Besides, the constant ultrasounds and nonstress tests were reassuring and I got a lot of cool pictures of Kaylee before she was even born!
My last checkup was on Thursday 9/4 and the doctor felt that since I was still measuring small and was at term, that maybe we should consider trying induction, JUST IN CASE anything might be wrong with the baby... but that he didn't think anything would be wrong. I was only measuring around 35 weeks. Part of that might be due to being a small-ish baby myself, and part might be due to my food intake being a little on the low side since I've had gastric bypass surgery and can't eat as much at one sitting as what the average person might consume. My metabolism has been just cranking like crazy this pregnancy as well - I had a difficult time to gain weight.
Anyway, it was not looking favorable for induction - cervix still long and thick, baby still high in pelvis but not floating any more, no contractions at all - none - never had any braxton hicks or anything, to my knowledge.
So Thursday evening I went in for the initial dose of Cervadil. Friday morning 12 hours later they checked me and there was barely any change, so they decided to try another dose. By then, the plan was to see what happened with the second dose, and if there was ANY progress, remove the Cervadil as scheduled Friday night, and start Pitocin on Saturday. They were figuring that I might need a C section though, so I was mentally all geared up for a few days process and longer hospital stay.
So late Friday morning I got the second dose of Cervadil. Up until then, I had been eating and drinking normally, going to the bathroom, reading magazines, watching TV, etc. A couple hours later I started mildly contracting and when my doctor came and checked me, I was dilated to 2 cm but still not really much change other than that.
Almost immediately after she checked me, I started having cramps. They felt like menstrual cramps, so I wasn't really concerned or thinking labor at that point. They increased in intensity, and I STILL wasn't thinking labor, but by an hour later I was starting to get uncomfortable and have to breathe through them. Another half hour and I was starting to not cope well with the "cramps" and I was VERY uncomfortable, and my DH really thought maybe I should at least *consider* getting something to take the edge off to make me more comfortable. I tend to underestimate my pain level and have a high pain tolerance, so I was emotionally feeling like I was a huge baby to only be dilated to 2 cm and have another day or two of this process left to face, and knowing it was only going to get more intense...
So the nurse quickly checked me and discovered I was arond 6 cm and decided I should get some Nubain in my IV and get on the monitor again. It took about 15 minutes to get the Nubain from the pharmacy and by then I was starting to have a really difficult time with the contractions - by then they decided I was in active labor - and then when the Nubain got in, I was all giggly because I felt drunk and it didn't even take the edge off the contractions, so I was laughing because I thought it was hilarious for some reason.
Then I wanted to go urinate. I knew enough that I was not going to be allowed to go to the bathroom if they thought I felt like I needed to go #2 (I know, TMI!!!) but I assured them I just had to pee and of course by the time I got there, I was whining because I couldn't even do that.. and then I couldn't get off the toilet because every time I recovered from a contraction and tried to stand up, another one hit me.
By then the doctor came in and figured out what was going on. I guess the Nubain must have relaxed me just enough to move things along fast at the end. She got everyone to get ready and somehow (I don't remember much because of the Nubain) I got back to bed and about 13 minutes later, we had a baby!
Kaylee immediately after birth
So I essentially went from 2 cm to baby in about 2 hours and had NO IDEA I was really in labor.. and by the time I felt like I couldn't cope any more, I was actually just about in transition and when I felt sick and shaky, I was ready to push and just didn't know it!
I couldn't have asked for a better experience, actually. I had NO IDEA what to expect and tried to go into it with an open mind, but I was just so shocked at how fast it all took place.. and then of course, my perception was a little off because of the Nubain. I had like a 5 second delay on my responses to people... and I was sure I was out of it, and my DH was even kinda laughing because he's seen me tipsy and knows what I am like.
I do remember this one part where the midwife was finally recognizing that I had no focus and she got right in my ear and directed me on pushing and position etc, which was extremely helpful, but I remember she was asking me to grab my legs and hold them like I'd hold the oars in a rowboat. All I caught was "rowboat" and I was SURE I was hearing things. I looked at each doc, midwife, and nurse and asked in turn, "Were YOU just talking about a boat?" "What boat?" "Huh?" "Why is everyone talking about boats?" What's going on, anyway?
I was so confused... Ian was a little amused....
But then my baby was here and I was getting stitches (I had one small tear) and it was all over and I was RAVENOUS and starting to come off the high.. but totally exhausted all evening.
It was wonderful though. I am so in love with our daughter Kaylee. She is eating like a champ and sleeping well and she's so cute and I'm just so content.
So that's MY story, and I'm sticking to it. I'm so glad to be on this side of it and for our baby Kaylee to be here on the outside. She is so amazing and we are so blessed.
Daddy and Kaylee
(written 9/11/2008 by GVJ - originally posted on Facebook)
No comments:
Post a Comment