7:30 AM: My contractions slow down to every ten minutes again. "Pitocin!" the nurse chirps, and hangs a bag. I don't care.
Until 10 AM: I think nothing is happening because the intensity never goes past 20 on the LYING BASTARD of a contraction monitor.
10 AM: I start feeling pressure. I don't mention it because I don't want anyone to BOTHER me.
10:45 AM: I decide that perhaps I should mention it. Also, I decide that the contraction monitor has been LYING. The nurse and midwife have a genteel tiff: the midwife is upset that the nurse checked me; the nurse points out that she paged the midwife five times with no response. I ignore them all, including when the midwife tries to coach my pushing.
The rest is pretty mundane. At about 11:15, the baby popped out in the usual eel-like fashion, looked around, and screamed.
The thing is, I already did a drug-free childbirth; this time, I felt like I had nothing to prove to anyone, including myself, and I didn't want to be in that much pain any more. Having done it the other way, I didn't feel like I was missing anything by getting an epidural and a little pitocin. And you know what? It was great.
And I had been in labor for SIX DAYS, too.
SIX DAYS! I thought my 53 hours was awful. I feel for you so much.
ReplyDeleteLet's hear it for having nothing to prove. Let's not hear it at all for six day labors. Aarrrg.
ReplyDeleteI like it when women brag about having drug-free childbirth because it's not like I'm going to give them a medal. I've had three kids- one was natural and the other two with drugs.
ReplyDeleteWell, congratulations! He's pretty freakin adorable. I loved my epidural because I finally was able to sleep, and I needed that rest when it came time to push for 3 hours! (Yes, maybe I would have been better at pushing if it hadn't been for the epidural, but I don't care. I needed to sleep.) I know, you didn't ask. Sorry. Enjoy your little guy.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! I hope the newborn and the rest of your family are adjusting to each other well!
ReplyDeleteAmanda: It's not a competition of SUCK!! And really, once it gets past a certain point I think the awfulness kind of plateaus.
ReplyDeleteBunny: So yes.
Irie: I promise I've never bragged about it!
ScienceofMom: I know how you felt! A lot of screw it, give me the epidural already. :)
SG: Everyone seems to be doing pretty well and the spouse is suddenly realizing what it's like to be home with a toddler all day. Heh heh heh (evil grin).
my lying bastard of a blog reader never registered this post. please accept my apologies for seeming to ignore it.
ReplyDeleteahem.
i hate contraction monitors. i wouldn't hate them if they worked, but ffs, i'm beginning to think they don't.
i love epidurals and am glad you did, too. am relieved to hear you didn't feel you missed anything this way, but even if you'd said the opposite, i don't think i'd sign on to do it again without the epidural just for the sake of the EXPERIENCE, you know?
oh, dear. my poor baby is waking up. i bet he'd nap better if i hadn't been so selfish with my own needs at birth, huh?
xo
Indeed, I didn't mean to imply that anyone is missing ANYTHING by skipping an epidural, or whatever. More that I had something to prove to myself, and I did, and then I was all like, well, I'm not doing THAT again.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, too. LYING BASTARD CONTRACTION MONITORS. Plus they fall off all the damn time.