JACOB THOMAS FACETTE
Giving birth to my son was the most satisfying, wonderful, and positive
experience of my life.
Jacob is my third child. My first two labours didn't go at all how I
wanted them to and I was determined to have a positive experience the
third time around. My first labour, with Jessica, was 30hrs and 10 days
overdue. I was dilating 1cm every four hours and after 24hrs, exhausted
and discouraged, I was put on a pitocin drip. That meant I needed as
epidural when I was counting on doing it naturally. Enema, I.V.,
epidural, episiotomy, stitches -not at all natural. With my second
labour, with Sarah, I was 7 days overdue when my water broke. After
waiting in the hospital for 10 hours I was put on the pitocin drip.
Again, I needed an epidural because the contractions were unbearable.
Same story, different year.
This time, when my due date of August 2 came and went I felt a familiar
dread as induction was threatened. My doctor explained that my body
probably didn't pick up on the normal triggers to begin labour and
sustain it and as I felt I was larger than with the first two, I agreed
to an induction date of August 9. At least this way I knew when the
babysitter would be needed and I wasn't going to be woken at night. My
apprehension was due to the fact that I didn't want the pitocin drip, so
I discussed options with my doctor. There was a gel available that
contained prostaglandins. It was to soften the cervix and begin
contractions. He felt that this, combined with amniotomy 6 hours later,
would work and I could avoid an I.V. altogether.
The morning of the ninth was filled with excitement. My mother, my
husband Tom and I arrived at the hospital at 9:30am and the kids went to
my sister's house. I was admitted at 9:45 and examined at 10:15. The
cervix was 3cm dilated (as it had been for 4 weeks now), 20% effaced,
soft but posterior, still hard at the inside center, and 3cm thick. The
gel was inserted and I was monitored for 1 hour. It caused some
cramping but was much more comfortable than the pitocin. From 11:15
till 4:15 I walked a marathon. Tom and mom took turns accompanying me.
The contractions were 30sec. long and 2min. apart.
At 4:30 they were 40sec. long and 1 1/2min. apart. I was examined
again. The cervix was still 3cm, but softer and 70% effaced. My water
was broken and I was monitored for 20min. The doctor said that he
thought the baby would come so fast that I would explode -I said I
didn't appreciate his choice of words. Tom went to eat while the
contractions started.
At 5:00, the contractions became quite strong and I decided to use the
jacuzzi. Mom went to dinner while Tom came with me. I had warned the
doctor and nurses that when I was fully dilated, the baby would come
within minutes, so if they wanted to be there, they would have to rush
(the second stage lasted 5min. with Jessica, 10min. with Sarah).
At 5:30, my nurse came and examined me. I figured that I had to be at
least 6cm. by the way I was feeling but I was only 4cm. I wanted a
shower because I wasn't allowed to have the jacuzzi water hot enough.
While in the shower, I began to feel like I had to push at the height of
the contractions. Tom kept asking me to get out to be examined, but I
was afraid to find out I hadn't progressed at all. My nurse was great!
She waited in my room while I was in the shower, and otherwise was with
me the entire time.
At 6:00 Tom convinced me to be examined again as the pushing urge had
become stronger -I was only 4-5cm. After all my walking, breathing, and
relaxing, I was only 4-5cm! I felt that the pain should directly affect
the amount of dilation. I decided to stay in bed. The nurse helped me
breath through the contractions while Tom sat beside me helping me to
relax and remain sitting.
By 6:30, I was pushing uncontrollably through the contractions. The
nurse said I looked like I might be close to 10cm. and wanted to examine
me. I felt like I was definitely in transition, so any news had to be
good news. I was wrong! At 6:35 I was only 6-7cm. and not even in
transition! After hearing that, I weakened. If it was going to get
worse during transition, I didn't think I could do it naturally. She
explained that I was 100% effaced and may actually be 10cm. during a
contraction, but I was no longer listening (no kidding, I have no
recollection of her saying any of this!). I asked for medication when
the next one peaked and she said to wait until after this contraction
-but it never stopped.
At 6:42 -just 7min. after my last internal, I was pushing throughout so
she lifted the sheet covering my legs. Tom looked, then jumped off the
bed and yelled, "I can see his head!". The nurse told me to pant while
the nurses rushed around the room getting things ready. The head was
born when I wasn't even pushing and she checked for the cord while the
doctor ran in and put on his gown. I reached down and touched his head
-it was warm and soft. The doctor said I could finally push and with
only one he came right out (he even had to tell me to stop pushing
because he was already born!). It was 6:44pm. His apgar was 9/10 and
he was 8lbs 12oz. I did it with no medication, no episiotomy, no
tearing and in 2hrs. 15min.
Afterwards, I have to say that physically, it didn't feel as though I'd
had a baby at all. He was, and is, perfect. It feels incredible to
have had the experience that I wanted. Looking back, I still don't
think it would have been possible to give birth to Jessie or Sarah
without an epidural. The pitocin drip made the contractions unbearably
strong with no buildup. This birth was short and intense but still not
as powerful or as painful. Next time I will definitely ask for
alternatives to the pitocin (and I won't ask how far I'm dilated).
It also was a very moving experience because Jessie and Sarah were able
to visit me and the baby while I was still in the recovery room. To
have my three babies so close to me after such a positive experience was
a moment I will never forget. I consider myself privileged to have such
a great doctor who compromised when I told him I didn't want an I.V.
Also, a nurse and husband who did breathing with me and recognized my
desire for natural childbirth by telling me to wait a bit when I asked
for medication and was obviously in transition.
NICOLE FACETTE