On the way to the hospital my contractions kept coming regularly and with a vengeance. The trip to the hospital thankfully is a quick one but it felt like it took forever. Before I knew it though, we were pulling up and Fleas was letting me out. She had to drive over a bit to get the car valeted because it was pretty late and the Baby Place valet was closed. I went to check in and the security guy offered me a wheelchair several times but I didn't want one...I wanted to keep contracting and sitting was uncomfortable so I just stood there, swayed, and waited for her. As soon as we got up the elevator and onto the Baby Place floor, my sister grabbed the paperwork, which after being there 3 times before during this pregnancy and twice with my first, we were pros at filling out. She had to help me this time because I was having trouble focusing enough to write my information down...another clue that this was probably it!
We got checked in and taken back to triage. The nurse had me change into the hospital gown, lie down, and get checked. This part is hands down my least favorite part. At this point I was 3.5 cms and super soft. She said they wanted me to stay in bed being monitored for 15 mins, walk for 45, and then she would check me again and at that point call and ask doctor what she would like to do. I asked who was on call for the practice I go to and when she said Dr. T, I was thrilled! Not only is she my favorite docor in the practice but also the one who delivered Carmen! I thought the triage nurse's plan sounded fine but told her that after being in pain and contracting for the last 2 weeks, I want an epidural and I wanted as soon as I could get it!! She got us both some water and off she went.
I stayed in bed on the monitors and continued to labor for15 mins. I was really having to work through the contractions and was happy when the nurse came back in and told me I could walk around. I was ready to get things progressing and I told my sister that I can't go home...I was in too much pain! She agreed and we began to walk the halls. As we walked, I was struggling more and more with each contraction. I don't remember this whole area of the hospital last time as I didn't walk around like I did this time.
We waddled by the nurses station for the labor and delivery rooms and I noticed there was a younger male nurse. I didn't remember seeing any men on this side 2 years ago. I even commented to my sister how I didn't recall any male nurses back here. We continued walking and stopped in the room with drinks for a quick drink. I knew as soon as I got my IV, they weren't going to let me drink anymore so I wanted to get some liquid in before I had to resort to only ice chips. At this point, I was really in pain and thought I was ready to waddle back to the triage room.
We got to the room and still had 10 mins before she was coming to check me. I tried laboring sitting down and decided that I was NOT going to do that again. I kept changing standing positions and my sister helped me focus on my breathing and held my hand during each contraction. Not sure I could have made it through this part without her as she kept me focused. During both pregnancies, I found when I was going through a tough contraction I had to close my eyes and breath or I would start getting a bit panicky. It felt like an eternity passed before the nurse finally came in to check me again. She checked and said that I was progressing but not by much. She asked if I had a procedure done when I was younger that may have left scar tissue on my cervix and I said yes. This was the exact thing that prevented progress with Carmen. She said she could break up the scar tissue now but didn't recommend it because I was already in so much pain she worried that it would progress me too fast. She said they would wait until after I got my epidural. I agreed to that! Before she left the room to talk to the doctor, I told her to please tell Dr. T that I can't go home and that I am asking for pain meds NOW!! I told the nurse that Dr. T would know I was serious if she shared that with her.
Before having Carmen, Dr. T and I discussed at length trying for a med free birth and after 14+ hrs of slow progress and lots of pain, I got the epidural and couldn't have been happier. After that birth and throughout this pregnancy, I had talked about trying to go med free again but after the 2 weeks I had just gone through...I was at the state where I wanted drugs and I wanted them NOW!
The nurse went off to call the doctor and ask her if I was to be admitted or not. My sister helped me continue to labor. Not 5 mins later, the young man I had seen at the nurses station knocks and comes in and through the door I hear the best words come from the triage nurse, "She said to admit you!!" Relief came over me as I couldn't imagine that I wasn't in labor or that they could possibly send me home!
The nice young man, who had a southern accent and manners, proceeded to set me up to put in my IV. He asked if I minded and I said go ahead but please promise me that you'll get it in one try! 2 weeks prior to this, the nurse had blown a vein in my arm so bad that I still had a bruise to show him. He said he would try his best and I wanted to kiss him when he did it quickly and in one try! He started my IV and got some of my vitals as we waited for another nurse to come take me to labor and delivery.
When the nurse arrived she asked if I wanted a wheel chair to head to my room or walk. After experiencing what it felt like to contract sitting down I declined and said let's walk. She looked at me in shock and asked again and I said no wheel chair lets go! As we started a contraction came on and I had to labor through it...the nurses at the station asked the one helping me why I wasn't in a wheel chair and she giggled and told them I said let's do it! That made me laugh. We walked/labored as fast as we could over to my l&d room and got me settled in.
My labor and delivery nurse came in and introduced herself. She was my favorite person all night! She started asking a bunch of questions and got me into bed and back on the monitors. One monitor for the contractions and one for the baby's heartbeat. I tried to answer everything as quickly as possible and was just trying to get her finished and get her to get me meds! She said she was going to go put in my order for my epidural and I quickly asked "Can I please have something now while we wait for anesthesiologist?" She said she would check to see what orders the doctor put in and she would be back.
By this point, my sister had already called Special K and put into motion the plan. My niece Surfer girl had headed over to our house and my husband was on his way. I was looking forward to having him with us. He showed up just in time for the nurse to come in and start me on the meds through my IV. She had warned me it would make me loopy and within mins I felt high but it helped. Special K took out his phone and recorded me all loopy! We all were chatting and laughing and excited that baby was coming!! I was happy to know my epidural was on it's way! Check out this smile while I was in labor. Can't remember if this was pre or post epidural but I know there was meds in me. :)
Please come back soon for the final part of this birth story, when Miss Maria finally joins us.
You are a trooper to share all the details with us. I think it's beautiful that the whole L&D experience is different for everyone, every time.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
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