Amy and Tony Jackson’s Birth Notes

7-19-2010

5:00am contractions woke Amy up, about 15 minutes apart, noticeable but not difficult.

7:40am Texted doula “pretty sure I’m having contractions”

8:00am they were 6-7 minutes apart, getting stronger and needing to breathe through them. 45 seconds
to a minute long.

10:00am talked with doula. Still coming 3-5 minutes apart, but less than a minute long. Need to breathe
through the peak, but otherwise cheerful. Plan to go for a walk then take a bath and have lunch. Will call
doula again about noon or if anything changes.

10:45am rushes stronger when up (skipped walk) and in bath. Asks doula to come via text. Contractions
about 4 minutes apart.

11:45am doula receives text and prepares to leave.

12:45pm doula arrives at apartment. Amy is rocking in chair, breathting through contractions. It helps
her to be prepared and stay on top of them. Change of position brings on stronger contraction

(ate PB&J and crackers earlier but felt nauseous, drinking Gatorade. Contractions off and on in strength
and intensity.)

1pm up to pee. Slow dance standing with stronger contractions but shaky legs. On to ball, concentrating.
Into serious work mode—working on relaxing between, cramping seems to continue between
sometimes

Brian Reagan—comedian—is funny.

2pm pee again. Feeling shaky legs. Tony packs car in preparation. Sitting cross-legged, leaning forward
mostly (leaning back=easier contraction.) Feeling slightly nauseous, dizzy. Now every contraction is
intense.

3pm decide to go to the hospital.

3:30pm checked in to hospital room. Contractions continuing to come regular and strong, they picked
up through the car ride and walk into the hospital.

In bed for monitoring 20 minutes out of every hour.

4:00pm cervical check: 3cm dilated, 100% effaced, -1 station (not yet engaged baby head)
Sitting in bed, up to pee. Left side-lying with intense contractions for a little bit. Tried standing but feel
weak. On ball by the window, then leaning on Tony by the bed.

5:30pm monitored on the ball. Some back/leg pain. In bed leaning back on Tony. Much more inward
focused.

6:10 up to pee and then on ball in the shower (the labor pool is broken.)

6:50pm in bed on the monitor

7:50pm cervical check, some progress but not as much as hoped (at least 4cm, Amy didn’t want to know
exact) decided no amniotomy now.

8:40pm monitoring—labor has slowed, meditation music playing. Resting. There is a thunderstorm
outside. Feeling scared of the pain. Started a swaying rhythm during rushes, inward, good focus.

9:20pm to bathroom, forward lean over toilet, having trouble peeing. Leg shaking feels good, helps
loosen muscles.

9:45pm hands and knees in the bed for awhile, contractions strong and consistent

10:50pm back on monitor. Contractions more variable, some long low cramping, some quite strong.
Sometimes able to rest. Looks very concentrated—blowing not tensing visibly, tired labor gone look.

11:30pm pee

7-20-2010

Midnight: sitting on the bed, leaning forward onto pillows over tray table. Sleeping between strong
contractions, has a very good rhythm! IN it: sway, breathe, rock, stroke

1am 5-6 cm dilation 0 station (baby engaged)

1:30am up to pee, slow walk

1:50am on monitor in bed

2:30am standing at bed. 2:50am on ball. 3:30am pee then back in bed.

4:10am 7cm dilation. Hands and knees on bed, contractions hard, no break. Then laying back with
monitor and asleep, labor slowed.

6:00am awake! Feeling empowered and a bit hungry, ate some snacks.

6:45 back in bed after up to pee and walk a bit.

7:15am still at 7cm dilation

7:42am amniotomy—clear water. Baby at 0 station. Squatting is intense, ball feels good—coming closer
together.

8:45am left sidelying in bed—intense buy manageable, easy to rest between.

9:20am coming closer together—strong hard work.

9:35am up to pee.

9:50am in shower on the ball and then kneeling.

10:20am out of the shower.

10:30—11am on the monitor with slowed labor again.

Sitting, side-lying, kneeling forward—coming closer together again.

Noon: sitting straight up—long, strong, closer together about 3 minutes apart or less

12:30pm 6cm dilation, swollen feeling cervix (says Nancy the midwife) Amy feeling exhausted and
discouraged after so much hard work and little sleep or food. She and Tony decide to take epidural
analgesia, knowing they may also need pitocin to help the baby be born today instead of tomorrow or
by c-section.

1:15 IV with Ringer’s Lactate, continuous EFM now.

1:45pm Epidural placed

3:15pm catheter and internal contraction monitor. More precise contraction monitor shows very slowed
labor, not the kind of contractions that would bring a baby in the next 5 or 6 hours.

5:15pm Pitocin started at level 2.

5:30pm Everyone is napping.

8:30pm 8cms dilation, 100% effaced, 0 station baby. Pitocin is at 18, upped steadily on the half-hour.
Contractions strengthening and regular. Feeling is returning in legs, feel some tubing, pressure, feel the
contractions without pain. Breathing through for baby’s sake. In good spirits and ready to nap some
more.

9:34pm Epidural drip reservoir is empty. Amy seems asleep but less comfortable on her right side. Asked
for refill on the medication.

10:00pm 10cm/100%/0 station. Couple practice pushes moved the baby a little. Laboring down for an
hour or so (letting contractions move baby closer without active pushing.) Feeling a bit shaky and
nauseous (normal.) Flipped to left side, switched back to right.

10:20pm very shaky during contractions, hit dosing button on Epidural. Pitocin up to 20.
11:00pm baby has early decels (normal, what should be happening as baby moves down birth canal)
epidural is back in effect, can still feel pressure and legs.

11:21pm baby has moved down some on its own. Ready to try pushing.

11:58pm July 20th, 2010 Baby Girl is born! Apgar 9 at 1 minute, 10 at 5 minutes. Delivered onto chest,
cuddling with Mommy and Daddy. Addyson Mae, 7lbs even, 19 ¼” long.

1:25am latched on to left breast!

1:45am latched on well to right breast 

2:15am baby and Tony go to nursery for newborn exam, bath, and observation. Amy moves to
postpartum room.

3:00am settled in postpartum room with some food, waiting for Addy to be returned. Doula leaves as
everyone is settled.