On February 15 at 2:33 pm we welcomed our beautiful, sweet, little baby Madelyn Claire into this world. I better document this story before it gets hazy in my mind during these busy, sleepless newborn days.
We checked into the hospital at 9pm on her due date to be induced- Valentine's Day! We joked about how this is a Valentine's Day we will never forget ;)
Why did I get induced? My OB doesn't like you to go too far past your due date. And I just had this feeling that this was a good choice. In hindsight, we are really glad I went with my gut as she did have meconium in the amniotic fluid! So she was ready to go.
The induction method was using this cervical tablet that is inserted to help with effacement and then we would start pitocin. My birth plan was to try to go without an epidural, if possible. But I was realistic that this may change as things progress. Especially with pitocin...
Within 30 minutes of receiving the tablet, the contractions started firing. I worked hard to breathe through them and the classes I took said you'd always get a break between them. However, as I watched the clock I realized there was no break between contractions.
I laid there in some pretty intense pain for several hours and then my water broke. That. Was. Awful. (and disgusting)
My nurse checked me at this point, and I was 90% effaced, but still only 2 cm dilated.
As time passed - the pain got almost unbearable. I couldn't talk in full sentences or see straight. But I kept breathing through it all. I had been in labor for about 12 hours at this point. I remember looking at Ryan saying "I have reached my threshold of pain, I am going to need an epidural to get through this."
And then I started vomiting. Like...projectile vomiting. We got the nurse in and she gave me zofran - which seemed to help. I asked if I could get the epidural at this point, and she said "no sorry honey. And we are going to need to get your pitocin started now because you aren't progressing"
I started to cry at this point because I had no idea how I was going to handle any more pain.
Thankfully, change of shift occurred soon thereafter. My new nurse brought in a different OB doctor to check on me and I was shaking all over. I asked the doctor how long it would be until they would let me get an epidural, and she said "why haven't you gotten one already? I'm not touching you or doing anything until your pain is better controlled." She was like an angel from God! (haha!)
Within 5 minutes - the anesthesiologist was in the room and I was getting the epidural. It was really challenging to stay still during this as I was having such intense contractions.
Soon after the epidural, I finally could take a deep breath and see straight. My nurse encouraged me to try to close my eyes and rest - since I hadn't slept all night. I was 100% effaced, but still only 2 cm dilated.
I took a nap and she got the Pitocin started.
Every time I got checked - I was finally dilating. They explained that I wasn't dilating early b/c my whole body was so tense.
I remember at about 12:00pm, I closed my eyes again for a quick nap. The nurse came to check me and Ryan and I took bets on my stats. I assumed I was going to be about 6 cm. We were wrong. I was 10 cm, and she could feel her head!
At 1st she said "lets do a few practice pushes while we get Dr. Serrano here" .... she looked down and then said "You know what? Actually, just stay RIGHT THERE, don't push. This baby is coming...."
Within moments Dr. Serrano was in the room - my lets were in stirrups, and it was time to push! I remember feeling sort of scared at this point - like I wasn't ready for this :D
It took 5 strong pushes - and baby Madelyn was on my chest!
*****
It is September 22, and I am finally publishing this story. I wrote it on March 15 - but waited to hit "publish", and I'm glad I did.
I'm now 7 months into being a Mom. I look back on this story and still can say with confidence that day was the best day of my life that I would re-live over and over and over again, as much agony, pain, anticipation, and vomit that ensued in that day.
This is also my proclamation to try to get back into blogging again to capture my thoughts in this journey of life.
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