Our Birth Story- Part 3

Week 41 Day 4- INDUCTION DAY 3

I was in a deep sleep for 12 hours straight. I woke up around 6:00. Since it was still early, I didn't expect the doctor to be in until 7:00. Nick was feeling the stress of waiting and sleeping on a terrible chair so I told him to go home, work-out, and take a shower. So he left while I waited.  

I walked him out and decided to go to the bathroom and slightly praying that the Foley Bulb would just fall out in the process. As I peed this long rubbery tube dangled between my legs. Around 6:15 Wednesday morning, the nurse came in and took out the Foley bulb. She did a quick check and felt that I was about 5 cm but wanted to get a doctor to double check. She let me shower and get cleaned up.

About 30 minutes later, a doctor from another practice came in and checked my cervix. I was 5 cm and 90% effaced so without any hestitation she broke my water. Warm liquid gushed out of me onto the bed. What a surreal feeling! I had two things cross my mind at this moment. I hope this is actually the fluid and I am not peeing myself and thank you Jesus. The liquid just kept coming and coming. 

I texted Nick and told him what just happened and panic came across his voice. He knew this was it!! He was still at home and needed to get a shower. I told him everything was fine just get back to the hospital as soon as he could. 

At 7AM, there was a switch in doctors and nurses. My labor nurse who I will never forget entered the room and introduced herself, Tana. I was also asked if it would be okay to have a student nurse help out during the day. I agreed. The first thing they did was clean up the room, get a baby warmer, and reset up my all of my monitors. Feeling a little uncomfortable, I asked if I could get a change in bedding and go to the bathroom. She helped me up out of bed. As soon as I stood up, i felt this incredible amount of pressure down low. It was sooooo painful! i thought the baby was going to fall to the ground. I went to the bathroom and then Tana cleaned me up, and put me back into bed.Throughout the day she did this and helped me switch positions. 

The doctor came in around 7:30, and just with my luck, it was Dr. M. The first thing she says is, "Well, lets check this out because sometimes people get different measurement." Ugh, can i just say this woman is seriously always negative.  At 8:00, I decided I wasn't going to continue to feel this incredible pressure if I didn't have to and asked for an epidural. Nick was still not back yet so I text him and told him he needed to hurry.

I finally got an epidural around 8:30. Nick made it back and supported me the whole time. I wouldn't say it was painful but the initial pinch was not good. Tana helped me back into bed and got me comfortable. In moments the pain was gone. 

I made steady progress throughout the day. Around noon, I was 7cm. My mom came back to the hospital at 3:30 to hang out. While she was there the doctor came in and did another check....9cm!!!  

As quick as things were going so well, we had a little set back around 4:30. While my mom was there I told the nurse I was feeling a little loopy. She said I shouldn't feel that way. Turns out I spiked a fever of 102.8. Everyone began to freak out. They covered me with ice and gave me two different IV antibiotics and Tylenol. 

My mom left around 4:30 AND at 4:40 the doctor came in to do a cervix check. 10 CM!!!!! It was time. She had Tana pull up one leg and Nick pulled up the other. Then she told me to push at my next contraction like I had to poop. Breath in and push out- three times for each contraction. The doctor left and from that point we worked on pushing and getting to the point of crowning. I felt each contraction with a tremendous amount of pressure so I told them every time I had to push. 

Once I crowned, Tana called Dr. Shima (who was on call) in to deliver. The room transformed. While everyone was getting ready I continued to push. The doctor got into position and helped me a long to push the baby out. He asked if I wanted to see the baby come out with a mirror but I just couldn't. I pushed from 4:40 to 6:05. 

At 6:05 the doctor told me to put out my hands and take my baby. It felt like she was reaching for me. I grabbed her and put her onto my chest. (I pulled her so close the doctor had to tell say"Whoa"...I apparently forgot she was actually still attached to me. Nick cut the umbilical cord.

Moments I remember...

• Nick always said he never wanted to watch any of it. He watched the whole things and was such an awesome coach. He pushed me the whole time and told me what an awesome job I was doing.
• The first moment the baby's head could be seen. I couldn't but seeing the excitement on everyone's face, especially Nick's, was amazing
• With an epideral, you don't feel a lot, but I still felt a lot of the pressure and there was still pain. 
• I said a lot of things that were absolutely ridiculous.
• Harper's eyes were really big and she looked right at me.

( Note: Due to my fever, it changed some of the procedures of the after-delivery. They had to make sure the baby was not affected so NICU was there to take the baby right away. I was told this from the very beginning. More in Our Birth Story- Part 4)