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Birthing story:
Okay. So boom.
Okay. So boom.
I woke up Wednesday 1s July 2020 around 5am (my usual time for Riley and I to go move the animals I didn't know he had). For the last week or two, I had been having cramping and major stiffening in my tummy. I mean... Extreme stiffening. Uncomfortable but tolerable.
ANYWAY, that evening (5pm) we went to get groceries. We hit the first supermarket and I felt super weak and nauseated. I really hadn't eaten since breakfast (yh yh...I know). I managed to get a piece of bread pudding because it was fresh and it's my fave.
Around 6:20, he hit the other grocery store. I felt super sluggish but nothing alarming. When we got the LAST aisle, just before we started to work our way to cash..a pain hit me right above my vagina. Lol. I let everybody go ahead and I lingered alone in the cold section.
Now I'm like... Okay this is getting mad annoying. At this point, I couldn't exactly move when the pain came. I was like I'm fine but I wanna go home. We did. Got home... started monitoring the pains. They were consistent at 5 mins apart for a good hour. Okay. Seems like labour.
Around 11pm, we contacted my friend's mom (she's a midwife). She's like "Trish, it's your first baby.. you've had a relatively hard pregnancy. Go to the hospital just in case." We left for the hospital at 11:30 or so.
Got to the hospital (they were also on the way). I forget my records 
. Had to get that brought back. Contractions still coming and going. Still.... very tolerable.
. Had to get that brought back. Contractions still coming and going. Still.... very tolerable.
Okay. So we went to Mat A ward (labour and delivery) and I explained that I was feeling pain and I'm to term with my pregnancy. The nurses told me to go to the bed and lie down. The doctor came and asked "Why are you here?"
I watched my VERRRRRRY pregnant belly and then the doctor and then my belly again then my BD. I'm like... Lord, not already with the bullshit. Anyway I kept my peace and said I've been having pains for a few hours. They admitted me then and there.
After getting my information, I had my first VE (vaginal exam). We're 3cm dilated. My friend and her mom came and with the COVID policies at the hospital, you're allowed one person at your side lol. Her mom came right to me to ensure I was getting treated and seen.
Actually, this was to ensure that the staff knew I was with people who knew what needed to be done. After settling in...I needed to walk so we made rounds in the corridors. My friend and her mom left around 4am I think because work and rest.
Back to my bed at this point because I'm tired, hungry and pretty much uncomfortable with the environment. Your girl had not eaten anything since the pudding. Anyway, the doctor on the ward fell asleep and let me tell you.... It sounded like a freight train. Sooo no sleep for me.
Thursday 2nd July 2020:
The doctors came to the ward. My contractions were stalling at this point and I heard the nurses saying that I may have to get oxytocin to help with my labour. Now I've heard stories with oxy from my sister etc and it didn't sound very nice.
The doctors came to the ward. My contractions were stalling at this point and I heard the nurses saying that I may have to get oxytocin to help with my labour. Now I've heard stories with oxy from my sister etc and it didn't sound very nice.
BD had left to go freshen up and get a nap at some point after I showered and had gotten my enema. So it was just me. The doctors finally came to my bed with student doctors. Without my consent, I was examined by a male SD. He was inexperienced and it hurt. I told them to stop.
The actual doctor examined me instead and I was 4cm. She then explained that if my contractions didn't normal I would have to get the oxy.
I was stressed.
I was stressed.
Contractions were still stalling. I started the oxy at 9:40am. It was all good then the contractions started coming. Okay good sign. BD was back at some point after I told him the oxy started. He brought me something to eat but I was not allowed to eat or drink at this point.
Sooooooooo your girl had not eaten, slept or hydrated. Ort.
As the morning progressed, so did my contractions. Around 11, another VE: 4cm dilated. I should have progressed more by now. I think my water broke sometime around this point.
As the morning progressed, so did my contractions. Around 11, another VE: 4cm dilated. I should have progressed more by now. I think my water broke sometime around this point.
The doctor's came again. Another VE. Still no progression; a cervical sweep was suggested to assist my labour's progression.
NOTHING prepared me for that. NOTHING. I held the doctor (who was telling me to try and hold on to someone else) and I screamed. I was loud enough..
NOTHING prepared me for that. NOTHING. I held the doctor (who was telling me to try and hold on to someone else) and I screamed. I was loud enough..
..my BD to hear me outside. I'm not sure if that Dr did something differently because I was told it's supposed to be uncomfortable at most but that was the second most painful thing I've EVER experienced in my life.
By 1pm, I was around 6cm dilated. The pain? I honestly wanted someone to shoot me and put me out of my misery. The contractions are a solid 12/10 and coming CONSTANTLY. I started crying at this point because I'm TIRED, sleepy and hungry.
My sister was on her way to the hospital and I was just praying for her to hurt and get there. She's a nurse so I felt like she's be what I needed to help cope with the pain.
My oxy was almost finished and I still was not ready to deliver. Another round of oxy was suggested.
My oxy was almost finished and I still was not ready to deliver. Another round of oxy was suggested.
The Dr (not the same one who did the sweep) came to explain I'm doing "great" and that with the second round of oxy, I should deliver by this evening. I agreed. She did another VE after the oxy started and my water didn't completely burst. She wanted to burst it to help the....
... labour progress even more. It took her about 15 mins to convince me that it won't be anything like the sweep. I agreed. She was right. No pain. No discomfort. My sister arrived.
The pain? Even more excruciating than before. At some point, I started begging for a C-section because my body had had enough. They told me no because of complications post-op etc.
Oh I forgot to mention the constant fetal monitoring by the student midwives with a doppler that had to be pressed into my stomach to find the baby's heartbeat. He was in the same spot and the constant pushing was painful.
There was one particular SMW that REALLY got on my nerves. You're supposed to wait UNTIL the contraction eases to check for fetal heartbeat. NOT homegirl. I had to hold her hand to stop her and say "CAN YOU WAIT?!" I'm sure she was fed up of me but I didn't care.
I was already so uncomfortable and fed up... You can at least wait a few to do your checks.
By 3pm I think, I was throwing up (bile because no food) and very naked. The room was air conditioned but I was sweating.
By 3pm I think, I was throwing up (bile because no food) and very naked. The room was air conditioned but I was sweating.
Around 4pm, my body started feeling really different. My stomach started bearing down on its own and the urge to push was intense to say the least. I couldn't control my breathing for the most part and I was trying not to scream (lol).. The Dr, nurses and my sister telling me..
..not to make too much noise because I need to save my strength. Lol. Ok sure, if y'all say so. As my contractions continued, I started to feel my vagina get verrrrrry heavy. I'm like (to my sister)..."something feels off". A SMW came and I told her too. She checked but didn't..
..see any bulging. As the contractions came so did my urge to push and the attempts to control my moaning. The heaviness got worse. I asked for the Dr. My sister asked her to come but she showed no urgency and said she'd see me when she gets to my bed.
There was one contraction that I couldn't control and I felt myself pushing instinctively. With that one I managed to shout that something was wrong and the Dr thennnnnn asked what was wrong. She came to my bed and did a VE. Riley's head? Right there!
So now they're scrambling to get the wheelchair to take me to the delivery room. Your girl? Still naked. They're forcing me to get my nightgown on (kmft). I eventually did. I got onto the delivery bed and put my feet up.
I noticed the room getting extremely full with faces I've never seen all day. My anxiety kicked in and I'm asking who are these people and why are they here. Lol..."to observe". Nope. I asked the people I never seen to leave. Not today, yes.
Pushing time:
I started to push. It felt like a huge pressure in my butthole
No pain...just pressure. I didn't feel any ring of fire. Nothing. Even now, I can't remember any pain during pushing him out.
I started to push. It felt like a huge pressure in my butthole
No pain...just pressure. I didn't feel any ring of fire. Nothing. Even now, I can't remember any pain during pushing him out.
The Dr told me I need an episiotomy. I remember my sister asking if the scissors (?) is sharp. They gave me a local anesthesia and proceeded to cut. Didn't feel anything but I knew when it happened. Two more pushes and Riley was out at 5:03pm 
I remember the warmth of his skin.
I remember the warmth of his skin.
I remember his cry. I remember the relief then the sudden surge of worry to find out if he was healthy and okay. His APGAR score was 8 then 10 
The pain was mostly gone. I remember them assisting me to birth the placenta. Felt weird.
The pain was mostly gone. I remember them assisting me to birth the placenta. Felt weird.
Time to clean up and stitch. I never left the birthing room until mins to 7 or so. I needed stitches on my cervix because I had two lacerations. Then my cut needed to be stitched as well. The MW in charge was a liability.
That woman couldn't hold the instruments the Dr needed to hold the walls of my vagina apart properly and it was painful. The stitching of the skin, I felt EVERY stitch but NOTHING compared to the contractions. I didn't even wince.
I got moved to Mat B later that night. I still didn't sleep that night. I listened to the babies cry and watched my son all night. I was discharged Friday at 5:30pm. I never slept until Sunday when I eventually crashed and the baby blues started.
After 22 hours of labour, it's safe to say that Riley will be an only child.
Thank you and goodnight
Thank you and goodnight
This is just MY experience though. Every pregnancy and birth is different.
