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| and here we go..... |
Well, what a day (or more) this was for us! So here is the story. I think I suffered a bit of post traumatic stress disorder from this delivery but for those about to deliver just be encouraged that everyone is different :)
On August 28th we went in for our normal routine OB apt and Maddie was measuring small--measuring about 35 wks instead of 39 wks. I had made a goal not to cry at this MD apt bc that was becoming normal for me (no change in dialation, just so ready, hormonal--you know me, love the tears). So no tears at this point and my MD and Andrew were rejoicing with me! The MD sent us for a sono and I told Andrew to go back to work bc she had been "measuring small" the entire time and I just figured this was another sono and I would get the same news--fluid levels are good, she is growing. So maddie and I headed over to the sono and things were going well until the MD told me she had not grown but an ounce in the last three weeks and that we needed to get her out sooner rather than later.
And thats where the tears set in! You knew they were coming. So then I was sent back to the OB office where all the doctors talked and discussed when I should go in for induction. I was already on the induction schedule for Thur night (it was tuesday). So I call Andrew to come back--all I could get out on the phone--Maddie isnt growing, we are going in tonight. Poor guy--I couldnt expound any more and he was on his way back to the hospital.
So after much discussion and phone calls, the decision was made--we were on the schedule for induction that night!
I called my family, and my mom and lee were on the next flight out to dallas. I picked them up (all while starting to have contractions--i was just in a bit of pain but not thinking anything about it-just figured it was from the routine OB apt taht morning). I pick up my mom and lee, we go home, finish packing. Andrew comes home-we all go to dinner at Cedars...trying hard not to get emotional or really think into things too much.
At 8pm, we check in. Andrew was a bit anxious, I could tell. I was calm and I dont think things had set in...until we checked into the hospital room and i saw the gown i was about to put on. The tears came! But soon settled down.
I got cervadil placed around 9pm...andrew and I were just watching tv and around 11-12 or so, he tried to get some zzz zzz's but of course Im sitting there watching the monitor--having constant contractions, nothing painful at this point. I was very comfortable. At 1245am I had a gush! of water! I thought-ok i either peed on myself or my water just broke. I say--um, babe, I think my water just broke! He was a bit skeptical thinking maybe it was just my tinkling! The RN tested the fluid and sure enough-it was my water! I was thankful bc that was one thing I didnt have to get done during the process. I dreaded having it broken manually so I was happy. One step in the right direction.
Around 1am, they sent us down to L&D!! Woohoo, we are on the way baby! Im texting my sister while this is going on. It was a bit surreal being wheeled down to L&D. I was excited. My mom and lee were asleep at my house and i get a text from my mom--is it true? I wasnt going to text her yet bc i knew she would be up all day with me at the hospital. So i text back-yes its true! water broken! L&D here we come!
We get down there and Im progressing fairly quickly. Im having contractions on my own and didnt have to get pitocin. Woohoo-im thinking, i rock at this, im a champ! Im gonna get her outta here! For some reason I had a goal not to get my epidural till 6am. Well around 430am I was in so much pain and just couldnt make it. I wake andrew up--he was snoozing some, as much as he could. At 5am I get my epidural and man--whoever invented an epidural is amazing! Well thats what I thought for a few hours! I couldnt feel anything, it was great. We just hung out. Im not sure what time my mom and lee ended up coming to the hospital-sometime around breakfast. I was progressing wonderfully. At 11am I dilated to an 8! Like i said-i thought i was a rockstar. My dads flight didnt get in til 5pm and I was a bit sad he was going to miss it but thankful Maddie was going to be here soon. Again, 8cm at 11am!
Ha..well, I spoke too soon. I stalled for hours...and hours...and hours. 430pm rolls around and im just about a 9 and the RN decides to let me push a few times to see if i make any progress. none. ugh. Maddie was sunny side up which wasnt making things any easier. So the RN says she has a trick to help rotate Maddie. Lets just say it was the most uncomfortable position that I was stuck in for an hr--included one leg in a stirup and me on my side. Even though I had the epi, I was in pain. Joy! Maddie rotates a tiny bit, nothing significantly.
The aches and pains were definitely setting in. I have hip issues from running and they were now acting up. Everytime I had a contraction I had major hip pain. It was unbearable. I had the get my epidural increased a few times but of course they were hesitant bc they wanted me to feel my legs while pushing. I didnt want to feel anything. I wasnt prepared for how long I was going to push. When I was transition phase ofn labor I hit a major nausea and vomiting period. Boo. Not fun...I hadnt eaten since Tues night at 7pm and its now Wed around 530pm.
At this point, we start pushing. Im thinking, ok -we are going to get this girl out soon. Its almost been 24 hrs since labor started and Im READY!!!!!!!!! GET HER OUT! I had everyone leave the room around 4ish bc I just wanted some time alone before pushing and getting things going. So around 530 i start pushing.
Pushing...and pushing...and pushing. 15 minutes pass, 30 minutes...1 hr....1.5 hrs....ok, at this point IM EXHAUSTED. I had not slept since mon night (from when i woke up on tue morning). Between pushing (which was a less than a minute or so, maybe), i would shut my eyes and almost fall asleep. Im going off fumes at this point. Its been more than 24+ hrs wtih no sleep--about 36 hrs. Im dying! 2 hrs pass of pushing. At this point im convinced Im going for a csection. After all this! I knew it-im going to have a csection. Well the doctor comes in and decides its time! So he pulls out the vaccume. I had no idea what it looked like or anything. I of course ask--well does it make a vaccume sound. Ha--not so much. Our MD was very sarcastic and perfect for the occasion. He put up with me along wtih Andrew and the two most wonderful nurses (one of which stayed 1.5 hrs late passed her shift to stay wtih me-i loved her!). Im still pushing.
Outside in the waiting room was all our family members. They waited and waited. My mom, i would say...was a bit worried. I hadnt seen her since about 4ish. She was at the RN station every 30 minutes. She kinda stalked my RNs. OK, the vaccume was put on (and dont forget, my epidural is not working great at this point--im in pain!). The vaccume kept slipping off bc of her hair. If you have seen her picture, you know she came out with a head full of hair! The pressure couldnt keep suctioning bc of her hair. At this point Im a very unhappy pregnant woman. Still convinced i was going to end up in a csection.
FINALLY...2.5 hrs later.....Madeline Cheryl Morgan was born at 809pm! I will be honest, I was so exhausted that when they put her in my arms (yes, after cleaning her off a bit), I wasnt sure what to think. I was so so tired. Going on 40 hrs of NO sleep. We ended up sending her to the nursery for the night after andrew and I had some time with her and after our families finally got to see and hold her. We went up to the nursey to see her around 12am and at this point im just dead to the world. We kept her in the nursey and while being wheeled back to our room I fainted. Just to top off a great delivery (HA), I passed out in the wheel chair. I woke up to acohol swabs under my nose and thought I had just had a good nap (literally). Andrew and I get a sandwich from the hspital (something I would have never eaten before but it had been more than 24 hrs sicne I had eaten so i was desperate). I took my last bite and I was out. Whew. What a day!!!!!!! or two days!
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| day 2 |
I woke up around 430am ready to see sweet maddie but first I had to pee on my own. I couldnt do it, so I sat up and drank a lot of water. I was scared of getting cathed again (i had to get cathed after delivery and it was anything but pleasant-ouch, ugh). I start crying bc i just couldnt think of handling anymore pain! Andrew decided that I should focus on going to the bathroom before we get maddie in the room. Smart man! :) So i drink and drink lots of water finally going to the bathroom on my own. No cath! Thank you sweet Jesus. Maddie had just spit up a little when I called for her to come to our room so they said we needed to wait till about 730 to try and breastfeed. Ok i thought-fine, take her back to the nursery. They werent even half way out the door before I was asleep again. I was wiped out. Finally at 730 Im awake and alert and holding our sweet baby girl!!!! What a cutie and sweet angel! I was smitten!
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| proud daddy |
I cant leave out what a rockstar my husband was during this whole time. I might have verbally abused him the last hr of pushing (he says the last 2 hrs of pushing) but he didnt complain (not that he could really complain, i mean i am the one pushing a baby out of my whooha...right?!?). But i know it was a long day for him. He was so involved and helped me push through those long and hard 2.5 hrs. This was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life and I wouldnt have had anyone else by my side to do it with. He has been my rock. The sweet Lord knew what He was doing when He put us together :)
