Colin Thomas was a long time coming. As my third child, preceded by two quick and easy deliveries, I fully expected this baby to arrive in a timely manner. But as I heard many times in the weeks before his arrival, third babies are wild cards. You can't count on anything!
For two weeks before my due date, I experienced strong contractions and "false" labor just about every day. It prevented sleep, it got my hopes up, and it was super frustrating. Although we did call a friend to watch the kids once, we never made it to the hospital. About a week before my due date, I learned Colin was face up, but I wasn't told until later that this can cause false labor, as the body is never given all the proper signals to continue the process.
At a week overdue, on a Monday, I went in for my very first non-stress test. So glad I got to experience that...! I was experiencing decent contractions (nothing new!), and baby was fine. We talked about inducing that Friday, and I let the midwife strip my membranes. Before I'd even left the office, I was feeling cramping pain and the contractions felt stronger. I just knew today was the day! Then again, we'd had so many false starts, I was reluctant to let anyone know.
My contractions grew stronger and closer together throughout the day, so late that night we headed for the hospital. I still wasn't positive this was it, but I sure was hoping!
When we got to the hospital, a nurse monitored me for a bit, told me I was having contractions about 2 minutes apart and was dilated 4 cm, then we walked around for a couple hours and she checked me again. I had progressed half a cm and the contractions were still regular. They were also getting pretty painful. She asked if I wanted to stay, or take some meds to help me sleep, and go home. My jaw just about hit the floor. To me, 4 cm, strong contractions 2 minutes apart, and some progression equals labor. Apparently I'm new to this. She called my midwife, who said to admit me as long as I was willing to take Pitocin if I didn't continue to progress. I was there, we were going to induce in a few days anyway, so I said of course.
I got an epidural a little while later, which caused the contractions to slow. They let us rest for the remainder of the night, and in the morning my midwife checked me out. The baby was not only face up, but had its head turned, which they hadn't realized before. Until it turned, it wouldn't drop, they couldn't break my water, and we would make no progress. They started Pitocin to get the contractions strong and close together. Then they had me lie on my side, planning to turn me every so often, to get the baby to turn its head. I think I only spent a little time on each side, but I spent that time worrying about how long it would take. What if the baby didn't turn its head and I had to have a c-section? The midwives all reassured me that that wouldn't happen. The baby will turn its head, they said, and when it does, you'll deliver. I worried anyway.
Finally I felt the change in pressure they told me I would feel, I told my nurse, and she called the midwife. Lo and behold, baby's head had dropped, and I was a 9! She promptly broke my water and just as with Madeleine, I immediately felt the urge to push. It was interesting to be able to feel this in spite of the epidural. With Ethan, I had felt nothing at all. The nurses had told me when to push. This time, my midwives told me to push when I felt like it. I pushed a little, and they all told me how great I was doing, so I didn't try to push any harder. Four easy minutes of pushing later, I had a little boy in my arms! Just like that. They were right. He turned his head and I delivered. Colin was born at 12:05pm on April 29, 2014, eight days late.
For two weeks before my due date, I experienced strong contractions and "false" labor just about every day. It prevented sleep, it got my hopes up, and it was super frustrating. Although we did call a friend to watch the kids once, we never made it to the hospital. About a week before my due date, I learned Colin was face up, but I wasn't told until later that this can cause false labor, as the body is never given all the proper signals to continue the process.
At a week overdue, on a Monday, I went in for my very first non-stress test. So glad I got to experience that...! I was experiencing decent contractions (nothing new!), and baby was fine. We talked about inducing that Friday, and I let the midwife strip my membranes. Before I'd even left the office, I was feeling cramping pain and the contractions felt stronger. I just knew today was the day! Then again, we'd had so many false starts, I was reluctant to let anyone know.
My contractions grew stronger and closer together throughout the day, so late that night we headed for the hospital. I still wasn't positive this was it, but I sure was hoping!
When we got to the hospital, a nurse monitored me for a bit, told me I was having contractions about 2 minutes apart and was dilated 4 cm, then we walked around for a couple hours and she checked me again. I had progressed half a cm and the contractions were still regular. They were also getting pretty painful. She asked if I wanted to stay, or take some meds to help me sleep, and go home. My jaw just about hit the floor. To me, 4 cm, strong contractions 2 minutes apart, and some progression equals labor. Apparently I'm new to this. She called my midwife, who said to admit me as long as I was willing to take Pitocin if I didn't continue to progress. I was there, we were going to induce in a few days anyway, so I said of course.
I got an epidural a little while later, which caused the contractions to slow. They let us rest for the remainder of the night, and in the morning my midwife checked me out. The baby was not only face up, but had its head turned, which they hadn't realized before. Until it turned, it wouldn't drop, they couldn't break my water, and we would make no progress. They started Pitocin to get the contractions strong and close together. Then they had me lie on my side, planning to turn me every so often, to get the baby to turn its head. I think I only spent a little time on each side, but I spent that time worrying about how long it would take. What if the baby didn't turn its head and I had to have a c-section? The midwives all reassured me that that wouldn't happen. The baby will turn its head, they said, and when it does, you'll deliver. I worried anyway.
Finally I felt the change in pressure they told me I would feel, I told my nurse, and she called the midwife. Lo and behold, baby's head had dropped, and I was a 9! She promptly broke my water and just as with Madeleine, I immediately felt the urge to push. It was interesting to be able to feel this in spite of the epidural. With Ethan, I had felt nothing at all. The nurses had told me when to push. This time, my midwives told me to push when I felt like it. I pushed a little, and they all told me how great I was doing, so I didn't try to push any harder. Four easy minutes of pushing later, I had a little boy in my arms! Just like that. They were right. He turned his head and I delivered. Colin was born at 12:05pm on April 29, 2014, eight days late.
Madeleine couldn't get enough of baby brother...
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