I can now feel reconnected to the rest of the world (haven't gotten out much in the last two weeks...).
So, May 3rd (Saturday), I had contractions all afternoon. My mom asked if they were getting stronger. I told her I didn't know what she meant. She let me know that I would know when that was happening. Mom called a lot that day and kept asking if she should come out. Said she didn't want to miss anything. Dad called at 7 and asked where I was at and when the baby was coming. He said mom was ready to sell the farm and move to Salt Lake. I convinced him that I didn't think it was time yet and he said they would wait. At 11 that night, the contractions quit.
May 4th (Sunday). I slept for a few hours, but the contractions started up again at 3. They were strong enough that I couldn't go back to sleep. I got up and did dishes. Mid-process, I knew exactly what my mom had meant when she asked if they were getting stronger. My eyes went wide, I had to brace myself against the cupboards, and I went up on my toes. Basically, it kind of freaked me out. When it finished, I was super excited because it meant we were getting closer to having our little angel. Shortly after, I found the first tinges of blood. Jon was excited and worried. So much so that he called the midwife. She informed us that it was probably just from the contractions, and that for first time mothers, they liked us to have 2 hours of 4 minute contractions before going into the hospital--but if they got down to 3 minute contractions, we needed to get to the hospital immediately.
Throughout the day, my contractions continued. They were never really consistent. They ranged from 30 minutes to 2 1/2 minutes apart. By that time, mom was getting frantic (she will claim she wasn't--but she was). Later that evening my ability to convince her that it wasn't time wore off. They were already packed and her and Taryn headed out.
Travis stopped by that evening to help Jon. He had been calling periodically to check on our status. While he was here, Melissa called on his cell. He let her know how we were doing. He handed me the phone and we talked for a minute. She offered their tub. Now our tub is just deep enough to cover my legs, and just long enough for me to sit with my legs straight. Their tub is huge, with jets. I accepted and Melissa said she would have it filled when we got there. That was when Mom and Taryn got here. I felt bad leaving them at my apartment while we went to Travis and Melissa's...but the tub was just too enticing. When we got there, the tub was full and the lights were off, candles lit, and music was playing. I appreciate them so much. We were only there 45 minutes to an hour, but it was wonderful. That was when the contractions got really strong in my back and 3 minutes apart. We decided it was time (around 10-10:30 pm). We tried to sneak out, but they heard us and came down stairs as we were leaving. They wished us luck and we were on our way.
Mom and Taryn followed us to the hospital. Mom joked later that Jon's speed was really variable on the way. She figured that he was speeding up when I was having a contraction. Not true. He would slow down to the speed limit during the contractions while I was distracted. When it passed, I would look at his speed and let him know that I was in labor and it was OK to go faster. He would then speed up to 8 miles over the speed limit...but when a contraction would start and I would quit prodding him to go faster, he would slow down again. We repeated this process all the way to the hospital.
When we walked into the labor and delivery unit, the lady at the desk asked what we were there for. Jon, in his frantic and frustrated state, told her that he had twisted his ankle and wanted it looked at. I agree with him. My belly was huge (see pic taken May 4)
and I was obviously in labor. I had asked about preregistration at the midwife clinic and they said their patients were automatically pre-registered (they are located on the floor just above the labor and delivery unit). We found out that wasn't true. That took FOREVER! Not really-but it sure seemed like it. At the end she asked me to glace over the information and make sure it was correct. I wasn't completely focused, but it still threw me when I didn't understand what I was looking at. She had handed me someone else's information sheet. Ugh-check in was a nightmare. By the time we where done, it was midnight.
May 5th (Monday). Well, the rest is really a blur to me. We had done really well with the Hypnobirthing to that point. We were 90% effaced and dialated to a 7. But then things kind of fell apart. My contractions changed. I no longer felt anything in the front or bottom...but everything was in the back and legs. Every contraction, my back would feel like it was on fire and I would have shooting pains on the outside of my legs from my hips to my knees. I lost my focus and fell apart. I got in the jetted tub there, but it didn't help much. After 1/2 an hour, the shooting pains in my legs didn't go away between contractions any more. Jon was a gem through it. He would hold me during each contraction and rub my back. Unfortunately, where to rub and the amount of pressure changed almost constantly. He was very patient as my demands (I'm pretty sure that is how they came out) changed. That was when Jon and I decided to get an epidural. It was a busy night there, so it still took quite a while for the anesthesiologist to get there. The baby's heart rate wouldn't accel like they wanted it to, so they wouldn't give me anything else while we waited for him. I don't know what time he came. I just remember him asking questions during my contractions and expecting me to answer. He finally said he had 4 more ladies he still needed to see and if I couldn't answer his questions he would have to come back later. That snapped me into it. Within 10 minutes I had answered his questions, and everything was done. I have to agree with Meadow...drugs are good. I don't know how much more of the back and leg pain I could have taken.
Anyway, the epidural, of course, slowed everything down. Several hours later, I had still only dialated another centimeter. The midwife talked about options, and they broke my water at around 3 am. A little while later, nothing much had changed. We agreed to the pitocin and the internal fetal monitor. They told me to sleep. I was excited at the chance. A little later, they came and gave me oxygen to help the baby's heart rate. From then on, I didn't really sleep. I noticed that when I was awake and breathing from the oxygen mask in deep, controlled breaths, her heart rate was fine. As I started dozing, my breaths shortened and her heart rate sped up. I opted to focus on my breathing.
I don't remember when we started pushing, but Jon said it was around 5...I thought it was closer to 6, but like I said...I really don't remember. After a while at pushing (again, no concept of time), they decided that I needed a rest and that the baby wasn't progressing because she was off to my right side. They had me lay on my left side, nearly on my stomach, for an hour to she if she would move to the center. I'm grateful for this time. I didn't sleep, but I did rest. Also, the effects of the epidural were lessening and I could feel the desire to push. I couldn't feel the actually contractions, but I was able to focus on the muscles that wanted to push. It helped me to get a feel for where I was supposed to be pushing...because no matter what they say, it IS NOT the same muscles you use for having a bowel movement.
Anyway, we pushed again for a while. Then I knew something was wrong. One nurse came in and examined me, then she went and got someone else, then they got someone else. I don't remember the acronyms they used, but she was still off center to my right, rotated 45 degrees and she hadn't dropped below a 0 on the pelvic stationing.
Well, to make a longer story a little shorter, there were a ton of people in the room. Me, Jon (moral support), Mom and Taryn (self appointed cheering squad who huddled on the couch trying to stay out of the way), the midwife and her two nurses, the labor and delivery nurse, Doctor Jackson and his resident assistant and a student, and 3 NICU staff, just in case. Doctor Jackson said we had three options: forceps, vacuum or c-section. Jon asked what he would do if it was his wife having the baby. Doctor Jackson said he would go with the metal because it gave them a better chance of getting a hold of the baby, helping to move her to the middle, rotate her the right direction, and pull her out. He talked about the bruising that was possible and said that in rare cases, it could cause broken bones. Jon decided that was what we were going to do. When I saw the forceps, I just about died. I was afraid of what they were going to do to my baby. I had to close my eyes and try not to think about it. Several people took a go at trying to get them properly located. Fortunately, they couldn't get a hold of her because of her off-center location and rotation. They decided to do a last ditch effort with the vacuum before going with a c-section. The resident assistant took over the vacuum. It was small, which was comforting after seeing the forceps. The first pull, the vacuum came off. It splattered blood all over the walls and the resident assistant. The doctor leaned over to her and said "and that is why you never sit directly in front of them". It grossed Taryn out. I think it may have phased her for life. Anyway, during the pull, the baby dropped a little. They were encouraged. They reattached the vacuum. That last time, I pushed for all I was worth. I think I pushed and they pulled through 2 contractions. Literally, she popped out. As Doctor Jackson started sewing me back up, the stitches he was taking became more and more noticeable. I hit the button to increase the epidural, but nothing happened. I had been aware that the feeling was coming back when they were working with the forceps, but the adrenaline helped a lot. As that wore off, I felt more of what was happening. They ended up having to give me a shot to deaden the area. I guess I tore pretty bad, inside and out. The doctor told my mom that he had never seen anyone swell as bad as I did.
It was so wonderful to finally see her and have her in my arms. It wasn't how I had imagined my labor and delivery going...but it was worth every second. I hardly noticed the hour that it took to get me stitched back up.
May 5th (Monday). Well, the rest is really a blur to me. We had done really well with the Hypnobirthing to that point. We were 90% effaced and dialated to a 7. But then things kind of fell apart. My contractions changed. I no longer felt anything in the front or bottom...but everything was in the back and legs. Every contraction, my back would feel like it was on fire and I would have shooting pains on the outside of my legs from my hips to my knees. I lost my focus and fell apart. I got in the jetted tub there, but it didn't help much. After 1/2 an hour, the shooting pains in my legs didn't go away between contractions any more. Jon was a gem through it. He would hold me during each contraction and rub my back. Unfortunately, where to rub and the amount of pressure changed almost constantly. He was very patient as my demands (I'm pretty sure that is how they came out) changed. That was when Jon and I decided to get an epidural. It was a busy night there, so it still took quite a while for the anesthesiologist to get there. The baby's heart rate wouldn't accel like they wanted it to, so they wouldn't give me anything else while we waited for him. I don't know what time he came. I just remember him asking questions during my contractions and expecting me to answer. He finally said he had 4 more ladies he still needed to see and if I couldn't answer his questions he would have to come back later. That snapped me into it. Within 10 minutes I had answered his questions, and everything was done. I have to agree with Meadow...drugs are good. I don't know how much more of the back and leg pain I could have taken.
Anyway, the epidural, of course, slowed everything down. Several hours later, I had still only dialated another centimeter. The midwife talked about options, and they broke my water at around 3 am. A little while later, nothing much had changed. We agreed to the pitocin and the internal fetal monitor. They told me to sleep. I was excited at the chance. A little later, they came and gave me oxygen to help the baby's heart rate. From then on, I didn't really sleep. I noticed that when I was awake and breathing from the oxygen mask in deep, controlled breaths, her heart rate was fine. As I started dozing, my breaths shortened and her heart rate sped up. I opted to focus on my breathing.
I don't remember when we started pushing, but Jon said it was around 5...I thought it was closer to 6, but like I said...I really don't remember. After a while at pushing (again, no concept of time), they decided that I needed a rest and that the baby wasn't progressing because she was off to my right side. They had me lay on my left side, nearly on my stomach, for an hour to she if she would move to the center. I'm grateful for this time. I didn't sleep, but I did rest. Also, the effects of the epidural were lessening and I could feel the desire to push. I couldn't feel the actually contractions, but I was able to focus on the muscles that wanted to push. It helped me to get a feel for where I was supposed to be pushing...because no matter what they say, it IS NOT the same muscles you use for having a bowel movement.
Anyway, we pushed again for a while. Then I knew something was wrong. One nurse came in and examined me, then she went and got someone else, then they got someone else. I don't remember the acronyms they used, but she was still off center to my right, rotated 45 degrees and she hadn't dropped below a 0 on the pelvic stationing.
Well, to make a longer story a little shorter, there were a ton of people in the room. Me, Jon (moral support), Mom and Taryn (self appointed cheering squad who huddled on the couch trying to stay out of the way), the midwife and her two nurses, the labor and delivery nurse, Doctor Jackson and his resident assistant and a student, and 3 NICU staff, just in case. Doctor Jackson said we had three options: forceps, vacuum or c-section. Jon asked what he would do if it was his wife having the baby. Doctor Jackson said he would go with the metal because it gave them a better chance of getting a hold of the baby, helping to move her to the middle, rotate her the right direction, and pull her out. He talked about the bruising that was possible and said that in rare cases, it could cause broken bones. Jon decided that was what we were going to do. When I saw the forceps, I just about died. I was afraid of what they were going to do to my baby. I had to close my eyes and try not to think about it. Several people took a go at trying to get them properly located. Fortunately, they couldn't get a hold of her because of her off-center location and rotation. They decided to do a last ditch effort with the vacuum before going with a c-section. The resident assistant took over the vacuum. It was small, which was comforting after seeing the forceps. The first pull, the vacuum came off. It splattered blood all over the walls and the resident assistant. The doctor leaned over to her and said "and that is why you never sit directly in front of them". It grossed Taryn out. I think it may have phased her for life. Anyway, during the pull, the baby dropped a little. They were encouraged. They reattached the vacuum. That last time, I pushed for all I was worth. I think I pushed and they pulled through 2 contractions. Literally, she popped out. As Doctor Jackson started sewing me back up, the stitches he was taking became more and more noticeable. I hit the button to increase the epidural, but nothing happened. I had been aware that the feeling was coming back when they were working with the forceps, but the adrenaline helped a lot. As that wore off, I felt more of what was happening. They ended up having to give me a shot to deaden the area. I guess I tore pretty bad, inside and out. The doctor told my mom that he had never seen anyone swell as bad as I did.
It was so wonderful to finally see her and have her in my arms. It wasn't how I had imagined my labor and delivery going...but it was worth every second. I hardly noticed the hour that it took to get me stitched back up.
![Taelyn Elsa [1 day old]](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hTLs06WCUYc/Se91H-Qr8QI/AAAAAAAABAM/pnIU0_tpo8g/S150/Hosp+2.jpg)
![Tae [10 1/2 mo.]](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hTLs06WCUYc/Scuw_cmJLxI/AAAAAAAAA70/qCmmsgLsUzw/S220/tae3_2.jpg)
2 comments:
What a trooper! And, congratulations to all of you. (But, we have no pictures yet?)
Tami
Oops, sorry!. When I clicked back to the blog, there were pictures!
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