Wednesday February 4, 2015

Week 39 & delivery...

On Monday 1/26 the Dr inserted a Foley catheter to help dilate my cervix. Unfortunately I was not dilated to begin with so it took 3 tries to get it inserted. That was not fun. The balloon that holds the catheter in place is filled with saline and the pressure will cause the cervix to dilate.

That night I noticed an increase in fluid leaking out of the tube so we went to the hospital to be checked out. It wasn't amino fluid, so we were sent home. Tue we went back to the Dr and he removed it, I had barely dilated 1.5cm. So we would have to wait for the hospital to call t start the induction. Tuesday passed very slowly waiting for the call. All medically necessary inductions take higher priority over my type.

Finally Wednesday morning at 6 am the hospital called. We needed to be there by 7:30 am.

We are put in triage waiting for a nurse and bed to be available. The Dr tries to break my water but can't feel the bag. Around noon I'm started on pitocin at 2ml dosage. About 1:30 pm we are moved to a delivery room. My pitocin is upped about every 30 min by 2 ml. By the time I hit 12ml I can start feeling the contractions pretty good.

Gene says I go from being happy to being miserable very quickly. Around 4pm I ask for an epidural as I couldn't mange the pain anymore. I was only dilated to a 3.

Epidural are wonderful. It hurt less getting the needle inserted than the IV did. Pain was removed pretty quickly. Every time the pitocin dosage increased I would get the shakes. The epidural made me itch.

As needed Gene would scratch my back or rub my back. The shakes would make my back muscles tense up. I did run out of the epidural medicine but was able to get more before the pain came back.

Finally at 5am I am ready to push. This was very hard since I really couldn't feel much to know if I was really pushing the way they wanted me to. Each contraction I had to push for 10 sec for 3 times. It totally wore me out. Gene and the nurse would push my legs back, while I pulled them back and pused out. You have to hold your breath for those 10 sec.

An hour and 45 min later we had a baby. I did have to have an episiotomy as baby has a big head and very broad shoulders. I remember being asked about my feelings on getting the episiotomy and said if I need one I need one. Then he cut and the rest is a bit of a blur. Gene says the baby got stuck at the shoulders and all the nurses swoop in to help the dr get him out. I remember being folded in half and someone pushing down on my uterus. I was trying to push but had nothing left in reserve. Then there was relief, baby was out, I could hear him cry.

While the dr was attending to my needs, the nurses were taking care of the baby. I got the shakes so bad afterwards I thought I might shake myself off the bed. Finally I get to hold the baby. He is perfect.

His stats
10 lbs 8oz
23 & 1/4 inches long
14 cm head circumference
Born 1/29 @ 6:59 am on a Thursday
Joshua David Ames

Joshua is now 5 days old and absolutely adorable. His little personality is starting to show. While I sorta miss having inside of me, I love being able to see him and hold him. 😍😍😍