Eli’s Birth Story
July 11, 2014
I woke up at 5:20 am to get ready for my second to last day
of work. I got up and used the restroom. When I stood up to get ready for a
shower I felt a small gush of fluid. My underwear was wet but it wasn’t so much
fluid that it got my pants wet. I also had some clear mucous in my underwear. I
thought that either my water was leaking or I urinated on myself. Since I was
38w2d pregnant, I could have easily urinated myself due to the size of the
baby. I wasn’t having any pain or contractions so I decided to go ahead and take
a shower and see how I felt. I continued to get ready for work. I put on my
scrubs, fed the cats and dogs. Richard was still asleep but I woke him up a
little bit just to let him know that my water might have broken, so he may want
to take his hospital bag with him to work with some of his clothes in case
something happens while at work. I work at the hospital where I was to deliver,
so I knew that no matter what I would be going to the hospital. The only
question was if I should go ahead and go to work or go to Women’s Urgent Care
first to see. While I was making breakfast I decided to call Women’s Urgent
care to tell them my symptoms to see what they recommend I do. The nurse said
that it could easily have been urine or my water, but since there was mucus in
with it then it sounded more like my water. She said that if I walk around and
I continue to get leaking or I sit down and have a “gush” then I should come to
Women’s Urgent Care. As I continued to get ready I had a few more episodes of
water leaking. I decided that it may be safest to go to Women’s Urgent care
first. I called a few people at work to let them know and to see if they could
cover me. Of course they said they would. I told them that if it wasn’t my
water then I would come to work.
I decided to park in the employee parking lot in case it
wasn’t my water and so I wouldn’t have to pay for parking. The problem with
that is employee parking is a long long way away from Women’s Urgent Car.
Luckily I didn’t have any leaking episodes as I walked there.
I checked into Women’s urgent care and told them that I
thought my water had broken. They checked me in. My blood pressure was a little
high, but I had just walked a mile, practically. I had to pee in a cup and my
urine looked horrible. I had a lot of sediment in it. They checked me in and
gave me a bed in the urgent care area…it’s pretty much like an ER but for OB. I
had to put on a gown and they hooked me up to a NST (neonatal stress test)
monitor. A nursing student helped me get situated, I told her that the leaking
started at 5:30 this morning. As I was listening to Eli’s heartbeat and they
were looking at the strips I informed my mom and dad what was going on so they
could be prepared. The NST looked good so they unhooked me. A resident then
came in to check my cervix. OMG did that hurt. I was at 2cm and 80% effaced. It
was so so painful and then gush, gush, gush. Water just kept coming out. She
said that it definitely looked like my water broke, so she did the fern test
just to be sure and it was positive. When the test results came back she told
me to call my husband because I would be admitted. I called Richard and he was
still asleep. I gave him instructions on what to pack in his bag, where to go,
etc. He said his heart was beating so fast and just couldn’t believe this was
happening.
They then transferred me to the labor and delivery unit.
Richard came up not too long after. They hooked me up to monitors again,
started an IV and fluids. I talked to them a little about my birth plan, but
since my water had already broken, things would have to happen faster than
normal. The nurse explained that Pitocin would probably be started if my cervix
hadn’t changed. The doctor came in and rechecked me and I hadn’t changed. So Pitocin
was ordered. My mom showed up not too long after that. I still hadn’t had any
contractions.
They started Pitocin at about 10:00am and I started having
contractions not too long after it was started. Both Eli and I tolerated the
contractions well. I had music playing, Richard and my mom would rub my feet or
hands during contractions. It was a very peaceful environment. Because my water
had broken, I wasn’t able to walk around like I had hoped I would. After about
6 hours of contractions I couldn’t take the pain anymore so I asked for an
Epidural. They came to do the epidural and I was so scared. I was scared about
a needle going into my back and being able to stay still while they did the
procedure, since I was experiencing painful contractions about every 3 minutes.
My family had to leave while they did the epidural. The anesthesiologists were
great and my nurse was awesome. After the epidural was placed they checked me
and I was only 4cm dilated. I was so upset. My goal was to wait for the
epidural until 6cm. I was still experiencing some contraction pain on my left
side so they had me lay on my L side so the medicine could move that way. About
30 minutes later I began feeling a lot of rectal pressure so the nurse checked
me and she said I was completely dilated and at +1 station!! She called the
doctor. I couldn’t believe how fast everything was going and the doctors were
shocked as well, since this is my first baby. She began to prep the room for
delivery. Richard and I just kept looking at each other in disbelief. I was
able to feel the pressure of the contractions and the only way to describe it
was that I really had to poop. I felt so stupid explaining that to the doctors.
The attending and resident came in and we did a few test pushes. They decided
that they would let him labor down the birth canal a little while longer. After
the test pushes Richard and I decided that we just wanted it to but us two in
the room with the nurse. I then had a contractions and I noticed Eli’s heart
beat went down but it wasn’t coming back up. I kept saying “come on baby, come
back up”. Before I knew it the doctors and nurses came in quickly and said “It’s
time to have a baby!” In hindsight I wonder if they came in with urgency
because they knew Eli was in distress, or if they decided I had labored enough.
I believe it was the former.
After about 8-10 minutes of pushing his head came out. The
cord was wrapped tightly around his neck. I pushed again and he came out. They immediately
brought him over to the warming table. I was in shock, I looked at Richard and
tears were just rolling down his face. I then realized I hadn’t heard him cry
yet. His body was pink but head was blue and his limbs were floppy. After the
nurses stimulated him some more he began to cry. The most amazing sound I have
ever heard in my entire life. Richard and I just kissed and hugged.
I ended up having a 2nd degree tear so they began
to repair that. They placed Eli on my chest for skin to skin. It was so amazing
holding him, feeling him wiggle and just hold him. We also tried breast feeding
for the first time and he latched on after a lot of encouragement. After him
being on my chest for about an hour they weighed him and measured him. He was
6lb 2.4oz and 19 inches long, He was born at 6:34pm. 13 hours after my water
broke I had a son to hold in my arms.
They took him to the transition nursery for routine
evaluation and they transferred me to the post-partum floor. They took out my
epidural and catheter before this and oh my did the first pee burn!!
They told us he would be in the transition nursery for about
3 hours. We arrived at the post partum floor at about 9:00pm. We got situated
and tried to get some sleep before they brought Eli back. We would have him
room in with us. I didn’t sleep at all since I was worried about him and 1:30
rolled around and they still hadn’t brought him to us. Of course the worst case
scenarios came to mind. At about 2:00 they finally brought him in to us. I
began breast feeding and he latched on much better. Neither Richard nor I got
much sleep at all. We did sleep better with him in the room with us, but we
slept with one ear open and would check on him with every movement and coo. We
survived though. During the next couple of days the nurses came in to help me
with breast feeding, the lactation nurse came to see us. The doctors checked on
me and on Eli. Mostly we hung out in our hospital room, had visitors come to
see and hold him. My grandparents came to hold their first great grandchild. My
parents came to hold their first grandchild and Richard’s parents came to hold
their first grandchild. It was so special to have everyone experience this
miracle. We were so overwhelmed with love for Eli.
We were able to go home the next day, 2 days post partum. We
were so ready to be in our own space. Now the adventure begins!!!!
We have been home for a few days and things are going great.
He is a breastfeeding champ. My milk has come in and he is a very mellow baby
(so far). We are just so in love.
