Cavan's Birth Story (finally!)

ndsai05 · #1 March 30th, 2011, 04:17 PM

Ok I am finally posting this! We've had a rough go of it, well mostly me, but things are looking up! I know I've been so MIA, I'll be trying to get on here more but I think you all understand how it is the first few weeks!

Cavan�s Birth Story

I always thought I would go overdue with Cavan, boy was I wrong! At my 36 week appointment I was already 2cm dilated, I could not believe it! I still thought it would be awhile though. On Wednesday March 16th my face swelled up like a balloon. On Thursday, the 17th, I had my 37 week appointment. My doctor was sick that day so I saw my nurse. My blood pressure, which had been 105/70 the whole pregnancy, had gone up to 134/86. No protein in my urine, but I was almost 4cm dilated and he was at 0 station. They decided to have me come back the next day to see my doctor, especially since she was going out of town the next week and they didn�t think it likely I would make it much more than that. I came back Friday morning, March 18th, with bags in the car just in case. Sure enough, my blood pressure was 142/90 and I had plus two protein in my urine: pre-ecclampsia. My doctor sent me over to the hospital to be induced.

They began pitocin at 11am. I started having contractions but they felt just like Braxton-Hicks, not too bad. Becket and I turned on the tv to watch Notre Dame playing in March Madness. I was calm, it was quiet and relaxed. At 1pm my doctor came and broke my water, I was 5cm at that point. About ten minutes later I had my first real contraction, and when the second one came much stronger, I asked for the epidural. I was already 5cm and I wanted to make sure I got it before it was too late. The epidural was perfect, my contractions were 2-3 minutes apart, and I settled in with my popsicles and ice chips and my hubby next to me. At 4:30 they checked me and I was 6-7cm. My doctor was thrilled, joking that she would be able to eat dinner at home that night! My mom and sisters showed up soon after that, they were amazed at how calm I was, and so was I! At 6pm I was 9cm, and at 7pm I had a little rim left but one push made that go away. He was so low they said I probably wouldn�t push for more than an hour. Well, I pushed for 20 minutes and at 7:25pm he made his debut! 5lbs 2oz and 16.5 inches long (though at the pediatrician he was 17.75 inches long so I think that measurement was wrong). They placed him on my chest, Becket cut the cord, then they cleaned him up a bit and brought him back to me for skin to skin. He was so sweet and little! I couldn�t believe he was here.

Then the nightmare began. I was trying to nurse him when they started my magnesium sulfate drip. I yelled for someone to take him because I started projectile vomiting and couldn�t even hold myself up. Then Cavan has to go to the NICU because his blood sugar was low. I was on the mag for 24 hours and it was absolutely awful. They were checking me every hour through the night, and Cavan had to go to the nursery for 12 hours because of his size. The next day was a blur of family visiting while I was dead on the magnesium. I didn�t get to hold him again until Saturday night. Then on Sunday Cavan was jaundiced and under the lights all day. Meanwhile I was recovering from my 3rd degree tear and blood pressure issues, it was not fun. My family was rushing around trying to get preemie clothes for him, and formula since we had to supplement him. Monday I was feeling better but then I took a shower and almost passed out, my blood pressure spiked to 150/114. We went home that night. Since then Cavan has been diagnosed with acid reflux and put on medicine, I am anemic and had a high white blood cell count so they put me on antibiotics, and then just this past Tuesday I came down with a horrible stomach flu and had to go to the ER to get IV fluids. We have had a doctor�s appointment every day except the weekend either for me or for him. Its been crazy, and hard, but he is worth every bit of suffering I�ve had to go through. He was back up to birth weight before the pediatrician�s deadline of two weeks old, so he is doing well. He is the sweetest baby, besides when his tummy is upset he sleeps in between feedings and doesn�t cry at all. I just can�t believe he is here, it feels like he�s always been here even though a year ago he didn�t exist at all!

HappyRRT · #2 March 30th, 2011, 07:47 PM

Thanks for sharing! It sounds like you had a good labor and delivery, although you had a rough go afterwards. I hope that you continue to recover well! Congrats on your baby!

Btw, I see your user name is ndsai and you talked about notre dame. Did you go there? I live about 5 blocks from Notre Dame!

Pebblesbuddy · #3 March 30th, 2011, 07:51 PM

Yay Cavan. Kylie only cries when she is hungry and doesn't cry otherwise. Isn't it crazy how little they are when they are 4/5 lbs. It's amazing. I hope you are doing better and can finally relax without any doctor's appointments. I also had high blood pressure after delivering.

JustLiz · #4 March 31st, 2011, 05:30 AM

Wow, thanks for sharing. I passed out after giving birth too. It takes a while for your body to recover from the trauma! The first week of Des's life is a total blur to me. You'll feel better soon! Cavan is so sweet!