Name: Asher Thomas Drake
Date & Time: Thursday, September 15 at 9:15 A.M.
Size: 6 pounds, 7 ounces || 18.75 inches long
Back in September, we welcomed our first baby boy, Asher Thomas. Since his birth, I have been reading the experiences others who have recently given birth have had and decided I wanted to share my unique experience as well.
The Lead Up
Asher's due date was September 18th. We assumed that he would be late, as most first babies tend to be. The weeks and days leading up to his birth didn't seem like he would be making his appearance anytime soon. At my 37 weeks checkup, I was only one centimeter dilated, and not much more than that at my 38 weeks appointment too. Any contractions I had weren't consistent, and would usually stop after a short period. (I later found out that I was still having contractions, I just couldn't feel them.
At my 38 weeks appointment, my gyno informed me that, if I was just over being pregnant, she would feel comfortable scheduling me for an induction. This appointment took place on a Friday, and I would go in to be induced the following Wednesday night. Knowing that there are different risks you take when inducing labor, I told her I wanted to think about it. It didn't take long for me to decide I was okay with that plan. Unfortunately, though, by the time I made this decision, my doctor's office had already closed for the weekend. When I called that Monday, I was informed that my gyno wasn't scheduled to work again until Wednesday, so I wouldn't know until the day of if I would be able to be induced or not.
Wednesday morning, at 9 A.M., I got the call: "Are you ready to have your baby, Madison?"
The Induction & Labor
We were scheduled to come in at 7 P.M. on Wednesday the 14th. Being the perpetually late people that we tend to be, my husband and I entered the maternity ward at 7:15. Luckily, this wasn't an issue and we were immediately escorted to our delivery room. I was given a gown to change into and registration rolled their little cart in to get our information. Around 8:45, I received my first cervical exam of the evening -- I was about 1.5 centimeters dilated -- and we got my belly bands on to track my contractions and Asher's heartbeat. My nurse, Meghan, sat down and began explaining the procedure of inducing -- doses of the ripening agent Cytotec every four hours until she felt I was ready for the Pitocin. (To learn more about the process yourself and the different methods that can be used, check out this great blog post written by a labor and delivery nurse that explains it really well.) Then at around 9 P.M., she inserted the first dose of Cytotec, which was only half a pill.
Once they insert a dose of the ripening agent, they ask you not to get up for a while so it doesn't fall out. This wasn't an issue, as we had to go over some medical paperwork and sign some things. About 45 minutes after the Cytotec was inserted, I began feeling damp down there. I had assumed it was excess lubricant from my cervical exam and Cytotec insertion, but Meghan was concerned my water might have broken. Then, while we were in the process of trying to get a sample to send to the lab to be sure, Asher's heart rate began to drop. My rate of contractions had started to be too much for him, and the stress was having an impact. They were able to get us stabilized in about 10 minutes and I was put on oxygen and given something to slow my contractions while they monitored us over the next hour. Once they felt confident everything was going well, they told DJ and I to get some sleep.
Around one in the morning, they came in to check my cervix again and determine if I should get another dose of Cytotec or not. Meghan decided against it and instead gave me a peanut ball to put between my legs while I slept.
Around 3 A.M., my contractions had started to get stronger. They checked my cervix again and I was at 4 cm dilation. I wasn't quite ready for an epidural yet, but my contractions were painful enough that I wasn't going to be able to get any rest. They offered the option of a mild pain reliever. I asked if it was safe for Asher (it was) and how it would impact my ability to get an epidural (no impact on it at all), and then gave them the go-ahead. I fell asleep quite quickly after it was administered.
It was at about 5:40 in the morning when I woke up with a huge contraction, a 'pop!', and then the feeling of wetness running down my leg. My water had broke. This was the start of the truly unbearable contractions -- the 'can't talk, can't think, have to remind myself to breathe' contractions. I wanted them to stop as soon as they started. I was ready for my epidural. It only took the anesthesiologist about half an hour to get there, prep, and administer my epidural. By 7 A.M., I was feeling good, in that I wasn't feeling anything from the waist down. I was 8 cm dilated and had had the bloody show. It was almost go time.
The Delivery
At around 7:40 A.M., my gyno, Dr. Storm, came in to see how I was doing and conduct her own cervical exam on me. She concluded I was probably ready to start pushing, which blew my mind since I couldn't feel a thing going on down there. She was then called away for an emergency surgery, so we were left to wait. By this time, Meghan was no long my L&D nurse. My new nurse, Pam, offered to get me a snow cone since I was starving and unable to eat anything until after Asher arrived. I got the Mai Tai flavored one. However, I wasn't able to finish my delicious snow cone since Dr. Storm returned, ready for me to start pushing.
At 8:40 A.M., I started doing exactly that. With DJ holding one leg, and Pam holding the other, I pushed. 21 times -- seven sessions of three 10-second intervals -- I pushed, Then, at 9:15 A.M., Asher Thomas entered the world and was placed on my chest. He was here. I had done it.
The Recovery
After our Golden Hour and the checking of Asher's vitals, we were moved to our recovery room. This is where we stayed for the next couple of days before bringing our sweet baby boy home. The hospital provided me with a bunch of products I might need to help in my recovery -- iced padcicles, nipple cream, Tucks, disposable underwear, etc. They also provided a lactation consultant to ensure my breastfeeding journey started off on the right note. The hospital staff was attentive, informative, and so helpful when we had questions about our baby or myself. They had multiple car seat-certified nurses on staff, allowing us to learn how to properly install the car seat, as well as best practices when strapping Asher in.
Overall, I'm happy with our experience. I had joked the entire pregnancy about how I wanted a quick and painless delivery, thinking that was impossible for a first time birth. But, by some miracle, that is what I got-- quick and painless.
However, this does make me nervous at the idea of another baby, because I don't believe I will be so lucky a second go around. That decision, though, is still a far off one and will be for quite some time. For now, I am just enjoying life with Asher Thomas.
