Got the full birth package. Attempted unmedicated, epidural vaginal, and finally cesarean. 36 hours

I graduated yesterday and wanted to share my birth story to process. Baby boy was born healthy and is currently still doing great as we recover!

Background: I consider myself pretty fit. I’ve run trail marathons, practice some extreme sports, lift weights, yoga etc. Pregnancy was smooth and mostly uneventful. I kept active until the very end working out 4-5 times a week. My plan was for an unmedicated birth with my doula which I had prepared for months.

At week 36 I was told I had borderline low fluid. Hydrated like crazy and rested that week to get it just above 8. At 39+5 had my BPP and was told my fluid was unacceptably low combined with decreased movement and a baby measuring in the 11th percentile. Below the 1st percentile on the abdomen. I was told I needed to be induced that afternoon and agreed though I was completely closed and only 50% effaced

I started cytotec to help with dilation, and the baby was not handling it well. The low fluid was likely leading to cord compression (which we find out after delivery the cord is also very short) and his heart rate was dropping alarmingly during contractions. Four very stressful hours of flipping like a pancake to keep his heart rate up. With no progress on dilation, we waited around 5 hours to get steady and then half the cytotec dose which baby responded to much better. Alas, by morning only 1cm dilated and same effacement.

Next we started pitocin which I had not wanted after reading how it makes unmedicated birth impossible due to contraction strength. However I had a great team of nurses that were very slow in upping the dose and only after checking with me each time. After 5 hours on pitocin with a water rupture and contractions coming strong every 2 minutes, I had to tap out. A check told me I was only 2.5cm, and the pain was exhausting at this point 24 hours into labor.

I’m grateful for the experience I got to have while unmedicated to feel the contractions, use all my comfort methods, and have the freedom of movement to respond as my body needed. It was what I wanted and I’m glad I got to experience someone of this labor.

The epidural felt amazing. The nap afterwards was as good as people say, though too good for me as it did drop my blood pressure and drop my baby’s heart rate in response. It lasted long enough this very nearly got to an emergency C, but some position changes and medicine got baby back steady. I had low BP pre pregnancy and stayed in the mid 90s over 60 throughout pregnancy as well. I was given medicine to increase my BP and had to do this twice more when my BP dropped again.

Pitocin was steadily increased as necessary on the epidural, and I got to 4cm but after 9 hours, I had made no progress. We had tried tons of different positions as I still had decent enough movement. Baby’s heart rate was showing poor variables and had been decelerating in random positions since labor started. I had begun to worry he wasn’t strong enough to make it through pushing phase even if we got there, and the stress of his heart rate dropping was taking a toll. The OB agreed and recommended a cesarean before it turned into an emergency cesarean which seemed likely at 35 hours in with a small baby tiring out.

It was the last thing I wanted but best thing for the baby. The c section was fast and smooth. It was very overstimulating after such a long labor to have so many people around in a bright room, be flipped this

way and that and given so many medicines at once. However the prep was the worst, and the procedure was all of 5 minutes. My baby came out healthy at 5lb 10 oz, even smaller than his estimated 6lb 6 oz from ultrasound at 40 weeks on the dot.

Still processing having to throw out nearly my entire birth plan, but I’m trying to remain upbeat. I truly don’t think much could be changed because bay needed to come out of the womb due to low fluid, and over a day and a half he was communicating his stress to us over and over. Ego and desire for an unmedicated birth wasn’t enough to risk refusing induction and risking a stillbirth or continuing labor until he was in true distress. He is beautiful and tiny but latching well, and the relief of him coming out crying and healthy after all that was worth the surgery. The incision isn’t too large, and initial recovery has been very smooth.

Thanks for reading!