Well, I know it’s been quite this week, but I actually do have good reasons this time. I have looooong labors. I don’t mean hours either. I mean days. I was due last Thursday and I was a tight 1 cm dilated, 60 % effaced. On Monday night, contractions began and they got closer together and harder, so by early Tuesday morning, I was ready to go in. We got at the hospital at about 2:30 am, but by the time I saw the doctor at 10-ish, they had stopped. I was at 2+ cm dilated, but it was no enough and I was sent home.
Wednesday came and at 4 am, contractions started again. They got to 5-8 minutes apart around 5 am. I waited until 3 pm to go into the hospital. Through out 2 hours of walking, laying down, sitting down, standing, the contraction didn’t stop and they got harder. We got there about 4 pm and they started to not be as close (7-8 minutes apart). I was checked and was still 2+ cm dilated, 60% effaced and the cervix was very posterior. So, we walked. And at 7 pm, I was checked and I was dilated to 4 cm, 70% effaced and the cervix was much more interior. But by 10:30 pm, I had not changed anymore and they would not keep me.
You see, historically, I “stall out” at 4-6 cm when the contractions get so hard that I can’t relax anymore. And without relaxing, I don’t dilate. But this was not my doctor and he doesn’t know my history. Plus, being a VBAC, once things are started (or if I was in active labor) not only does the doctor have to be in the hospital, but so does the anesthesiologist because of the chance of needing a c-section. With it being in the night, he didn’t think it was worth calling in everyone for someone who he doesn’t believe is in “active labor”. This is exactly what happened with Grace and Isaac’s birth. The only difference is that I was already 42 weeks with them and was considered more of a high risk then I am now (I am 41 weeks today) and they would not let me go. My husband said that since I already am 4 cm dilated (which they say the first 4 cm are the hardest to get to), the “rest” shouldn’t be so hard. We’ll see…..
So we are waiting and waiting and waiting. The next time I go into the hospital will be the 5th time. That’s not a place that any mother-to-be wants to be (esp. a mother of 5 children!). I have an appointment with my doctor next Wednesday (she is on vacation until next Tuesday) and if I make it that long, I will be induced. I am done with this and it is time for this all to be done.
I will keep you all posted.