Monday, August 3rd (1:00pm): OB appointment. I called in because Max was not moving much. They hooked me up to the monitor and though it took a bit for him to start moving, his heart rate was great. They did a quick ultrasound and though everything looked fine, I was having pretty consistent contractions- like, 2-3 minutes apart! Even though I was only 1cm dilated, my OB decided to send me down to L&D to be monitored- she wanted to make sure I wasn't in early labor.
Monday, August 3rd (5:00pm): After a few hours on the monitors, I was not progressing so they decided to have me start a 24-hour urine protein test and sent me home with instructions to come back if the contractions didn't stop. (Side note for those who may appreciate it- while I was collecting my urine, I lost my mucous plug. That was a unique and strange visual. It also made for a good laugh when I had to turn it in and explain why there was more than just urine in my collection jug.)
Monday, August 3rd (11:00pm): Still "Braxton Hicks-ing"... so we decided to go in. Long story short, I had not progressed at all and the contractions were becoming more erratic. Damn. I was pissed. Tears were shed. We were sent home.
Tuesday, August 2nd (all day): I spent the day walking around and trying to get stuff done and get the little man to start dropping. I went to Deer Park, Buy Buy Baby, and Ikea, where I picked up a little bookcase (the last piece of furniture for Max's room!) I was definitely "contracting" all day, but wasn't convinced anything was changing.
Tuesday, August 2nd (8:00pm): In all of my almost-a-Mom intelligence, I thought it would be a good idea to try and bring the (50lb +) bookshelf in BY MYSELF. Now, understand I had one of those little dollies so it really wasn't that heavy. However, it needed to get up our deck stairs. First stair and the wheel got stuck so as I pulled, the bookcase stopped but my back kept going. Immediately I knew (felt) the error in my ways. I hobbled inside (I could not stand up straight) and called Ben... "I need you to come home... NOW." In his rush, he told me later, he didn't know why I was summoning him. But he learned a few weeks ago that when I called with the, "I need you to come home NOW," he came home. I called my chiropractor and doula, who both scolded me, then stated I probably wouldn't keep progressing now that I was in pain and couldn't relax. A call to the OB (who also told me what an idiot I was) and we were headed back in to Labor & Delivery.
That tower in the corner is the "bookcase"
August 4th (8am): The nurse comes in to check me after a night of resting comfortably. 1.5cm. Damn it all. This has got to be a joke. She goes and talks to my OB, who advises Pitocin might be a good idea. I had been pretty against induction all along, but at this point I was so frustrated and confused as to why I was regularly contracting but not dilating, I became open to the option. With the promise of "starting slow", I agreed. Ben was not too pleased (like I said, we both were pretty against induction), but after talking to my OB, he understood and agreed.
A hour later, all hell broke loose. We are still not sure what happened- perhaps a reaction to the Pit or a surge or Relaxin, but suddenly I was in MAJOR pain, and not just with contractions. After trying a dose of narcs and me BEGGING the nurse to turn off the Pit, they ordered the Epidural, turned off the Pitocin and started flushing me with fluids. Honestly, it was all a blur. That's how badly my WHOLE BODY was hurting. Luckily the anesthesiologist arrived quickly and with little recollection, I was administered the epidural. Just a short while later, the pain was gone and I was resting comfortably. They Nurse turned the Pitocin back on (at the smallest level possible). By this point my Mom had arrived and it turned into a waiting game. I almost immediately fell asleep and didn't wake until...
August 4th (12:30pm): My water broke on it's own! As most stories go, I can tell I'm "leaking" and call the Nurse, who thinks it's probably just the catheter, only to discover that yes, my water DID break and I'm dilated to almost 6cm! I cheer momentarily, and basically fall back asleep.
August 4th (5pm): I wake again to lots of pressure. I call for the nurse who checks me and to her surprise, I'm 10cm, fully effaced and Max was at a zero station! She calls the OB who comes in just as surprised as we all were (she later admitted she was sure I wouldn't have Max until the following morning). They "set up shop" and had me start doing some practice pushing. I got the hang of pushing pretty quickly, and was mostly excited to meet our little man!
Just us two for the last time!
But let's fast forward to...
August 4th (6:15pm): I AM STILL PUSHING. I also had a "leak" meconium so the NICU nurses were called in to be present in case he had swallowed any. By this point, I really have no idea how I'm going to do this. I made them move the "I want to see the birth" mirror because really, it was more discouraging by that point (again, HOW THE H AM I GOING TO DO THIS?!?!) Eventually, the OB realizes he is coming down with his head a bit sideways... an episiotomy would have to happen. And seriously, the moment after she did...
August 4th (6:47pm): MAX MAKES HIS DEBUT!!! He was quickly put in the little heated bed and looked over- Ben went to be with him as they checked him out. They had to suction his lungs a bit, but he hadn't really swallowed much of the meconium. He was, however, breathing rather quickly (normal rate is preferred to be below 60 breaths/minute... he was at 120). We were told that is part of the transition, and some babies just take a bit longer. Ben got to cut the cord, he was swaddled and finally I got to hold him for about 5 minutes. He was quickly taken to the Special Care nursery for his bath and another APGAR test. Ben got to stay with him and our family was able to look on from the viewing window of the nursery.
Holding tight to Daddy's finger
Not a fan of his first bath
I don't remember arriving in the recovery room. I actually don't remember much of anything until I was wheeled into the Special Care nursery to FINALLY see my boy. Mind you, this is almost 10pm. It was then we were told that if he didn't transition soon, he would have to go to the NICU. Around midnight, he was transferred there and put on Oxygen. Of course by the next morning he was doing much better, but they had to wait until his breathing had been below 60 for a good 24 hours before they'd consider releasing him.
Sweet, sweet boy
Too many wires :(
So for the next 2.5 days, I tried to recover and Max grew stronger. By Friday morning he was off the oxygen, and his IV was out later that afternoon when he received his last dose of antibiotics. Providing his bilirubin levels were normal, we were told he'd get to go home the next day.
Now, technically, my 48 hour "normal delivery" stay should have ended Friday night. But my OB found a way around it (I mean, I did have a postpartum hemorrhage for pete's sake) so we could hopefully be released at the same time.
August 7th (4:30pm): We were ON OUR WAY HOME!!!! After a crazy first birthing experience, Max, Ben and I were on our way home to start our life as a family.
Off we go!
I am so grateful for so many things:
- A healthy baby boy!
- The peace that, even though he was in the NICU, I always just KNEW he would be OK.
- That we got to go home TOGETHER. I can not imagine having to leave the hospital without him.
- That, as crazy as it was, it was my FIRST experience- although I know it 'should' have been different, that craziness was all I knew.
- Our amazing families who were SO supportive through every part of Max's delivery and arrival.
- And finally, my unreal husband who was with me every second of every part of the experience. He jumped into Fatherhood with strength and ease, and has never been more handsome, tender, sexy, and PRECIOUS.
We are adjusting to life together swimmingly, and can't wait to share our lives with everyone!
2 comments:
Great post. Congrats to your new family. And LOVE that last pic.
Wow! I saw on twitter you were at the hospital at 1pm and had a son at 645pm. I had no idea ALL you went through! We have similar "pushing" stories and of the like until we held our precious first borns! I miss you and want to see you and your sweet little guy soon!
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