Birth Story - Part Two - Day Two

If you haven't read the first part yet, scroll down to find it.

After about an hour of sleep my nurse came in to check on me and start the Cytotec again. I barely noticed since the ambien had kicked in full force. I was still having contractions which were irregular but very frequent and seemed to be getting stronger as the night progressed.

My mom got up about 1:15 when she heard my nurse talking with me about decels in the baby's heartrate. My nurse had me trying different positions to see if they'd improve and I was put on oxygen about this time. For awhile the decels seemed better when I was on my right side, but within a couple hours they had gotten longer and more frequent. By 4 am I had gotten very restless and was breathing through contractions. The first two Cytotecs stopped my contractions, but the third seemed to have pushed me into labor! Finally! I was chatting with my mom about how happy I was that labor had finally really begun when suddenly my cervix really hurt. It felt like Makenna was trying to scratch or punch her way out. My mom thought she was probably moving into the birth canal, but I swear I felt fingers scratching. Five minutes later my water broke. I told my mom I thought I was bleeding or had wet the bed, that still makes me shake my head. It's funny how clueless you can be in situations like that. It was just a bit of water and not the gush I'd had with Ryan, so I guess I didn't think that's what it could be. My nurse checked me and I was 2 cm, 75% effaced.

As soon as my water broke the contractions began in earnest. They were 1 1/2 -2 minutes apart and I barely had time to recover from one when the next began. Wayne woke up about this time and got me a cold cloth for my head. For some reason that really helped, until he put his hand on my head over the cloth and that drove me crazy because it warmed up the cloth. I remember pushing his hand away, but I didn't have the energy to tell him why. Poor guy. Dr. Aboveandbeyond was called in and feeling like things were suddenly moving super fast, I wondered if he'd make it. By 5 am there were even more decels and the Epi Guy was called. My nurse had to ask me if I wanted him to come, I was so intent on just getting through each contraction, I'd completely forgotten about an epidural. Fifteen minutes later I finally asked if I could move. I'd been laying on my right side the whole time, and couldn't take it anymore. My mom says I didn't even wait for the nurse to respond before I was up on my hands and knees. Right before I moved the nurse had checked me and I was a 3-4 and the nausea had kicked in. I was waiting for this, since I threw up throughout most of my labor with Ryan. Once I'd moved I went through a couple contractions and then I was pushing involuntarily. My mom and nurse instantly had me on my back again for another check, I was 6-7, and I was given a shot of Terbutaline to slow down my contractions. Decels were still getting worse but variability remained good and the Epi Guy finally arrived.

I was thrilled to see him, and couldn't wait to hunch over that pillow and start feeling better. My mom was asked to leave the room, I'm guessing that was one of the longest hours of her life. My nurse was in front of me continually trying to find the baby's heartrate with a monitor and Wayne was feeding me ice chips. He says I said thank you after each bite and he and the nurse thought that was really funny. As I hunched over the pillow my water fully broke and came pouring out. It was like a waterfall and got all over my nurses feet. Wayne grabbed a couple full size towels to help soak it all up and my poor nurse needed a change of clothes when it was over. I managed to laugh because it was so crazy. The first attempt at the epi went into my spinal column. It made my left leg tingle and numbed that side of my body. The second attempt didn't work at all. Finally the third attempt made it into the right spot and I had some relief. I was told that I'd possibly get a spinal headache but that was the least of my concerns at the time. Instead my thoughts were "Epidurals Rock!", at least until I realized I couldn't move or lift my head. That was concerning to the Epi Guy as well, and he reduced the medicine I was getting. With me laying down and the monitors back on we discovered that changing position and oxygen weren't helping the decels.

Dr. Aboveandbeyond arrived as Epi Guy was wrapping up and after checking me and watching the monitors he mentioned that I might be looking at a C-Section. He let me labor through a few contractions and then had me push to see what would happen. At that point, I was an 8 and +1 station. My contractions were still about 2 minutes apart but not as strong thanks to the Terbutaline. Decelerations were down to 60 beats lasting 2 minutes. The pushing didn't cause any change, so the decision was made for a c-section. I was sad to have gotten so close to fully dialated and not be able to deliver Makenna, but ultimately what mattered was a healthy baby. After the decision was made the move to the operating room was quick. I don't remember much at this point, due to all the medications. I drifted in and out during the preparation and surgery and didn't even realize it when Makenna let out her first cry. I remember Wayne trying to stand up and a nurse kept making him sit down. Then Wayne saying "Did you hear that, that was our baby!" I looked over to the warming table to see a very blue and floppy baby, but she let out a few cries pretty quickly. Apgars were 7/9 and it was 3 minutes from the first cut to the time she was delivered. She had a small cut on her shoulder from the surgery, but it healed pretty quickly. I got to see her for just a quick kiss and then she was whisked off to the nursery with Wayne.

The rest of that day is kind of a blur. I was really sick and had some complications from the meds. Any time I opened my eyes I would throw up, so I spent most of the day sleeping with a cold cloth on my head. I wasn't able to move my legs for almost 4 hours after the surgery, I guess it's usually about half an hour, and I missed Ryan's first visit to meet his sister because I couldn't keep my eyes open. I breastfed her once with the help of a nurse soon after surgery, but wasn't able to for the rest of the day. I'm sad that I missed her first day, but so glad that so many family members were here to meet her! Finally around 9 that night I decided to try to breast feed again. I still didn't feel very well, but I wanted to hold my daughter! Amazingly enough, once I had her in my arms, I started to feel better. The nausea subsided enough for me to feed her and hold her and really get a good look at her. Wayne had left for a bit and arrived just after I'd finished feeding her. He said it was amazing how different her face looked. It had been "scrunchy" all day, but she finally looked relaxed and her face was smooth. He said she just needed her mommy. Those words still make me tear up. It was a long two days, but well worth it all for my sweet baby girl!

Just for the record, my physical recovery had gone really well. I expected surgery and recovery to be so much worse than it's been. I did, however, get the spinal headache that Epi Guy mentioned. I ended up having to go back to the hospital for a blood patch, basically another epidural with my own blood instead of medication. A spinal headache is created when spinal fluid leaks from a hole created by a spinal tap or missed Epidural, so the blood seals the hole in the spinal column which makes the headache go away. I was amazed at how quickly it worked and shocked to realize how much pain I'd been in.

Birth Story - Part One

After having a small glass of milk and a piece of Irish Soda Bread for luck, I headed into the hospital at 6 am. Induction is so much different than going into labor naturally. I barely slept the night before because of anticipation and nerves. My mom's alarm failed to go off, but I woke her up and she got ready in record time so she could go with us.

After checking in, we headed up to Labor and Delivery. The room was ready and waiting for me, however I had a long wait ahead. A 31 week abruption had come in right before me, along with 2 other inductions and a c-section. Needless to say, the nurses were busy. I changed into my hospital gown, robe and pink fuzzy slippers and waited. Wayne made a few phone calls for work, I tried to take a nap and my mom worked on the cross stitch she was making for Makenna. I poked my head out of the room at one point and looked for a nurse, because I was sure they'd forgotten us. Finally, around 9:15 am a nurse came in to get my history, set up the fetal and contraction monitors, start an IV and explain the process. We were going to begin with Pitocin, which I questioned because Dr. Aboveandbeyond had mentioned starting with Cytotec to ripen my cervix since I was only 1 cm and 50% at my last appt. The nurse assured me that he wanted to start with Pitocin so that began at 9:30 am, after a quick check to determine that I was still 1 cm, 50% and -3 station. I was shocked to find out that they would increase the dose every half hour and once it got to a certain point I wouldn't be able to get out of bed. I spent hours of my labor with Ryan walking the halls, and had assumed I'd be doing some of that this time as well. After the pitocin was rolling the anesthesiologist came in and we went through medical history again and I assured him that I wanted an epidural as soon as my water broke.

Around 10:15 Ryan came in for a short visit. Contractions had begun, but were still very mild, so I wasn't concerned about him being there. That said, he left about 20 minutes later so he could play with friends. (Thanks Jenna and Jacy!) For the next two hours we hung out, I managed to get in two Sudoku puzzles and everyone else took shifts for lunch. We also took some pictures, the most notable being a few that featured the size of my ankles and the swelling in my feet. Around 12:15 Pitocin was stopped. The nurse had called my doc, and found out that in fact she was supposed to start with Cytotec. It took all my energy not to yell "I told you so". Unfortunately contractions stopped when Pitocin stopped and Cytotec #1 was given at 12:45. Over the next 3 hours I had a visit from Kele, we played a hand of Rummy and contractions picked up again. By 3:30 they were every 2-3 minutes apart and looking pretty good on the monitor. At 4:45 Cytotec #2 was administered and contractions stopped again. I had my first ice chips of the day, after I asked, the nurse never offered me any. During my whole stay, she was the only nurse I didn't like, and I was glad to see her go that evening.

Ryan arrived back at the hospital and we all chatted for about an hour. He went home with my brother and stepdad around 6 and Wayne left not long after to get a shower and spend a little time with Ryan. Dr. Aboveandbeyond showed up about 7:15. He checked me and found that I'd barely made any progress that day. 2 cm, 50% effaced and -3 station. He said I should eat dinner, shower get some rest and they'd start Cytotec again at midnight. He also suggested some Ambien to help me rest through the night. Hmmm, this was beginning to sound very similar to my labor with Ryan. My mom went out and got us a light dinner and we watched a little TV. Shannon came in to visit, hoping to see a baby. Of course there wasn't one, but we had a nice visit anyway. I was having minor contractions this whole time, but nothing that led me to believe I was making any progress. Wayne came back and my mom ran home for a shower and change of clothes while I showered. Ambien and sleep arrived about 10 or 10:30.

To be continued...

Introducing...

Makenna Brette
6lbs 13 oz
20 Inches long
born at 7:28 am on January 3, 2007

We're all doing well, just settling into being a family of four and having a new baby in the house. Ryan is a proud big brother and Makenna is really easy going. She eats and sleeps really well and rarely fusses unless she's getting her diaper changed.

Look for more photos and a birth story to follow!