Sterling's birth story

It started when I went in for a regular NST (non-stress test) on Friday March 16th, for being over 40 weeks along and no sign of labor.  I was having contractions during the NST, but nothing serious enough to be worried about.  During the ultrasound scan, the midwife noticed I didn't have any fluid around the baby so she called up to labor and delivery (l&d).  They decided that since I was 40 weeks 5 days, they would go ahead and induce me.  I was nervous walking up to l&d, but for 2 silly reasons...first, I didn't have my bag because we were scheduled for inducement on Monday; second, because I didn't shave my legs that morning.  Yes...that was really on the top of my thoughts as the miracle of my baby was about to be born. We got up to l&d at 1040, they hooked me up to everything, asked a million questions, then Nick took Xander home to feed him some lunch and drop him off at our friends to get back to the hospital with me.  At 1, the doctor decided to put a Foley bulb in because I was still only 1.5 cm and the baby was high up.  Not much happened all afternoon, I had contractions, but I managed them.  At 5:30 pm, the Foley bulb came out and I was 4 cm.  At 6:45, they started pitocin.  Around 8:30 the contractions became more intense and painful so at 9:10 I asked for some pain control.  I was given Fentinol, but that lasted about 20 minutes of relief and I asked for the epidural.  At 9:50 epidural was administered (I was 5 cm).  I immediately had problems with my blood pressure and being able to feel everything still.  My blood pressure dropped so they stayed in the room for an hour to monitor and to administer more drugs to take the pain away.  That whole time, it never went up, but my nurse was still monitoring it while the anaesthetist went to a call on another floor, but he left her some medicine to put in my IV if it didn't go down soon.  She ended up giving me 2 doses of it, got worried because it's been over an hour and a half and it's still not back up.  The anaesthetist walked in the room just as the nurse was getting ready to call him.  He had a shot of something with him to stick in my leg to help my blood pressure return to normal.  Within 10 minutes, it was good.   It took about 50 minutes for the pain to go away.  At 11:30 I was 6 cm.  The nurse is still in my room monitoring things because my blood pressure was fluctuating again and the babies heart rate started to rise.  At 12:15 am (17th now) they wanted me to switch positions to try and bring Sterling's heart rate down.  Didn't work, made it worse.  Her heart rate is now in the high 190s, when it was normally between 150 and 160s all night.  They checked me at 12:30 and I was 8 cm.  I was given an oxygen mask for an hour to stabilize her heart rate, but this didn't work either.  It remained in the 190s, but on the lower side.  Doctor came in at 1:30 to say that she recommends a cesarean because she's worried about the heart rate.  Of course I didn't care how the baby came out, as long as she was healthy and alive.  I was scared, nervous, and of course the tears were rolling down my cheeks.  I looked over and Nick was already in a pink sterile outfit, it was real at this point.  Nick came over to ask me if I was okay, and I cried harder because having a c-section would require longer recovery...meaning I wouldn't be able to hold my baby boy.  That was breaking my heart thinking about him and my recovery time.  Within 5 minutes they were rushing me out of the room down to the operating room.

Nick stood up and watched the entire c-section procedure.  He was amazed at all of it.  I kept telling him to sit down, but he was watching.  Men!  I thought he'd get grossed out and pass out, but he didn't.  After she was born I was glad he was able to watch everything and experience it all.  He went over to the baby warmer and cut her cord.

 

They brought Sterling over to me so I could see her.  All I kept hearing everyone say was how big she was and how much hair she had.  I was excited.  The nurse put her on my mouth to give her a kiss, and just left her there.  So when Nick came to hold her to me, I asked him to take her away (from my mouth) so I could breath.  He laughed.

After they had me cleaned and glued up, I was wheeled back to my room for the anesthesia to wear off some before taking me to mother/baby unit.  In the room, they gave the baby her bath and let Nick hold her.  They then tried to put her to the breast, I was unable to move my arms from all the anesthesia I was given.  I was in and out of it at this point and don't really remember much, other than Nick trying to put my boob in her mouth...lol.  It was sweet that he was trying to help.  Around 4:30, he went home to get some sleep and do some things around the house after he woke up.  He didn't have to get Xander from our friends until evening because they had plans that included taking him wherever they went.  They were a blessing to have around and in the 2 years we've known them, they have become more like family.  It's hard in the military being away from family, so when you meet really nice people wherever the military sends you, it's a miracle and you feel so loved...sorry for the tangent...lol.  After Nick left to go get sleep, the nurses took the baby...which is extremely rare here, so I could get some sleep.  At 6 they took me down to the mother/baby unit to recover.
In the end, it was a good thing I was the only patient in l/d all night.  I was given full attention and priority, the nurses were extremely nice and I loved my night nurse.  She adopted a baby boy from Mongolia, so we talked about our adoptions. 

Have a great day!