Labor Qs XP from PAIF

[yoshijo]

So I'm trying to mentally prepare that in 5-10 weeks (no complications) I'll be going through this thing called labor. I'm going with the flow for the most part but have some questions.

1) For non inductions- how long after contractions started did you leave for the hospital?

2) What did you do to get through contractions- walk around, use breathing or relaxation techniques, certain positions (cat cow, squats?), heating pad (if that's even allowed?), if you had an epidural during what point?

3) Did you have "coached labor" where the doctor told you when to push or did you labor down and follow your body?

4) After baby was born did you do delayed cord clamping, cord blood banking, delay eye ointment, refuse pacifier? Did baby stay with you or in the nursery sometimes? I don't have many opinions on this so curious what everyone did

[jftb]

You might have better luck on the infants or toddlers board because a lot of the ladies here are still pregnant. But I lurk so....

1. I was induced, so can't answer that.

2. I bounced on a ball and walked around. I had an epidural when I finally got to the point where my contractions were one on top of the other and I couldn't speak anymore. Couldn't even deal with H speaking to me. I was only 4cm dilated, so I had a long way to go.

3. Because of the epidural, I couldn't really tell when I should be pushing so I had the nurse telling me when to push.

4. I didn't do any of that except for refuse the pacifier. I actually regret that because it took me a long time to train her to use one instead of using me as a pacifier. Baby went to the nursery a couple of times, even though my hospital was very pro-room in. I really just needed a few hours of sleep to function like a human being again. I was nodding off while nursing her in the bed and I was terrified I was going to drop her at some point, which is when I made the decision to have her go to the nursery for a few hours. After four hours of sleep, I felt like a new woman. But the new mom guilt...that was a real thing.

[Deleted]

jftb, I suggested to her to cross post it here since we get many grads who hang around still. lol mostly so I could still follow too😁

[bepandnick]

1. My water broke first,so I went in right away

2. I used breathing techniques for a couple hours, then the contractions were right on top of each other with no breaks, so I got my epi

3. I had to be told when to push because my epi was awesome and I felt nothing.

4. My hospital does delayed clamping for everyone. DS was a 34 weeker, so he headed to NICU afterwards.

[cmb]

I lurk so...

1. I went into labor a few hours before my induction was scheduled with DS1. I went from intermittent contractions to contractions 2-3 minutes apart instantly (it was like someone hit a switch and boom). I labored at home for an hour and then called. I was admitted within 2 hours of entering active labor. For DS2, I was induced, but it turned into augmented labor because manually breaking water ended up throwing me into labor

2. Birthing/yoga ball both times. I eventually asked for an epi, but it didn't have time to take effect with DS2

3. I went with my body. Both time, I felt the pressure and started pushing once given the go ahead- with DS1, they wanted me to try to labor down but that lasted all of two seconds

4. Banked with DS1, delayed clamping with DS2. I rejected nothing and had the nurses take them for a few hours overnight for sleep, but I don't breastfeed so I wasn't needed to feed them.

[gimmesugar]

1) My doc told me to go to the hospital when my contractions were 5 minutes apart for about an hour or 2. I started feeling painful contractions at 2:30AM and went to the hospital around 1PM. I was only 1cm (womp womp). They let me walk the halls for an hour, the contractions started coming 3 minutes apart, and I was at 2-3cm when they rechecked me, so I was admitted. I mention this because I was in labor for almost 12 hours before going to the hospital, and they almost sent me home. I understand the 5 mins/1 hour rule because even FTMs can have fast labor, but I wish I would have also taken the pain intensity into consideration. There was a big difference between 1cm and 3cm.

2) Used a birthing ball at home and at the hospital. I didn't use any particular breathing techniques. I had back labor, so MH massaged my lower back and hips. At home I did some cat cows, squatting, walking around, child's pose, etc. I asked for the epi fairly soon after being admitted because of the back labor. They have to do blood work and give you fluids through the IV before you can get it, so that whole process can take an hour or more. I think I was at 4cm when I got it. After getting the epi, I was confined to the bed with monitors and stuff, so the nurses positioned me with a peanut ball.

3) End up with a c-section because I stalled at 7cm with a swelling cervix and DS was not doing well with the contractions. At this point, I had been in labor for 18 hours.

4) Delayed cord clamping is standard at my hospital, but I have no idea how they handled it with the c-section. I was so out of it, I didn't even think to ask. The hospital also doesn't use pacifiers except for circumcision procedures for soothing. DS stayed in the room with us so that I could nurse on demand. Due to my recovery, DH had to get up with him and give him to me to nurse.


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[Taitai]

1. My water broke at 3am, so I took a quick shower and headed straight to the hospital.

2. I walked around, bounced on the ball, did breathing exercises, had DH put pressure on my hips during contractions....did that for 17 freaking hours with pitocin and hadn't progressed passed 5cm. At that point, I was worried I would be so exhausted that I'd run out of strength to push the baby out, so I got the epi.

3. The epidural was so effective that I didn't feel anything or realize I was complete. I just pushed when the doctors told me to start pushing. Pushed for three hours and DS finally came out 27 hours after my water broke.

4. We did delayed cord clamping, no to cord blood banking, no pacifier. I think our hospital didn't put the eye ointment on until an hour or so after birth.

[piratecat]

I can't answer the first three questions since I had a scheduled CS. Delayed cord clamping is standard at my hospital/with my MWs but not with a CS. They told me the eye ointment and vitamin k shots just had to be done within two hours of birth and both were done with me still holding the baby. I refused the hep B shot at the hospital based on the conversation I had with the MW previously and discussed it with the pediatrician at his first visit. The baby stayed in our room the whole time, except when they took him to do the hearing test, etc. on our last night there. It was the middle of the night and we hadn't slept much so we stayed and slept while they took the baby and kept him until he was ready to feed. They never offered a pacifier.

These are all good questions to go over with your provider to see what their/hospital's standard protocol is and what your options are.

[jexxa]

Jun 14, 2017 10:28:58 GMT -6 yoshijo said:

1) For non inductions- how long after contractions started did you leave for the hospital?

I was actually at work when I went into labor but didn't quite realize it as I thought I was just having a ton of BH. When I got home I started timing them, and then my water broke. Soooo I'd say maybe 5-6 hours?

2) What did you do to get through contractions- walk around, use breathing or relaxation techniques, certain positions (cat cow, squats?), heating pad (if that's even allowed?), if you had an epidural during what point?

I didn't do too much at first, everything was moving so quickly. But then I got my epidural and my labor stalled, but then I wasn't really feeling the contractions. I think I got the epidural when I was 5 or 6cm? I can't quite remember.

3) Did you have "coached labor" where the doctor told you when to push or did you labor down and follow your body?

Coached.

4) After baby was born did you do delayed cord clamping, cord blood banking, delay eye ointment, refuse pacifier? Did baby stay with you or in the nursery sometimes? I don't have many opinions on this so curious what everyone did.

I delayed cord clamping and refused pacifiers. Baby was in the room with us at all times except for when he was circumcised.

[Nymeria]

1) I started having contractions around 8am and didn't leave for the hospital until 5pm.

2) Alternated between walking around and laying down. I ended up with back labor, which sucked and I was a bit lost on how to deal with it so I threw my no epidural plan out the window. I was in L&D triage by 6 and they started the admit process around 8pm. I was 5cm at this point but have no idea how far along I was when I actually got the epidural because it took another 4 hours to get it.

3) Even with the epidural, I felt the urge to push around 7am the following morning. They had given me a button to press to boost the epidural and by this point I hadn't pressed it in 6 hours so I'm pretty sure it had worn off a good deal letting me feel what my body was doing. Since I could feel the contractions, the nurse guided me through a couple test pushes then let me push on my own from there. When I felt a contraction build up I would push, and the Dr and nurse just helped me through them. I felt pretty in control.

4) It is standard practice with my OB office to do delayed clamping. It was all a blur so I have no idea how long the delay was, but I do know it was delayed. Eye ointment, vitamin K, etc was all done on their standard schedule. First bath was delayed for 8 hours, but that's standard practice for them now as well.

Baby stayed in our room the whole time (born Tuesday morning, discharged Thursday afternoon) except during circumcision and hearing test. The hospital had the option of a nursery, but I wanted him in with us. MH also stayed at the hospital so I had his help the whole time except when he took a couple hours to run home. I brought a pacifier for the ride home just in case, but he ended up sleeping the whole ride so we didn't give it to him.

[Deleted]

Nymeria, the L&D nurse who is teaching my birthing class said that it's better of you ask to lower your epidural so you can feel when it's time to push. So that's awesome you could feel it a little bit! I think that's the route I'll go if I end up needing one. Especially if I have back labor too. 😝

[Nymeria]

Jun 15, 2017 10:59:40 GMT -6 @easilyunamused said:

Nymeria , the L&D nurse who is teaching my birthing class said that it's better of you ask to lower your epidural so you can feel when it's time to push. So that's awesome you could feel it a little bit! I think that's the route I'll go if I end up needing one. Especially if I have back labor too. 😝

It was nice - they gave me the initial dose when it was put in and told me I could hit the button every 15 min. I hit it twice then managed to fall asleep and even though I woke up a few times before it was time to push, I didn't hit it again until the dr started some stitches after delivery. I definitely liked being able to feel what I and my body were doing.

The urge to push was crazy. I could feel my body bearing down on its own even while I was trying to relax it.

[cosmic]

I had two very different experiences.

1) For non inductions- how long after contractions started did you leave for the hospital?
My water broke for both my kids...aint that some shit? Zero contractions with DS beforehand, and 45minutes of contractions beforehand with DD. Her contractions were less than 5 minutes apart and lasted for 1+ minute at a time and there was no gradual shift to them. It was like suddenly a level 11 out of nowhere.


2) What did you do to get through contractions- walk around, use breathing or relaxation techniques, certain positions (cat cow, squats?), heating pad (if that's even allowed?), if you had an epidural during what point?
With DS, I was 3cm when I got to the hospital with my water broken. I had no pain before coming into the hospital. They gave me pitocin to make things happen, and I did some breathing/relaxation stuff to manage the pain. I got an epidural when I was about 8cm dilated. 17 hour labor total.

With DD..... I had planned an epidural, so I did not plan needing to practice breathing and such. But you will find a strength that you did not know you have when you have no way to stop the pain. I remember that I basically had to stop interacting with everyone and go into the zone. I closed my eyes, and I counted, and howled at the moon. I know that sounds crazy but vocalizing during the peak of the contractions was so helpful for me. I could not sit. It was a hell of a car ride lol. I was fully dilated and pushing involuntarily when we arrived at the hospital. They gave me a shot of epidural because I asked for it, but they let me know that it might not hit me in time because I was already pushing (I couldn't help it!!). DD was born 5 hours after I started contractions that morning (and it probably would have been less if I hadn't got that epi shot, lol).


3) Did you have "coached labor" where the doctor told you when to push or did you labor down and follow your body?
DS: Coached labor. Pushed for 5 hours.
DD: The urge to push was so extreme. I literally had no control over it. That part was so amazing TBH. In retrospect, lol.
I pushed for 15-20 minutes? She was so ready to be born on that day.

4) DS: Baby went to NICU because he was a preemie. He didn't stay with us through the night.
DD: Baby stayed with us!! It was exhausting but I loved it after not even having the option the first time.

I am not sure that either of them had delayed cord clamping, though that is the standard practice in my hospital. DS was having trouble breathing and DD had meconium in her water, so I don't remember if they did it or not, for either of them. That part is a blur, lol.

I think a lot of this will just depend on how you are feeling, your hospital's procedures, and what is going on with your baby.
I'm sorry about the length, I just love to talk about this stuff

[joy]

I'm just going to give you my realest answer.

I was induced so I can't answer number one.

I breathed through concentractions and asked for the room to be silent. That worked until about 5cm when I had too many nurses in the room. So, epidural. My epidural failed in my back on the left side. That happens.

I could feel a lot of pressure when I got to ten and they checked me. I could push then and I knew to push with each contraction, which I could feel. I wouldn't say I ever felt an urge to push, though.

I was so spent, exhausted, overwhelmed and non-functional once she was out that I have no idea what they did. Eye ointment? Delayed cord clamping? Anything could have happened. I was in no position to dictate and nor did I care one iota as long as she was healthy.

I cared so much going in. I read about everything. I had opinions. Definitely decide and I hope that you have the opposite experience as me when your baby is born. But, I did want to share in case your labor takes nearly everything from you.

[jftb]

Jun 16, 2017 6:44:15 GMT -6 joy said:

I'm just going to give you my realest answer.

I was induced so I can't answer number one.

I breathed through concentractions and asked for the room to be silent. That worked until about 5cm when I had too many nurses in the room. So, epidural. My epidural failed in my back on the left side. That happens.

I could feel a lot of pressure when I got to ten and they checked me. I could push then and I knew to push with each contraction, which I could feel. I wouldn't say I ever felt an urge to push, though.

I was so spent, exhausted, overwhelmed and non-functional once she was out that I have no idea what they did. Eye ointment? Delayed cord clamping? Anything could have happened. I was in no position to dictate and nor did I care one iota as long as she was healthy.

I cared so much going in. I read about everything. I had opinions. Definitely decide and I hope that you have the opposite experience as me when your baby is born. But, I did want to share in case your labor takes nearly everything from you.

YES. I actually googled yesterday to see if my hospital does delayed cord clamping (it does, so I guess that's what happened). I know she got eye ointment at some point. Everything from when they took her away to do everything they needed to do is a blur. All I cared about was that she was okay. I had a vacuum-assisted birth. The next step if that didn't work was c-section because they told me she just wasn't really bouncing back from each contraction anymore. She was too tired too. 

[joy]

Jun 16, 2017 7:43:36 GMT -6 jftb said:

Jun 16, 2017 6:44:15 GMT -6 joy said:

I'm just going to give you my realest answer.

I was induced so I can't answer number one.

I breathed through concentractions and asked for the room to be silent. That worked until about 5cm when I had too many nurses in the room. So, epidural. My epidural failed in my back on the left side. That happens.

I could feel a lot of pressure when I got to ten and they checked me. I could push then and I knew to push with each contraction, which I could feel. I wouldn't say I ever felt an urge to push, though.

I was so spent, exhausted, overwhelmed and non-functional once she was out that I have no idea what they did. Eye ointment? Delayed cord clamping? Anything could have happened. I was in no position to dictate and nor did I care one iota as long as she was healthy.

I cared so much going in. I read about everything. I had opinions. Definitely decide and I hope that you have the opposite experience as me when your baby is born. But, I did want to share in case your labor takes nearly everything from you.

YES. I actually googled yesterday to see if my hospital does delayed cord clamping (it does, so I guess that's what happened). I know she got eye ointment at some point. Everything from when they took her away to do everything they needed to do is a blur. All I cared about was that she was okay. I had a vacuum-assisted birth. The next step if that didn't work was c-section because they told me she just wasn't really bouncing back from each contraction anymore. She was too tired too. 

Oooooh, hey twin! I also had a vacuum-assisted birth and my lil girl was having decels with each contraction. They vacuumed her because she needed out and I couldn't effectively push anymore.

[jftb]

Jun 16, 2017 7:53:05 GMT -6 joy said:

Jun 16, 2017 7:43:36 GMT -6 jftb said:

YES. I actually googled yesterday to see if my hospital does delayed cord clamping (it does, so I guess that's what happened). I know she got eye ointment at some point. Everything from when they took her away to do everything they needed to do is a blur. All I cared about was that she was okay. I had a vacuum-assisted birth. The next step if that didn't work was c-section because they told me she just wasn't really bouncing back from each contraction anymore. She was too tired too. 

Oooooh, hey twin! I also had a vacuum-assisted birth and my lil girl was having decels with each contraction. They vacuumed her because she needed out and I couldn't effectively push anymore.

SAME!

I'd been pushing for three hours of a 26 hour labor. I thought I could go for another hour, but they too concerned. You know when people start whispering to each other, the news isn't going to be great. When I agreed to the vacuum, a whole team came rushing in. I looked at H and said, with tears, "What did I just agree to?" The doctor looked at me and said, "LOOK AT ME! NO ONE ELSE IS IN THIS ROOM BUT YOU, ME, AND YOUR HUSBAND. NO ONE ELSE EXISTS. TWO MORE PUSHES!" I yelled back, "LET'S FUCKING DO THIS!" H burst out laughing because it was the only time I swore during the whole 26 hours.

[joy]

jftb - i was not cognizant of almost anything. Doctors came in and introduced themselves. I was vaguely aware that there were too many but that was about all. Finally, one asked if I just wanted it over. I said yes. They started to list off the risks to a vacuum and I said "Just fucking do it." They warned me I'd have three sets of hands in me. Whatever, whatever, whatever!!

[jftb]

Jun 16, 2017 9:22:52 GMT -6 joy said:

jftb - i was not cognizant of almost anything. Doctors came in and introduced themselves. I was vaguely aware that there were too many but that was about all. Finally, one asked if I just wanted it over. I said yes. They started to list off the risks to a vacuum and I said "Just fucking do it." They warned me I'd have three sets of hands in me. Whatever, whatever, whatever!!

She ran through the risks, but I wasn't processing anything. She basically told me it was this or a c-section (not that I really had a choice) and I said, "If I were going to have a c-section, it should've been done hours ago." She told me she needed another ob, a pedi, and the NICU team and I said ok. NONE OF IT WAS REGISTERING. When they actually all came in, I was like, "What the fuck is happening?" 

It's a funny story to tell now, but it was all such a blur and frenzy of activity at that point.

[cmb]

Also, don't be surprised if you get the shakes shortly after the placenta is delivered. I'm not talking about slightly shivering; I mean full on uncontrollable shaking that you can't even hold the baby during. It totally puts a damper on skin to skin but freaked my grandmother out with DS1 because she hadn't seen it before.. happened both times to me and my nurses this time around assured us that it's normal for it to happen

[joy]

Jun 16, 2017 12:03:45 GMT -6 cmb said:

Also, don't be surprised if you get the shakes shortly after the placenta is delivered. I'm not talking about slightly shivering; I mean full on uncontrollable shaking that you can't even hold the baby during. It totally puts a damper on skin to skin but freaked my grandmother out with DS1 because she hadn't seen it before.. happened both times to me and my nurses this time around assured us that it's normal for it to happen

I shook terribly throughout all of labor. It happens and is normal. I thought it stopped with birth, though! Who knew?

I feel we should start a "they don't tell you this..." thread.

[Taitai]

I forgot about the shaking - yep, I had that too. Kind of towards the end of labor. I don't think it lasted too long, and I honestly didn't really notice I was shaking until DH started to get pale. Freaked him out more than me.

[yoshijo]

Jun 15, 2017 10:59:40 GMT -6 @easilyunamused said:

Nymeria, the L&D nurse who is teaching my birthing class said that it's better of you ask to lower your epidural so you can feel when it's time to push. So that's awesome you could feel it a little bit! I think that's the route I'll go if I end up needing one. Especially if I have back labor too. 😝

Never thought of this, makes sense!