If you enjoyed the first segment of our daughter’s birth story, here is part two…
At the four-hour mark, my contractions were becoming extremely painful. I tried standing while holding onto something to see if that would provide any relief, but it only made the pain more overwhelming. I also attempted the age-old mooing like a cow trick, but that did nothing. During contractions, I couldn’t handle anyone touching me (other than squeezing Mr. Handsome’s hand very tightly).
The nurse told me that women describe naturally occurring labor as extremely intense cramps, while they describe induction labor as being stabbed by a knife. I have never experience natural labor, but I can relate to the feeling of being stabbed by a knife.
Five hours in, I was ready for the epidural. By that point, I could hardly sit upright from the pain. The first two didn’t go in well. The third one did, but the process was extremely painful. I screamed so loud that the midwife ran in and asked if the baby was coming. Even though the process of the epidural was traumatic, once it was in, it was great–definitely a “better” epidural than my first two. For the first time, I could still feel my legs a little, which is apparently the “goal” of an epidural.
After a couple hours (about seven hours after the start of the induction), the midwife broke my water, and the baby was born about 25 minutes later. She arrived “sunny side up,” which I later learned is fairly uncommon. Only about 5% of babies are delivered face up. I also learned that the chance of negative outcomes–including hemorrhaging, a longer “pushing” phase, severe tearing, C-section, a low initial Apgar score, and NICU admission–is higher with these deliveries. I experienced none of these complications, and I am so grateful to God for keeping both baby and me safe. I did feel some pretty strong pain as the baby was born, but it was short.
My boys were both sunny side up. I assume there’s something funky about my anatomy that pushed them both into that position, but I have no idea. Bad luck regardless! It definitely made for long labors. With my first I pushed around three hours and they gave it one last shot with a vacuum before I would have needed a C-section–luckily that worked. That baby needed a week in the special care nursery (step down from NICU) because he got fluid in his lungs and needed antibiotics. My second was three weeks early, pushed about half the time, and he was pretty much perfect other than the usual conehead and a misshapen nose! I had some tearing with both and would have much preferred to feel my pushes to make them more efficient, but I just couldn’t take the pain past a certain point…the pressure was bad enough! Both were also induced because my water liked to leak/break but contractions were slow to start. I had awful back labor, too. Happy those days are long behind me–my first is a head taller than me now and my baby just turned 11! It goes way too fast!
Never heard about the mooing like a cow during labor before.
Thank You Ellie for sharing baby girl’s birth. God Bless you and yours.
Joan,Marion and Marilyn
Thank you for sharing your story!
I’ve also heard from several women that induction is more painful than natural labor!! Isn’t it so great that it’s all behind you now?!! That’s how I always feel haha!!
Yes, it’s SO great to have it behind me. How are your babies doing?
They are good! I mean they think they are dying during diaper changes and clothing changes and if they are hungry 😆 but it’s going good. It’s definitely a lot more work than one is. My husband will say that if we only had one she’d be easy but the two is very difficult 😬 one likes to be held all of the time and is a little more temperamental it seems while the other is a little more chilled…. I mean at least it’s not both being temperamental right?!! 😆 but we’re surviving and it’s all we can do at this point lol
I know it won’t last forever and every age has its ‘easy’ and it’s hard phases so I’m just riding this out. No other choice haha
LOL, one of my sons was like that during diaper changes. I’ve heard from friends that the first year of twin life is just surviving, and then it starts getting really fun as they start to interact with each other. I bet that will be sweet to watch! How has it been to feed two babies? Oh, and can you tell them apart? I remember you saying they are identical right?
I just started tandem nursing a little over a week ago- it’s definitely interesting lol. I couldn’t really when they were first born cuz they were so floppy with their little necks and heads. I think another month will make it even easier the stronger their neck support gets. But there are times I just have no choice but to nurse both at once when both are fussy.
Yes! They are identical! I can tell them apart easily and some people can who see them more often, like my mom. My husband will get them confused though haha! One is larger and resembles one of my sons while the smaller one looks like one of my other boys to me 🤷🏼♀️😆 but as they grow maybe they will look more alike to me, I’m not sure.
Wow, and I thought nursing one was complicated. Tandem is next level. You go, mama! Cute that your husband gets them confused. Someday they will have fun with trying to confuse him! Has he mastered the art of soothing them both at the same time if they’re both crying? The other day, I was alone in the evening with all three kids for the first time. The boys went to bed easily, but it was definitely harder to not have my husband, who sits with the baby all evening and keeps her happy while I accomplish things/relax. But soothing two at the same time would also be next level.
It’s quite possible that your baby just has a more temperamental personality, but it might be worthwhile to take your baby to the osteopath to see if she has any stiffness/discomfort from delivery or being in the womb. I delivered my sixth child last year and the months following were very difficult as he took forever to put now for naps and then didn’t nap long, hated being on his belly, and constantly wanted to be bounced as opposed to being comfortable sitting still (in a baby seat or even while I held him). I took him to the osteopath at about 4 months old and it turned out his neck and back were very stiff. Such a relief for both me and him to have his muscles loosened up and feeling better. May be worth a try.
Oh what lovely news! Hooray for
Baby Girl! There is nothing like a baby – I’m very sad that I’m not going to have anymore!!!! Three is enough (for me!)
And, speaking from experience, I would definitely say that induced labour is about 400,000,000 x harder than natural labour. That drip… phew… I did not like it at all. And I had the other two with no pain relief at all. A breeze!
I hope you’re enjoying baby snuggles.
Hi MarriedUK. It’s good to hear from you! How have you been? We’re enjoying all the snuggles and the dynamics of 3 kids so much! Three is definitely a whole new ballgame. Tons of fun, but much busier than two.
Hang in there @JenniferH. My twin boys are 4 now and they play together so well and are the best of friends! But that first year was an absolute blur and we really were in survival mode for sure the first 6 months. I tandem nursed them the first 5 months and nursed them for a year so that felt like an accomplishment. Twins are not always easy but I wouldn’t trade them for the world! I sure am enjoying my 2 month old singleton though😅