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Day 2
To begin the induction, at 8 PM of day 1, the nurse put a prostaglandin gel on my cervix to make it ripen (soften and open). At 4 AM the next morning (day 2), the nurse came in and woke me up. I took a shower. At 5 AM, the pitocin was administered through an IV that was hooked up earlier. The induction officially started.
M came back and brought my labor goody bag I packed days before: robe and slippers, nursing bras, nursing pads, going home outfit and blanket for baby, going home outfit for myself, favorite music, washcloths, mouthwash, toothbrush, toothpaste, camera and charger.
I went through the whole morning without feeling any contractions or pain. M and I listened to the music, watched TV, and chatted. Sometimes he went to the kitchen to get sugar bar for me (since I could not eat any solid food until the labor ended). We had fun together but I just didn’t do what I should do: having contractions!
At noon, I began to wonder when the contractions would begin, how they would feel like and when I would finish this labor.
Then, around 1 PM, I started to feel pain. It came like waves, firstly slowly and barely noticeable, then became stronger and stronger, reached the peak, and then waned.
Up to this point, the contractions were only a little stronger than hard menstrual cramps.
As 2 PM approached, the contractions started getting more intense. They stayed 5 minutes apart but were still manageable. When it was 3 PM, the contractions began to come one after another. I began to feel the pain more difficult to handle. So I worked hard on practicing breathing techniques I learned in childbirth class.
At 4 PM, the contractions were coming strong and steady—about every 3 minutes—and I began to lose focus on my breathing. I couldn’t help but be somewhat disappointed to find out my cervix was only 2 cm dilated.
“I want epidural.” I told the nurse.
The nurse went to consult the doctor. She came back and told me the epidural could not be used until my cervix was at least 4 cm dilated.
“WHAT?!” I was surprised and a little bit upset. At this time, contractions were getting much harder and growing with intensity and duration. I couldn’t focus on my breathing. Each when the wave of pain came, I held the arm of the bed, bit my lips and held my breath.
Time was slowing down; minutes crawling like hours, hours like days. Contractions seemed to be taking over my entire body, and I was losing my dignity. I began to moan loudly each time when the pain came. M tried to calm me down by massaging me, talking to me softly, and giving me encouragement. But I just felt I couldn’t take any more.
The nurse checked my cervix and announced it was 4 cm dilated (thank goodness!). She confirmed with the doctor about ordering epidural. The anesthetist was on his way.
Waiting for the arrival of the anesthetist seemed taking ages. “Why he still isn’t here?” I suddenly felt angry.
“Where is the doctor?” I yelled.
“He is on the way.” M said.
“What took him so long? I want him now!” I demanded, unreasonably.
The anesthetist finally came. He nicely asked me some questions when he prepared for the epidural. As soon as he placed needle into the epidural space and medication was injected, I felt relieved. It was close 6 PM.
Grandma came to hospital around 3 PM. She brought me the hearty nice chicken soup! I had to wait to enjoy it after the labor. She and M stayed at my bed side, bringing me support, console, peace and love.
My progress in dilation went slower than it should be. By 9 PM, I was merely 5 cm dilated. The nurse increased the dose of pitocin. She told me they would stop the induction and do something else if the dilation still progressed slowly.
That means cesarean! The last thing I wanted for my labor was cesarean. I closed my eyes and began to pray: further progress of the dilation, baby dropping, baby fitting in my pelvis, and anterior position of the baby. Any of these elements, if went wrong, would affect the labor and trigger the need for a cesarean birth.
Around 11 PM, the nurse checked my cervix and told me the good news: my cervix was 7 cm dilated. And the baby had already engaged.
“Finally, the baby dropped.” I felt so relieved and joyful. God has always been on my side to help me. This time, he will give me a masterpiece of his creation…
Related posts:
DD’s birth story, Part 1
DD’s birth story, Part 3
