It was the Monday before my expected due date, I had my normal weekly meeting with my doctor and we spoke about induction. I was fairly antsy and it had gotten to the point I wanted to meet my baby girl more than anything so we settled on the induction to begin that Thursday midnight. (Good thing we did, because it proved she was overdue, I had complications)
We made a late night Wal-Mart run before heading to the hospital, stocked up on Gatorade, cookies, and what-nots that would get both Michael and I through the day. We settled into our room and was put on one unit of pitocin to be increased one unit per hour. I was told by 6 in the morning we would start heading down the stronger road.
I went through the six hours with not much sleep, but much anticipation. With the seven o’clock morning hour came a new nurse and an increase of pitocin. I was handling it well and was able to breath and incorporate all my natural methods. Bam, we hit a wall. My blood pressure was too high and I was diagnosed preeclamptic, not only did this mean I was on strict bedrest I had to lay in only one position on my side, I was also given a magnesium drip that made me feel loopy… the natural birth method was all about moving around, finding a position that was comfortable for you, with the restrictions things weren’t going to go over well.
So after five hours on my side and constant pitocin contractions I uttered the code ward to Michael, he knew I meant business and that I was going to get an epidural. After being on my side for so long and receiving a magnesium drip to prevent seizures, getting to an upright position for the epi caused me to vomit, thus breaking my water. :-)
I started to dilated pretty regularly from that point on and by seven o’clock we were ready to push. My doctor showed up, and we were on our third nurse of the day. I heard the nurse explain to the doctor that the baby had marked variability which meant her heart rate wasn’t staying consistent, but it also wasn’t cause for concern (at least not yet).
With the loopy feeling I was getting from the magnesium drip I was red in the face, hot flashes, foggy headed. So after laboring for 10 hours pushing became a really goofy game. I was passing out in between pushes, and almost sleeping through the whole thing, I remember pushing but it seems like a dream; which is good because 3 hours of pushing didn’t seem endless but rather timeless.
Well the marked variability apparently meant the cord was wrapped around the baby’s neck, and the long pushing time also proved the same thing. Every time I pushed it tighten the cord and the baby, which hurt her and she tried to pull back… the whole thing was concluded with a vacuum extraction, yes they used a plunger looking device with sucking to pull her out.
Urgency at that moment, when my totally awesome doctor cut the umbilical cord from around her neck and I felt pure relief and pushed her the rest of the way out.
I was totally out of it, and couldn’t respond the way I wanted, but I’m unbelievably thankful to the wonderful staff who took care of me and Stella, and to Michael for being the world greatest husband. On 12/2/10 @ 10:07 PM we were looking at our 7 pound 14 oz little girl! Welcome to the world baby girl!
