Hatching Robin

My pregnancy journey has finally come to an end.  My doctor came back from France on Sunday.  This sent me into sort of a zen state. I finally felt incredibly calm.  I knew the pregnancy was ending in the next few days.  Before he left for vacation, it was decided that due to restricted growth, I would attempt to reach my due date and then would be induced.

On my due date, I went into the doctor and it was decided that induction would happen the next day early in the morning.  The receptionists cheered for me as I left the office.  I was only 2 cm dilated and not at all effaced so the induction would start with using misoprostal.  The doctor told me to not to expect to start pitocin until night.  I was given misoprostal at 8:30 AM.  Dave and I spent the morning napping, watching a movie, and playing Phase 10.  At noon, I had progressed to 3 cm but was having contractions every 2-3 minutes.  This meant that not only did I not need another dose of misoprostal, but I didn't need pitocin either.  I would just like to say the labor is definitely easier to manage without pitocin.  Our doula, Jennifer, showed up around 2 pm.  Contractions were still totally manageable until about 4 pm.  Everyone was in really good spirits throughout the day. 

At 4 pm I was laying across a yoga ball and refusing to move due to requiring effort.  I announced my grand plan to Dave and the doula--at 4:40 pm I would go to the bathroom, when I came out, I would stand up, my water would break, and then I would go labor in the tub.  After which I would get an epidural.  That is exactly what happened!!!  I went to the bathroom, came out, stood there, and at 4:45 my water broke.  I am AWESOME!!!!

The tub was great.  My doctor checked me at 5:30 and I was 4 cm.  It was a little disheartening to hear so little progress after 5 hours.  Suddenly, around 6 pm I was in excrutiating pain so I ordered the epidural.  By the time we were back in the room and the epidural was in, it was 7 pm.  I had barely laid down on the bed and the nurses were telling me I would feel the full effect in a little while, that I started feeling the need to push.  Apparently, all that pain was transitioning from 4 to 10 cm very rapidly.  The nurses looked and the baby was ready to come out.

This baby has shown a flair for creating drama during this pregnancy and decided to have one more surprise up his sleeve.  Every time I pushed, the baby's heart rate fell to 60.  Of course no one told me this but instead the nurse and doula started flipping me from side to side.  I then heard someone say to get oxygen.  My eyes had been closed while I focused on breathing/pushing.  Panicked, I looked up and saw the vacuum in the doctor's hands and everyone watching the monitors intensely.  I realized I really needed to get that baby out and gave it another good set of pushes. 

After a total of 13 minutes and 3 sets of pushes (a far cry from the 2 and 1 hour pushing I did with the other two kids), the baby was out.  The cord was wrapped around the neck and his body.  They put him on my chest right way but had to take him and revive him a little bit.  Luckily, the baby quickly responded.  I cried lots of tears of joy.  The baby had a little trouble with body temperature so he got to have extra hats and blankets. 

The labor was really great.   There were lots of laughs throughout the whole experience (except for the part where I was pushing).  We had an amazing birth team of our doula, doctor, and nurses.  I feel very lucky.  Robin Francis was born on Wednesday, October 2 at 7:33 pm.  He was 5 pounds 14 oz and 19 inches long.  He is beautiful and I don't know if I have ever been more in love. 

***on the issue of IURG (interuterine restricted growth).  Robin's placenta was small, but did not show ill effects from the hemorrhage earlier in the pregnancy.  The cord was very thin.  These factors, in combination with the cord being wrapped around him, are thought to have contributed to his restricted growth.  Robin basically stopped growing around 34 weeks, but probably had been struggling for a little while.

My mom watched the kids while we were at the hospital and brought them in the next morning to meet their new brother.  Linus is head over heels in love.  Eileen is fairly ambivalent about the baby.

We can't thank all the people who helped and supported us throughout the pregnancy and for all the prayers we received as Robin gave us a few scares.  We completely welcome visitors to meet the new baby (as long as you aren't sick).  I just ask that you bring food :)