I think I may have had one of the worst labor and deliveries of all the crazy stories I have heard. I was told 'not to worry' and 'epidurals are miracles'. On top of that since I workout, it seemed like everyone told me how I would not be pushing for very long because I'm such in great shape. Well, to say that my expectations about childbirth were a bit positive, would be the furthest from the truth ever.
My contractions started and increased throughout the day on Wednesday, Aug 31st, and by 9pm they were 5min apart and about 45-50 seconds in length. After calling the doc, she said to wait until the contractions were 2-5 min apart then just come in to the hospital when that happened. By the time this happened it was about 10:45pm, so we left for the hospital. Upon arrival, my contractions were every two to three minutes, and, as if on cue, my water ruptured on the elevator up to the L&D floor.
Upon examining me at about 11:10pm, I was three cm dilated, and the nurse wanted to wait until I was four to receive my epidural. At this point, my contractions, although still pretty intense, had slowed to about 5min apart. As soon as the nurse checked me, however, my contractions went back to about 2 minutes apart, and the next thing I knew she was reexamining me and calling the anesthesiologist, all while my body is starting to shake pretty hard. I was in so much pain. The anesthesiologist made it to me by 1pm, at which point I was dilated to a ‘7 or 8’. (yes, from a 3 to at least a 7 or 8 cm in two hours) Thank God the anesthesiologist was efficient, as I started to feel significant pain relief by 1:30ish. At this point, the nurse called the doc on-call to come in, as they all thought I would have this kiddo in the next couple of hours.
So as my pain went from an intensity of ‘off the charts’ (my term) to virtually a zero, my contractions increased in frequency as well as intensity. I wish my body would have actually responded better to the epidural as I was still shaking and spasming pretty intensely—which really wore my body out. The contractions were very strong and about 10 seconds apart, at which point I dilated to 8.5cm. Simultaneously, as my contractions intensified, my baby’s heart rate dropped to 50bpm for four minutes. The doc arrived just on time to put an oxygen mask on me and tell the three nurses in the room and Sean to start ‘rolling’ me. They all turned me from my right to left side (I couldn’t move my legs to turn myself). We did that about 10 times (not kidding), then I had to get on all fours for a couple of minutes—I think I was basically just holding myself up with my hands and it looked more like a lower back stretch rather than on my knees and hands since I couldn’t do anything with my knees. Anyhow, it worked and the baby’s heart rate went back to 150bmp. And just to add to all the fun and excitement, they handed me a bucket so I could throw up.
It was about 2:30am after all this crazy excitement was ramping up and I was preparing to deliver. However, the doc made the (unfortunate) executive decision to ‘slow’ my labor. After giving me a shot, I was probably having one contraction every 8 minutes and they were not even half the intensity as before. The nurses and doc told me to get to rest for a few hours as the doc would come back at 8am and reassess and probably start pushing, as I would probably be a 10.
I didn’t sleep a wink throughout the rest of morning-- how could I!?!? My body was still mildly shaking, but I was calmer than before. Sean was able to sleep peacefully on the cot. As 6:30am rolled around, I requested another bolis of fentanyl for my epidural. In retrospect, I should have just asked for half the dose, as it was only my right side that was not numb anymore. By 7:30am I was pretty much pain free, but I could also start to feel my legs more (so maybe he only did give me half the dose). My doc came into the room and determined that (unfortunately) I’m still only 9cm, so it’s the waiting game now. She said she would be back.
And the pushing first began at 9:30am. We pushed for a half hour, at which point my body was totally shaking and I was so worn out from the whole night. It took me a few pushes to get it right, because I couldn’t really feel my bottom, I could only feel my legs, which I think was causing me to push incorrectly. We stopped pushing at 10am because he was not descending at all and my contractions were too far apart.
Then, the real worst part began. The doc started me on Potocin, which induces labor, and they gave me a lot. Since my epidural was beginning to where off again, I felt every contraction and how intense they were. I started pushing again at 10:20am. At this point I was either in shock or hysterical (maybe both) as I couldn’t stop crying and all I wanted was a friggin c-section. I begged and cried for a c-section. No such luck. The one nurse and doc and Sean coached me through it. They even put a mirror in front of me so I could see that when I pushed I could see the head—as if this was my motivation. I could see that he had light brown, almost blonde hair. (The mirror didn't work). Anyhow, through many tears and seemingly unproductive pushes I kept asking for my c-section—I could have cared less that I could see the head. But still, the doc said 'No way, we are too far along here, and you are almost there, so keep on pushing." So finally, at about 11:55am, she told me that on the next contraction she was going to do an episiotomy and then put a suction cup (i.e. vacuum) on the baby's head to assist in pulling him out. The doc was awesome and was very calm in telling me how this would work. Although an episiotomy and the suction cup is not recommended and is actually frowned upon by all major medical associations, I was all for trying it because all I wanted was for him to be out of me. I was so worn out and all I kept saying to Sean was that ‘I have no energy, I can’t take this anymore, I can’t push, I’m trying so hard.’ (Picture me saying that, while my body is severely shaking.) So as the next contraction came, the suction cup went on his head without an episiotomy during the first push first push; and finally, during the second push, I got his head out and the rest is history. (Thank God, I’m nearly in tears just thinking about this). The doc did say it had been quite awhile since she had to use a suction cup to pull out a baby.
Upon his debut, the nurse immediately put him on my chest, but I was shaking so bad at this point that they couldn’t keep him there and moved him over to his little warming table. The doc then told me I have ‘severe 2nd degree tears’—I didn’t really know what this meant, but I figured, okay not so bad. However, after 50 minutes of sewing me back together with well over 100 stitches, I realized how bad it really was down there. She actually said to me that if I had had one more little tear towards my rectum, this would have been a third or fourth degree tear. She followed this statement up with, ‘maybe we should have done a c-section’. She gave Bryce the honorary 10lb baby award, meaning that only 10lb babies do this kind of mess down there to a woman.
As if all this 26 hours of labor was not enough, it turned out that I had a 102 fever just after delivery. This meant that Bryce and I had to be placed on IV antibiotics for two days. This required him to go and be assessed in the Nic Unit. He had a little IV stuck to his arm for the next couple of days, and nothing ever developed with him. I on the other hand, had a little bit more of a complicated recovery. I was catherdized throughout the next night because I was so sewn up that I could not pee on my own. I was placed on 2 Percocet and 600mg of Motrin every four hours to six hours-- I can do this regimen for the next ten days if I feel the need. I also re-develped a fever of 100.7 the night before I was supposed to be discharged. It was weird because I was definitely not feeling well at all that Friday night. The nurse thought I was going to be delayed being discharged, but thank goodness, the fever broke during the night and I was able to go home with Bryce on time.
Now, I’m in total recovery mode and moving very slowly. I'm really not a fan of being on all this pain medicine, but to ignore it (as I have already done once) is the most idiotic thing to do, because then I end up in agony. Thank goodness Sean is learning how to be a great expert at changing dirty diapers. He is so good with Bryce and we are having a lot of fun being parents. Bryce is a great sleeper and eater, and is letting us sleep through the nights with maybe one feeding/changing disruption. (yay!) My mom is also here, which helps-- Sean and I try to take care of Bryce while my mom takes care of me!
It's been a fun and exhausting adventure thus far, and I'm looking forward to many more fun times!
Up next, breast feeding adventures.
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