[KCMomma]

Birth Story and Beyond:


Well, it all started on Monday June 8th, 2009. I went to work like normal and felt fine. DH picked me up and on the way home I started feeling sick to my stomach and had a headache. I went to the chiropractor thinking he could help my headache. By the time I got home, I wasn't feel well at all. My stomach was really upset. I didn't eat dinner at all. Then I started getting the chills and very cold – which was completely unlike me especially towards the end of the pregnancy when I was sooo hot. Anyway, by 9pm or so I asked DH to take my temperature which turned out to be 100.4 My normal temperature is about 97.6 or something so having a fever was extremely rare for me. DH called the on call doc and they told me to go to labor and delivery. We got to the hospital around 10pm and was checked right in. I wasn't having contractions or anything just felt crappy. I still had a fever at the hospital and because of that Paige's heart rate was extremely elevated...like in the 200's. Which freaked me out even more. They took my blood, pumped me full of fluids (3 bags worth) and gave me some meds. Eventually her heart rate leveled out to normal and I was sent home around 4am.


Now it's Tuesday, June 9th and I had already scheduled a normal checkup for that afternoon. I went in and found out I was 3 cm dilated and 100% effaced. Because of what had happened the night before I decided to go ahead and schedule the induction for that Thursday. But before I left, the doc sent me back to labor and delivery just to have her heart rate monitored for one hour because of the night before. It was normal the entire time so all was good and I was sent on my way with an induction date of Thursday June 11th at 5am.


Overnight Tuesday night I was woke up my several contractions, but nothing consistent. I did wake up in the middle of the night to what I believed was a bloody show or bleeding from being checked the past two days. I called the doc because some of it seemed to be really heavy with clots. They said not to worry and if it were still doing that by the afternoon to come in. I had already taken the day off of work and was planning on Wednesday going in to finalize all my scheduling plans with work. So woke up fine on Wednesday but still having several contractions. Took my dog to the vet, went to work and finalized everything – all the while having contractions. By about 12:30 that afternoon the contractions were becoming more regular. I called DH and told him to go ahead and come home. By the time he got home, the contractions were about 4 minutes apart. Called the doc and off we went to labor and delivery for the 3rd day in a row!!! We were pretty excited because I was going into labor on my own without having to be induced AND the doctor that I really liked was the one on call that day. So everything seemed to be going great. By the time I got into a room and was checked I was dilated to a 4...which made me super excited because I knew from my birthing classes that you can get an epidural between 4-7cm dilated! The contractions were coming so fast and so hard that I requested some pains meds in my IV before the epidural. I couldn't receive the epidural until they cleared my blood work and gave me an entire bag of IV fluids. Once I got the epidural everything was great. It didn't hurt getting it like I thought it would and it relieved so much pressure. I guess I was having contraction after contraction but couldn't really feel it. The nurse was having me move from side to side to help even out the epidural. At first, everything was fine. But when she moved me to my right side, Paige's heart rate dipped low so they put oxygen on me and had me move. They tried several other positions and checked me again. By this time I was dilated to a 7! As I said before the doctor I really liked was on call but came in and told me that for a few hours in the evening he had another doctor covering it because he had some sort of meeting. Well, wouldn't you know it...it was a doc that I didn't really want. She was really nice, but sort of like a cheerleader...very peppy and a bit annoying. Anyway, by that point I didn't really care. The nurses called her because I was losing a lot of blood by now and Paige's heart rate was dipping low - like into the 80's. So she came in checked me and said they were going to watch one more contraction and if I lost more blood we would have to do a c section. Within 5 minutes of that, she was bending down by my bed explaining to me that I was losing a lot of blood and that she believed my placenta was pulling away from the uterine wall. She said that since I was progressing so quickly, the placenta thought it was time to come out before the baby came out – which was a problem. She told me that I needed to have a C -Section in order to get her out safely. I immediately started crying because I was scared about her safety. As soon as she said we were having a C-Section – she ordered everyone except for DH out of the room and a whole team of people starting coming in the room. They started ripping out all the cords from the machines – at that point I realized that this was much more serious than I had thought. Which scared the holy crap out of me. The literally ran me down the hall to the OR room. I was crying hysterically because I was terrified my baby wasn't going to make it. I felt so alone and frightened. DH had to stay out in the hall to get scrubbed up while they got me prepped. When we got the OR room, I was yelling at them to tell me her heart rate...at first no one would listen to me. Then they finally got it hooked up and they told me her heart rate was 160 and I could hear it beating then. That calmed me a bit. Then finally DH was allowed to come in which helped a ton. Gosh, every single time I write about this, I just start crying. I can't explain how scary and emotional this whole experience was. OK so, DH was there and they started the C-Section. It was weired because I wasn't completely numb. I mean I couldn't feel any pain, but could feel them touching me. I could feel when they cut my stomach and then a LOT of pulling when they pulled her out. One nurse told DH “If you want to see your daughter born you need to look now.” DH said no that we were going to see her together for the first time. I thought that was so sweet. As soon as we heard her cry, DH and I just lost it. We were sooooo happy she was here and healthy. The first thing I heard the doc say was “Look at all that hair!” They asked DH again if he wanted to see her. I told him to go ahead and be with her. He said by the time he got over there, the cord was cut and they were cleaning her up. He thought they would bring her over to me immediately, but they didn't. So he finally asked them if I could see her. So they brought her to me and all I could do was kiss her since I was all strung out for the surgery. They told DH that if he went with her out of the OR room he wouldn't be allowed back in with me. I told him to just be with her. If I would have known how long I would have been there and how miserable I would have been I would have had him stay. I was absolutely miserable laying there on that cold bed. I was freezing (partly because I still had a fever from before) so they couldn't give me any warm towels because of my internal temperature. I think I layed there for another hour or so while they stitched me up. By the time I got back to the room, they had already given her a bath and she was sleeping. I was so out of it and knew I wouldn't be able to breastfeed which made me so upset. I told DH to go ahead and get her a bottle so she could eat. I watched as DH fed her which was so sweet, but I was sad that I couldn't feed her. I finally woke up a little after about 2-3 hours and finally got to hold her. She was the most beautiful sight ever!!! We had the nurses watch her for the night so we could get some sleep. The next day I started breastfeeding and she took to it right away. I was so happy!!! She is such a good little latcher!!!

She was born June 10, 2009 at 7:15pm weighing 7lbs .02oz and 20 inches long. When we left the hospital she weighed 6lbs 8oz but they weren't concerned because she was eating well and soiling a TON of diapers - which is good because she is now in a very low risk for jaundice. At our first appointment with lactation on Monday June 15, 2009 she weight 6lbs 15oz. As of our last appointment on Friday June 19, 2009 she's officially above her birth weight at 7lbs 2 oz!! I'm so happy she is feeding well. She has some tummy issues but they say it's because she is getting a lot of milk since I'm producing so much. I'm to just continue what I'm doing and her stsomach will adjust.

Here are some pics from the birth:

DH with Paige just after birth:


Here I am after I finally came to. I look high and still out of it - don't judge... I went through a lot!!!


Here's my little diva - I love the Converse shoes...she's not happy but I still think she's adorable!!!


Here we are getting ready to come home!


Our first family photo!

[Etph007]

Awww That's so sweet! It made ME cry!!!! It sounds like you really went through a lot! I can't imagine how scary that must have been Paige is ABSOLUTELY beautiful!!!! She is so pretty! You and your new little family look great!! Congrats, Gwen!!

[KCMomma]

Thanks Erin!!! After I started writing this I couldn't believe how long it was!! Sorry! We think she's pretty darn cute too!!!

[LindsLuvsSi]

Wow that must have been so scary! Glad everything/everyone is ok! That's so sweet of you DH not wanting to see her without you. She's a doll, congrats again!

[SassyMama]

That must've been so scary!! She's beautiful Gwen!

[snsgirl336]

That sounds like quite a scary situation! I'm glad you guys were strong and made it through just fine! She is beautiful and I can't get over all that hair!

[Christine-MA]

That must have been so scary! I'm glad everything turned out fine and you're both doing wonderfully. What a head of hair on her!!

[Chesky]

Oh my she's absolutely gorgeous and I LOVE her hair!!!

[*Mommy2Camden*]

Wow, your story was a tear jerker!!! I couldn't stop reading until the VERRY end. She's absolutely beautiful, and you are amazingly strong!!!! It must have been really scary going through all that. Congratulations and I'm glad you guys are home and doing well!!!

[courtneytcu98]

Wow, Gwen. I knew it must have been something big for you to have the c-section, and I was right. Just reading your post made me feel emotional, so I can't imagine what it was like living it. I am so thankful that you are both healthy after such an ordeal.

[KCMomma]

Thank you everyone so much for such kind and encouraging words. My dang hormones...just reading your posts makes me wanna cry!!!

I just keep telling her that she just had to make a dramatic entrance into the world!! Hopefully this is a testament to how she will be in her teenage years.

[stlgirl]

sorry you went through so much, but she is just beautiful...

[Ash]

OMG, Gwen....I just cried my way through that! I am so glad your little girl is safe and sound. She's just beautiful and I love all of that hair!!

[Justjeni]

Gwen...Your story made me tear up. I'm glad your doing good and your little Diva is a doll!

[Elijah'sMommy]

Wow, you must have been so scared. I am so happy that you are both safe and sound. She is absolutely gorgeous.

[Lyz]

aww I love her birth story! It made cry but I'm so happy to hear it went well and she's georgous Congrats mama!

[Jodi0804]

Wow what a story!! Glad that it all turned out well, she's precious!!

[Lo_and_Behold]

Wow Gwen that's some story!! You look fantastic & congrats on that beautiful little girl of your's!! I know what you mean about feeling loopy during & after the surgery. I was the same way. My fever was also 100.4. Between that & the drugs, I felt like a different person & like it wasn't even me in that OR. I felt so jipped that I couldn't be the first to hold my baby or to feed her right away. But the most important thing is that she's here & you're both happy & healthy. Congrats!!

[KCMomma]

Melissa, I couldn't have said it better. I felt jipped with everything that happened. I hated being so out of it and to not enjoy those first moments with our family. But THANK GOD she was here and healthy and I guess overall that was the most important thing. Funny how your priorities drastically change once she's here. You no longer think about yourself first at all...it's always what's best for her!!! I'm so in love with this little girl!!!!

[Jessy133]

OMG Gwen what a story! I would have been freaking out just the same. At the end I am so happy that she is here nice and healthy. And what a head a hair!!! She is just beautiful...tons of bows for her! BTW was the old wives tale true? Did you have a lot of heartburn since she had a ton of hair