The Biggest Adventure So Far: Labor & Delivery

Tuesday June 26th 2007. D Day. Or should we call it I day, for induction day. That’s right, I was scheduled to be induced partly because of a meltdown I had with my doctor the Thursday prior. (I was put on a project at work that had me working 12 hour days 2 weeks before my due date. To say the least, it was quite overwhelming, and my doctor took me off work the day after my appointment.) I was also being induced partly because I had been measuring big for my last 3-4 appointments. Dr. Belen wanted to make sure I did not have a gigantic baby. So the date was set. It was nice to have an end date in mind and know that I was going to finally meet this baby growing inside me!!! We didn’t go in until 9:00 at night, and I was very excited and expecting to meet my baby the next day, Wednesday. How foolish of me.

My entire family was there. My Mom, Dad, and Sister. Not much was happening at first. We were just all sitting around talking while we awaited for a pill that was inserted do it’s job in ripening my cervix. Every time the doctors would check me the results were positive. I was moving forward. They had said there was a possibility that I may need 2 doses of that pill. But when they checked me later that night (actually early Wed morning) I was set to start petocin. Yeah, things are going well, I should meet my baby by lunchtime Wednesday. How foolish of me.

The contractions progressively got stronger, and I was actually happy about the minor discomfort, because this meant it was not too much longer till I get to meet my baby girl. How foolish of me.

At one point the nurse comes in and said that my contractions were getting too strong too fast, and they had to back me down on the petocin. What they don’t really mention at the time is that when this happens you have to basically start from scratch with the petocin. So we start back over. Contractions get up to speed again, and they continue to get stronger and stronger. I finally decided to get some pain medicine. Let me just tell you, after 9 months of not drinking, those meds hit me like a bottle of vodka! I have to admit, it was kinda fun to watch the hospital room spin and spin. But soon enough, the meds did the same as the bottle does, put me to sleep!!! So, I took a nap. And it was good. I was feeling great, these contractions were nothing now!!! I remember turning over at one point and DJ saying to me “You haven’t had a contraction in over 45 minutes”. I just mumbled something like that is great under my breath and went back to sleep. A couple hours later and my family comes back in to see how things are progressing as I groggily rise from my slumber. I pull my left hand out from under the covers and am shocked to see that my hand has tripled in size!!! I can’t bend my fingers which really look more like sausages than fingers. And the back of my hand, think Wil Smith in Hitch, when he has the reaction from the seafood. My sister runs out to get the nurse, and they realize that my IV has come out of my vein, and all of the petocin is being pumped into my hand. SO, once again, we have to start from the beginning with the petocin, as the contractions have almost completely stopped. (Darn, I was hoping it would stay that easy!) At this point, I am staying in good spirits and while watching TV I see a commercial for the Detroit Fireworks that will be aired that night after dark. I think to myself. Oh yay, I can watch those on TV tonight with my Husband and new baby. How foolish of me. To make a really long story (a bit) shorter, the rest of the night is filled with stronger and stronger contractions, getting an epidural, and another epidural, finally pushing, and pushing, and pushing, and pushing. Thinking that any minute I will meet my baby. How foolish of me. As midnight of WEDNESDAY nears, I remember pushing like hell to try to get this baby out. And I am told that I used all sort of descriptive names for that baby that I so badly wanted out. (I will not repeat these here). Finally, I succumb to the idea of a c-section. It was not fun. I would do it again, for the same outcome. That outcome, being the first time I met my sweet baby girl. Our first Kiss. Something I will never forget. I am on the table, feeling scared and exhausted, and surprised to hear it was a girl! I am trying to see my baby. Trying to see what they are doing over there. Before I know it, the nurse brings over this little bundle. All I can see is this precious little face with the gigantic eyes looking at me. I say hello and then I lean over to kiss her cheek, totally unprepared for the most amazing feeling ever. She was so soft, and warm, and let’s just say, a VERY warm and needed welcome after the c-section. I am instantly in love.