Re: Birth Stories
thanks alot . : )
Re: Birth Stories
My birth story:
We had our last ultrasound scheduled for the 5th at 8:30am at the hospital. We got there on time and a tech did the u/s.
After the tech was done, we were told to wait to speak to another doc regarding the u/s. This wasn’t unusual since someone always followed up with us before as well.
A few minutes later, the doc from Maternal Fetal Medicine walked in and said I’d be delivering today - latest tomorrow. Why? Because my amniotic fluid was very low. I asked if I could at least go home and get my things…was told absolutely not.
They admitted me right away, was wheeled up to L&D and told to change…this baby was going to be born today if they could help it. They would give me a chance to deliver naturally first and went ahead to induce me.
I was started on pitocin…low at first and then increased so I could start feeling my contractions more. Oh I felt them alright. After 6 hours of being on pitocin, I was screaming in pain. I asked for the epidural of course…the problem is…it didn’t work on me! I was out of pain for about 5 minutes and then it came raging back. They increased the epi and again I was out of pain for about 5 minutes only to feel it right back 5 minutes later.
They stopped the pitocin for the night so I could sleep and rest up. Nest day, doc started it back up around 4am. My water was broken the same morning. I kept trying and trying all the way up until 8pm and when my doc checked my cervix…I was only 3cm dilated. 
I was tired, exhausted and just upset that we were headed towards a C. When my doc came to talk to me about a C, I was upset but ready to have my baby.
They wheeled me in to the OR to prep me and I was terrified. I have never stayed overnight in a hospital, never had surgery, no accidents, never broke a bone in my body, no scars, nothing. So yeah, from that to a C section…pretty damn scared. So scared, I started shaking. I was so ashamed of how terrified I was…I kept looking around for my husband but he was changing into his scrubs.
They laid me down, covered me, put up a screen so no one could see anything and proceeded…the numbness had taken over completely. When I saw my husband, I started crying…I just wanted this to be over and to hold my baby. He kept stroking my hair, wiping my tears, telling me I was about to give him the biggest present of his life, he was there, etc. He kept talking to me…distracting me and thanking me.
At some point, I heard a beautiful sound…the voice of my baby screaming as he came into this world. He let out such an angry cry as if someone had disturbed him (well, we had). My husband was called to see him as soon as he was cleaned up and tested. He brought Deen over to me while they were stitching me up. I cried so much when I saw him and kissed his face. I have pictures of the three of us together…my baby fresh out of my belly. They are priceless to me.
That night, my life was complete. Alhumdulillah.
January 6, 2015 my baby Salahdin was born at 8:42pm in the evening.
Re: Birth Stories
Hey , congrats! You tell the story so well! I almost cried myself! Saladdin is a cute name, MA
Re: Birth Stories
Thank you!!!
Re: Birth Stories
Congrats Reha! I felt like crying as well. Remembered my baby's birth and the emergency C. The moment I read that you were started on Pitoxin I immediately thought emcs and so it was.
Congratulations on on a beautiful baby.
Re: Birth Stories
Did the doctor explain why the epidural didn't have more staying power? One of my khalas is dead against using pain killers for anything...even a headache. She thinks that too much use of painkillers impacts effectiveness of epidurals. :/ I don't know how true that is or if it's a myth. And if it ain't a myth....then I'm in trouble. :D I'm not saying that this is the reason for the trouble you had with the epidural...it's just something that came to mind when I read your post.
Re: Birth Stories
Aww congrats Reha! MA!
I thought you were only mid way through your pregnancy. 
Re: Birth Stories
wow! reha ... thanks for sharing your difficult experience with an amazing outcome!
congratulations! I like your babys name mA! ... it evokes strength and tradition. beautiful.
Re: Birth Stories
I did ask the doc and one of the possibilities is that they didn’t actually find the right spot for it. It seemed as if in order to get it to work, they’d have to do the epi all over again…and I wasn’t going through that at all!
Re: Birth Stories
I did ask the doc and one of the possibilities is that they didn't actually find the right spot for it. It seemed as if in order to get it to work, they'd have to do the epi all over again...and I wasn't going through that at all!
You're brave, woman!!! Just like you, MashaAllah se I haven't had surgery or broken bones, etc. Just being in a hospital and seeing instruments...even needles...scares me. :( So, ...err....yeah...I totally get you being freaked out. But if you can get through it...then maybe I'll live too, inshaAllah. Deeen is a cutie-patootie, MashaAllah. Congratulations and may you blessed with even more happiness; Amin.
Re: Birth Stories
Did the doctor explain why the epidural didn't have more staying power? One of my khalas is dead against using pain killers for anything...even a headache. She thinks that too much use of painkillers impacts effectiveness of epidurals. :/ I don't know how true that is or if it's a myth. And if it ain't a myth....then I'm in trouble. :D I'm not saying that this is the reason for the trouble you had with the epidural...it's just something that came to mind when I read your post.
That is not the reason RV. Epidural catheter is inserted in the membranes just outside of the spinal cord. Placing in wrong membrane causes its inefficiency. For a pregnant lady with a big bump, it is sometimes difficult to insert it accurately since she cannot bend to the appropriate position during insertion.
Being trained in Anesthesia, I did it different for myself with both deliveries :D I got the catheter inserted early during labour with minimum drug since it was easier to make the correct position then. I took the painkiller drug later after the pains set in irregularly because early drug in epidural can prolong and slow down the labour. Also, if epidural drug is given AFTER full labour pains, it doesnt work (which probably happened with reha). You need to block the pain receptors BEFORE they are activated with labour pains. So, the timing on catheter insertion and drug instillation matters a lot.
sorry for tmi :)
Re: Birth Stories
Best use of epidural is if they need to do an emergency C section, they can do heavy painkiller dose in epidural and carry on the surgery without topping up with another kind of anesthesia. I didnt have a c sec but I let my catheter in for another 2 days with veryyyy light painkiller dose for the episiotomy stitches to heal. Yeah I am a pain freak and my threshold is THAT bad 
Re: Birth Stories
That is not the reason RV. Epidural catheter is inserted in the membranes just outside of the spinal cord. Placing in wrong membrane causes its inefficiency. For a pregnant lady with a big bump, it is sometimes difficult to insert it accurately since she cannot bend to the appropriate position during insertion.
Being trained in Anesthesia, I did it different for myself with both deliveries :D I got the catheter inserted early during labour with minimum drug since it was easier to make the correct position then. I took the painkiller drug later after the pains set in irregularly because early drug in epidural can prolong and slow down the labour. Also, if epidural drug is given AFTER full labour pains, it doesnt work (which probably happened with reha). You need to block the pain receptors BEFORE they are activated with labour pains. So, the timing on catheter insertion and drug instillation matters a lot.
sorry for tmi :)
That sounds about right.
I was asked if I could describe my pain. I said it was a 6 on a scale of 10. I was afraid if I took it early on, I'd end up having a C...which happened anyway.
Re: Birth Stories
That sounds about right.
I was asked if I could describe my pain. I said it was a 6 on a scale of 10. I was afraid if I took it early on, I'd end up having a C...which happened anyway.
Childbirth is so unpredictable. it made my respect for women so high. We literally go through life and death for our kids as our mothers went through for us.
^ shahaadat muft may nai milti :D
Yes reha. You can never predict until last moment what happens next. I know people with 7 kids..first 6 normal delivery,7th bavha c-sec. Happens ! Take loads of care of yourself.
Re: Birth Stories
Thanks, Proto.
Re: Birth Stories
Congrats Reha! 
Congrats, Reha! I love love love love your son's name! If i have another son, that is hubby and my top choice :)
Re: Birth Stories
Here’s my story
Contractions started 2 days before, and got hubby and me all excited. But they went away by the evening - looking back they were definitely Baxton Hicks. Then they started again the next day and kept getting stronger and stronger so we knew it was the real thing this time. Last few days I was feeling this weird tickly pressure on my bladder and was having to pee constantly 
. I guess that was a sign that the baby’s head had descended.
Contractions were 5 mins apart at 2 in the morning and we checked in to the hospital. Turns out I was 5 cm dilated so they got us in a room pretty quickly. The anesthetist put in my epidural right away and wow.. such a relief! She did a brilliant job with the epidural. I was able to feel my legs and even managed to walk to the bathroom on my own. Finally got some sleep after being up all night. The Dr checked on me 2 hrs later and I was STILL just 5 cm. Another 2 exams and no progress. They broke my waters and realized baby had pooped in the fluid. That basically set the clock ticking because they don’t want the baby to lie in the fluid for too long due to risk of infection. They started monitoring her heart rate very closely. Another couple of exams and I was barely 6-7 cm. At this point the Dr told us that she will not wait for more than a couple of hours, and an emergency C section was a possibility. At this point I just about lost it - the pain and weariness and hunger (no food in preparation for possible C section) and of course the anxiety of LOs heart rate being ok was too much. I was begging them to do a C section right away and keep the baby safe. The Dr refused but did give me syntocin (sp?) to speed things up. Hubby and I were sick with worry We were obsessing over the HR monitor.. any time baby’s HR dipped we’d go in a state of panic. 2 hrs later the Dr shows up to do one last exam. We were prepared (and almost thankful!) for a C section at this point. So the Dr is checking on me and suddenly gives this big grin and says “This is why I love being an Ob/Gyn”. Turns out baby has had enough and is almost out. After all the waiting, took all of 10 mins of pushing to get her into the world.
She’s a little over 4 mos now 
Re: Birth Stories
Congrat Lucy