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Birth Stories
gwenypher7
member
Induced at 31w6d- pics
gwenypher7
member
Background: I was admitted into the hospital after a dr's appointment in which my blood pressure was incredibly high, my platelets were very low, and protein was found in my urine. It was determined that I had HELLP syndrome and the decision was made by dr's to induce labor.
Abigail also had some issues that influenced the decision to give her an early birthday. The main issue was that Abigail had IUGR (Intra-uterine-growth-restriction), meaning that she had not grown since she was 29 weeks. So Abigail is one of the shrimpiest 32 weekers they have ever seen! For some reason (probably her smaller cord) she stopped growing right before I was admitted into the hospital - so the induction saved both of our lives.
I was given Cervadil Monday night to get my cervix ready. All throughout Tuesday I was given pitocin and contracted about every 2-4 minutes - yes, ALL DAY. Then they put more cervadil in Tuesday night to ripen my cervix more. Wednesday I was 2cm and the dr decided to break my water around 4pm.
We heard a "pop" and then I felt the gush. I had barely had time to understand what was going on before he did it! Apparently the water was clear, which is a good thing, but it kept gushing out and onto the bed. I honestly can't remember how they cleaned it up with me still lying on the bed.
That was about 4pm and I was rather frustrated since I had not progressed much at all since Tuesday morning. The nurse told me that breaking my water would "move things along" since it would mean there was no fluid to cushion the contractions. Well, it did!
I was given Nubane in my IV, which made me a bit loopy and hungry. I was able to breathe through the contractions, then I would almost fall asleep between them. Remember, we'd been at the hospital for a week by then, and if there is one thing you do NOT get at a hospital, it is rest! Around 7pm the dr checked me again and I was at 4cm. Again, I was frustrated at having been in pain for 2 days and not having that much progress. Matt and I were making bets as to when she would finally be born, and we both thought it would be around 5 or 6 the next morning.
Meanwhile, I was put back on magnesium to control seizures, since my blood pressure was so high. This meant I had to have a foley catheter inserted and I would not be able to get out of the bed or change positions during labor. So I would be flat on back to have this little girl. If there was one thing I knew from all my months of reading baby books, it was that I DIDN'T want to be flat on my back during contractions, as that would lead to back labor (contractions in the back), but I really had no choice. All my ideas about labor positions and leaning on Matt and walking around through the pain were thrown out the window.
After checking me at 7, they cranked up the pitocin (contraction inducer) and the contractions were coming at about 2 minutes apart and were soaring off the charts. I was shaking so badly and the nubane was not really helping anymore. I chose at 7:30 to go ahead and get the epidural. I'm all for women who want to experience natural childbirth, but this is how I see it: unless I get a medal for it, I will not willingly put my body through unnecessary pain. Since there is no medal for going natural in child labor, I chose drugs. The epidural was not as bad as I thought it would be - or maybe I was just in so much pain that I was glad to get it. Lets give credit where it's due, though - DH got me through the whole thing.
To get the epidural, I was sat up on the edge of the bed and leaned on DH. He held me and talked to me while the anesteseoligist injected a numbing agent into my spine, and then inserted the epidural catheter into my spinal column. Not fun, but definitely not as bad as I had imagined.
Once the epidural was in place, I noticed right away that my right side went to sleep...but my left DIDN'T. I could still feel every contraction on my left side, and they radiated down my pelvis and into my upper leg. For 3 hours. It wa also at this time that we noticed Abigail's heartrate dropping VERY low during the peak of the contractions.
Around 11pm I was in so much pain that I decided to ask the nurse to check the epidural and make sure it was working. My contractions were coming one on top of another and were not giving me a break between. I started to panic - something was wrong! They must have given me too much pitocin! When the nurse came into the room, I could barely explain to her what pain I was in. I wouldn't be able to do this all night. I was at my limit. She quickly checked me and said, "that's because you're ready to push!" Matt and I were in shock as the nurses started coming in with the special equipment they would need.
After what seemed like an eternity (but was probably only 5-10 minutes), the doctor came in. He immediately went into very serious mode. The baby's heartrate was so low, and not speeding up, since my contractions were not letting up. They had to get her out NOW. Hearing the urgency in his voice scared me to death. No "Hi, I'm dr so-and-so and we're going to have your baby now!" - straight to business, which I was all for by that point. After 2 or 3 pushes, Abigail was out. The actual pushing didn't hurt, but I am a little sad that I was unable to feel her come out due to the epidural.
Abigail was born at 11:23pm and I waited in a fog to hear her cry for what felt like an eternity. Then I heard it - and it was the most beautiful sound ever. She was breathing on her own and scored a 6.9/9 on the Apgar scale - amazing for a baby of only 2lbs 15 oz.
After checking her out and weighing her, they put her on my chest for just a second for a quick kiss. DH was then able to hold her for a minute before they wisked her away to the NICU.
The doctor then had to reach up into my uterus to make sure everything had come out - and I definitely felt this! It was more painful than the delivery.
Afterwards, the nurses and doctor filed out and DH and I were left alone and shell-shocked. Our baby was here - unexpectedly 2 months early. Everything had changed in a matter of a week.
I was wheeled into the NICU for a quick peak at the baby as they took me to the recovery room. That night I could hear the cries of newborns that were with their mothers in the rooms next door, and that was so hard. Because I was on magnesium still for 24 more hours, I was tied to the foley catheter and confined to bed. I wasn't even able to go see my baby. DH went down to visit her throughout the night and the next day, though, and would bring me updates. Finally, about 36 hours after the birth, I was able to be wheeled downstairs to the NICU to spend some time with her. For some moments, there are not words.
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Re: Induced at 31w6d- pics
On my computer, the final paragraph of writing is over some the pictures...so I dont know if you mentioned it or not but is she breathing on her own??!
I dont seen any CPAP or nose cannula so Im guessing yes? WOW. COngrats and Im glad shes okay.
I wasnt able to see my daughter for the first 24 hours either since I was on magnesium for my BP and seeing her for the first time all covered in wires and hooked up to machines was over whelming.
Hope you both do well, glad she made is here safely!
just re-read it and you do say she is breathing on her own, how amazing!!
My daughter was born at 36 weeks and still wasnt able to breath on her own so your little miracle is SUCH a trooper.
Congrats on your gorgeous new baby! Being induced without taking the epidural for that long is amazing - pitocin causes extremely strong contractions, much stronger and quicker than natural labor usually, so going for that long without the epidural must have been incredibly painful, like you described. IF there were medals for drug-free birthing, I'd think you still deserve one!
Can't wait to hear that you're taking her home!
6 Sept 2009 - natural miscarriage at 9 weeks
I had my son at 37 weeks and his lungs wouldn't allow him to breathe correctly since he didn't have enough surfactant to breathe and fully oxygenate his blood. For a baby born dying he sure was a fighter. Your pictures bring back a lot of memories and remind me of such a tough time. He spent 3 weeks in level III and level II NICU before he could come home.
He is a very spunky and excited 8 year old now but for the first month we weren't sure if we were going to need a priest and a call to the funeral home.
Prayers to your daughter. What a fighter she is. You are right, there are some moments that you can't find words to express how you feel. When you're with her, sing to her. I wasn't able to hold my son for the longest time so I would sing to him.