1st Labor Story

Leah Grace

( Just a warning, it gets personal in here ...)
On February 23, 2011, Leah came into the world. No, it wasn't the labor cookies, nor the Castor Oil, it was my blood pressure that finally pulled the plug on this pregnancy.
On Wednesday, we went into our weekly appointment, which had been rescheduled to this day due to our trip to the hospital on Sunday. Everything was normal, I woke up, got dressed and we headed to the doctor's office. Note: our car has had our suitcase, camera, video camera, diaper bag and car seat in it since the beginning of February. However, that morning I decided to not go to the appointment with our phone charges, toiletries, and a few other things we had been bringing to appointments ( just in case ).
The appointment was going as usual as we walked into the room. The nurse was the same as we had last time and she looked suprised to see me. I told her the stripping of my membranes had obviously not worked and I went on to tell her about our trip to the hospital Sunday and how Dr. Hooper had decided to not induce, but to wait. She seemed just as confused as we were about the whole situation. Skip forward to the blood pressure reading, ( pump pump pump), she didn't say anything ( which is a good clue something is not right). She ran out of the room and Dr. Hooper quickly came in saying to use the bigger BP cuff to read my blood pressure. Dr. Hooper put the cuff on me and sure enough 147/104. This is the highest my low number has ever been. She quickly went to her computer, "hm"ed aloud and said, well that's it, it's time to get that baby out. I quickly looked over at Adam, as he gave me the eyes. Was she serious? The nurse smiled and stated how she felt when it was the day of having her baby. I guess she was.
Dr. Hooper typed a few things on my chart and went on to tell me I was ready to go and to head over to the hospital, I had the last room left. Adam and I got up and she handed us the paperwork to bring with us. As we headed out, I stopped by the checkout desk and told her we were heading over to be induced. They all gave me big smiles and said congratulations!
Adam and I headed down the elevator and I quickly picked up my phone to call my mom, " It's go time"...
We called everyone we needed to call, to let them know it was " go time " and Leah was coming! Adam stopped by the car, unloaded what we had, and we walked over to labor and delivery. We probably looked like two kids in a candy shop as we stopped at the nurse's station. They said we would have to wait for a room to be cleaned, so off we were to wait.
5 mintues later, we were escorted into a room and the process of labor started..Between 12 noon and 1 p.m. the process of labor was started. Nurse number 1 ( since I had so many) attempts to put my first ( yes, my first) IV in. I explained how I probably have the worse veins ever and pointed out a few ( okay, the two) options I have to get an IV in. She decides to go with a spot, I never would have picked, in my right arm, right above my wrist on the inside of my arm. She used litocaine to numb the spot and put ( what seemed huge) a huge needle in. When she thought she had it in, she began trying to get my first bag of fluid through. It was a big no, as the fluid would not go through. She began pulling the needle in and out, in and out, trying to get it to catch. Quickly, the vein bust and fluid began pouring into my arm. Ouch. Thankfully, she gave up and called in the charge nurse. The charge nurse, with nurse number 1 by her side, attempted my left hand. They were able to find a vein near my wrist and thumb. More litocaine and a huge needle later the vein is not working. Yet, they proceed to push the needle in and out and push through fluid, in an attempt to "make it work". They ended up hitting a valve ( which was very painful) but the bag started to take ( I was praying with all that I had at this point) and they decided it would be okay. They taped it up, but it was very touchy. If we had only know then.. Since they had an IV going, they could get my pitocin going. Right before 1 p.m. Dr Hooper came in and broke my water.
This was quite the experience, she brought in the long stick ( which I quickly compared to what I have seen on a BABYSTORY on TLC). A stick and pop later, my water was broken. Fluid was clear and I could feel it. She had me sit my bed up, in which I was almost standing, and stuffed many towels under me. I was in this position to bring Leah's head down. Interesting, but it worked. My contractions had started and at that point just felt like back pain ( hence, what I had been feeling for a month now). Every time I would have a contraction more water would pour out, it was a weird feeling, I couldn't tell if it was my water or if I needed to use the restroom. I finally decided I should try to go and Adam helped me over to the bathroom. It was a mess, more water came pouring out, but I did make it and was able to go.
I came back to the bed and at that time my new nurse had came in, Mrs. Jackson. I had her for the rest of my labor. She checked me and I was at a 5 and complete. Adam decided he was going to go grab some food and he left we me debating on when to get the epidural. About that time she upped my pitocin, which meant the pump that pumped everything into me, started going even faster (great). At that time, I decided for the epidural. She had to run next door and so I was left by myself with contractions that were now coming on more intense. I would rate them a 6 or 7 out of 10. Not only were they in my back, but now they were in the front. They felt like gas pains or a huge-get-this-out-of-me gas bubble, along with someone punching me in the back over and over. As I sat there, for what felt like an eternity, my contractions really started to come on and were starting to get unbearable (8-9), I needed that epidural - fast! However, I had no nurse and no husband. Right about the moment I decided I needed help and fast, my pump started going off (which meant the vein had given out and fluid was not able to pump in) just wonderful. Thankfully, Mrs. Jackson came flying back into the room and was addressing the pump issue. I asked her where the anesthesiologist was and she went on to tell me he was on the way, but I could not get my epidural until I had an IV working. You can imagine my face.
Mrs. Jackson started looking for another vein ( this was my third attempt) for an IV. At about that time the anesthesiologist showed up to do my epidural. I also had another one show up to put my IV in, in case my nurse could not get it. However, she was confident she could do it, with her 37 years of nursing behind her. She had found a vein and was prepping for my IV when another Doctor ( some man with a big accent) came flying into the room. He was talking really quick and starting laying my bed back to check me. He said his name and how I was really getting into labor now ( really? could you tell from my huge contractions and painful expressions? ha ). He told Mrs. Jackson to wait ( please no..) to check me. In the middle of my now 9-10 pain level contractions he said I was a 5 and fully complete. Mrs. Jackson asked what he was doing because my Doctor was Dr. Hooper. After a brief conversation between the two of them, he realized he had made a mistake and would not be delivering me ( well, I knew that..). He wished me all the best and zoomed back out of the room. Now that I think back, it was really funny. But, of course, I had no time to think or care who was checking me, I was just in pain and needed medication. quick.
Mrs. Jackson had me make a fist, in the middle of a huge contraction, telling me to hold still ( a girl in labor's worse nightmare) as she got the IV in. We all prayed and crossed our fingers as we watched the bag of fluid, to see if it was taking... SUCCESS! Right away the anesthesiologist started asked questions for his paperwork and started the process of my epidural. I was in agony by this point as they bend me over in bed to prepare for the epidural. worse position and worse pain ever. Adam was right by me holding my hands and trying to make me feel better. This was the part I was the most anxious about. Seeing how I had watched a million baby story episodes and I knew how long the needle was going into my spine, I was a complete wreck. Adam was trying to talk about Taco Bell, to make me think of something else, but at that point, it was not helping. I quickly told him, lets talk about something else!
The doctor told me a would feel a pinch and burning, which I did, and it was nothing. Then he said get ready for some pressure. I was in agony and just started crying, my makeup was pouring off my face onto the pillow below me. I felt the pressure and it was so intense, I jumped and let out a quick screech. It was terrifying. Am I going to be paralyzed? What about my legs? He said I would feel an electric shock in either my left or right leg and to let him know which one. I felt a quick shock behind my left knee and quickly my feet started to go numb. The process was done and I had survived.
They rolled me back into position on the bed and the Doctor started to explain my pump and if I was in more pain, how to click for more medicine. I guess I had really got myself worked up because makeup was all over my face and down my neck. The Doctor said, hold on, and got me a tissue. He said he couldn't look at me with all of my make up. It was sweet. Mrs. Jackson laid me on my left side and got my catheter going. Which, was not bad at all. By then, I could not feel anything at all, it was heaven. Whoever created those, was my hero!
I finally had gotten settled down and was feeling like myself again when my epidural monitor started going off. great, what now? I did not want to have to get it re-done. Thankfully, the anesthesiologist came back in and said there was oxygen in the line, he was able to fix it and I was back in action.
At that time, I was able to let visitors come back and see me. It was close to 5:00 at this point and I know people were getting anxious, however, who would have known all of this was going to happen. My family, Adam's family, Grandparents, and Misty and Keith had came. People came in and out of the room and we took pictures. ( trust me, I looked fabulous I'm sure ha). Right before 5:45 they checked me again. Mrs. Jackson made a face or two and a " ugh hmmmm". I asked, is it a good or back " ugh humm?". She said, great! You are fully dilated and ready to go! My mom and Misty had just came back, but had to be rushed right back out because it was time to push!
Dr. Hooper came in and we did one test push. Dr. Hooper said she was going to work on her computer and would come back when I was ready. At that point, it was pushing. My epidural had started to fade and I had more feeling in my legs, but I could not feel any pain. A contraction came on and Adam grabbed one leg, Mrs. Jackson grabbed the other and I started to push. First off, it was much harder than I thought it would be. My stomach was mashed right up into my lungs and it was hard to breathe. I would get to 5 out of 10 on my 2nd push and I started feeling sick. I was nauseated, out of breathe, and felt light headed. Mrs. Jackson got me on oxygen and I would breathe that in, in between contractions. However, I was starting to see spots while pushing. I guess I was a bad pusher, okay not bad, but not the best. After a few contractions, I started to get the hang of pushing and I was feeling better.
During one of my contractions and pushing, Mrs. Jackson said, " This girl has a lot of hair, you better have brought pony tails!". I couldn't believe it! But, Adam agreed and said he could see her hair poking out every time I pushed. It was a huge motivation to push her out!
I pushed for a little less than an hour. At one point, Mrs. Jackson said she would be out in the next 3 contractions and she called Dr. Hooper to come back. Nurses started rushing in and prepping for Leah to come out. They soaped me and said they even soaped the top of her hair, a "pre" bath. Dr. Hooper was in position and at the next contraction I pushed, I was determined, and .. she popped out! She came out really fast..
Dr. Hooper was suctioning her and I could hear her crying. She told us, " oh she has a little lump, but it will go away.." At first I was thinking, a tumor or something awful, but when they held her up and put her on my stomach, I could see she had a cone head! No biggy. Adam cut the umbilical cord, which Dr. Hooper said was shorter than usual. It doesn't really mean anything, but there just wasn't a long rope of umbilical cord I was expecting to see. They placed her on my chest and started drying her. The nurse sad she had great color! I just couldn't believe she was really here..
My first thoughts when they put her on me was, she was so warm! And she was so cute! My first words to her were, Hi Leah! Happy birthday!! I love you! I had really wanted to say Happy Birthday to her, so I'm glad I remembered. She had calmed down and I held her hand as they finished wiping her. Then they brought her over to be weighed and measured. It was the sweetest moment to see Leah reach out and look over at Adam as they cleaned her up.
This entire time, Dr. Hooper was stitching and cleaning me up. I never felt anything and it went very smoothly. I ended up tearing, a 2nd degree tear. Leah had came out sideways, almost the same position she was in my belly. She was not sunny side up or down, but facing to the side. Right before she came out, I could feel her pushing on my rib cage with her foot, I guess giving herself a boost on the way out!
Adam came over with her and they had given us a bottle to feed her. They want you to feed them in the first hour they are born. Adam got to feed her first and it was a sweet moment as we sat there as a family. I didn't cry but, it was very emotional. Adam started to tear up and we re-called the moment Leah looked over at him, she knew he was her Daddy.
Leah knew exactly what to do and ate her bottle quickly. By then, they had finished cleaning me, Leah, and the room up. Mrs. Jackson gave me a hug and said congratulations. The nurses and Dr. Hooper left and we were able to bring in visitors.
Overall, it was an amazing experience. I never put any expectations or even had a birth plan in place. I just went in, ready for anything, and honestly, I couldn't have asked for a better experience. I just told Adam yesterday, I'd do it again!