Giving Birth To Asher

It was midnight as we pulled up to the hospital. I had scheduled the induction with my doctor five days prior. After parking, I pulled myself out of the car, my husband and I grabbed our bags we packed and we crossed the street to the entrance. I was anxious and nervous. I never wanted to be induced but here I was at 40.3 weeks being admitted for induction. After we were settled in our room they began to strap monitors on me for myself and they baby. At about 12:30 am, they administered P-gel to help thin my cervix and start contractions. However, right after they gave me the gel my water broke on its own when I went to the bathroom. Almost instantly, my contractions started. From 2am to 6am I dilated to six centimeters, I was so excited that things were rolling. Unfortunately, when I reached seven centimeters things slowed way down. The doctor ordered Pitocin for me but I had already told my nurse that I did not want it and she supported my decision. My reasoning is that it increases contractions and I did not want the increased pain. I stuck to only having Nubian and if I had increased pain I was afraid I would give in to an epidural, which I also did not want. Finally, around 1pm, I reached ten centimeters. The pushing began!

For three hours I pushed! I was so tired that I was falling asleep between contractions. At one time, the nurse checked my progress and stopped to ask if I was having back pain but I wasn’t. She said she could see his head push forward then move back. Apparently, he was not making progress down the vaginal canal and thought he might be OP (face up instead of face down). OP prevents the baby from swimming under the pelvic bone easily. At 4pm, the doctor came in and confirmed this. A C-section was the only option. Not only did I not want to be induced and definitely did not want a C-section nor did I think that would ever happen to me.

I was told that Anesthesiology would come in 30 minutes to explain things. Until then, I had to not push! Oh my! Not pushing when a contraction came on was so hard to do and painful. At that point, I was just ready to get it over with. At 4:30pm, I was in surgery, had a catheter placed and a spinal was given to me. Once the spinal medication was given the pain stopped almost immediately and I was numb from my ribs down. With my husband by my side, our child was pulled from my belly. Right before, I heard the doctor say, “I see the head”, at that moment I waited for what I dreamed about. As they pulled him out, I felt his feet leave from under my rib cage and then heard his cry loud and clear. I was elated! I turned my head to see his white slimy body and head full of dark hair as they laid him on the scale. I read 8lbs and 6ozs. I could not believe it!!! I had a son; we had a son and a family.