Let's Talk Labor

Oh Baby - It's Almost Go Time...

All the feels... moments after delivering our rainbow baby Grace

Women who have given birth often LOVE to share their own personal labor stories. I absolutely love taking the time to listen to these stories and always find myself in awe of the miracle that birth truly is. Each woman always has such a unique story and situation. Mine like many others is unique and something that as long as I live I will treasure and cherish forever.

I have been fortunate to have had two successful labors and am about to bring my third into the world this week. While many women will tell you horror stories of extra long labors and lots of pushing my story is different. In fact it’s the exact opposite. My labors are insanely short. To the point that it’s almost scary how quick these sweet babies of mine like to arrive. I have a condition called precipitous labor. I had no idea what that was until after having my son. Precipitous labor is classified when you deliver within less than three hours of your initial contractions. Labor for me becomes an “extreme sport” fast.

With Carter I went into labor two days before my due date on my own. I came home from a late night movie went upstairs and went to the bathroom. At that time I lost my mucus plug. I didn’t know it them but that was the start of what was to become a crazy night. Shortly after I began to have contractions that only grew more rapid . Because this was my first go-around we had no idea I was really in labor. I just kept thinking it was Braxton Hicks. It totally wasn’t. I did most of the laboring at home within that hour of the mucus plug coming out. I even went thru transition and threw up all over the bathroom floor still hardly realizing this was the real deal. At that point my contractions were every 3- 4 minutes and were getting harder and harder.

Luckily we lived near the hospital and my husband was able to get me there quickly. When I arrived I was 7 ½ cm which was pretty crazy for a first time mom. The team moved very quickly and before I could blink I was holding my son in my arms. It was a total whirlwind. The mucus plug came out around 11:45 pm and Carter as in my arms at 2:47 am. While yes the fact that it was so short was awesome, it made for some pretty horrific tearing and lacerations on my lady parts. The swelling was worse than the actual process of giving birth.

Checking out my masterpiece shortly after delivering my son Carter. 

When it came time to have my daughter the OB talked about doing an induction instead because it would be more controlled. They assumed she would also come fast so they encouraged me to think about it. I wasn’t so sure I wanted to be inducted because I had heard all of those horror stories about how painful it can be. Ultimately, we decided to do it because we wanted my recovery to be easier than it was the first time around. Looking back I am SO glad that we went that route. My delivery was so much less stressful and my recovery was a breeze in comparison.

With Grace I arrived on induction day already 4 cm and about 80% effaced. This is not uncommon for your body to begin to dilate but not be in true active labor the more children you have. They started me on an IV of pitocin and let me sit on the labor ball. This did nothing actually. We did that for two hours and aside from a few regular contractions it wasn’t really putting me into labor. I had opted for an epidural so the next step was to get that then break my water and begin the waiting game.

Once those things were done they gave me what was called a “peanut ball” it’s like a yoga ball but it looks like a peanut and goes between your legs to help with dilation. They assumed since we hadn’t seem much action a few hours before that it might be a long afternoon. They encouraged me to rest and said they would come back later to check. Well later never happened. That labor quickly went from 0-60 in a matter of an hour. Grace was born within two hours of my water breaking and just like Carter’s birth, it was a whirlwind. The good part though, was it was a controlled whirlwind and a lot less scary than my birth with him.

As the doctor was finishing with my placenta delivery she mentioned how smart we were to have went this route for the delivery and suggested that if we ever have more we should strongly consider doing the same for the safety of me and the baby.

That brings us to my soon to be “Cinderella” induction that will take place this week. As you may already know you are not allowed to be induced until 39 weeks so my doctor has to wait until I reach that milestone. Turns out she will be on call the night leading into week 39 for me so we are going to be waiting until midnight or a little after then she will begin my induction. While no birth is ever truly the same she is anticipating a crazy whirlwind night ahead of us once she starts the process.

We have a 45 minute drive to get to the hospital now where we live and are very nervous about her coming on her own early. We realize that if my water breaks or contractions start to ramp up I have VERY LITTLE time to get there. I am already 3 ½ dilated and the baby’s head was at a +2 station early last week. While we are eager to meet her and anxious for what’s to come this week we also want to make sure she comes in a safe environment both for her and for me. That is why an elected induction has been our choice and we will kick off the fun at the stroke of midnight.

Some would argue that she will come when she is ready and that I should just let her be but I prefer safe and controlled over spontaneous chaos any day.

Aside from sharing my birth story with you all I also wanted to share some of my must have postpartum brands for recovery just in case you are expecting as well and are new to postpartum recovery.

1. Wear the mesh underwear they provide and even take some extra pairs of them home with you if you can. They are super comfy and then you won’t ruin yours.
   
2. Wishgarden Herbs - After Ease- This is a tincture that I drink for about a week after delivery. Once you have more than one baby the post labor pains are often more painful than delivery especially if you are planning to breastfeed.
   
3. Earth Mama- Periodic Tea - This tea should be drank right after birth. I like to double up and use a few tea bags at at time the first day. It has a nice cinnamon flavor and really aids in cramping. You can also use this during menstruation as well.
4. Earth Mama Perineal Balm and Perineal Spray - These are heaven for your lady parts. They will help a lot  with swelling. Ingredients are very “clean and chemical free” if that matters to you. The balm is for heavy duty pain and swelling and the spray I used more so in the weeks following delivery.

5. Earth Mama Sitz Bath - These can be used as an actual sitz bath or you can use them as a compress on your lady parts. They come in a contained pouch. You can also make padsicles from these by pouring the “juice” over pads and freezing them. Awesome treat to come home to and have for recovery.
   
6. The Honey Pot postpartum pads - These are pads that are infused with herbs to help with swelling down there that comes along with the days following delivery. The provide a cooling sensation and help ease some of the pain.
   
7. Peri Bottle - TAKE THIS HOME WITH YOU!!! The hospital will give you one after you delivery. They will teach you all about it after you deliver. My advice is just don’t leave it behind. You will totally want it as you recover from home.
   
8. Stool Softeners - No brainer. Just get some and thank me later. Your lady parts will be glad you did.

Wishing you all the best with your own recovery. Be kind to yourself. Don’t over do it. Simply rest and bond with your little one. No need to try to do housework or cook right now. You simply need to recover.

xoxo

Sarah