Michelle's Birth Story (sventurarn)

notthecheat · January 2014

Monday, December 16:

I had just finished my night shift at 7am, come home and collapsed in bed. At 11:15 am I was half-awake in bed when I felt a 'pop' and rush of fluid. Luckily I made it to the toilet in time for the waterfall of AF, but my pad and panties were soaked. Each time I tried to get up from the toilet, another bucket of fluid would pour out. It was all clear, so I knew there was no mistaking what just happened. From the toilet, I made all my calls- the Birth Center, my doula, work, and of course, DH. I was kind of in a daze because I was not expecting my water to break, least of all at exactly 38 weeks! DH rushed home and threw some items in a duffle bag while I lay down and tried to feel for movement like the MW said to do.

At around 12:30-1 we left for the birth center. They set me up on the fetal monitor. I was told to turn this way. Then that way. Drink some water. Turn again. And again. Finally, the MW said that baby's heartbeat kept dropping with each contraction (this was news- I wasn't feeling any contractions) and my cervix was high and closed. The decels were not emergent, but concerning enough that I needed to stay monitored continuously- something that could not be done at the Birth Center. They started an IV for fluids in my hand while the MW had "the talk" with me that I was going to have to have a hospital birth- and not the water birth that we had wanted.

At about 3pm I was admitted to the hospital and put on the monitor again. Still not feeling contractions. At 5pm I met my OB. My doula called to say she think she might be sick and could send a replacement. I told her no thanks. I was going to have her there mostly for pain management since i wanted to go med free, but now that i was in the hospital, confined to laying down in bed with pitocin on the way, all that was out the window. At 7pm, cervix still high and closed, baby still decelling, a resident placed a Foley bulb to help with the dilation. Pitocin was started not too long after. The hours ticked by and the bulb was still in there. They checked to make sure it was placed correctly, and it was, I just wasn't dilating like I should. In the meantime I was told to keep turning this way and that to try and help the decels. At around 3am, the pit was turned up enough that I was really feeling those contractions. I begged for an epidural. Finally, the bulb came out. I was barely 3cm, still high. Between the contractions and the awful cervical checks i was crying and shaking by the time the anesthetist came in. I have never been more thankful for medication. They tried an amnio infusion to try and reposition baby a little, but the decels continued. They put in a scalp monitor.

Finally, at 5am Tuesday morning, I was barely 4cm, still high. Baby's decels had gotten slightly worse. OB called for a C-section. I had not prepared for this situation at all before coming to the hospital. It was a whirlwind as I was exhausted (had not really slept since before my 11pm night shift on Sunday), starved (had not eaten since my water broke and had started vomiting/ dry heaving), while the staff donned up and DH called the family. All of a sudden we were in the OR, and there I was, the poor dazed mom behind the sheet crying from lack of reserve and too much emotion, trying to process what had all "gone wrong" to get me to that point and just wanting my baby to be OK.

DH was amazing. He had been with me the whole time since I called to tell him my water broke, and never left my side. I was still vomiting in the OR, while they pulled and tugged. At one point, the OB pointed out that I had a "bicornate" uterus, which must be rare since the residents all oohed and aahed. Turns out baby had both a nuchal cord AND a true knot that were causing decels. DH saw the knot in the cord- he said it was black. And then- the best moment of my life- my daughter was born.

They pulled her out- I saw a bundle of flesh be whisked to the warmer while DH cried "It's a girl!" She was silent at first, but a moment later I heard those lusty cries and was never more relieved in my life. I couldn't see a thing. I just kept asking "is she OK? Is she OK?" After a few more (long) moments I got the stats- 6lbs, 8oz. 19 inches. 6:47 am. Apgars 6 and 8. She was at my side for one second but I couldn't even touch her as my arms were strapped down. Then they rushed her off to the NICU for supplemental O2.

I could write a whole novel on my emotional experience for the rest of my hospital stay but this is already quite long. I have never been more happy in my life than when DH and I got to share the moment our daughter was born and I will never forget the amazing feeling of having her in my arms for the first time. I am truly blessed.

ETA: the OB said that due to her cord conditions, things could have gone really bad really fast, and she might not be here today if my water didn't break when it did. I have a friend who lost an otherwise healthy baby at 39 weeks due to a cord problem so it really hit me hard. DH and I call our daughter our "Miracle Michelle." We love her so much!