Sunday, June 8, 2008

Let's Go to the Highlights

I have managed to write my birth story – in three parts nonetheless. I’ve thought long and hard about publishing it to this blog. I mean, this is a blog about miscarriages and dealing with infertility. Does Missy’s birth story – the conclusion of this part of the journey - really belong here?

Or is it just for me to remember?

I don’t know. I just can’t decide about publishing it for now.

Here are some highlights though:

#1. The 10-hour labor. My water broke spontaneously at 12:30 AM and Missy arrived by 10:43 that morning.

#2. Our doula – who I neglected to let know I was 2 cm dilated because all of my friends assured me I could hang out like that for weeks – was in Seattle. We called her at 5:30 in the morning to give her the heads up. She could have called in a reserve doula, but she got up and drove back to Portland. Hung over. (She admitted she’d had a bit too much wine with her family the night prior). She arrived just when I started to push. We heart our doula.

#3. Despite all of my tough talk, I caved and got an epidural when I was 8cm dilated. "There’s no shame in getting an epidural at eight centimeters," our labor nurse rationalized, "It’s the women who come in and beg for an epidural at 2 centimeters that we kind of roll our eyes at." Our doula wasn’t there yet so Cowboy and I had managed 95% of the labor sans drugs and sans any assistance except for some pointers from the labor nurse.

I got spooked when they told me that Missy was face up and that we’d have to spend about 30-40 minutes of "gentle" pushing while the OB turned her face down for the delivery. Yeah, "gentle pushing" in between roller coaster contractions that we coming every other minute. I don’t regret it. I went from the fetal position to complimenting the anesthesiologist on her fantastic snakeskin heels within minutes.

#4. I labored through most of the night by myself in the birthing room bathroom. For those who have had spontaneous miscarriages, there is a scary point in labor when the contractions intensify and begin to feel exactly like cramping that happens during a miscarriage. I had to face my demons here. It took a lot of mental strength to remind myself that this was good. That these contractions would result in a real live baby. That I was okay. I started to panic at this point, but am proud that I talked myself back from the ledge and relaxed into the contractions rather than fighting them by tensing up in fear.

#5. Cowboy was a rock star. He even cut the cord! He didn’t stay uptown like he was supposed to, but I didn’t care because he helped me with the worst of the contractions by letting me know when each one was half over. Contractions only last one minute each. Believe me. Those are some long ass minutes. So it helped mightily to have him time them. It is kind of going on a long run. Somehow it seems easier to handle the fatigue if you know where you are in the process. Once each contraction hit the 30-second mark, I could breathe deeply knowing that the pain would subside soon.

#6. The only bummer about a labor that comes before your due date is that – or at least for me – you’re not prepared to say good-bye to your pregnancy. Don’t get me wrong. I did not relish the whole pregnancy gig. But one day you have this fuzzy little kitten moving around in your belly and the next day the feeling you got so used to is GONE. Like that. During our first night in the hospital, I so missed the feeling of Missy squirming in my belly as I fell asleep that I moved her from her bassinet to my bed and we snuggled like the old days.

#7. These days I stare as much at my ankles as I do my daughter. My (c)ankles swelled to epic proportions post-delivery. The day my old slender, athletic ankles appeared again was a banner day in our house.

And because no one is coming to this blog these days to read the blah-blah-blah from me, here is a photo of Missy at three weeks old.



Our part-time-for-the-summer nanny starts this week so hopefully I will have time to catch up on the computer and all of your blogs. I apologize that I have been M.I.A.

10 comments:

Waiting Amy said...

First, she is BEAUTIFUL.

I think you should publish the birth story if you are open to sharing it. Even though your blog started as infertility, this is part of your story. And I have heard many women say those stories give them hope.

Even if we only ever hear the highlights, it sounds like you did a smash-up job. She is here safe and sound, so that is what matters most. Congratulations sweetie! I'm thrilled for you and Cowboy!

Geohde said...

Your daughter is beautiful. :)

It sounds like you did a fantastic job with the birth,

J

Lori Lavender Luz said...

I'm so pleased to lay eyes on her. What a beauty. Cowboy has a good supply of baseball bats, right? (To chase the boys away).

christina(apronstrings) said...

what a neat story of hope and courage. i am so glad that the three of you are here. and lori is right- cowboy needs a bat.: )

Erin said...

oh so pretty!! i'd love to read the birth story. this blog is yours, so it's about your experiences whatever they may be.

i should get around to writing mine, too - although with a c-sect it might not be so compelling...

more pictures, pretty please!!

Mama Bear said...

Great to hear from you! Thank you for sharing the photo of Missy. She's gorgeous!

Congratulations on a brave delivery--it sounds like you and Cowboy were both rock stars. (Oh, and my ankles did the same thing post-delivery. It was weird, because they didn't swell that much before delivery and I wasn't expecting it.)

Keep us posted on how things are--with you and MIssy. We're equally interested in updates on both. :-)

Von said...

Congratulations. That is wonderful news. I had my two little girls on the 27th May. So far doing well even if I did only have three hours sleep last night........

Take care

Von.

L said...

I think your birth story is part of the miscarriage saga ... it is the happy ending that we ALL hope for. I loved reading blogs where the story resulted in a healthy wee-one.

You did a smash up job, as she is just beautiful. I am glad to know that all your heartache resulted in something so wonderful.

MissedConceptions

Anonymous said...

She is so beautiful. I am actually crying as I write this (progesterone supplements I guess), you did a wonderful job. Many, many congratulations to you. I hope you all have a wonderful lifetime together.

Oh and congrats to Cowboy on his new job!

K said...

Bingo on #6!!!