bonnyejean
Well, you all may know that my induction was scheduled to start at 6:00. As it goes in hospitals, things got started a little later.
I was sent to L&D around 7:15- and was checked AGAIN and told I was 4 cm dilated- like I had been for 2 weeks. They had stopped giving me the pills to stop my contractions around noon, and decided to just see how things progressed naturally. Well, as you can guess, not a whole lot happened in the first hour, I dilated a little more, to 5 cm but wasn't really experiencing productive contractions. So, they decided to begin the Pitocin drip and started it around 8:30. Well, from then on it was all systems go.
The women who have talked about Pitocin aren't kidding, as they beigin to increase the drip, the contractions start to come FAST. When it was just beginning I was fine just sort of sitting and rocking, or standing with DH and "slow dancing" as they call it. I had decided to go for as long as I could without the epidural so things would progress quickly. So, as the drip was increased and the contractions came faster, I moved from the bed to the ball (awesome both for pain and for opening the cervix!) Then to the tub (again- awesome, just took some of the pressure off). I was in the tub, with DH laying on the couch beside it (I wish I had taken photos of the L&D room- just beautiful) when I realized I just COULD NOT take the pain anymore. I pulled the cord for the nurse and she helped me out. I felt like I had to pee- and went to the bathroom, and was surprised by quite a bit of blood. I guess this was my "bloody show" and I'll be honest- it was a lot more than I thought it would be.
I also asked the nurse to call anesthesia to put in my epidural. I'll again tell the truth- I waited too long and could have done it sooner for sure. The pain of the contractions while waiting (about 40 minutes) for the anesthesiologist was mind-blowing. Any of you ladies who are going natural, I will bow to you because there is NO WAY I could have gone any longer without the pain meds. The difference between not having the epidural and having it was like night and day- but I will warn you all also that it does NOT work instantly, and even after its in takes some time to dull the pain. I have never screamed like I did in that delivery room. My husband was beside himself, but was very supportive and told me to just break his hand if I had to- and I swear I almost did. I have NEVER EVER felt pain like that in my life- and if I do this again will NOT wait to feel it again.
After the epidural (which I always thought slowed things) I was checked again and was still only at 6cm. She decided to break my water to see if it would help me progress. What a weird feeling- but it felt like a lot of pressure was released. Also kind of felt lie I was constantly peeing myself. (sorry- just gonna tell it like it was)
I was thinking that my DH and I might nap and wait out the next 4 cm through the morning. Well, was I ever WRONG. All of a sudden, about an hour after my epidural I was feeling the WORST pain in my butt. Again, I will just tell it like it is, and the pain in my ass was noticeable even with the epidural. It just felt like the most intense pressure I have ever felt. The nurse was pretty surprised, as she said that normally meant you are ready to push. So- she called in the doctor to check me again. Well, in the hour since my epidural I had progressed from 6cm to 10!!!! We WERE ready to push. My DH woke up instantly basically, and once NICU was notified the Doctor told me to wait till the NICU reside was there. But- there was no waiting. I basically told her NO WAY lady. I am pushing and that's all there is to it. So- we started.
After a VERY SHORT (about 6.5 or 7 hours) labor and 25 minutes of pushing (that seriously felt like 10 minutes) Althea was here. And I will be honest- I was pretty lucky because I felt NO ring of fire, no real pain as she came out, just an immense release of pressure. That pressure in my butt was instantly gone, which was awesome. I had REALLY felt ready to get her out of there, so it was fairly easy for me. Even not being able to feel contractions, for some reason it just felt RIGHT to push. They all told me it was unheard of for a first time mom to have such a short delivery and to only push for such a short time- but I guess after 2 weeks of just keeping things at bay- my little girl was as ready as I was to have labor over and done.Finally at 3:34 AM she was OUT! That first cry was music to my ears, and I looked up to see DH crying, he was so overcome with emotion. I was not allowed to have her on me and I really only got to see her for a minute, as NICU had to check her out and make sure she was OK. I did not end up seeing her for another hour and a half, up in NICU. (Torture)
I had a very small tear which was stitched up after I delivered the placenta, which feels weird. They do a lot of pressing on your belly to get it to come out, and it takes a little while. Its not so fun to just sit there spread- eagle for that long, but a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do I guess.
Finally being wheeled up to see her was the best feeling ever- and obviously I could not keep the emotions at bay. Crazy hormones, plus seeing her so tiny in that isolette was a intense combination. She is absolutely beautiful, and I feel so blessed that she is OK for the most part. Finally being able to hold her was an absolutely amazing feeling, and I cant explain the instant connection and overwhelming love that you feel for your LO. I can't wait for you all to have that experience (either for the first time or the 5th) soon!
Having to leave her there was the hardest thing I think I have ever done- but I have never been so tired. After pumping (to no avail) in my room- I was finally able to go to bed at about 6:30. And I was up by 9:30 and ready to go see her. I have yet to sleep today- I find my mind racing and I just want to go stare at her, so I am waiting for a sleeping pill from the nurse to force myself to get some rest.
Still trying to pump- hopefully in the next couple of days something will happen, but she is just too little to go to breast right now. She is still on formula through a feeding tube- but is not tolerating it. She was put on a sugar IV to maintain he blood sugar and they are still trying to get her to keep food down. She has yet to have a significant poop- and they say that is why she is not tolerating food so well, just too full. Hopefully by tomorrow all those systems will work themselves out. She is also being scored for withdrawal, but so far has not shown even ONE sign of symptoms, which I am amazingly grateful for. So basically, we are just waiting for her to be able to eat by herself before she can come home. As I said earlier- they anticipate it to be a week or two. Until then- we have the option to stay at the local Ronald McDonald house to stay close to her, or to go home (about 35 minutes away) when I am released (which is dependent upon weather I will have the kidney stone removed or not).
I was sent to L&D around 7:15- and was checked AGAIN and told I was 4 cm dilated- like I had been for 2 weeks. They had stopped giving me the pills to stop my contractions around noon, and decided to just see how things progressed naturally. Well, as you can guess, not a whole lot happened in the first hour, I dilated a little more, to 5 cm but wasn't really experiencing productive contractions. So, they decided to begin the Pitocin drip and started it around 8:30. Well, from then on it was all systems go.
The women who have talked about Pitocin aren't kidding, as they beigin to increase the drip, the contractions start to come FAST. When it was just beginning I was fine just sort of sitting and rocking, or standing with DH and "slow dancing" as they call it. I had decided to go for as long as I could without the epidural so things would progress quickly. So, as the drip was increased and the contractions came faster, I moved from the bed to the ball (awesome both for pain and for opening the cervix!) Then to the tub (again- awesome, just took some of the pressure off). I was in the tub, with DH laying on the couch beside it (I wish I had taken photos of the L&D room- just beautiful) when I realized I just COULD NOT take the pain anymore. I pulled the cord for the nurse and she helped me out. I felt like I had to pee- and went to the bathroom, and was surprised by quite a bit of blood. I guess this was my "bloody show" and I'll be honest- it was a lot more than I thought it would be.
I also asked the nurse to call anesthesia to put in my epidural. I'll again tell the truth- I waited too long and could have done it sooner for sure. The pain of the contractions while waiting (about 40 minutes) for the anesthesiologist was mind-blowing. Any of you ladies who are going natural, I will bow to you because there is NO WAY I could have gone any longer without the pain meds. The difference between not having the epidural and having it was like night and day- but I will warn you all also that it does NOT work instantly, and even after its in takes some time to dull the pain. I have never screamed like I did in that delivery room. My husband was beside himself, but was very supportive and told me to just break his hand if I had to- and I swear I almost did. I have NEVER EVER felt pain like that in my life- and if I do this again will NOT wait to feel it again.
After the epidural (which I always thought slowed things) I was checked again and was still only at 6cm. She decided to break my water to see if it would help me progress. What a weird feeling- but it felt like a lot of pressure was released. Also kind of felt lie I was constantly peeing myself. (sorry- just gonna tell it like it was)
I was thinking that my DH and I might nap and wait out the next 4 cm through the morning. Well, was I ever WRONG. All of a sudden, about an hour after my epidural I was feeling the WORST pain in my butt. Again, I will just tell it like it is, and the pain in my ass was noticeable even with the epidural. It just felt like the most intense pressure I have ever felt. The nurse was pretty surprised, as she said that normally meant you are ready to push. So- she called in the doctor to check me again. Well, in the hour since my epidural I had progressed from 6cm to 10!!!! We WERE ready to push. My DH woke up instantly basically, and once NICU was notified the Doctor told me to wait till the NICU reside was there. But- there was no waiting. I basically told her NO WAY lady. I am pushing and that's all there is to it. So- we started.
After a VERY SHORT (about 6.5 or 7 hours) labor and 25 minutes of pushing (that seriously felt like 10 minutes) Althea was here. And I will be honest- I was pretty lucky because I felt NO ring of fire, no real pain as she came out, just an immense release of pressure. That pressure in my butt was instantly gone, which was awesome. I had REALLY felt ready to get her out of there, so it was fairly easy for me. Even not being able to feel contractions, for some reason it just felt RIGHT to push. They all told me it was unheard of for a first time mom to have such a short delivery and to only push for such a short time- but I guess after 2 weeks of just keeping things at bay- my little girl was as ready as I was to have labor over and done.Finally at 3:34 AM she was OUT! That first cry was music to my ears, and I looked up to see DH crying, he was so overcome with emotion. I was not allowed to have her on me and I really only got to see her for a minute, as NICU had to check her out and make sure she was OK. I did not end up seeing her for another hour and a half, up in NICU. (Torture)
I had a very small tear which was stitched up after I delivered the placenta, which feels weird. They do a lot of pressing on your belly to get it to come out, and it takes a little while. Its not so fun to just sit there spread- eagle for that long, but a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do I guess.
Finally being wheeled up to see her was the best feeling ever- and obviously I could not keep the emotions at bay. Crazy hormones, plus seeing her so tiny in that isolette was a intense combination. She is absolutely beautiful, and I feel so blessed that she is OK for the most part. Finally being able to hold her was an absolutely amazing feeling, and I cant explain the instant connection and overwhelming love that you feel for your LO. I can't wait for you all to have that experience (either for the first time or the 5th) soon!
Having to leave her there was the hardest thing I think I have ever done- but I have never been so tired. After pumping (to no avail) in my room- I was finally able to go to bed at about 6:30. And I was up by 9:30 and ready to go see her. I have yet to sleep today- I find my mind racing and I just want to go stare at her, so I am waiting for a sleeping pill from the nurse to force myself to get some rest.
Still trying to pump- hopefully in the next couple of days something will happen, but she is just too little to go to breast right now. She is still on formula through a feeding tube- but is not tolerating it. She was put on a sugar IV to maintain he blood sugar and they are still trying to get her to keep food down. She has yet to have a significant poop- and they say that is why she is not tolerating food so well, just too full. Hopefully by tomorrow all those systems will work themselves out. She is also being scored for withdrawal, but so far has not shown even ONE sign of symptoms, which I am amazingly grateful for. So basically, we are just waiting for her to be able to eat by herself before she can come home. As I said earlier- they anticipate it to be a week or two. Until then- we have the option to stay at the local Ronald McDonald house to stay close to her, or to go home (about 35 minutes away) when I am released (which is dependent upon weather I will have the kidney stone removed or not).