While I was in the hospital waiting to have Shayli, I wrote some of the details down so I could remember them. This post is mainly for my own records. So when my brain is totally fried from my 4 kids and I can't remember who is who, I can go back and have an account that isn't completely fabricated.......so read on at your own risk!
Quick background.....I had a doctor's appointment on Thursday, July 14th. During my appointment, Dr. Young checked me and there was progress (dilated to 3 cm and 60% effaced). My due date was July 17th. I mentioned that I was worried I would go into labor on the 16th when Ryan was supposed to be picking my mom up at the airport. My doctor is very easy going and really likes planned deliveries. He gave me the option of setting up an appointment to be induced. At that point I had decided I would never have the baby on my own. Ever. I imagined being pregnant while Shayli grew. And then celebrated her 12th birthday.........in my womb.
I very hastily agreed to be induced the next morning at 8:00am.
We arrived right on time. I was having very small contractions on my own already. Dr. Young broke my water to see if we could throw me into full fledged labor without the pitocin. We gave it 2 1/2 hours while I walked. Okay, I'll admit it. I broke the rules and snuck out of the hospital. I don't see how anyone can get a decent walk going inside the hospital. (I felt like a criminal. Really. I hid around the corner when I thought I saw my doctor outside on the phone. It wasn't him. But as Ryan pointed out, they weren't going to arrest me!) Anyhoo, I managed to dilate to 5 cm, but I was still sporadic with the contractions. We decided to speed things up. I had requested a 24 hour discharge if everything went according to plan (meaning no complications.) Here are my notes starting at that point (with some additional thoughts/embellishments that I didn't have time to add while I was in the hospital and enduring labor pains.)
Started on pitocin around 11:30 am. Foreign nurse from Brazil won't let me eat my lunch. She's worried I'll puke. I'm hungry. I asked to eat earlier just so this exact scenario didn't happen and they told me it wouldn't be a problem! The other nurse told her to give me my watery soup and roll. Thank you, Nurse Cheryl.
Been on pitocin for an hour. Contractions every 3-5 minutes. Starting to hurt. Can't talk through them. Waiting for pain meds (intrathecal). No one is in any hurry. Excited to meet our new baby girl. (Hope she has hair!)
Just asked for my intrathecal. I'm at a 7 and people seem surprised. It's about 12:45. The nurse told me I didn't look like I was that far along because my face is calm and I'm not moaning (like the woman down the hall.) Please. She didn't see my puckered face during the last contraction, but I AM soundless.
Was just informed that the anesthesiologist is in surgery and it is taking longer than expected. Translation: there may not be pain meds. Wondering how on earth you schedule a planned delivery and still manage to not get the pain meds. Trying to stay focused and remembering that I CAN do natural childbirth because I've done it before. Felt the need to push while on the exercise ball. Ryan's squeezing my hips during contractions and, for whatever reason, it is a big help but still painful.
The anesthesiologist is on his way! It is about 1:15 or 1:30 pm. I'm told to use the bathroom to empty my bladder before they give me the intrathecal. I think this is a terrible idea but I go along with it. I think it is time to push but no one thinks to check me before I head into the bathroom. I hobble in. Can't pee. Start to panic because at one point I am convinced that the baby is falling into the toilet. I start to survey the bathroom floor to see if there is room to deliver a baby. There is, thanks to the walk-in shower. I miraculously make it back to the bed (with Ryan's help) where I am given my pain meds during a full-on contraction. Ouch. And then (finally!) checked for dilation. I am at a 10. Again, everyone is surprised but me. No mention of the head crowning. No one seems in a hurry or feels any urgency except me. Am I crazy????
Starting to push which helps with the pain since the intrathecal hasn't had time to take effect. Second contraction with the meds and I notice the effect was starting to kick in. Hallelujah!
The nurse set up the squat bar for me. Third contraction with the meds. I push. Then I start yelling, "Oh my gosh! The head is coming! The head is coming! The head is OUT! The head is out!" The pain meds have been in effect for approximately 10-15 minutes.
All of this while the the nurses and doctor are wandering around the room getting "ready". The doctor wasn't ready. No gloves, no hat. We're lucky he was in the room. I slowly and carefully laid back down. Because there is.......ah, ahem......a head I need to watch out for. Doctor Young put on gloves and finished the delivery. The cord was wrapped around her neck twice but not tightly so there was no distress. Shayli Janae Reese born at 1:57 pm weighing 7.13 and measuring 20.5 inches long! Phew!
And PS...
Just for the record. My doctor is not incompetent (and neither are the nurses) and I actually really like him. I just managed to catch him off guard! Overall, it was a very interesting delivery and different from any of the others! And I totally recommend the squat bar. ;)
