Violet Sloane is here! Birth Story...

Ruby412 · April 2012

Our baby girl, Violet Sloane, arrived a little over 2 weeks early via emergency c-section on Tuesday, 4/11, at 5:04 a.m. I have never been so in love, exhausted and overwhelmed as these last few days...

Here is her story:

I started feeling a little off on Tuesday - nauseous and sick to my stomach. But, I figured it was just regular end of pregnancy stuff, went to work like normal, came home and made dinner. Around 7:30 that night my husband and I were relaxing on the couch and I stood up and felt a little gush. I was pretty sure I had just peed myself (awesome, right?) so I didn't think much of it. But, after it happened a few more times I called the on-call doctor to see what to do. Turns out he was already at the hospital delivering another baby and told us to be up to get checked within the hour. When we got there, I was only 2 cm dilated (like I had been since 36 weeks.) They confirmed I was leaking and admitted us. The OB told us to get some sleep and we'd probably have to talk about an induction with pitocin in the morning since first time moms don't usually progress on their own. By 11:30 p.m. I was feeling really strong contractions, had had several bouts of diarrhea and couldn't keep going without something to help. I asked for pain meds. The nurses told me it was way too early for an epidural (they didn't check me again due to infection risk with broken water - they just assumed I was still in very early labor.) So, they gave me stadol which made me super loopy and out of it. I kept falling in and out of sleep and waking up every 3-4 minutes with horrible contractions. I was moaning through them and kept thinking that I could not believe how women go natural if that was "early" labor. Around 2 am I told the nurse the stadol wasn't cutting it and asked for something stronger. She again refused the epi, but I insisted on getting checked to see if I could get one soon. She did her exam and then immediately ran out of the room saying she needed a "consult." Another nurse came in and checked me and confirmed that I was 9.5 cm at that point. I kept feeling like I had to poop, but they wouldn't let me (since obviously it was the baby and not actually having to go to the bathroom.) They had me start pushing and called the on call doc to come back in since he had gone home. I pushed for about a half hour naturally and that whole part is really blurry. It was so, so painful. Finally I told them I needed the epi. I pushed for another hour from 3:30 - 4:30 a.m. and Violet got stuck in the birth canal due to her head position (was sunny side up and then turned sideways.) Then she started having heart decelerations and the doctor told me I needed a c-section. I was very upset since I had worked so hard and had gone through so much pain and was still going to need surgery anyway. The section went smoothly but I damaged a nerve from pushing and have a numb patch in my upper left thigh.

Violet is borderline jaundice so she's had a zillion flash tests and a heel prick. We have to go back to the hospital and pediatrician tomorrow to get checked again. She is at high risk because we have different blood types and she is Coombs Positive.

Breastfeeding is going well as of today. The first couple of days were rough and I got a compression line. I met with an LC and she got me using a nipple shield and triple nipple cream. Both have been lifesavers. I had to supplement a litle with formula yesterday due to her low birth weight and jaundice issues. But my milk came in today so I think we might be good there. My boobs are killing me!

My husband and parents have been amazing, but I am so overwhelmed with emotion right now I keep sporadically crying for no reason. And I'm exhausted, really and truly and seriously exhausted. I don't know how people do it with multiples or older LOs at home! I give you credit.

Thanks for reading. Sorry to go on and on!

Here is our gorgeous girl:

gisa886 · April 2012

Congrats!! She is lovely!

xproudxnerdx · April 2012

Love the hair! Congrats!

RichInLove · April 2012

wow, you did such a great job through all that!

And your LO is beautiful. Congrats.

mrs_j_may_08 · April 2012

She's so pretty! Love her name, congrats!

jenwet · April 2012

aww. she is beautiful! congrats mama! hope you're able to rest and feel better soon!

FusionLMT · April 2012

congrats! she's adorable

JaimeG183 · April 2012

Congrats! I love her name!
(Hi by the way)

daniela64 · April 2012

Congrats!! She is adorable : )

greenkitty98 · April 2012

Congratulations!!

Harper'smom · April 2012

Congrats, I love her name. Hang in there, the emotional stuff will get better.

Beener0514 · April 2012

Look at that full head of hair! I love it! I would be livid with that staff for not listening to you when you needed that epi. So sorry you had to go through all that. I also had to have a c-section after pushing and having DD get stuck so I feel your pain.