Eliza's birth story (1st VBAC)

Written in February 2011:

Eliza Kate DeVore

Our little girl is finally here! 

Eliza Kate DeVore:

February 16 6:50am 

8 pounds 8 ounces

21 inches long

I know it is about time I get this story out there before I forget too many of the precious details I want to remember later on. I had been having many contractions but nothing regular until the morning of February 4th. They were coming 7-10 minutes apart from starting at 8am when I began to time them. After 4 hours of this I figured I should let my boss know I would not be coming in. Trent went to school anyway but came home a bit early around 3 because the contractions had gotten stronger and I wasn't able to take care of Logan and cope through them. About 5pm we called my doula to get on her way because since Trent had gotten home they were not only stronger but increased to 5 minutes apart. She was there just after 6 and we began our comfort techniques. By the time Logan went down for bed the contractions were strong enough that I had to focus and not talk through them. By 10:30-11 we were feeling like this was it! We got ready to go and headed for the hospital. I still was managing the contractions fine but since we had a 30-minute drive I didn't want to chance anything. All the signs pointed to me being in labor. Once we got there the nurse informed me that it was "protocol" for every VBAC attempt to get an epidural once admitted. I had NOT been informed of this previously and was very upset. Then she decided to check me and by then my contractions had slowed back down and I was only 2cm. I told the nurse I wasn't staying to be monitored and the midwife allowed me to go. The contractions continued Saturday at 7-10 minutes apart and Trent and I spent the day alone trying to keep busy and be with each other. The midwife called in the afternoon to let us know that she had spoken with the doctor (since I was VBAC the doctor had to approve many of our choices) and she would allow me to go without an epidural. PHEW! We were so relieved. Shortly after this the contractions started to pick up again (fancy that eh?) By 4am Sunday I was ready to have my doula back for help. We labored all Sunday and by 3am Monday morning the contractions had stopped. The midwife was sure I would have the baby that weekend after talking with us multiple times over the few days. I went in to the office Monday after the regular contractions stopped and found to be 3cm and 70% effaced. Well, at least I got somewhere! The week continued and I made it to my Thursday (39-week) appointment. To our surprise the doctor showed up in our room. She let us know she would be leaving out of town the following Thursday and we had some choices to make. Either we could schedule a c-section, break my water, or take a chance with another doctor on call who wouldn't be so VBAC friendly. We had until Monday (due date) to make the decision. Yikes. They were obviously very concerned that my body had been in labor and stopped (they all agreed it was definitely the early stages). They stripped my membranes to see if that would help over the following days before the d-day. To be honest, I tried not to think about making that decision. I made it to my Monday appointment still pregnant and sat on the table and still hadn't decided what I wanted to do. After the midwife's check she was extremely excited about where my body was and that it was prepared for labor all we needed were regular contractions. She informed us that we could schedule to come in for induction Tuesday or Wednesday so that our on-call doctor would be there instead of someone we didn't know. The process she said we would go through was different than what the doctor had come across so we decided to schedule Wednesday morning and if we didn't feel right about it we would cancel. I was hoping labor would come before that anyways. Tuesday comes and my contractions pick up again but stay at about 7-10 minutes apart. At 3:15 the midwife called to say the doctor had surgery the next day and needed us to be at the hospital at 8pm that night! WOW! I called Trent at work and we both sat in shock. I tried to nap but couldn't relax with the list of things I needed to do going through my mind. We had a lovely dinner, gave Logan our hugs, and went on our way. My mom had been there all week helping with Logan since the Weekend of Labor (as I call it now). Trent and I both felt right about the decision to go forward with the induction. We also realized that they never allow inductions for VBAC's (they had been adamant about this in our early appointments). They must have felt extra confident after my last appointment that my body would be able to do it. The nurse checked me at 9:45 and said I was a 2. We started the oxytocin at 10 and the midwife came in to break my water at 10:30. By then I had already dilated to 4cm! Since I had already been having some regular contractions that day it seemed the labor just eased it's way in normally. at 11:15 they checked again and I had hit 5cm! The magic number :-) I started to cry when the nurse told me. I hadn't gotten that far with Logan and it was the number I had a goal to reach for and feel relief after hitting. At 3am I hit 7cm and was definitely feeling it. The contractions weren't stopping. They would come and go and the next one would start again before I had a chance to breathe. I could see the nurse and doula cheering me on and saying this was the hardest part to get through. They finally decreased my oxytocin because the contractions were just too close and I was able to get some rest in between them. Just before 6am the doctor came in to check me (she had surgery scheduled at 8 so we were pushing it!). I was so tired I didn't pay attention to the number she said. Trent had to repeat a couple times "Natalie, did you hear her? You can start pushing!" I got up to go to the bathroom and sat there for probably ten minutes trying to relax and find the energy I needed to push. The nurse finally came in frantic saying "you need to get off that; we don't want to have a toilet baby!) I got back to the bed and began pushing. After a few releases of my bowels (oh yay!) the midwife said I was pushing great! This part was not nearly as difficult at the transition stage from 7-10 cm. It was amazing feeling the top of her head as she was coming down. I felt like I only pushed for 10 minutes but after 50 minutes of pushing and a second degree tear our Eliza had arrived! They put her right on my chest and Trent cut the cord. It was miraculous to have my sweet baby in my arms first and be able to remember everything that happened. Within half an hour I was breastfeeding her and by 10:30 Logan was able to meet his little sister. We left the hospital on Thursday and had to make a two-hour stop at Utah Valley hospital for an echocardiogram. The pediatrician had found a heart murmur that morning and we were sent to meet with a specialist. Eliza has a ventricular septal defect which is a hole in the wall between the ventricles of her heart. It is common (1 in 250 babies have it) but it usually will heal on it's own. We have to continue to meet with a pediatric cardiologist to keep an eye on it but we feel confident everything will be just fine.

Logan is adoring his little sis. He was apprehensive at first but now is so protective over her. He loves to wake up and run to where she is and lay next to her. He will randomly stop what he is doing during the day and run to her then give her a very gentle kiss. Any time he hears her crying from the other room he runs to her and says "Liza, Liza." It melts my heart how he has warmed up to her and treats her so well. I'm recovering fantastically. Sore and tired but this recovery is so much easier than my c-section. We love being our family of four and have enjoyed every second so far. I'm still amazed at how big Liza is. We both don't feel like she looks like a newborn at all..haha. Thank you all for your support! I will get up more pictures in the next post :-)