Update we're in NICU The stork came! Catherine Grace's birth story (with a pic)

CherSomething · June 2014

Monday***** She's improving. She is off IV fluid. Her stomach tube came out and they let it stay out as long as she doesn't spit up (they're concerned about her aspirating more fluid into her lungs). They're letting me nurse her... we're starting to get the hang of it, but they make her eat even when she isn't hungry, so it's kind of hard at some feedings. The hospital staff where she was born at says "we don't force-feed," but it seems the NICU does. She's going to be here until at least Saturday when her antibiotics are done. Hopefully she doesn't experience any setbacks. Going home without my baby is one of the hardest things I've ever experienced. I'm trying to hold it together... She's just so darn cute and soft and squishy.

Saturday******So it looks like I posted too soon about discharge. This morning when CG's stats were checked, they found her oxygen sat to be too low and her lungs were overworking. Long story short, she was transferred to another hospital with a NICU. It looks like there were in fact complications due to the meconium. One of her lungs is a bit collapsed inside (thankfully not a whole lung collapse which was the initial fear). She is being treated with antibiotics, and we are looking at a weeklong stay here. It is so hard seeing her hooked up to so many tubes and watching them dig at her veins, but I know it's what will make her healthy. That's all for now. I can't use my phone in the NICU and I want to get back over to her (just finished pumping).

** Short story: Catherine Grace was born at 4:59pm on Thursday June 12th at 39 weeks 3days gestation. She weighed 6 lbs 14oz, is 20 inches long, and has a head full of dark hair.

The whole story:

I got up to use the bathroom and I was almost back to my bed when I felt a gush of warm fluid rushing down my legs (5:25am). I didn't know what to do! So I did what anyone rational person would do--I shoved a towel between my legs and kept saying "OH MY GOD" until my boyfriend woke up and paid attention. It was going to be a while before we could leave for the hospital since we had to get our boys off to school, so I jumped in the shower and got myself ready. I hadn't even packed a hospital bag, but it was fine we had time. I just couldn't believe how much water comes out! And of course my boyfriend was making me laugh, which made me gush water.

We got the boys off to school and were admitted into the hospital at about 8am. The midwife checked me out, she said my membranes had definitely broken, the fluid seemed clear, and I was at 2 cm, cervix was thick. She said we could go home and see what my body would do on its' own, or stay there and we could do the same thing, or be induced. We chose to stay and start pitocin. I was so nervous about this because of so many people's birth stories with the pitocin and the side effects, but, went for it anyway! It was a good decision to stay and induce because my water was not clear--it was pretty green actually. For some reason it started clear, went green, then clear when the midwife checked, then green again. I was trying to be funny and I blamed it on the Lucky Charms I ate for dinner the night before, but my nurse didn't really care.

They increased the pitocin ever half hour, and the strength of my contractions gradually increased. I was soooo hungry, but of course could not eat. They brought me some slimy jello and warm ginger ale to get me through (mmm!). We distracted me with the Bridesmaids movie which was great... Until Maya Rudolph shit in the street and then my contractions started getting soooo bad. They never really got regular in frequency, and thankfully they didn't last long, but the intensity started picking up so fast once the pitocin was increased to a 9. I think the highest we went was 12? At that point I started dreading each contraction, and they were coming fast. I had the midwife come back to check my cervix to see if I could have an epidural.

I was at 5, and all I knew was the anesthesiologist couldn't come fast enough--and he came pretty dang fast! We were a day before the full moon, so luckily for me there weren't too many women laboring that day. They got me into position and I swear to God my contractions were so intense at that point I was begging (inside) for him to get that line in and make the pain go away. I was soo trying to act like a tough guy, not letting on to how bad the pain was because I wanted my birth to be peaceful, but it was intense. It was the kind of pain that made me feel like I would throw up, and I didn't want to be touched except for my boyfriend who was holding my hand.

Soon enough my line was in, they turned me around and checked my dilation again and guess what? I was complete--just like that! 5 to 10 BOOM. For real. It took a few more contractions for the epidural to kick in, but it kicked in and I was so thankful. I don't know how women do it without pain medication. I couldn't. You all that can are my heroes.

I was so excited, I couldn't believe my baby was about to be born. And just like that it started to happen. We held my legs back and I started to push through two contractions. I had no idea what I was doing because I was completely numb. So we decided to get the mirror. This was a great decision. Once the mirror was placed, I could see the progress I was making and it really motivated me while I was pushing. At that point, I had her out in two more contractions. I even reached down and felt her head while I was waiting for what was the last contraction.

Her head came out and the cord was wrapped around her neck twice. But I got the rest of her body right out. She didn't cry right away. The midwife said she was stunned from the cord. They picked her up and brought her over to the warmer with the pediatrician and they cleared her airway and checked her out and got her crying. They worked on her for just a couple of minutes before they brought her back to me and placed her on my chest for some skin-to-skin contact. She had aspirated some meconium, but she was absolutely fine.

It was a wonderful experience. I felt painful contractions for only about 1-2 hours, most of which I could breathe through, and when the time came, I pushed her right out.

She has been SUCH a calm baby, content as can be. She has pretty much no interest in eating though I think because she is just so warm and sleepy. We're still in the hospital and are expecting to be discharged in the morning (Saturday).

As for me, (the bad) I had a tiny tear that required one suture. (the ugly) I feel like I may have pushed so hard before I got that mirror that I turned my butthole inside-out. (and the good) Other than that I'm a bit sleepy but fine and I was up and walking around shortly after birth when my epidural was wearing off, so I am very thankful. I am so happy to have my sweet, little, girl in my arms. I can't believe she is finally here!