Birth Story of Atticus Bentley - 3 EPI's

Sunday at 1 PM my contractions intensified and were pretty regular. They went from 12 to 10 to 8 to 6 minutes apart - which is when we decided to go to the hospital at 1 AM. I was only dilated at 1.5 still but was 60% effaced. I was sent home.

The contractions continued timed anywhere from every 2 to every 10 minutes throughout Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Today. Last night I went in at 5 PM because they had gotten really painful but never closer than 7 minutes apart. I wanted to at least be checked and see if I had made any progress. I HAD! I was dilated at 3 cm and 70% effaced. I was then given the option to stay and see my doc this morning or go home and see my doc this morning. I was starving and they wont let you eat, so I chose to go home since my pain was at least manageable. 

After arriving at home, I had a few hours of intense contractions. I rested as best as I could last night. Today contractions have been VERY BAD. LOL. They have also been very regular at 7 minutes apart. I called the doc to see her first thing this morning, plan being to get a little pitocin to give me a nudge. Doc was not to be in until this afternoon. Miscommunication #1. 

I meet with my doctor who already knows I have been contracting pretty good for at least 10 weeks (mostly braxton hicks, but painful, but 20-40 per day). She lets me know that there was a miscommunication. The doc on call last night expected me to be there this morning and I was going to be induced. The nurse said "you can go home and see the doc in the morning or stay and see the doc in the morning" when she was supposed to say "you can go home and see the doc in the morning and discuss induction, or stay and be induced by your doc in the morning"

Boy Was I Unhappy! So. Im now at 3.5 cm and my contractions are 7 mins apart. If they get to 5 mins apart for 30 mins I go in immediately. Otherwise I will be induced on Thursday morning at 5 AM. 

We arrived at 5 AM. First we did the epidural. It wasn't so bad. We started a tiny bit of pitocin since I was already at 5 cm. WEEEE! After an hour or two of feeling great, I started to feel lots of pain in one spot in the front and same spot in back, then more and more pain in these spots. Apparently some people's nerves have a section that isnt connected the same....so they get these hotspots. So the anesthesiologist, Glenn added more drug to my epi. Didnt do anything. So he gave me a C section dose. Still nothing. So they decide to take out my epi and do another one..... Before giving you the full dose they give a test dose. They gave me the test dose and something awful happened....

I was numb from the ears down. My blood pressure dropped really low really fast. The baby's heartbeat dropped really low too. They gave me a med that helped baby. All I remember is thinking I might die, help my baby, and them saying "baby is not tolerating this"....Brian was off in a corner terrified. I was scared to death.

After a bit I could finally start to feel my cheeks. Then I started to be able to grip the nurses hand - big step! They made me wear off the entire epidural before giving me my third. 

By now Im about 7 cm and I dont remember the time.... They did a third epi with a low dose of medicine afraid of my last two reactions. This time no hot spot. But they could not give me much drug so I was feeling contractions quite well. They re-dosed me a few times but small amounts. I got stuck at 8 cm forever. Then Finally hit 9 cm! Although by now I was completely out of epi and given the situation, not allowed to have any more. My pitocin had been increased significantly. I felt like my pain was going to kill me. But I did well. Around 7 cm it occurred to me that making noises during my pain was not helping. So I started making eye contact with Brian and breathing slow paced breaths. It still was killing me but I was trying to stay focused. 

Next hour that I was checked I was back at 8 cm - apparently my cervix was swollen and Atticus had moved up some. WHAT??? So my doc ordered a c-section. she said he had become diagonal instead of up and down. and my back labor was awful cuz my kid turned during early labor from being faced back to sunny side up. 

They ask me if I want to try the C section with an epi or go to sleep. I chose sleep. I just wanted my baby to be okay and the pain to stop and no more risks. 

I never cried about the c section, I was strangely brave (Im kind of a wuss LOL) 

The next thing I remember was being back in my room but not quite awake. Brian got to wear scrubs and wait right outside the OR door. He got to hear Atticus be born. He followed him to the nursery and watched with his parents at the window. Brian did go into the nursery though as well. I did get to be the first of us to hold him, which was unplanned but nice. I could not wait to see him after they had given me my pain meds though and I had come out of the stuper from surgery. 

He came in and then everyone held him. His apgars were 6 and 9. the 6 is normal from me being put to sleep, he kinda came out sluggish. He is healthy. PRAISE GOD! He is a tiny bit jaundiced because his blood type makes him more at risk for it. But he passed meconium 5 times in the first 24 hours and peed 3 times before I saw him! So my pediatrician has been pretty impressed with his low jaundice .... she thinks its cuz he pooooped so much

The best part was he latched right onto nursing! It was amazing. Nursing - SO FAR - has been awesome and pretty easy. But I am prepping myself for possible issues later, blessed if we dont have issues though. 

Life could not be any better. I love having my healthy baby boy. Im doing well, sore and slowly getting some strength back. I have learned that even when my pain is low to take the percocets (sp?) because they make me feel stronger.