My Birth Story

Admitted Friday November 5, dilated to 2 cm.

No amniocentesis on Saturday as planned, because I did not enough fluid, doctor will induce Monday since that's 37 weeks (therefore full term).

Sunday-anniversary, Chris brought flowers; he, mom, and I watched Avatar. I didn't sleep at night since I was uncomfortable (even with an Ambien). It felt like contractions in my back. I also thought it might be discomfort simply from laying in bed for so long hooked to the monitor. Melanie was my nurse, she shared some fun stories about her own babies. I got to to shower that day!

Monday morning, Chris shows up for his "shift", I eat a light breakfast talk to mom on the phone for a bit, then move to my labor room around 8 am. Kelly then comes in to break my water to speed things along, she uses the crochet needle (water runs out, feels really gross). Upon inspection, I am now dilated to 6 cm. This baby is coming with or without inducing me (appears I was in labor all night). A probe is inserted into my placenta to monitor contractions since they aren't showing up using the traditional monitor. Chris and I make predictions on birth time. Since it was 8:30 am when she broke my water, I predict 8:30 pm; Chris 9:15 pm. Mom plans on being there at 10 am. I start getting contractions while nurse Dana (pronounced Danna) hooks up my pitocin. First contraction noted in 50's, second in 80's (I request Chris call my mom and tell her to get there; I also cry because I peed myself; at some point I mention that I'm glad I'm not a dog because I'd not want to eat the placenta; Chris tells me I have Riley breath). The third was 120ish (all this happened in 30-45 minutes). I request an epidural at this point, Dana informs me I am 10 cm...the baby is ready to come out, no epidural (Chris calls mom and says, GET HERE NOW). I say, "no pain meds?", "no hon, too late"...I have a look of startled surprise as I stare at Chris. I bear hugged him off the side of the bed while the contraction kills me and all I want to do is push the baby out. I'm told to hold baby in so the crew can get there. Kelly heads back to the hospital from the office, Dana transforms the bed into the mega-labor bed, when I turn back to see the room, the audience (nurses and students (a girl named Carry was one of them)) arrive. They put my legs in stirrups. The tell me I can push. I get through one round of that and my mom showed up (just in time) came to my left side. I pushed through 3 more contractions, the head emerged and "popped" out, sudden relief. Next thing I know the baby is plopped up on me, looks blue, not making any sound. I'm looking from baby to mom (from our vantage point, we can't tell if baby is okay), no one says anything startling. Chris is peeking around at the baby (looking for gender). He gets to cut the umbilical cord, finally I ask if baby is all right, baby's not crying. Some one tells me "SHE" is fine. So it's a girl. Okay, what about the crying... The whole time Chris can see her looking around the room. He knows she's okay. They tell me she is okay, take her off to do her exams (in the room, both her 1 minute and 5 minute Apgar scores are 9, the nurse from Cardinal Glennon felt she was the healthiest small baby he's ever seen, nothing wrong with her). 4 lbs 15 oz, 16 inches long, 9:41 am. I tear badly, Kelly removes the placenta and sews me up. This is painful and disgusting. It smells bad. It takes longer to sew me up than to birth a child. Finally I get to hold my baby girl. The cameras come out. We talk about names, yes we agree, Dani Marie. Texts and calls go wild while Dana packs me up and transforms my bed back to something resembling a bed. Baby has been taken for exams at the nursery. When she comes back we breast feed. 10 minutes, not bad! Drew comes to visit. Calls from outside the room to see where he needs to go, Chris gives him directions, then realizes he outside the door. Anyway, I go to the bathroom, that was a mess, you'd think you were dying!



Things to note:

tucks pads, giant postpartum pads, mesh undies!
Hospital rooms

monitoring 117
Delivery 103
Postpartum 288

Mom bought Dani a wooden rose and her first piggy bank. Sis got me an angel pin. Becky got Dani a lavender bear and me and Chris a gift certificate to Imos. We used it Thursday.

Visitors: Mom, Chris' mom and dad, Amanda, Kim, Nick, Lenny, Becky, Drew and Dusty (though I didn't end up getting to see him since we were discharged earlier in the day).