JennyJade: Vienna Rose's Dramatic Birth

Posted Tuesday, August 03, 2010 2:00 PM

"She came out with the cord wrapped around her neck but they got it off.  I could hear her cry and I've never felt so relieved."

Off to the hospital

A day after my due date I went to my doctor for an appointment, to find out I was still only 1cm dilated. I asked him when he was going to induce me, and he told me they would schedule it for Monday! I was so excited but it turned out we didn't have to wait that long. 5 hours later I started having contractions. They started at 9 minutes apart. By midnight they were 5-6 minutes apart and by 1 AM we were at the hospital.

However after being admitted and waiting while bouncing on a birthing ball, I wasn't any further along and they sent me home.

Back home

At home my contractions were getting worse and closer together. I was bleeding a little, walking around and using my birthing ball. I took a hot bath and somehow I managed to sleep. At 6 AM I decided they were getting worse and I couldn't take it. I went to pee, and noticed quite a bit more blood. So my fiance, Brian, called the doctor again and we went back to the hospital.

We got back at 6:20 AM and this time they were waiting for us. There was still no change so they loaded me up on pitocin and stateol to relax me. There was no pain relief and I was hell-bent on a natural childbirth.  Now my contractions are 30 seconds to 1 minute apart and at least a minute long. The nurse checks me after 3 hours but there was still no change. I wanted to cry.  She decides to try to convince me to get an epidural but I told her no. She explains that it could help me dilate, and I still say no. She keeps trying to persuade me until finally the third time she tells me that I need the epidural because if I don't progress, I'll need a C-section. Well those were the magic words because I'd do anything not to get a C-Section.

Getting the epidural

Brian held me steady through my contractions, keeps me calm and just like that, I'm done. The nurse is amazed at the effect he had on me. The whole reason I was against having an epidural was my fear of a needle going into my spine right near my herniated disc. The possibility of paralysis scared me more than childbirth. I instantly regretted my decision to get the epidural because not only did my legs, torso and arms go numb, but I couldn't move them.  After two hours of whining and freaking out, they turned it down to 10. I freaked again and got it down to 8 so at least I could feel the pressure of my contractions but still sleep and know when to push.
 
About an hour later my water broke, and about 3 hours after that the nurse comes in and checks the monitor. My baby's heart rate is dropping. They have me switch positions and it goes back up. This happens a few more times over the next few hours until finally I shift and nothing happens. My baby's heart rate just kept going down. The nurse grabs my hip, shakes me and tries to manually shift the baby by pushing on me. There was no change so the nurse gets the doctor. After nearly 18 hours of labor I'm only at 3 CM. He looks at me and tells me it's time for an emergency C-section. I burst into tears but he reminds me that a heathy mom and a healthy baby is our goal. I agree and they wheeled me to the O.R.

There goes the birth plan

Brian came in and they started the C-section. She came out with the cord wrapped very tightly around her neck but they got it off and suctioned her lungs. I could hear her cry and I've never felt so relieved. Brian actually refused to hold her because he felt that after all that I deserved to be the first to hold our perfect bundle of joy.

I couldn't have been happier that I had a healthy, happy 9 lb baby girl, Vienna Rose. I was wheeled into recovery and got to hold and feed my baby. About ten hours later when I was informed that they were going to start trying to get me up and out of bed. I had lost a lot of blood in the O.R. and when I tried to sit up on my own I didn't feel so well. My arm went numb and I got tired and dizzy. I told my fiance to page the nurse. They came rushing just in time to see me fall into his chest and pass out. They laid me back in bed and put the bed down realizing my blood pressure was low. The next morning the new nurse tried moving me again, and I started bleeding down my legs. She kept leading me to the bathroom but pn the way there I told her and Brian that I felt weak. My arms were getting tingly and I didn't feel well.  When we were in the bathroom they saw that I had bled straight through my maternity pads. The nurse frantically ordered Brian to sit me down. I flopped on to the toilet, fell into the wall and that's the last thing I remember.

Trouble after birth

I awoke to 3 nurses putting a second I.V in my other arm and hanging two bags of fluid while also drawing blood.  My blood pressure had bottomed out at 70/40 (very bad). At this point they were talking about moving me to ICU where I would not be allowed to see my baby.

I wasn't allowed to have any visitors except for Brian. He had to go to the nursery to feed the baby formula instead of me breastfeeding, which broke my heart and brought me to tears. At around 12:30 PM they transfused me and when it was done at 1:30 PM they took more blood. At 2PM I was allowed to see and feed my baby. When the blood came back at 3PM it still wasn't good.  I was still not allowed to sit up and at this point the doctor ordered ANOTHER transfusion. Finally at about 8PM I was able to sit up hold and feed my baby and they pushed one last bag of fluids. They finally let me eat and at 2 AM they had me up and out of bed without passing out! The worst was over. After all that had happened, the worst was over.

Time to focus on baby

After 5 days in the hospital, I came home but I came down with a fever, chills, and loss of appetite. The following day the visiting nurse came to find out I was extremely swollen. I had a fever and no desire to eat. She scheduled an emergency appointment with my doctor and I was put on antibiotics for the infection I gotten while from the surgery and transfusion. It took two weeks for the pain to be bearble so I could get out of bed by myself, and 4 weeks to be able to function normally and take care of my baby. But 6 1/2 weeks later I'm in great health. I'm a little sleep deprived but enjoying every waking moment caring for, playing with, loving and watching my precious little girl.