So after a harrowing birth experience with my firstborn, I still decided to go back to the same hospital. Why? It's because they are the best in managing complicated pregnancy cases, in case the need arises. My second birth experience was a cakewalk compared to my first. Well almost.
I had low amniotic fluid in this pregnancy as well and my baby had not turned till 37 weeks. My lovely doctor decided to wait for some more time instead of forcing a c-sec on me.
After 38 weeks checkup, my baby had turned and my amniotic fluid also went up for the first time in weeks! I was asked to wait for normal birth. Yay!
I was 39 weeks plus, when I decided to shop for a Moses basket for my baby. I walked a lot that day to find a perfect basket that I wanted. The same day my contractions started. The doctor had told me to come to the hospital when the contractions were 10 minutes apart. But wait a minute, my contractions started at 10 minutes apart. I decided to wait before heading to the hospital. My husband was out partying with his friends so I called him back.
While I waited for him the contractions were getting stronger and stronger. By the time my husband reached home, I had started vomiting from the pain. If I thought that last time's contraction pain was the worst, I was wrong. This was at least twice as painful! I called up the hospital and they asked me to come to the hospital. Finally, after labouring for almost 7 hours, I decided to go. We woke up my more-in-law and informed her that we were leaving. She was to take care of our son at home.
It was 6 am by the time we reached the hospital. I was screaming and vomiting with each contraction.
The nurses rushed me straight to the delivery room and I demanded an epidural immediately.
The nurse hooked me up with the usual - a contraction monitor and a blood pressure monitor. Then she tried to insert an IV in my arm. And then tried again and again. Then she switched to my other arm and tried again and again. I felt like a pin cushion with all that needle- sticking. Finally she called a doctor who was able to get the IV in. Meanwhile, the other nurses had given me a gas mask to minimize the pain. It did not work at all for me. I angrily threw it away again and again asking them to hurry up with the epidural. I was dying from all the pain.
So finally when the IV was in, I was very happy and asked when the anesthetist will be in. "Sorry, no epidural for you, the baby's heart rate is high", informed the nurse. What? Actually, it was more like a WHAAAATT?
One of the doctors broke my amniotic sac to see if the fetus was in great distress. The water was clear, but my contractions got even worse after that. The nurses asked me to calm down so that the baby's heart beat would go lower and then they could give me an epidural. I told them to give me an epidural and I would calm down instantly and the baby's heartbeat might go lower.
They would not hear of it. I screamed the place down and demanded one. I also demanded to get a second opinion on the heart rate. My husband shouted at me and sided with the nurses! He got deep nail gashes on his arm as a reward from me.
Finally the nurses told me that the anesthetist was busy, but she will come when she is free.
When the anesthetist arrived, she checked the records of the heartbeat that the contraction monitor was spewing up. She said that I was "eligible" for an epidural. Thank God, I thought.
"But do you want it?" What'd ya mean by that doc... Of course I want it. Can't you see that my Lungs will burst from all that screaming?
" Well, you won't be able to experience the pushing and the baby coming out. It will be harder for you. Also, you are 9 cms dilated. By the time the epidural is in, you will be fully dilated."
"No thanks, I don't want to experience that as I have already done that once. I want epidural NOW."
The doctor was still hesitant as she was worried about any allergic reactions to the epidural. I assured her that I have taken it before without any extreme reaction.
So she proceeded. This time around the epidural was given while I sat up. It was extremely difficult for me to get an epidural the second time as I had two full blown contractions while getting it. The doctor warned me not to move even a little bit or I might have some long term consequences.
The moment the epidural was in, I got another contraction and I vomited again. The doctor was shocked as I had assured her that I had no extreme reactions to epidural. I told that I had been vomiting on and off with contractions and this was due to the pain.
Relieved, she asked me to wait for a few minutes for the pain relief to kick in.
Within a few minutes, I was in a very happy place. I thanked the doctor and blessed her! The pain was completely gone, and I could still move my legs. Hurrah!
Now the nurses told me that I was fully dilated but my doctor will take some time to come so they asked me to rest for a while.
I blissfully rested for almost an hour when the doctor and a new nurse came. She prepped me up for pushing. This time it was the exact opposite. I could not feel the contraction pain, but I could feel the urge to push the baby out. And this time around the bottom part of the bed was lowered for birth. Yay!
After a few pushes, the doctor could see the head, which was again full of hair. A few more pushes and the doctor and the nurse gasped loudly. Huh? What was happening. The doctor immediately asked for the nurse to help me with the pushing. The nurse started pressing my belly and I was a bit confused. The baby suddenly popped out and I could just hear some gurgling. The doctor and the nurse started clearing the baby's lungs immediately and I held my breath for the first cry.
And then she cried! I loved it! The doctors showed her to me. She was pink from top to bottom. The nurse took her for cleaning as the doctor stitched me up. This time around there was no pain at all. I was not tired at all as the baby came out within 10 minutes of pushing! I was ready for skin-to-skin contact with the baby. I felt an incredible high. Last time, I was delirious with weakness right after birth. This time around I felt such deep joy and an incredible high!
After the doctor left, the nurse told me that it was good that I got an epidural because I delivered a face-up baby. No wonder that I had such painful contractions!
Everything went smoothly from then onwards. Epidural wore off quickly. I did not feel any weakness and I was wheeled off on a wheel chair rather than a stretcher. I was taken to the recovery room straightaway, where my son met his brand new sister!
I got to take my amazing bundle home the next day!
Overall, even though I was in greater pain, I had a much better experience the second time around.
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