Saturday March 24, 2012
After the doctor's appointment yesterday I am just relaxing this weekend. I'm not even 1 cm dilated. I wake up that morning and Jeff asked, "What do you want to do today?" Usually my response is always, "go into labor." However, I said, "Let's go to South Padre for the weekend. We know what the doctor said you know. (Annabell, you're two weeks over and still only a fingertip dilated. I think you're not going to progress well and probably end up with a c section. I still hope that your body proves me dead wrong." We thought about taking a road trip and then realized that South Padre is 6 hours away. So, we decided we would run a couple errands later in the morning instead.
At about 0830 I called my dad to let him know the plan for Sunday night for induction. As I'm ending the call I feel a small gush of fluid. (It felt like when someone has to use the restroom and starts urinating and you can't make it stop.) I knew I hadn't peed my pants, but didn't want to believe that my water broke. I had errands to get done that morning! I went into bathroom where I discovered lots of white mucous. I proceeded to walk into the living room and tell Jeff in his office, "I think I just peed your pants." He replied, "What do you mean think? Don't you mean your water broke." I told him what I had discovered in the bathroom and then told him, "I'm just going to ignore this. Besides, even if contractions were to start they'll stop like they always do. Plus, if it was anything it was probably the fore water bag, but I still think I just peed my pants." Jeff wasn't convinced, but respected my opinion.
At 0900 contractions started, but I was convinced to get my two errands done. I needed to get to the bank to have Jeff sign off on our joint account so the bank would send me a new debit card with my married name. Jeff had been stubborn about going to the bank with me and kept putting it off. As we hopped into the truck Jeff asked me if I was timing my contractions. I replied, "They're not real contractions! They're only in my head." Next thing I'm grabbing the ceiling handle and moving my body into an "S" shape due to the "fake contraction." As we headed into parking lot my dear husband hit every speed bump and I swear I wanted to kill him. Jeff says, "Remember they're not real contractions. It's only in your head. So, are you having real contractions yet?" I just gave him a dirty look, "Just get to the bank ok." We sit in the bank parking lot waiting on the next contraction and as soon as it's over we rush inside to find we'll have to wait in line. Luckily we were next in line and get back out of the bank just in time for me to have another contraction. Jeff immediately says, "Annabell, your slight discomfort is happening every 9 minutes." "Jeff I think this might be real labor," I say as honest as can be. "You think," he replies sarcastically. He proceeds to mention we should probably head home and I realize my second errand is to go to HEB for groceries. HEB was next to the bank. So like any person in denial we head into HEB for groceries! After grocery shopping and arriving at home my contractions were now five minutes apart. I give the doula Amy a call and explain what had happened that morning. I explain that I probably want someone to come over sooner than later. She says it's no problem and proceeds to contact a doula to come as her daughter had an ear infection. I jump in the shower and the water is wonderful on my belly. I try to get out of the shower and find myself unable to handle the contractions without the aid of the water. So, I decide to head to the bathtub. Jeff was coming in and checking on me. He convinces me to get out and lay in the bed for a while. I lay in the bed and Jeff starts massage. I tell him that all I want is my back rubbed. So Jeff is rubbing and when his hands got tired I hopped back into the tub. Before I hopped back into the tub I decide to try the contraction timer app on my phone and can't believe that my contractions are two minutes apart. I'm not wanting to believe it so I get into the tub and just keep focusing on staying calm and relaxed.
At 1 pm, Jenni (apprentice doula) initially arrived to my home and found me in the bathroom in my bathing suit. She spoke softly and just asked me where I was feeling the most discomfort. It was my lower back. She started pushing on my lower back in a massaging motion that felt fantastic. It felt so soothing. I'm trying to do abdominal breathing and not make any noise but it's difficult. Jenni noticed this and instructed me to make a low "OOOOOHHHHH" sound with the contractions. I feel like the contractions take my breath away, but once they're over. I think, "Wow it's not that bad when you have a break in between." I'm having to get out of the tub to go to the restroom and at 1:30 PM I'm puking my guts out. (I think omg puking happens close to transition. I can't be a seven or higher yet. Well don't worry I wasn't even close.) Jenni held the trash can while dear husband was putting towels on the floor. He didn't want me to slip and fall.
At 2 pm De'Andrea the doula covering for Amy and her shadow Deva arrive in the bathroom. Jenni proceeds to update Deva and tell her that I'll need to go to the hospital sooner than later. She also mentions how I'm only able to tolerate the tub and sitting backwards on the toilet. Jeff at this point has brought in big pots of water. DH had been boiling water on the stove as I had used all the water in the water heater. He pours the warm water into the tub. I'm in my own little world, bellowing my "oh's" and just taking one contraction at a time. Later, I realize I haven't seen Jeff in a while and ask the doulas on his location. De'Andrea says without hesitation, "He's baking a cake." I stop, open my eyes, look at her and say, "WHAT?!" She replies, "He's baking a BIRTHday cake. He's also been getting the house all ready and the truck packed for you. It's time to get you out of the tub and into the truck now." I'm in shock! Jeff, MR Tough guy is doing something really sweet. Jenni calls Dr Hughes who is on call and confirms that yes now is a good time to head to the hospital.
I head out to the truck and prepare to get into the back seat. As I open the door I see all of our bags surrounding the car seat. Jeff had thought I would ride in the front seat and De'Andrea in the back. As I refuse this sitting situation, I put my knees in the floorboard in the back seat and lean on the front console. De'Andrea sits beside me still applying pressure to my back. Jeff is driving the truck and Deva is following behind him. I felt like the truck ride to the hospital was the longest ever as it was about 35 minutes away. Jeff drops us off at the ER and goes to park the truck. As I head to the registration desk I am hit by a contraction and stop in my tracks. The registration lady hollers out, "Are you here to have a baby?" I am quite and keep my "if looks could kill" face looking down as De'Andrea does the talking for me. The registrant proceeds to tell De'Andrea I have to wait for a wheelchair to go to labor and delivery. I say, "De'Andrea I can't stand sitting down. Please don't make me take the wheelchair." De'Andrea ask which way L & D is and says we'll just walk. That lady just won't let up she's like No, she'll really like being wheeled up there. I start walking out of the ER and heads toward L & D. The lady gives De'Andrea directions and she directs me on the path to follow.
At 4 pm, we get settled into a room and Dr Hughes enters the room. I immediately say, "Dr Hughes, please don't send me home. He replies, "You're 42 weeks and you're not going anywhere." He ask me to lay on the bed. I attempt to lay on the bed and feel a contraction and jump back out of the bed. Dr Hughes surprised by my movement says, "Wow, she's fast!" After the next contraction I lay back down in the bed and my check reveals 4 cm and 100% effaced. I hop into the shower and feel instant relief. The RN needs to monitor the baby so I have to get periodically out of the shower to have fetal monitoring done. I hate being in the bed and find the only way I can stand to be in bed is to put my chest against the head of the bed with my arms hanging over. If you can imagine a frog position butt naked hanging out, yep that was me. Guess what!? It felt like the only position that was comfortable for me. This whole time Deva is keeping me hydrated and holding my hand. She speaks encouraging words about how well I'm doing. She runs to get refills for Jeff. De'Andrea is pushing on my back and reminding me of what a great job I'm doing.
At 6 pm I am now 6 cm dialated and I want an epidural. De'Andrea and Deva are doing a great job of helping me deal with the pain. The first time I ask for pain relief De'Andrea reminds to talk with Jeff about it. Jeff says, "No, you can't have it." I tell him that I don't care what I said before I came in here. I want the epidural. He says, "No, you don't." He lets me hold onto him so tight through the contractions. I still can't stand to lay or sit in the bed.
At 8 pm I'm a solid 8 cm at this check the doctor attempts to turn the Ambrose for the 2nd time. He had discovered that Ambrose was sunny side up. His spine against my spine making labor extremely difficult and longer.
At 9 pm I'm 10 cm dilated and am not sure why but didn't really start pushing until 10 pm. At 0100 am I have been pushing for three hours and still no baby. I'm using the labor bar and it really helps. The RN Tania is doing every thing she can to help us. However, she does mention that there is a strong possibility of a c section. Dr Hughes comes in and does another check and attempts to turn Ambrose unsuccessfully. He mentions a c section and I proceed to respectfully ask him if I am stable. "Yes," he says. Is baby stable. He replies, "Annabell your baby's heart rate isn't picking up that well due to his position. However, when I see it, it looks just fine. I know you want to continue trying which is fine. I would feel a lot better if there was an internal fetal monitor ." So monitor went in and I kept trying to push. I remember Tania, RN bringing in a mirror and I found it very beneficial. Tania also mentions that my contractions are not effective anymore and that pitocin needs to be started. De'Andrea request if we can try a more natural intervention first such as nipple stimulation. Tania is open to trying it for thirty minutes and then if it doesn't work starting pitocin. I am holding onto the labor bar and can't do nipple stimulation at the same time.....this is where Jeff comes in. Jeff took one for the team and my contractions started being effective again!
Jeff rubbing my back and Deva cheering me on.
However at 0245 Dr Hughes came in and did another check. "Annabell, you haven't made any progress in three hours. You've gone from -1 station to 0, but how that happened is that the baby's head is now so swollen what I'm seeing is the swollen head." He also goes on to explain that there is menconium which I miss hearing that part until the doula repeats it to me. I plead to the doctor that I can keep going. He kindly tells me, "Annabell I know, but it's been five hours of pushing and he still hasn't come out. I would really suggest a c section." He steps out to let us talk about it.
In my mind I achieved my goal of not having an epidural and I've tried everything I could do to get this baby out. I never quit on myself, my team never quit on me, and the staff never quit. They gave me every possible opportunity. I thought about head swelling and possible neurological damage and I knew that I wasn't going to risk baby's neuro status. Jeff and De'Andrea are talking to each other and I'm so exhausted I'm not even paying attention to the conversation. Later I would find out that there were discussing if there was anything else to try or if this was it and it was time. The doula would confirm that it was. I look at Jeff and tell him, "I never quit." He says, "I would have been done at three hours." I ask for Dr Hughes to come back in and request that two people be allowed in the room. He's perfectly fine with it but I need to check with the anesthesiologist. I meet Jason and he is open to having De'Andrea in the room. So, I head to the operating room....
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