Lillian's Birth Story (1/21/12)

Readers digest version, after complications and failure to progress, I required a c-section.  Lillian Emma was born January 21, 2012 at 9:19pm, weighing 7 pounds, 1 ounce and was 21 inches long.  I developed a fever and Lillian had respiratory distress that required a short trip to the NICU.  About 5 hours after her birth, I was finally able to hold her (I have a new respect for all the premmie mom?s that had to wait so much longer).  Recovery from my c-section is better than expected, and I was fortunate to have a great to nurse to help Lillian breastfeed.  We are both doing great now and I am blessed beyond words. 

Complete story: We had come to expect that Lillian would not arrive before her due date, and that likely I would be admitted Monday evening for a Tuesday induction.  However, on Friday the 20^th, Lillian decided she had other plans.  It started Friday night after dinner with neighbor.  My stomach was upset and at first I thought it was related to dinner (we had Mexican).  At 10:30, I understood it was early labor and began tracking the contractions.  We both took showers and tried to go to bed.  I ended up on the couch so I could continue to track the time.  By 2am, the contractions were mostly 5-6 minutes apart, so I called the doctor.  They said to come in!

Upon arrival to the hospital at 3am, my contractions were closer to 7 minutes.  I was sure they?d just send me home.  I was only dilated at 1 cm, but I was happy I wasn?t still ?closed shut?.  My contractions continued and got to 6 minutes and Lillian was already at +1 station.  They decided to admit me and start the induction a little early.  At 8am, they broke my water and began the Pitocin.  Since they were using Pitocin, they told me I could be my epidural when I wanted it because it shouldn?t slow my progress.  By 10am, I took them up on their offer?Thank you Dr. Hamilton!  After the epidural, I was very comfortable and time actually passed more quickly than I thought it would. 

At lunch time, I sent Matt and my cousin (more of a sister) to get lunch.  I thought if they were gone, I might actually nap.  Unfortunately, the timing of sending them away was horrible.  Within a few minutes of them being gone, I noticed the ?horses? stopped racing (aka fetal heart rate), within seconds of me thinking this, there was a room full of nurses and midwifes flipping me over, injecting drugs and giving me oxygen.  I?d had 10 contractions on top of each other and Lillian got upset.  Her heart rate decelerated for over 3 minutes.  Matt and Tracie came back to me terrified wearing an oxygen mask.  It was comforting to see how well they responded, but very scary we needed it.  After this, everything became much more real to me. 

Because my water was broke, they limited how often they checked me.  By mid-afternoon, I was up to 4.5 cm, and they said that was the hardest part.  They thought I?d progress about 1 cm an hour, so we?d have our baby this evening.  During this time, they had me in some very awkward positions to help her position.  I was on my side, with my leg high in a stir-up (think vertical fire hydrant).  I learned later this was an attempt to help the baby change positions. 

Somewhere around 8p, they came to check me again, and I was just at 5cm.  No real progress.  I had also developed a slight fever of 99.3.  They explained to me Lillian had begun to get a cone head in prior checks and she was not moving despite my positioning.  Based on my progress and fever, I needed a c-section.  They said that when a decision is made to have a c-section that it?s done within 30 minutes.  With no time to process what was happening, I totally freaked out.  This was not what I wanted.  I?d had a difficult recovery from a gallbladder surgery a few years back.  The thought of having major surgery and not being able to be take care of my baby terrified me.  I was also worried about breastfeeding.  I was sobbing uncontrollably.  Matt, Tracie and my nurse did wonderful to help calm me down. 

My c-section began and while I could feel some pressure, it wasn?t painful.  At 9:19 pm, almost 24 hours after my labor began; my daughter was born.  I heard her cry, and could sense her cry had more stress than it should.  They briefly showed her to me and I was able to kiss her forehead.  They took her away, and dad went with them.  It felt like forever for them to finish my surgery.  By the end of the surgery, my fever had spiked and was at 103.  Again, my worries went to how can I be sick and take care of my baby. 

Upon going to post-op, I heard the nurse ask where my baby was, and this was when I learned she was in the NICU for Respiratory distress.  Matt came quickly to reassure me that it was normal and they thought she?d only stay for a few hours.  Meanwhile, the bassinet next to my bed was empty and I could hear/see other moms come to post-op with their babies.  It was so difficult and not helped by having horrible nursing care.  I arrived in post-op around 10pm, and they didn?t give me the ordered Tylenol and start antibiotics until midnight (I?d heard my doctor order this when I left the OR at 10pm!). 

Close to 1am , I was transferred to my recovery room and my wonderful nurse Cyndie took over.  My baby had already been discharged from the NICU and was in the nursery waiting on me.  Cyndie quickly brought her to me so I could finally hold her.  Then she helped me with her first feeding, ordered lactation consults and was so compassionate.  Within a few days, my fever subsided.  I was able to begin walking about 18 hours after the surgery and have recovered better than expected.  While nothing was text book, I have the most perfect daughter and am forever grateful to God.