Violet's Story
Wednesday, September 28th:
I was feeling very huge and very discouraged. In a day was my due date and I hadn't been feeling any contractions. I really wanted to get this party started so I could meet my baby!
I went to my regularly scheduled doctor's appointment. My doc checked me out and he said things are pretty much the same as they were last time. Baby could come any time, but he doubted it. He wanted me to just take it easy and they would put in the paperwork to induce me on October 6th if we didn't have her yet.
He also said I was very narrow and I would have a very hard labor. He told me I would be pushing for hours and I would have to have an episiotomy and probably end up having a c-section. I was very upset at all this news and I cried a lot.
He did give me some Vicodin to take for the pinched nerve in my back. I'm very glad he did because I hadn't been sleeping well at all. That night, I ate dinner at 6:45 P.M. and took a Vicodin at 9 and was able to sleep pretty well through out the night.
Thursday, September 29th:
Mitch got up and was getting ready for work. I was irritated at hearing him run the shower and everything, but I was surprised at how good of sleep I was able to get. At 6:30 A.M I was wondering why Mitch hadn't come said goodbye yet. But I had to get up and go to the bathroom anyway. So I do and I feel a little strange. While in the bathroom I tell Mitch I think my water just broke. We look at the baby books we have to see if the description is adequate and decided to call my doctor. He didn't answer.
I told Mitch I really wanted to go to the hospital, though he was skeptical. He called work to let them know instead of walking out the door to go to work, we were going to the hospital. He was already in his uniform. We drive to the hospital, stopping to think about how almost 25 years ago, my parents made the drive from Rosamond to the same hospital we were going too, to deliver me!
We get to the hospital and explain what's going on. The first tests were negative for any ambiotic fluid and they said my water didn't break. My blood pressure, however, was through the roof. They were wondering how I was walking and not falling over with blurred vision, so they decided to admit me anyway. While they were getting me a room, another test had come back and yes, my water HAD broken. I was in active labor. Which I had already suspected because I had some contractions on the way to the hospital.
We got to a room that I would be getting ready to deliver and delivering in. I thought that was cool, I wouldn't have to labor in one room, then wait and be transferred to a delivery room. They started me on some medicine to keep me from having a seizure because of my super high blood pressure. This medicine was EVIL! It made me so exhausted and I felt like I was burning from the inside out. I felt like I had the flu and they had to put a catheter in because I wouldn't be able to get up to walk to the bathroom.
Luckily, my doctor is pretty amazing. Some doctors will not let you get an epidural until you are dilated to a certain point. My doctor wanted me to be as comfy as possible and said I could choose when I get it, as long as I got it before the window passed. The catheter was really painful and annoying, it made me think of bad things that had happened in my past and I was just over it. Besides, I was at 4 cm now and really starting to feel the contractions. My nurse assured me I wasn'tt a pansy for asking for the epidural early.
Boy.... what did I get myself in to? The Epidural is a giant needle that goes into your spine. The process took about 15-20 minutes and while I couldn't feel the needle entering because of the local anesthetic they gave me (WHICH MADE ME BURN SO BAD! OUCH!) But while the needle was in there, he had to feel around for the right spot to get it in, since he can't see through my skin. I was shaking and crying and I had to hold as still as possible. It was horrible... but I would do it again before having a natural birth. THE EPIDURAL IS SO WORTH IT!!
After the Epidural, I couldn't feel the catheter and I felt much better. Mitch and I watched A Goofy Movie to take our minds off of it. We had some visitors as well. My friend Jessie came by and she was able to stay for a while which was way nice. We also watched The Emperor's New Groove.
I had to keep switching positions because the baby's head wasn't down far enough. It would go down... then she would move back up! it was crazy! Every single time I switched positions.... I threw up. Keep in mind, I hadn't eaten anything since 6:30 P.M. the night before and it's about 24 hours later. I hadn't had anything to drink either. Just ice chips. ICE CHIPS ARE A LIE! They don't quench your thirst at all. :(
My mom came as well, which was nice. I was also visited by my Step Sister for a while and later my Dad and Step Mom. They FINALLY said it was time to start pushing. I was SO exhausted because of lack of food, water and the stupid blood pressure medicine. Also, the nurse was seeing the my epidural was getting low, but knew I had to push so it was wearing off...
She had me pushing a few times and I just didn't have it in me. Then she noticed something.
There was something blocking the baby's head from being able to be pushed out properly. They were trying to push it aside while I pushed and get the baby's head past it. As soon as the baby passed the little blockage, it would be so much easier for me to continue pushing. If I wasn't able to get passed the blockage, I would have to have a c-section. I was really dreading that and didn't want one at all.
They decided to have me stop pushing and to turn up the medicine that speeds up the contractions. They had me on it because the medicine that kept my blood pressure low, it had slowed down the contractions. They hoped by turning up the Pitocin, they were able to get the baby's head lower and passed that crazy blockage, which they couldn't figure out.
So, my Dad and Step Mom had to leave because they had work early the next morning. Same with my friend Jessie. I was sad they couldn't stay but, it was about 11 o'clock and I understand that they have lives. Because I was so tired, the nurse encouraged me to sleep. My Mom, Mitch and I all lied down and tried to sleep. It didn't work for me at all, but at least I was able to rest a bit.
After about an hour or so of resting, they came back and checked out the baby's position. The doctor said we were going to try pushing again, but if it didn't work he was going to give me a c-section. They made me move and I threw up again, lots. It was horrible. The nurse checked me out and said that my doctor was doing another delivery tonight. Apparently, the doctor doesn't usually even come IN to the deliver room until after you've been pushing for awhile and the baby's head is visible and doesn't dissapear.
Pushing in labor is like, one step forward, two steps back. You push with every contraction and the baby moves down the birth canal. You can start seeing the head soon, but when you stop pushing, the head kind of sucks back in. o.o. Then, you push again and a little more progress is made.
So they had me start pushing again. Because they had resupplied me with some more of the Epidural and I had rested a little, I was more motivated. The Nurse had me push with every contraction. You can't really scream while pushing, like in the movies. It take the power away from the push and you just get exhausted.
So I pushed, and pushed and pushed. The nurse was doing her best to hold back the blockage and coax the baby's head past it. It was so hard and tiring. I was losing energy fast and really wanting to give up. And then, they saw the head.
I looked at Mitch and he was so excited. He kept saying "That's the baby!" over and over again. His eyes teared up and he started to cry a little. That made me want to cry and my energy was restored again. He kept saying things like "You're doing so good" and "She's so close". When I would push, he would get worried and upset with the amount of pain I was being caused. It kept me making jokes to him between contractions and he could makes jokes back to me. Luckily, the contractions weren't coming super fast, so I had a moment to catch my breath in between.
The baby's head past the blockage and things started to move. I pushed and Mitch helped me through it. The nurse kept calling for the doctor, but he had gone in to do a second c-section! We were worried he might not get there in time. They kept me pushing for a little bit longer and the doctor got there just in time.
A few more pushes and the baby came out! The doctor was there to catch her and Mitch was able to cut the cord. He was crying and it was adorable. The put the baby on a warmer and checked her out. They did the APGAR test to make sure she was responding and everything.
The doctor took a look and found out that the blockage we were having issues with was some extra tissue. It was really strange for it to be there and apparently I'd had it my whole life. He poked around for a minute and decided to remove it. Then gave me stitches for that and for a small tear that I ended up getting. Because of the Epidural, I couldn't feel anything.
After just seconds of her being out and on the warmer, I could hear sucking noises. Turns out she was sucking her hands. We thought back to all the ultrasound pics and in every one, she had her hands in her mouth. She had been sucking her fingers since she was barely 9 weeks old! O.O It was kind of funny.
She arrived at 2:46 A.M. on September 30th, 2011. She was 7 pounds, 9 ounces and 20 inches long. She had her eyes open and sucking on her fingers. She passed the APGAR with and 8 and a 9 (they do the test twice and because babies can't actually get a 10, that's pretty much a perfect score!)
Post-Pardum:
This hospital is actually really cool. They have a separate building for labor/delivery. The rooms they had were Coupling rooms. Though they were really busy, I didn't end up having to share a room! They don't really have a nursery, they keep the baby in the same room with you the whole time you stay. They also have an extra bed, so Mitch was able to stay with me pretty much the entire time. It was awesome.
Lots of pain and soreness during the recovery process. But there were lots of visitors, my Mom, My Dad, My friends (Jessie, Ali and Bryan). Even Mitch's parents made the drive from Utah to come see us for just a few hours yesterday. I was glad they came, they were very excited to meet little Violet.
We just came home from the hospital today and Violet is sleeping a lot better at home. She loves her bassinet here, which is great because in the hospital she wouldn't sleep in the bed by herself. It was crazy exhausting. I hope she does better tonight.
There's the story of her arrival. I included some pics! Sorry if this is crazy long. I got excited to tell everyone! 21 or so hours of labor... really hard labor at the end, but we're so excited she's finally here!
