#vrikshambirthstory

Total labor time -42 hours 43 minutes

1- 4 cm dilated – 13 hours
4- 8 cm dilated – 24 hours
8-10 cm dilated – 1.5 hour
Transition – 4 hours 13 minutes

Pre -week of contraction

April 24 was my due date . I had my regular-weekly checkup with the OB on April 14 . They checked me and asked me to come for the next week’s checkup for the ultrasound scan if I am not dilated by April 21 since it was my 40th week.

Early and Active Labor
My early labor contractions started on Tuesday evening by 3 pm . I just relaxed in my home with the usual walking I used to do with my husband waiting for the next day’s appointment with my OB and the ultrasound checkup. It was 11 in the morning when we did our ultrasound scan and waited for the OB . When she checked my effacement she told that I am 3-4 cm dilated . She also asked if she want to do the membrane stripping . I objected it . She asked me to reach the hospital when there is 4-1-1 contraction and if there is any water leakage and contact immediately if there are any bloody show with the water . We both returned home happily having my favorite Mac and cheese tortillas from the nearby cuisine which is one of both our favorite lunches . All I did was just relaxing and talked to our parents whenever I had no contractions who were in India through video call . When I went to the toilet I found my mucus plug broken .I know it’s because of the cervix check by my OB .

After then, we just informed our labor doula about my effacement and sent the picture of my mucus plug show and she confirmed it and asked to stay calm and relaxed and I know it is just the beginning and nothing to panic . I then tried to get some good sleep as my contractions were progressing and whenever I had no contractions . Doula came to my home the evening and she did Robezo technique of adjusting my baby’s position to relax my labor and trained my husband too for doing the same . I felt much more better after that I couldn’t feel any pain of labor . We had relaxed conversation about the labor progression and the stuff which we need to do during the active labor . She left, me and my husband had the usual walking around our apartment around 6: 30-7:30 with my contractions progressing. We returned home and ordered my favorite broccoli cheddar soup and blaze pizza which is one of our favorite dinner. We then spoke to our parents in India .

Both of our parents are so much worried about the slow progress of the contraction as they gave birth to us within a day . But ,I could stay calm because of my husband who always used to be my resistive barrier when my in-law asked us to induce the pain artificially. The hours went as usual with the progressing labor .I was laying on the bed for the sleep but I felt the contractions are getting intense . I was trying to stay calm and my husband just timed the contractions through the app When it around 2am the contractions was 6-1-1 . At 3am it was 5-1-1 and we decided to start to the hospital . My husband called my labor doula to reach the hospital and it is like 3:45 AM when we started from home where I started crying as my contractions are getting at most frequent as I will go to the rest room when there will be no contraction when I start to pee it starts . So it was 3-1-1, when we started from home. We reached the hospital in twelve minutes and my husband dropped me outside the entrance and went to park the car . When I stepped out of the car , my labor doula accompanied me from the entrance to the third floor where there is labor ward through elevator .

My contractions are 1-1-1 when I am walking to the labor ward reception where my heart sank to sit and rest somewhere . But , I feel the contractions in the butt region . After completing all the application procedures I gave my urine sample for the diagnosis and the nurse wants to check my effacement before getting entering the labor room . I didn’t want to get checked as I thought they can do that in the labor room . But they wanted to check mandatorily . When they checked , my cervix was 8 cm dilated . It was 4:45 AM . We went to the labor . The nurses gave me a saline lock for the emergency purpose, dressed me in the hospital gown, and by 5:45 AM I am fully dilated.

Transition phase
I started pushing in this phase . My contractions are so heavy that I am so confused on the labor position and pushing of the sudden transition in the surroundings with fear of the nurses around me. I tried to push in the hands and knee position for the long time . I become so exhausted as the time was 8 :15 AM . The OB Doctor came in and asked to check the heart beat of the baby during the contraction through the electrode fixed to the baby’s head . The baby’s heart beat dropped around 85 bpm during the contraction . It was around 140 when there is no contractions. As well , they found the loop around the baby’s neck . So , the doctor suggested for the emergency caesarean .
But then he went through our birth plan and came back and told us the baby had to be pushed soon as the baby is at pelvic station 2 and I don’t want to intervene as you opted for the natural birth without any intervention . Then , I am asked to push with the support and assistance of the doctor, nurses and labor by supporting in the grill bars by placing my legs wide apart in the slanting position . I was given oxygen and saline as my blood pressure dropped down . The time was 9:10 AM approx and I focused and at 9:43 AM and gave birth to my baby girl Dheeksha vaginally with all the crying faces as they gave warning that baby has to be admitted to the NICU if she doesn’t cry.
Dheeksha ‘s
Birth weight -3.28kgs
Height -20.5cms
Confusion
I could have pushed without assistance but due to the intense pain , I could not focus while pushing hence the long duration and exhaustion of the delivery .
As well, I screamed so much while pushing the baby out initially which delayed the duration.

Exercises
Your breathing exercises were the most important factor which helped me to stay calm and composed till 8 cm dilation and allowed me to stay at home . I didn’t do any exercises throughout the labor contractions. But , I remained active throughout the pregnancy even before the day of contraction . I was playing basketball and badminton with my husband before my Labor Day.