Introducing Tziona Esther Gras, born 7 lbs 4oz on Christmas Day, 2009, at 3:39 pm.
I have gotten many requests for details about the birth, so here it is. For those with abundant free time and an interest in childbirth, read on. If talk of hospitals and body parts and pain makes you bored/queasy/angry, I would probably stop reading now.
The story begins on Christmas Eve in the morning. I was having decent contractions, although they were irregular and spaced pretty far apart, so Sam stayed home from work. Things really didn't pick up, so we just hung out at home and made chocolate chip cookies for the nurses since we assumed we'd end up there at some point in the near future.
At around 5:30 pm (while watching 21 Jump Street on Hulu), I felt a gush and realized my membranes had ruptured. We spoke to the doctor, who was concerned about meconium staining in the amniotic fluid, so we headed to the hospital. Ultimately, we were admitted even though I was barely dilated, and I was hooked up to a Pitocin IV and fetal monitor around 11 pm. And while this wasn't really what I had envisioned for the birth, I decided it wasn't worth risking further complications from infection and low fluid levels.
I labored without any pain medication for about 4 hours, trying every different position I could while remaining hooked up to the monitor. We had an AMAZING nurse who had tons of suggestions and supported both Sam and I as much as we needed. But when I was examined at 3 am and found out I was only 2 cm, I realized there was no way I could handle another 8-9 hours of almost-constant contractions. When I finally asked for the epidural, I felt totally defeated, but I also knew I had reached the threshold of what I was capable of physically handling.
Once the epidural was in, Sam and I were both able to get a few hours of sleep. We woke up around 7 and the next several hours are just a blur in my mind. In the early afternoon, my OB came in for another check and I was finally 9 cm, but the baby was face-up. After a little discussion, she successfully turned her and all of a sudden I was 10 cm!
I started pushing around 1:30 just as the epidural was wearing off. There are no words in my vocabulary to describe how confusing and painful the next 2 hours were. Even with all the encouragement from my doctor, nurse, and husband, I just couldn't get her head all the way out. As I was ready to give up yet again and ask for a forcep-assist, the doctor brought in someone to push down on my belly for just a few more contractions. All I can remember is screaming as the head finally emerged, at which point they realized the cord was wrapped loosely around her, the probable cause of all the difficulty. Once the cord was cut, she popped right out, and just like that, it was over.
She was suctioned and cleaned up while Sam took pictures. There was some concern about her breathing, but ultimately they decided she was fine. I held her almost right away and she immediately began trying to breastfeed. Someone asked me the other day what my first thoughts were when I held her, and I wish I could remember but I was so exhausted and overwhelmed, I can't recollect any emotion other than relief.
We went home the next day, exactly 24 hours later. Our first night at home together was surprisingly easy, thanks to my incredible husband. And so here we are, a family of three at last, excitedly looking forward to everything the future holds for us.
I labored without any pain medication for about 4 hours, trying every different position I could while remaining hooked up to the monitor. We had an AMAZING nurse who had tons of suggestions and supported both Sam and I as much as we needed. But when I was examined at 3 am and found out I was only 2 cm, I realized there was no way I could handle another 8-9 hours of almost-constant contractions. When I finally asked for the epidural, I felt totally defeated, but I also knew I had reached the threshold of what I was capable of physically handling.
Once the epidural was in, Sam and I were both able to get a few hours of sleep. We woke up around 7 and the next several hours are just a blur in my mind. In the early afternoon, my OB came in for another check and I was finally 9 cm, but the baby was face-up. After a little discussion, she successfully turned her and all of a sudden I was 10 cm!
I started pushing around 1:30 just as the epidural was wearing off. There are no words in my vocabulary to describe how confusing and painful the next 2 hours were. Even with all the encouragement from my doctor, nurse, and husband, I just couldn't get her head all the way out. As I was ready to give up yet again and ask for a forcep-assist, the doctor brought in someone to push down on my belly for just a few more contractions. All I can remember is screaming as the head finally emerged, at which point they realized the cord was wrapped loosely around her, the probable cause of all the difficulty. Once the cord was cut, she popped right out, and just like that, it was over.
She was suctioned and cleaned up while Sam took pictures. There was some concern about her breathing, but ultimately they decided she was fine. I held her almost right away and she immediately began trying to breastfeed. Someone asked me the other day what my first thoughts were when I held her, and I wish I could remember but I was so exhausted and overwhelmed, I can't recollect any emotion other than relief.
We went home the next day, exactly 24 hours later. Our first night at home together was surprisingly easy, thanks to my incredible husband. And so here we are, a family of three at last, excitedly looking forward to everything the future holds for us.
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