firsttogo: Nolan's Birth Story
Posted
Thursday, December 11, 2008 12:01 PM
"In one hour and 20 minutes, I went from half a centimeter to 10! Talk about a drive through delivery..."
The beginning
On Friday, April 11, my husband Ryan and I went in to the hospital for another gall bladder attack. I was hospitalized a total of 13 nights in two months due to the pain and complications from this issue (such as excess bile in the blood and cholestasis). I was sent home that night, ate nothing all day Saturday, and had another attack that evening. We went back to the hospital that night and my OB was on call. He admitted me and gave me pain medicine for the night. The next morning, (April 13) I was given an Amnio to check for lung development, as Nolan was not due for another 5 1/2 weeks, and I was so sick. By 8 p.m. on Sunday, the results were in, and I would be induced the next morning.
I was given Cervadil that night and told to rest. At 7 a.m. on Monday, my OB came in and took the Cervidil out and I was only at half of a centimeter dilated! My OB broke my water and we waited to see if I would begin contractions on my own. But by 9:30 a.m. I still had no contractions and was still at ½ cm. I began the dreaded Pitocin. Within 20 minutes, I was miserable and wanted an epidural. My nurse told me I was maybe one centimeter, but said that if I thought I needed an epidural then they would give me one. I tried the birthing ball for a little while, but honestly could not balance. I was not able to stand or walk and that was before the epidural. I kept telling them that I felt like my hips were breaking. I know that they thought I was being dramatic, but who cares.
Full speed ahead!
Finally, I was granted an epidural and the doctor came in to give me one. He got the catheter in and realized that he needed to go get the actual numbing medication...GRRRR! I was not a happy camper having to wait in all of that pain. While we were waiting for Dr. Feelgood to get back, my nurse decided to check me. It was 10:50 a.m. and I was 10 centimeters. That’s right, in one hour and 20 minutes, I went from half a centimeter to 10! Talk about a drive through delivery. The epidural was cancelled and we got right to finding my OB and pushing. I was asked to wait for my OB to push, so at 11:20 a.m. we got to work!
Three pushes later and Nolan Martin Minard came in to this world at 6 lbs., 10 oz. 21 inches long. He was beautiful and breathing well! I was thrilled that despite my whining, I did not have an epidural -- not for lack of trying though. We were in the hospital for two more days to monitor my liver enzymes before I was sent home. I later had my gall bladder removed at five weeks postpartum.
Now we can’t wait to be blessed with baby number two!
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