3rd Trimester

Chaos Theory in Full Effect: Our Birth Story

The old addage holds true - the best laid plans of mice and men will usually come unravelled at some point. 

I posted on Tuesday that we thought my water had broken early Tuesday morning.  Turns out, it had, partially.  I apparently had multiple bags, which I had with my DD when she was born.  Based on further discussions with the nursing staff, this is apparently not that uncommong.  Anyway - long story short, the labor never progressed, and much to my dismay, they sent us home around noon on Tuesday.

I will admit, I was depressed.  I had been so ready to have a baby that day!  My only consolation was that I did indeed have a time for my induction scheduled bright and early Wednesday morning.  I was directed to call first, as the L&D ward of our hospital had been swamped on St. Patty's Day.  But, thankfully, there was a room available and our plans were no longer put off. 

I got to L&D at around 7:15 AM, the designated time.  From that point, we proceeded to wait for our L&D nurse to have time to start the induction.  I was told I'd receive a full bag of fluids before they started pitocin, and that things would proceed from there.

By around 9, I was finally all hooked up, and ready to go.  The pitocin was started, and I started to have some contractions, but we started having problems keeping track of both the baby's heartbeat via the external monitor, and also the strength of my contractions.  I was more than a little disappointed when, upon checking my cervix, my doc announced that I was still at 2 CM - the same I'd been for 3 weeks!  My pitocin was cranked up, and the contractions started coming hard and fast - one of top of the other.

Because the baby couldn't be monitored externally, they broke my water and placed an internal monitor (which my husband refers to as the "corkscrew") in her head.  Again, the problems with monitoring my contractions persisted.

As the intensity of the contractions increased, I was checked again, only to hear that I was now at 3 to 4 cm, but that if I wanted an epidural, now was a good time, because the anesthesiologist was available.  He finished up two other patients, and came to give me my epidural.  It was uncomfortable as he rooted around in my back, and my husband has since told me I bled a lot - but I'm VERY happy he said nothing at the time.

My epi started kicking in, and almost immediately, they noticed it was uneven - one side receiving more medication than the other.  They had me roll to my side, apparently so the meds could spread more evenly.  Well.  The baby did not tolerate being moved to that side, so much repositioning happened as they tried to find a position that was both beneficial to the baby, and worked with the epi.

Around this time, my mother came up to the hospital, and started noticing how low my blood pressure was.  Apparently this is common with an epi, nd the nurses were not worried.  They administered a dosage of ephedrine, and waited for my BP to come back up.  It didn't.

Two more doses of ephedrine later, it still wasn't having the desired effect, and the anesthesiologist and my OB were called to come figure it out. 

At the same time, they were trying to find a better way to monitor my contractions, and my OB decided to go ahead and place an internal monitor for the contractions, which goes in vaginally and sits between the baby and the wall of the uterus, to measure the strength of the contraction.

Well, this was apparently an extremely bad idea.  From that point on, life got bad.  My blood pressure tanked, which they later determined was due to the epidural "creeping up" - meaning it was going higher up than my breastbone.  When this happens, your body obviously can't continue doing everything it needs to do to keep you alive.  Oops.  Simultaneously, the baby's heartrate dropped to 38, and we went through another frustrating exercise of repositioning me, and trying to do what we could to get things out. 

The OB checked me again, and determined I had shot up to 9 CM, fully effaced, baby at +2 station, so they tried having me push a couple of times.  Unfortunately, we didn't have time, due to the baby's dropping vitals, and my crashing BP.  At this point, they had put oxygen on me, and I was gulping air as fast as I could, aware that I was about to fade out. 

More nurses flooded the room, and they started ripping the wires and tubes out of the wall, and throwing them on my bed.  I was immediately wheeled into the OR, for an emergency c/s.  I was terrified.  I've mentioned before, my prior OB had said a c/s would be "catastrophic" for me.  Well, at that point it was c/s or lose the baby. 

I was vaguely aware of being tied down to the table, my stomach prepped, and the anesthesiologist putting a mask over my face.  My husband was not allowed in the room, due to the extreme emergency of the situation.  I was intubated, and shortly thereafter, my daughter was delivered.

Chloe Elizabeth Sage was born at 2:15 pm, pink and screaming immediately.  Her apgars were 8, 8, and 9, but she did have a slightly high temp when first born.  They monitored her blood sugar until midnight, but she seems to be doing very well!  She's breastfeeding welll so far, and she's met her pedi, so she's good to go.

I, on the other hand, am not doing quite as well.  I haven't slept for two nights, and am pretty sore.  They're going to keep me for 5 days, a day longer than normal, due to my other health conditions.

DH and I are both still reeling from what happened, because the truth of the matter is, both Chloe and I were crashing.  Had they waited even another minute or two, one or both of us may not have made it.  The OB explained to me this morning how dire Chloe's situation was - the testing they did on her cord blood after she was delivered indicated she literally was moments away from severe brain damage or death. 

So - it didn't go the way we would have liked, but I have one of the most beatiful baby girls ever born, to help me get through the pain and sleeplessness!

Good luck to you all with your deliveries, and may they ALL be less daramatic and choatic than mine! 

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Re: Chaos Theory in Full Effect: Our Birth Story

  • Wow, how scary!  I am so glad everything turned out ok and you have such a beautiful baby girl :)

    Best of luck during your recovery - you're in my thoughts ad prayers PC.  I'm gonna miss you around here missy!

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  • Goodness Gracious!!! What an ordeal! and how scary!!

    I am glad you and baby are fine!  Thank you for sharing!

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  • I would have been so scared.

    I'm so happy you and Chloe are safe. She is beautiful! Congrats!

  • wow- that sounds scary... I'm glad that you and baby are both ok!
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  • I am so glad you are both ok! Take care of yourself and congratulations on your little girl!
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  • Wow, I'm so happy you both are doing okay!

    It must have been pretty scary for you.  Congrats on your beautiful Chloe!

  • I'm so happy that everything worked out! Congrats on your beautiful baby girl
  • Oh my gosh! Welcome Chloe - she's beautiful. I hope you start to feel better and are able to take care of you. Sounds scary - I can't even imagine how you're feeling right now.

    Congratulations on your beautiful baby girl!

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  • I'm glad to hear after such a traumatic experience, you're both okay. She's adorable & I hope you have a speedy recovery.
  • Holy sh!t!  I'm so glad everyone is ok!  I guess she's not Baby Chaos for nothing :)

    Seriously, congratulations.  She's beautiful :)

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  • Wow! So glad that Chloe was born just in time and that you're both okay...sounds like there were some pretty scary moments: you're tough, PC! (And, she's beautiful: congratulations!)
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  • Congratulations PC!!! She is absolutely gorgeous. I'm sorry that you didn't get the birth you had planned for and expected but I'm so glad you're both healthy despite the terrifying situation.
  • OMG...wow, says the girl who has to be induced in 6 days. So glad to hear this happy ending!!! Congrats on your beautiful girl!?
  • I woke up this morning wondering how you were doing!  Sounds very scary...but I am so glad you were where you were so they could take great care of you!!

    Glad you are doing ok and baby too!!  Can't wait to join you on 0-6!

     

    Congrats again PC!!

    3/22/09 - Lily Grace, born at 33 weeks, 2 days
    9/12/14 - M/C @ 7 weeks, 1 day (ectopic)

  • Wow!!! That was crazy, but I am happy to hear that the both of you are doing better.?

    Congrats!!?

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  • WOW! That is insane, I'm so glad you both came out of it OK. Congrats on your new bundle of joy and heres to a speedy recovery for Mommie.
  • Wow PC, that is a terrifying story. But I am happy that you and Chloe are well and that you are well enough to type it! I hope you heal quickly and congratulations on your beautiful daughter!
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  • That's horrible.  Sending healing prayers your way.  I"m so glad everyone is safe now.  You're poor husband was probably the most scared he's ever been in his life. 
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  • Oh PC, that sounds terrifying! I am SO SO happy that you are both ok, and congrats on your gorgeous little girl!
  • Oh PC.. I'm sorry to hear it was so dramatic for you. I'm glad you guys are doing good. And she looks adorable! Congrats
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  • Wow congratulations on your beautiful girl!  I'm sorry things didn't go well but I am so glad you are both ok.
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    Big sister {September 2008} Sweet boy {April 2011} Fuzzy Bundle {ETA July 2014}

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  • Oh my goodness, how terrifying! I am glad everything turned out so well for everyone and I hope your body can start healing so you can start sleeping.  Congrats, she is beautiful!
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  • Congratulations on your baby girl!  I'm so glad everything turned out okay!  What a story!
  • Whoa and thank you for confirming why I do not want an epidural :)

    I am so glad to hear you both made it out safe and healthy!

  • That's quite a story. Congrats on your healthy baby girl!
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  • ::slowly crosses legs::

    Congrats. I hope you have a speedy recovery!! She's a precious little doll.

  • Whoa, that is seriously the crazy birth story I've ever heard. I'm SO glad everything turned out okay..however, you def. made me a lot more scared of delivering!!
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  • OMG! How scary!  I'm glad you both are ok and I really hope you get some sleep and feel better soon!  Your daughter is beautiful and I'm so glad that you and she, both, made it through the ordeal alright! Thanks for checking in and congrats on being a mom! :)
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  • Oh my goodness, you definitely had someone looking out for you both!  I'm happy that things turned out okay and that you have a beautiful baby girl.  I hope your recovery is speedy and you can all be at home soon getting in to a routine!
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  • Wow what a story.. Congrats!!!
  • oh my...I'm so glad that you both are ok. Sounds really scary and I hope that you recover well from the c-section!
  • That is so scary! I'm so glad everything is ok! Congratulations on your daughter.
  • Oh my goodness! I am glad that you and Chloe are ok. She is beautiful!
  • Sorry you had to go through all of that.  I am glad that you and your daughter are both ok.  She is beautiful.   

    Can I ask what hospital you delivered at?  I am also delivering in Omaha. 

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  • Wow, what a story, I am so happy you are both doing okay now! ?I dont think you could have a more perfect screen name. ?I will be thinking about you guys.
    My 1st little miracle JAC born 4/8/09- Photobucket BabyFruit Ticker Working on Miracle #2 When the world says "give up." Hope whispers"Try one more time"
  • PeskyPesky member
    How scary!!!  Glad you both made it through okay and hope your recovery is a speedy one!!!


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    DD -- 5YO
    DS -- 3YO

  • oh my!! i hope all is okay with you soon.  I am so glad that Chloe is okay and that you both made it through such a scary ordeal!

    my thoughts and prayers are with you!!

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  • PC, she's beautiful!  I am SO sorry things went so crazy.  I'm keeping you guys in my prayers for a speedy recovery and that everything goes well!
  • I am so glad everything turned out OK! Congrats and welcome baby Chloe!
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  • wow, scary! Glad you are both ok! Congratulations and I hope you heal quickly!
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