 4 boys will go through together!
