I know that many woman here are able to say they had a 4-8 hour labor that they credit to their fitness. I want to give a perspective of what happens when shit hits the fan and how fitness is even more important in those circumstances.
My waters broke at 3:40am on May 22nd. I was GSB positive, which meant I had to go in ASAP to get started on every-four-hour doses of penicillin. I took a quick shower while my husband got together our grab bags, and then off we went to the hospital.
Once there, I got started on my first dose of many penicillin injections. I was checked by the nurse and only 60% effaced and 1 cm dilated. My contractions were still minimal and nonproductive, so I tried numerous things to try to naturally kickstart active labor: power walking, nipple stimulation, and flexing my abdominal muscles. After 8 hours, my midwife visited and told me that chances of my labor starting naturally were very low. I was allowed 4 more hours, at which point I’d start pitocin. While I could get contractions going with walking and nipple stimulation, they’d subside if I rested and tried to let my body take over. I started pitocin at 4:30 pm on May 22nd.
The pitocin definitely helped get my contractions going, and I began a consistent active labor later that evening. Around 11 pm both myself and baby started having trouble coping because the pitocin was causing contractions that lasted 6-8 minutes. Both our heart rates dropped, so I was given air and the nurse turned down the pitocin. I continued my pitocin-induced labor through the night and into the next morning.
By 9am, the pain was excruciating except in one position on the labor ball with my husband pressing on my lower back during each contraction. My midwife came in to check me again: 70% effaced and 3 cm dilated. In addition, the baby’s head was descending, but my cervix was still thick and posterior. I was instructed to try laboring on my side with the labor peanut to encourage her head to move back. I grinned and sobbed through each contraction on my side before I gave up and went back to the labor ball with my husband behind me.
At this point, my husband started talking about seeking pain management. He listened to the nurses explain our options, and helped guide me to an epidural. Now 32 hours after my water broke and 20 hours of pitocin labor, I received an epidural.
I hated no being able to move freely, but I still had full use of my legs. I could feel the pressure of contractions, but the unbearable pain was gone. My girl was a champ and had a healthy heart rate the whole time until delivery. At this point, I hadn’t had any solid food since I started pitocin - I was completely sustained on Tailwind Recovery drink. Seriously, get this for labor. I never felt hungry or physically tired since I was able to stay well nourished.
There was some concern about the final phase of labor and my exhaustion. Frankly, I fucking ROCKED the pushing part. I was finally at 10cm dilation at 8:50pm - my beautiful and healthy daughter was born at 10:02pm on May 23rd after only 12 pushing sets.
While I stayed fit during my pregnancy because of the promise of an easy labor, my fitness was key to being able to meet the biggest physical challenge of my life. In addition, my daughter was used to mom’s cardio routines and used to these types of stresses. If I wasn’t focusing on my fitness during pregnancy, though, I’m positive I would have had a C section or dystocia. I’m incredibly thankful to my husband’s advocacy and the skills of the L&D nurses and my midwife.
TL;DR: Had a 42 hour labor, 20 hours unmedicated with pitocin. Despite long labor, I had a quick vaginal birth and a healthy, vibrant baby girl. Being fit was the only reason we finished the labor strong.
My waters broke at 3:40am on May 22nd. I was GSB positive, which meant I had to go in ASAP to get started on every-four-hour doses of penicillin. I took a quick shower while my husband got together our grab bags, and then off we went to the hospital.
Once there, I got started on my first dose of many penicillin injections. I was checked by the nurse and only 60% effaced and 1 cm dilated. My contractions were still minimal and nonproductive, so I tried numerous things to try to naturally kickstart active labor: power walking, nipple stimulation, and flexing my abdominal muscles. After 8 hours, my midwife visited and told me that chances of my labor starting naturally were very low. I was allowed 4 more hours, at which point I’d start pitocin. While I could get contractions going with walking and nipple stimulation, they’d subside if I rested and tried to let my body take over. I started pitocin at 4:30 pm on May 22nd.
The pitocin definitely helped get my contractions going, and I began a consistent active labor later that evening. Around 11 pm both myself and baby started having trouble coping because the pitocin was causing contractions that lasted 6-8 minutes. Both our heart rates dropped, so I was given air and the nurse turned down the pitocin. I continued my pitocin-induced labor through the night and into the next morning.
By 9am, the pain was excruciating except in one position on the labor ball with my husband pressing on my lower back during each contraction. My midwife came in to check me again: 70% effaced and 3 cm dilated. In addition, the baby’s head was descending, but my cervix was still thick and posterior. I was instructed to try laboring on my side with the labor peanut to encourage her head to move back. I grinned and sobbed through each contraction on my side before I gave up and went back to the labor ball with my husband behind me.
At this point, my husband started talking about seeking pain management. He listened to the nurses explain our options, and helped guide me to an epidural. Now 32 hours after my water broke and 20 hours of pitocin labor, I received an epidural.
I hated no being able to move freely, but I still had full use of my legs. I could feel the pressure of contractions, but the unbearable pain was gone. My girl was a champ and had a healthy heart rate the whole time until delivery. At this point, I hadn’t had any solid food since I started pitocin - I was completely sustained on Tailwind Recovery drink. Seriously, get this for labor. I never felt hungry or physically tired since I was able to stay well nourished.
There was some concern about the final phase of labor and my exhaustion. Frankly, I fucking ROCKED the pushing part. I was finally at 10cm dilation at 8:50pm - my beautiful and healthy daughter was born at 10:02pm on May 23rd after only 12 pushing sets.
While I stayed fit during my pregnancy because of the promise of an easy labor, my fitness was key to being able to meet the biggest physical challenge of my life. In addition, my daughter was used to mom’s cardio routines and used to these types of stresses. If I wasn’t focusing on my fitness during pregnancy, though, I’m positive I would have had a C section or dystocia. I’m incredibly thankful to my husband’s advocacy and the skills of the L&D nurses and my midwife.
TL;DR: Had a 42 hour labor, 20 hours unmedicated with pitocin. Despite long labor, I had a quick vaginal birth and a healthy, vibrant baby girl. Being fit was the only reason we finished the labor strong.
Way to be awesome!