It's a BIRTH day!!!

Thursday, January 19, 2012

5:45 AM
The day started out as usual, a shower, a little breakfast, oatmeal because I didn't want to throw antyhing up later. Then the rest of my house rose from their sleep. My DH was going to stay home and get the girls off to school as I drove myself and Little A to the hospital to get checked in.

7:00 AM
It is freezing outside! I entered our birthing center and checked in at the front desk. I was taken back to room 1172 and given my wonderful "gown". I put my things away in a closet, dressed in the beautiful blue back-tie gown and waited for my nurse. She was in the room within a few minutes. Her name was Jen. It was a bit ironic because the last time I was here, delivering my daughter, all the nurses names were Jen, Jenna, or Jenny.

Today, Jen had a post-partum nurse named Bridget, shadowing her because she is moving to Labor & Delivery. Both women were very young and very nice throughout the check-in process. The hospital did not receive my pre-registration, so I had to answer all the medical questions and such. During this time, my DH arrived too. He had to meet Grammy in the parking lot because our youngest wasn't moving very fast that day. She didn't really want to go to school.

Dr. V arrived to check my cervix at 7:30 AM. Sadly, not much had changed. When he shared this information I was completely let down. I knew then that I'd probably have to have Pitocin today. Not exactly what I hoped for.

He decided he would try to break my bag of waters. The long hook was yellow and made of plastic. He tried to get it into the right spot to pop the water, but it did not work. He asked Jen to get him a baby head monitor. This has a hook on it that attaches to the baby's head and monitors the heart rate. Dr. V knew if he could get that in there then the bag would be broke, even a little. That was a success! Little A's heart rate came up on the monitors and he was doing well.

Afterwards, I called my IPs as they were waiting at their hotel. They said they would come to the hospital around 9:00 AM. I was excited for them, because the birthing center was not busy so they would be able to have their own room to share with Little A.

Dr. V and Jen said I could walk the halls. After he left, my DH and I got up and started to walk the three different halls. We walked and walked...and walked...and walked some more.

9:15 am
My IPs arrived and we greeted them. There was so much excitement and "nervousness" in the air. They were absolutely cute...as was the grandmother.

9:45 am
They sat near my hospital room as Jen checked me again - still nothing, no real change. Oh my! You've got to be kidding me!!!
She let Dr. V know and he said I could continue walking but by noon if nothing changes, then it'll be time for Pitocin.

Jen and I joked around a lot that morning because she really wanted to start an IV line and I did not want her to. I do not like having needles in my hand, not one bit! She was so nice and said she'd wait until we were closer to "Pitocin time". She and Bridget did other tasks while my DH and I walked the halls. They brought in meds for emergency situations; they brought the baby bed warmer in; the scale; a couple of different cans for delivery (blood and towels).

My DH and I talked as we walked. I even did some squats. I kept suggesting that if I could put my skates on that I would go into labor or if I could walk the stairs, but no, no one would let me do either. The stairs were off limits - only use in case of emergency! Well, not being in labor 8 days over - is an emergency!!!

My IPs & grandmother were finally showed their room. Of course they were just happy, after two weeks of waiting in the United States, that today they would finally meet Little A. The biological IP was so nervous, he was pacing the hall a bit too...so sweet.

11:45 am
We were quickly approaching the "Pitocin hour". Jen wanted me to return to the room at 11:45 to get everything started. She checked me and then called Dr. V. He came to check too - still not much, but a little...almost to 3 cm and 80% now! WOOT!!! Oh no...still have to get Pitocin started.
Dr. V left and let Jen and Bridget do their job. Jen carefully put the IV in my left hand to begin the Pitocin on its lowest level. It actually wasn't too bad. Thank you Jen! Since I would be hooked up to the IV, I would not be able to leave the room. Instead I sat and stretched for about an hour on a yoga ball shaped like a kidney. My DH and I sat there watching the news. Nothing seemed to be happening. Little A's heart rate sounded like a ping-pong ball bounding on the table. It was strong!

1:00 pm
The hour went by fast and it was time for Jen to call Dr. V again. He instructed her to increase the Pitocin. Oh boy! Maybe this would help.

It was 1:00 and within ten minutes I was having consistent contractions that were strong. I continued to sit on the ball. After many contractions, Jen kept asking me how I was doing ona scale of 1 -10. They were definitely getting to be a little unbearable, but I was still hanging in there. I did not want to have an epidural, so I was trying to focus. My DH had put in the cd I brought, Adele. She has such a soothing voice and I knew if I could listen to her it would help calm me.

2:00 pm
By 2:00, I was standing and rocking my hips at the end of my bed. I had my DH push his balled up hand into my lower back to relieve some pressure. My DH, Jen, Bridget and I could tell that the contractions were extremely intense. The monitor measures them and when I first got the Pitocin they were only at 25 or so, but now after 2:00 most of my contractions were over 110! There were a few that were off the charts!

Jen asked me again if I wanted an epidural. It was about 2:15 pm and I finally said, "Yes, if this is how these contractions are going to be...yes." She went ahead and called to get the anethisiologist ready. She also called Dr. V to let him know where I was and that I'd be getting the epidural. I was at a 3 and 80% for her too - but she said it was still ok to get the epidural. She did get the ok to give me a shot of pain relief while we waited for the epidural.

I had been laying on the bed at this point and suddenly was not feeling the same. There was so much pain in my lower region, so Jen checked me again.

Jen was right! She kept telling me that women who are on their 3+ delivery tend to go quickly and she said maybe I was a "secret" dialator! LOL
In that ten minutes, I went from being 3 cm/80% to fully dilated and READY to deliver! There would not be time for an epidural now.
TEN MINUTES!!!

After that, things started happening quickly. Jen was on the phone to Dr. V - he was on his way! Extra nurses arrived, the bed was pulled apart, I felt like I had to push NOW!

I'm not sure what my IPs were thinking at this point, because they were all still in the hallway. Only one of them wanted to be in the room for delivery so between two contractions, I said, "Someone needs to get E!" I did not want him to miss the delivery of his son.

I don't know if he came in before Dr. V or not, but I recall Jen saying he's just a few minutes Jeannie, don't push...breathe with me, blow it out...Jen kept me focused...as much as she could.

Once Dr. V arrived I was more than ready to deliver Little A. I sat up and pushed once - and screamed so loud! He was coming out quickly and I could feel everything. Stop...breathe, blow it out...ok, Jeannie push his shoulders out. Again...a push and a scream.

Little A arrived! It was 2:56 pm on January 19, 2012.

E cut Little A's cord and he was placed in the warming bed to get tested for his APGAR score.
I could hear Little A just a little over all the other noises in the room. I was really trying to watch E with his son - he was taking some pictures of him in the bed.

It was all over; the pain was gone, no more contractions...the only thing left for me was to deliver the placenta. Dr. V massaged and worked at it for approximately 10 minutes. Everything with the delivery went well.

Little Alexandre was gorgeous!
He was born with a full head of dark hair.
A small baby - 7lbs 13 oz, 21 inches long.

My other IP and grandmother came into the room to see him. Everything was so surreal - here he was, the child we'd all been anxiously waiting for...he has made them a family.

As for me, I cannot express in words how the moment I saw them holding their son made me feel. It was extraordinary!

Much love...always to Little Alexandre, his parents and grandmother