The Birth

"Don't make a birth plan." This was the best advice from my doctor.  I had often joked throughout the pregnancy that I would probably go into labor while at work in the hospital.  Well...it almost came true.  I was working in the ICU when I started getting my "irritable uterus" pains.  Another nurse who was sitting near me started timing them, then said, "You better go to the birthplace".  So, I called the supervisor, gave a report on my patients to the next nurse, and a coworker pushed me in a wheelchair to the birthplace.  Turns out I was only 3 cm dilated, so they sent me home.  That night I got the best sleep I had had during the entire pregnancy.  Then I woke up at 5 a.m. with similar pains.  I did all the things they tell you: I drank water, I ate a snack, I moved around, but the pain never improved.  By this time, the father had already left for work.  I decided I would call a friend once the doctors' office opened.  

In the meantime, I changed my bedsheets so that I would be prepared when I got back home.  I envisioned climbing into a clean bed.  Ha. Little did I know. Thankfully I had invested in a leather rocker recliner, which is where I ended up sleeping for at least 2 weeks, but more on that later. 

I had called a friend to drive me to the doctor's office.  Once there, I was told it was time to go to the hospital.  Can I tell you that riding in a Jeep Wrangler is not the most fun when you are having contractions?  Contractions and potholes don't mix well either.  

I arrived at the hospital and had to wait for someone to do paperwork.  They eventually got me into a room.  At this point, I had called the father, who was working in New Hampshire, my sister, who was working in RI, and my parents.  My sister beat everyone to the hospital.  She was very excited to be an aunt. Again the doctor said I wasn't very dilated and could go back home to wait.  I cringed at the thought of getting back into a car.  I went to the bathroom and then lost my mucous plug, which earned me the right to stay.  We had to make a few room changes until we found a room that had a working hot shower.  By this time, everyone had arrived.  If you had told me that my family would be in the birthing room, I would have said you're lying.

The father wasn't as supportive at the bedside, but my dad, mom and, my sister ended up being very helpful, holding my hand and rubbing my back for me.  

I never did have a birth plan, but I wanted to avoid having an epidural.  I had managed to handle my contractions naturally for 22 hours. Thank god for prenatal yoga!! Then when they wanted to hang Pitocin, I said I would gladly allow the epidural.  The pain was so intense that I couldn't even talk.  They placed the epidural around midnight, and it did give me a little relief.  We found out that it was leaking because I was able to feel the foley catheter being inserted. Now I have even more compassion and understanding for my patients. 

It wasn't until 8 am that I was finally ready to start pushing.  The foley came out and they set up this bar and tied a sheet, and had me hold the ends of the sheet. OMG. I would rarely work out in the gym, so this was some crazy stuff.  I kept pushing and pushing and pooping and pooping on the table.  No baby.  After 3 hours of pushing they finally say that the baby is faced the wrong way.  Hello? You couldn't have figured that out sooner?  Now with the epidural in place, they had me get on my hands and knees in the bed to try to "turn" him.  It didn't work. That's when they decided to do an emergency C-Section.  

I was scared at this point and only one person could go into the operating room with me.  The father ended up coming in with me.  They wheeled me in and set me up to receive spinal anesthesia.  The doctor ripped off the dressing for the epidural which was painful, but shortly after receiving the medicine my whole lower half went numb.  I didn't feel the foley go in which was wonderful and I opted not to watch the entire process.  They wanted to tie my hands down but I was able to negotiate with them and promised I would not move them.  They pushed on my chest which felt like they were doing CPR.  Then Gabriel came out and initially didn't cry but then he let out the biggest screaming cry that was music to my ears.  The father cut the cord.  They were starting to sew me back up when the medicine wore off and I could feel everything.  They quickly administered pain medicine through the IV which made me want to vomit so then they gave me medicine so I wouldn't throw up.  The next thing I knew I was being wheeled to the recovery area and they showed me my placenta as I passed by. 

While in the recovery area I had a very kind nurse who gave me a hot washcloth for my face and sat me up on the stretcher and it felt like heaven.  I was holding Gabriel and he was able to breastfeed- the only time it was easy- and I wasn't in pain.  The birth was over. Whew!  Little did I know what was in store for us. To be continued.....