01-12-2008 - Raynor's Birth Story!

My mood while writing this blog: Blissfull

Birth details

Original due date: November 18
Type of delivery: Vaginal (with pain relief)
Duration of labor: 11 hours
Weight @ birth: 7lbs 6oz
Length @ birth: 19.5 inches

On November 17th, I ended up hospitalized due to dehydration, after being violently sick for a couple days. After iv fluids and meds, I was able to go home that evening. My doctor wanted to induce me because my health was going downhill, so I was scheduled for Nov 20th. That morning, while getting ready to head to the hospital, I lost my plug and contactions started on their own, although only a few an hour. I got to the hospital, and they had me hooked up and started the pitocin drip by 9am.

At ten, I was cheched and only 1cm dialated and 90% effaced. At 12, no change, although the contractions were hard and painfull, almost constant. My doctor was called, and suggested I go ahead and get an epidural, as he wanted to stretch me and break my waters, and it may help my uterus relax. The epidural did not work too well on me, but it did take away some of the pain. They broke my water and stretched me to 3cm at around 4pm. Around 7pm, I was about 5cm. One hour later, the pressure/pain was so intense, they checked me to find I was fully dialated and ready to push. By this time, I was so glad to be able to push through the pain, as it was getting unbearable. After 40 minutes of pushing, Raynor Lee Keener entered this world and was placed on my chest at 8:47 pm

He is, to us, perfect! Apgar was 9/10, and we had him with us for about an hour to bond/breastfeed prior to him being taken to the nursury to be weighed and measured. 7 lbs 6 oz, 18.5 inches long.

I ended up with 3rd degree tears (from 'stem to stern', as my mother would say) but it was all worth it!