It was so nice to be unhooked from the pitocin and monitors. It was also wonderful to be able to eat something. The nurse said I could go walking, so I put my regular clothes back on, and when she walked back in she alarmingly stated, “ you can’t leave!” My husband and I laughingly assured her we were just walking the hospital premises, and off we went.
We walked outside for awhile, then returned to my room. I live in a small town, and we ran into an acquaintance whose spouse was in the hospital. He looked at us and said, “oh, I thought you would’ve had the baby by now.” Yes, you and me both.
By the time we returned, the nurse who checked me in the night prior was there. She told us she didn’t think the baby’s head was facing the right direction? I may be unclear, on those exact details, but she said that could be contributing to my lack of progress. She set me up laying in different positions to try moving the head and later told me it was working. She also gave me the medicine to help thin my membranes, and it worked!
At about 5 the next morning I heard scuffling feet, and a woman half crying before I heard a baby cry, the second birth I heard while there and the third total since we had to go to the hospital twice a week for fetal monitoring.
I got up to use the bathroom, and I knew it was going to be the day! I called the nurse and she confirmed and said I was now dilated to a 4. At that point I wasn’t having huge contractions, but all of the sudden I felt this very annoying pressure on my back. I woke up my husband, who can apparently sleep through almost anything, and had him put his hands where the pressure was. This helped a bit, but then the contractions really started getting noticeable so I asked to get in the tub.
At that point, the contractions were bearable but I knew they were going to get worse so I started asking for an epidural. The nurse suggested I try another drug, but I said no, just give me the epidural. She then said the anasthesiologist could only do the epidural if they didn’t have other cases that morning so I told her to please put the order in so they would come in as soon as they were available.
The tub and jets helped the back pain, but I could still feel the contractions and I anxiously awaited the anasthesiologist’s arrival. He showed up and once that epidural got going I curled up in bed to wait. The doctor came in and broke my water. By that point I was at a six. Then my parents arrived, the nurses came in to prep, we were just all ready for the baby to be born.
The day progressed, my mom, husband and I watched a movie and at around 2 pm I was at a 10. I started pushing, and pushing, and pushing. I did not realize what a process that could actually be. After maybe 2-1/2 hours the nurse called the doctor and said the baby had a few heart decelerations with the last few contractions, very matter of fact, no huge alarm or urgency.
The doctor arrived and tried the vacuum and forceps, but the baby wasn’t coming. When he used the forceps, the baby’s heart dipped again, although I’m sure my heart rate would dip, too. My husband likened the forceps to shoe horns. When I saw the the look of concern on the doctor’s face I knew where we were going.
Sure enough, he told the nurses to call OR for an emergency c-section. Nurses descended upon my room and there was a flurry of activity. By this point, I was also feeling the contractions pretty well. The baby’s heart rate stabilized and we weren’t in such an emergency situation. I started shaking. Not sure if it was adrenaline or the epidural but it was a very annoying, distracting feeling.
As they rolled me out of the room I noticed the pain was going away, but this incredible thirst took over. I said so out loud, but I knew their response anyway and it was sorry, you can’t drink anything now.
My parents were in the hall as they wheeled me into the OR, my poor mom had a very worried look on her face. Thanks to the shaking and thirst, I don’t remember how long I was in OR or much of what occurred before everything began, but about the moment I wondered how long it would take for them to get the baby out I heard that beautiful cry. He was born at 5:15 pm. They later told me the doctor moved quick, the baby was born about a minute after they did the patient identification, and that’s fast. I couldn’t get a clear look at my boy, but I won’t ever forget how my husband gasped and his eyes lit up when he first heard our son come into this world.
The nurse looked at me and said he was perfect before whisking him to the waiting table. I couldn’t see much but all the sudden I hear, “he’s already peeing,” and sure enough I looked over and see a little stream. As they wheeled him out they asked my husband if he wanted to go with them but he opted to stay with me.
He later explained he knew the baby was fine and in good hands so he wanted to be with me, which I was very grateful for. As it turned out, the boy’s adoring grandparents, and extended family got to see him while the nurses further checked him.
Meanwhile I was impatiently waiting for the doctor to stitch me up. Part way through he asked if they knew how big the baby was, I had a guess he was going to be big. They brought him in so we could see him and he was awake, like what just happened. But, he was cute. And he weighed 9 pounds, 9 ounces and was 22 inches long. My husband said I probably could’ve gotten his head out, but our baby’s barrel chest would’ve been a problem.
Finally, I got wheeled into recovery. I downed some water even though I was told to start with ice chips, maybe I should’ve listened, my husband thought I should, but I gulped it down. The baby was brought back to me although I don’t remember it at all, except my mom has s picture of us. Then we got wheeled to a room.
I must say how impressed I was with the nursing staff, we received such excellent care, but one detail I remember is all of our stuff, bags, blankets, laptop had all been moved out of the labor and delivery and into that room. Talk about efficiency.
They handed me my baby and he snuggled right in, like he knew he was finally with mom. The nurse told me I was staying put for the night, of course, and my parents said good-bye.
We had a few visitors and then I remember just staring at my baby, thinking he looked a lot like me.
After five days in the hospital we finally got to go home. We settled in as a family of three, and our little boy brings so much joy and sunshine into this world.
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