01/03/2023
// B I R T H //
In my 28th week of pregnancy, we were once again faced with a diagnosis of placental insufficiency causing potential IUGR. So for the next 9 weeks I had weekly dopplers and bi-weekly growth scans. It was a hard pill to swallow that this birth would not look like how I had imagined, again.
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In collaboration with my OB, we planned for a 37th week induction, and because my first birth was so long and ultimately traumatic, we scheduled a cesarean the following day as a back up.
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On December 23rd, I started having mild, gentle contractions that came and went. This carried on over Christmas Eve, Day and Boxing Day.
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On the morning of December 27th, we came to the hospital to begin the induction, but on assessment I was already 3cm and 70% effaced. I was elated! We elected for a stretch and sweep which started some good contractions, and 2 hours later we decided to break my water to encourage progression of labour. This got things going nicely until the evening when contractions started spacing out and not increasing in intensity.
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I was initially very opposed to Pitocin because of my first labour, but I knew that if I didn’t try, I’d regret it. I didn’t want to become so fixated on a vaginal birth that I betrayed the birth plan that I put so much consideration into. So we tried a small dose with the decision to titrate in my hands. I labored for about 3 or 4 hours but the intensity of the Pitocin was too triggering for me and I asked to turn it off at 3am. Between 3am and 7am, I had contractions about every 5-15 minutes so rest was hard to come by, but eventually it was time to prepare for our cesarean.
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I was brought to the OR and was so happy to see my OB. I knew it was right for her to be the one to deliver me of my second babe. I contracted hard during my spinal injection but soon after I was finally comfortable after about 17 hours of labour. Within minutes of the surgery beginning, I heard the beautiful sound of a loud and proud cry and sweet Llewyn was born.
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For now, I’ve been leaning hard into the intentional, slow pace of recovery and fourth trimester.
xx Chelsey
