Status #2
Things seemed to be picking up around 5, though it was still certainly early labor. Marji came and got the boys about 5:30 and soon thereafter I called Fran because she wanted to get in a dose of IV antibiotic (prophylactically because of my strident case of strep b early in the pregnancy; my 37-week culture was negative), and that is best a couple hours before the birth. She wanted to get that going, so I called Tonya.
Fran’s normal nurse assistant is not currently available because of a family emergency, and I had already invited Tonya, who is a nurse, to attend the birth, so she did the IV. It was after 6 by the time the phone calls and arrangements were made and half-past six when Tonya arrived and began prepping the IV stuff Fran had left earlier. Fran got here just before 7 and my mom about 15 minutes after that. I had the IV, which took about 20 minutes and then Fran did an exam.
I was at 3, 70% effacement, and her head was right there — until Fran poked her, at which she sprung up out of reach. The ultrasound a couple weeks ago showed a high amount of amniotic fluid, which was giving her a lot of cushion in my pelvis. Then Fran couldn’t tell if she might be posterior or head side-ways. So she got out the birthing ball and within minutes I could feel her head pressing against my right thigh-bone. After an hour or so of bouncing, she had gotten herself to where she should be.
So the other womenfolk had several hours to chat while I bounced on the ball and my contractions were still there but more sporadic and Matt painted BattleLore figures. We waited until 11, when Tonya administered another IV dose, then Fran checked again.
So, status is now 3-4cm and same effacement, but her head is in a better position and with less water underneath it. Everyone went home and we are going to bed. Fran is all set up and ready to go, so I will call her when things are serious. It might be 3am, it might be tomorrow morning, it might be tomorrow lunchtime, but I just sure hope it’s tomorrow and I don’t wake up in the morning with nothing going on.
At least this time around my guesses as to where I was in labor have been accurate. Although I was waiting anxiously to be pleasantly surprised, at each check I was pretty much where I thought I was, except that the whole head and position thing was new and unexpected.
It’s many hours past my bedtime, I’ve done this before and know that my early labor can take days, so I don’t think I’ll have any problems sleeping.
There you go, now you know. :)
