My crazy induction birth story (PIS)

Okay, my story is a bit long because my labor was really long but bear with... its a good story, I think.  

At my last doctors appointment, my BP was high and they found protein in my urine. After doing a 24 hour urine, I got a call from my OB on Thursday afternoon (5/27) saying I have pre-eclampsia and they need to induce me today and get that baby out. He also said that because its early (37w, 1d) there is a higher possibility that conditions may not be favorable and I might end up with a c/s.

I hung up and immediately called DH at work and I was in full panic mode. Through sobbing tears told him what the doctor said, and he said he was on his way. I was so scared. I frantically tried to pack our bags... which, because I was so freaked out, I WAY overpacked. 

We got to the hospital late afternoon/early evening. The doctor examined me and said I was 60% effaced but not dilated at all. At 5pm Thursday they had started cervadil, which remained in place for 12 hours. 5am Friday they removed it and checked me, I was 1.5 cm and still 60%.

8am Friday - they started me on pitocin. They start small and go up to 20 for a dose. I got all the way up to a dose of 14 and was feeling pretty uncomfortable. At that point, they got VERY busy and couldn't continue to up my pitocin dose because they couldn't have someone with my constantly to monitor how the baby was tolerating it. I sat there, dose the same, as the contractions slowly decreased in intensity. 

10pm Friday -  doctor examines me and determines I'm still at 1.5cm, and now 70% effaced. So after 14 hours of pitocin, we had literally gotten no where. He said he was going to stop the pit, have me eat dinner, sleep, and start again in the morning. My heart sunk into my stomach when I learned we had made no progress, especially after being so uncomfortable. I was terrified of a c/s but feared that was where we would be heading. 

10:30am Saturday - doctor comes in and breaks my water, while a nurse pushes down on the baby to ensure she is engaged in the pelvis so we're not at risk for a prolapsed cord. This was very uncomfortable. I remember screaming "NO, NO, NO!" at the doctor because there was a lot of pressure while he was breaking my water and stripping my membranes.

About an hour later labor had not started on its own, and I was back on pitocin. After a while the contractions started getting really intense. I was given a morphine shot which did literally NOTHING for my pain. Around 4 or 5pm I was checked and was at 3cm, so they ordered the epidural. Originally I thought I wasn't going to want one, but those pitocin contractions were hell.  

The nurse checked me before her dinner break and I was at 5cm. This was about 6:30, if I remember correctly. A little while later, I started shaking everywhere. My teeth were chattering, my body was shaking and I could feel a great deal of pressure/pain even with the epidural. When she returned from break, less than an hour later, I was FULLY DILATED!

I remember saying "well no wonder I was shaking so bad!".

I immediately started having HUGE urges to push, even with the epi, the urges were insane. I HAD to push. I pushed and pushed... for TWO HOURS. I was exhausted and running out of strength and energy. The doctor came in and said that since I'd been pushing for 2 hours, that if I couldn't push the baby out in the next 3 contractions, we would have to go to the OR for a c/s. I was TERRIFIED! 

I pushed harder than I even thought I could... I pushed until I thought I was going to pass out. The doctor had to use a vacuum and perform an episiotomy - which I was originally VERY against, but given how close we were to being wheeled into the OR, I didn't fight it. Once I pushed her head out, I felt great relief. Her body was easy to push afterwards. The relief that I had finally done it was insane. I've never felt like that in my life. 

9:37pm - Zoe Mary Macedo is born! She's 7lbs, 1.5 ounces, 21.5 inches long. 

Our LO was very mucousy and breathing was raspy so I didn't get to hold her for more than a minute or so before they had to take her to the Level 2 nursery. She was having breathing issues for a couple days, and then was jaundiced and needed photo therapy. They wouldn't let me nurse her for the first couple days which killed me. She wasn't discharged until the following Thursday. It was very hard on DH and I not to be able to hold her whenever we wanted but we have our LO with us now and couldn't be happier! 

Good luck to all the ladies about to have their babies! It is worth every minute and every discomfort once you see your LO.