birth story

I had my 38 week check up on the 23rd. My midwife swept my membranes and said I was at 3cm. That started the loss of my plug and some irregular contractions. We figured I would end up going into labor early but whenever I thought it might be the real deal my contractions would back off. Christmas afternoon dh and I did and it started contractions consistently about every five minutes. Once they had lasted for close to two hours I went ahead and called in. Since DS1 came so quickly they wanted me to come straight in. I had planned for a water birth just as I had with my first. Unfortunately my blood pressure was very high and I was ultimately diagnosed with pre eclampsia. I was devastated at the change in my birth plan and I felt like my confidence was shot. I was dilated to 5cm at arrival and my contractions were becoming slightly irregular again. We tried every post on in the book to get baby to drop down some and get things moving again. I ended up stalling at 6cm for 4 hours while my contractions became strong and fast. I was miserable. They offered me an epidural but I declined. I did take a shot of fentinol to help me rest between contractions and my midwife opted to start a low dose of pitocin to help me along with dilation. I fell asleep between contractions for about 30 minutes and quickly woke up in agonizing pain screaming at the top of my lungs with a very strong urge to push with contractions coming back to back with no break. The student midwife checked and I had made it to 10 cm and was ready to push. The actual midwife barely had time to make it into the room. 3 big pushes and Wyatt was out, born en caul. The sac ruptured quickly before we even had a chance to take a picture and I was unable to see due to the position I was laying in. Nothing went as planned and I was in the worst pain of my life but all of the disappointment went out the window instantly when they placed my beautiful little boy in my arms for the first time. He weighed 7lbs 1oz and was 19.6 in long. He looks identical to his big brother at birth and is nursing like a champ!