A Day Early: Part 2

Once it wad determined that my baby was still breech and I was in labor (I was dilated 2 cm but Nolan was at a -1 in the birth canal,) I was wheeled into my Labor and Delivery room.  This is the room that if I was having a vaginal birth, everything would happen in.  However, with a C section, I would start in this room, go to the OR for the C section, and then come back to this room for my recovery.  I had been told in our hospital tour that my baby would be in the room with me pretty much once I was there.  I was happy about this because only 2 other people besides me could be in the labor and delivery rooms (J would obviously be there with me) and this way I could bond with my baby before going to my post pardom room to see all our family.  Having some time with Nolan and J was very important to me before I would have to hand him off to everybody.\

Let me tell you, contractions hurt like nothing I have ever felt.  Holy crap they hurt!  Since I was having a C section, they could not give me anything to help with the pain.  They were coming every 2 minutes.  I do not know how people go through that for hours.  I was hating it and I was only on hour 2.  My labor and delivery nurse gave J some disposable scrubs that he had to put on over his clothes.  J told me later that he heard my L and D nurse in the hall arguing with another nurse. I guess the poor girl who had a scheduled 10:30 am C section kept getting bumped and they wanted her to go before me.  My nurse said absolutely not, my contractions were too close and I was in pain.  Later I joked that she could have my 10:30 am spot in the morning because I was not going to be able to use it! Around 5pm I was wheeled into the OR and J had to wait on a bench outside for them to get me ready.  I had to sit on the side of the table and hunch over hugging a pillow.  They administered my spinal block which I am so glad I could not see the needle.  It was so hard to sit still in the middle of the contractions.  On one stick, I felt a weird sharp pain in my left butt check, like a stinging.   Pretty soon, I was numb and in heaven because I was free of contraction pain.

They helped me lay back on the table and started prepping my belly by washing and sterilizing.  They even strapped my arms down.  The longest part was waiting for the soap to dry, a timed 3 minutes.  I happened to get the shift change and Dr. McCloskey came in to deliver my baby.  Had I been able to make it my scheduled date, my actual doctor, Dr. Ward would have done the C section.  The blue tarp went up and I knew in the next few minutes, my life would be forever changed.

J was finally allowed to come in the OR and I am pretty sure I had already been cut open.  It was such a weird feeling, I was wide awake and knew what was going on but could not feel pain. I could feel pressure and what not but nothing hurt...thank goodness.  I can't remember what J and I talked about but I was so nervous, I remember just telling him to talk to me....about anything.  I think it took a little more effort to get Nolan out because he was breech but finally the nurse behind me told me he was out.  Nolan was born at 5:27pm. Dr. McCloskey showed him to us from around the curtain....his legs were up in a sideways pike, he wasn't clean, but he was perfect. I know I cried.  So did J.  It took what seemed like forever before I heard him cry. It was music to my ears.  It seemed like forever before J returned with our baby.  A nice nurse took our first family photo...it was so tough and such and awkward angle to look at my baby, but I didn't care.  He was the most beautiful thing I think I have ever seen.  I was I remember just telling them, I want to see my baby.

I was taken up to the 6th floor to my new room 611 without my baby.  We were told that he was almost ready to come to our room. I was so anxious.  Finally around 9:30, I was able to hold and kiss my baby. I still just can't get over how much I already loved him.  J and I took a few moments with him and then had our parents come in.  What an special moment to see their faces when they got to meet Nolan.  My nurse told me that Nolan had to go back to the nursery at 11pm for a bottle.  They wanted to monitor his pulse ox levels for one more feeding.  I was sad that I didn't get to give him his first bottle, and now second bottle, but was more happy that he was ok.

Our parents left around 10:30 and J and I got settled in our room.  Megan my nurse was very nice and got all of our paperwork out of the way.  I was drugged and don't remember much of what we did.  I was able to give him his 2am bottle.  They put these mesh undies on me so I could move to the rocking chair.  It felt so weird to stand...and so sore.  I wished I was allowed to keep these undies on but as soon as they got me back in bed they had to come off.  Nothing like having your vagina checked every so often when nothing even came out of it.

Nolan stayed in the room with us that night.  Since we didn't even get to really have him until midnight, we didn't want to send him to the nursery.  J got like 4 hours of sleep and I really didn't get any, but for once it was so worth it.

A Day Early Part 1

Wednesday, February 19th was supposed to be my last day as a pregnant lady. My parents were flying in from Texas and J and I were going to meet them at one of my favorite restaurants in Clayton, Almonds  I even made us reservations.  I had a nail appointment scheduled at 11am and planned on getting a pedicure after.  I planned on hitting the gym  to do 30 minutes on the elliptical before my appointments.   I needed to finish laundry and go to the grocery store.  Tuesday, I was having a lot of back spasms (not sure if labor or just back pain), so I decided to go and get a prenatal massage which was heavenly.

Wednesday, I woke up after actually sleeping really well the night before.  I had taken a muscle relaxer (totally approved  by my OBGYN) to help my back spasms.  I was still having back pain and had what I can only describe as menstral like cramps when I woke up.  I googled back pain and menstral like cramps at 38 weeks and most said I was in the beginning stages of labor.  My OB did not check my cervix at my appointment on Monday because I guess it really didn't matter since I was scheduled.  I got dressed in my work out clothes and J told me I probably shouldn't work out.  I ate some breakfast and started a load of laundry.  I had some work I needed to get done so I took care of that.  I decided I should probably wash my hair and style it, in case I did go into labor.  ( I do not wash my hair everyday and was saving it until Thursday before my scheduled C section).  I had also packed my suitcase with clothes but added all my toiletries just in case. IF not, I would just use them again in the morning and repack.

I went ahead and drove to my nail salon which happens to be close to my hospital.  I called my doctor's office on the way to the salon and left a message for the nurse to call me.  Harry, who does my nails, did not have anyone in the 10am slot, so when I arrived at 10:15, I asked if we could do my nails and then I would get a pedi.  I just had to make sure my nails were done...I had a broken one.  I was able to get both my nails and my toes done while still having cramps.  The nurse called and since I wasn't have contractions 8 minutes apart or in a rhythmic fashion.  I've never been in labor before, I have no idea what contractions feel like, but my water had not broken and I was not bleeding, so they told me we would go a head with our previous plans.

I was home and finishing up some work and had a nice call with my boss.  I started folding laundry in our bedroom when all of a sudden I had what I can now call a strong contraction and felt liquid flowing out.  Holy crap, my water actually broke.  My first instinct was to rush to the toilet and sit there until I was done leaking.  I called J and told him with shaking hands that he needed to come home now because we needed to go to the hospital.  I called my parents as they were getting ready to board their plane to tell them to meet us at the hospital not the restaurant.  I called my boss to say hey I know we just talked but my water broke and I can't finish my emails.  Then I just sat.  Every time I stood up, more fluid would rush out.  No one told me you leak the entire time.  J gets home, loads the car, takes the trash out, and I am still on the toilet. By the time I got in the car (bring a towel if this ever happens to you....I did not) my contractions were like 2-3 minutes apart and hurt like hell.  J was very nice and gave me his hand to squeeze for each one.  We live 25 minutes from the hospital, and thankfully we were not in traffic yet.  The valet at the hospital was packed, so J dropped me off at the side door and I walked to the elevators praying I wasn't leaving a trail of amnionic fluid as I went, pausing for contractions.

I made my way to the Women's evaluation unit, where they had to take my information, vitals, and weight.  When I stood up to get on the scale, I left a pool of fluid in the chair....how embarrassing. They sent me in for a urine sample....well I have no idea if the got any urine.  I was put in a room and dressed in a gown. Every contraction was accompanied by more leaking fluid.  Not my idea of a comfortable situation.  They brought in the ultra sound and my stubborn little man was still breech.....so C section it would definitely be.