If you missed Part 1 of Sawyer's birth story you can click here. Once I was approved in triage, I was then set up in my own room and stuck with an IV, belly monitors hooked up, and antibiotics started for GBS. They wanted me to have one round of antibiotics in my system before the baby came to help fight off any bad bacteria (the antibiotics take approximately 4 hours to get into your system). I was finally hooked up to everything by 12:00pm and wouldn't be finished with the antibiotics until 4:30. Around 3:00 my contractions were still inconsistent and about every 8 minutes apart. I had not felt one contraction but we would see them on the monitor. Since 4:30 was approaching they said they could give me pitocin to speed things along since my contractions were so inconsistent. I really didn't want pitocin because of horror stories I had heard and wanted labor to be as natural as possible without forcing it. They assured me they would monitor the baby and put me on the lowest drip of pitocin. I think the nurse said the drip could go up to 30 and they were only going to put me at 2. I agreed as I also didn't want a long labor. Once the pitocin was administered the contractions were becoming much more frequent and shooting up high on the monitor. I still didn't feel anything but a mild cramp every now and then. God was clearly with me. I decided I wanted to walk laps since I still felt great and was hoping that might cause my water to break on its own. So we did lots of laps around the birthing unit before the next dilation check. Around 6:00pm I had my first dilation check since being admitted. I was at 7cm. I was confused at how I had only gone up 2 cm since 9:00am after all the walking, steady contractions, etc. The nurse said the doctor would want to break my water at this point and asked if I wanted to go ahead and get the epidural before he did that. I had not felt any pain the entire time so I really did not want to get the epidural yet. I also knew that I did not want to feel anyone breaking my water and if I happened to get to 10cm rather quickly I might not have time for the epidural, so I decided to go ahead and get it. I was nervous about getting the epidural put in (I never researched an epidural and told a white lie when they asked if I had watched the video of how it was administered), but surprisingly it wasn't bad at all. It felt like a bee sting and that only lasted a few seconds. I look back and I am pretty impressed that I remained so calm and at ease during the process, it had to have been my nerves that day because now I squirm at the thought of anything going in my back. Disclaimer: a couple weeks later I saw a video on how an epidural was administered and about puked. I can't believe my hospital actually thought I would watch that right before getting it put in. Girls DON'T. Once the epidural was finally in they gave me a birthing ball to put my legs up on and use until it fully set in. Within 5 minutes of the birthing ball being used, my water broke on its own! The contractions were every 2 minutes apart and I started shaking uncontrollably. Not because I felt pain but apparently that can happen to some people after an epidural. I never felt anything but a little pressure after the epidural kicked in. It was a love/hate feeling. I loved that I couldn't feel pain, but I hated not being able to have control over the feeling in my body. The next check was around 9:00pm and I was still only at 7cm. At this point I began to get nervous. Everything had happened that needed to, why was I not progressing? I immediately started praying. God had been with me this entire pregnancy, this entire day, now I needed him to help speed things along. I prayed out loud and started to listen to my favorite Christian songs that always seem to calm me down. The next check was around 10:15 and I was 10 cm!! I had went 3 cm in an hour after multiple prayers..this was God helping yet again. The doctor told the nurses to prep the room for delivery and to get me started in the pushing process when I was ready. Around 10:45 it was go time. The nurse had told me what to do and I was ready to start pushing. It was just me, Bryan and my nurse. I asked her where the doctor and medical staff were? Didn't they need to be in the room if I was about to start pushing?! She assured me that it wouldn't just happen so quickly and she would call the doctor and nurses in when I was close. It happened rather quickly and I still felt no pain. Bryan and my nurse were the absolute best. Both of them were encouraging and comforting. The nurse finally called the doctor in when Bryan yelled "Sawyer has hair! And it's brown" (we both wondered if he would come out with blonde or brown hair). At this point, I knew it was close and had more motivation to keep going strong. I kept quoting Philippians 4:13 during the count period and a few minutes later Sawyer John was welcomed into the world at 11:53pm weighing 8lbs 9oz and 20 inches long. He was perfect. As soon as the doctor delivered him he was placed on my chest. I couldn't believe it, this little miracle of life was finally in my arms. I looked over at Bryan and we both couldn't believe it. I just kept telling Sawyer how much I loved him. They say you will never feel a love like the love you have for your child and it's true. I can't begin to explain how much love I have for this baby. He was the sweetest, most cuddly, warm, and greatest gift from God laying perfectly on my chest. I thanked God for allowing this baby to be ours and being with us my entire pregnancy and labor. Sawyer was finally here safely, happy, and healthy. I'll always remember the day Sawyer made me a momma but little details may fade as time passes so I am hoping this helps. I had only wanted Bryan to be in the room with me during L&D and I'm so happy it was just him and I that shared that time together. He was so encouraging, the biggest help, and the greatest support system I could have ever had. I wouldn't trade a single moment for how everything played out (including the doctor that delivered Sawyer, who wasn't even my doctor, and the nurses on staff that shift). December 1st was exactly what I could have hoped for and everything I had prayed for. Every promise of God's grace was answered that day. I will say although I had an incredibly great pregnancy, easy labor and delivery, once the epidural wore off it was a different story. Granted I had a couple minor complications following delivery, post delivery was tough on my body. The pain was intense the following few days but that goes away. Every little detail regardless of what happens is and will always be worth the miracle of life placed in your arms. I continue to thank God everyday for our little Sawyer and can't help but look at him in awe. Bryan and I love watching him grow and are amazed at how fast time goes. The new things Sawyer does each day are so exciting and we can't wait to see him grow and develop into his own personality . It is such a blessing to be a part of God's work and see pieces of Bryan and I in this little man. God's plan always prevails and we are truly thankful!
0 Comments
It has been 7 weeks with our Sawyer John and time cannot slow down enough. I haven't had time to post anything, let alone do much besides care to him, but I wanted to write his birth story before even more time passes as I don't want to forget anything.
I never looked into labor and delivery and I am thankful I didn't. Everyone has their own experience with L&D and I'm sure not one person's is the same. I wanted to go into it with an open mind and be prepared for anything to happen without anyone's experience on my mind, as I tend to worry what has happened to others will happen to me. If I can give any advice, don't fret about labor, it is all worth it when that precious little baby is in your arms. Prior to my 39 week appointment which fell on a Friday we had great weather that week. It was in the 60s and perfect for walking outside. Sawyer was already extremely low and favorable for induction but I did not want to be induced so I decided I would take advantage of the nice weather and do some walking that week. I was hoping he would drop even further and come on his own. I think I walked 4 or 5 miles that week (which I had not done in a long time). After eating lunch that Wednesday I started feeling sick and I hadn't felt sick my entire pregnancy. I walked outside to get fresh air but came back into work and still felt bad, so for the first time my entire pregnancy, I left work. I felt better after a nap but then had some cramping which I thought were bathroom cramps. I had those same cramps for the next two days on and off but they weren't painful at all and figured it was nothing since EVERYONE had told me I would know a contraction when I felt one. On Friday December 1st I went into my 39 week OB checkup. I felt great. I was running a little bit behind and skipped breakfast because I was prepared to go eat and Christmas shop after my appointment. I knew they were going to want to do a dilation check (which I personally hated) since I had turned down my 38 week dilation check.I figured after the check they would give me a number and I would go about my day. I had always thought Sawyer would come early but after he decided to stay put when Thanksgiving passed, I was wondering if he would make it to his due date (my birthday) which I secretly really wanted to share with him. My appointment was at 9:00am and I was not prepared for what was going to come. I had my hospital bag at home, Sawyers things at home, Bryan had to work that morning, so my mom went with me to my appointment. I had on workout clothes and no make up and I don't believe I had even washed my hair that morning. I truly did not anticipate to go into labor anytime soon and was hoping Sawyer would hold off at this point since my doctor was on vacation and there was some Christmas shopping that needed to be done! As I sat in the waiting room I felt a light cramp here and there, but again nothing painful. I went into the patient room and prepped to be checked and the NP asked if I had any signs of labor. I told her about feeling sick and some bathroom cramps but nothing out of the norm. My appointment was with the nurse practitioner who I had met with a few times prior. She knew I hated the checks and told me she would make it simple and quick just like the last time she had done it. When I asked her if she was almost done (as it seemed to take much longer than the previous time) she told me to hold on. I asked what was going on and she looked at me and said "Kacey you need to get to the hospital, you are 5cm and fully effaced, this baby could come at any moment." She knew I was scared of pain and I believe wanted me to get there in time for an epidural and get a round of antibiotics in me since I had GBS (also totally normal for pregnancy and nothing to worry about). She told me those cramps were more than likely contractions. She said she was going to call the hospital and let them know I was coming. I asked her if I had time to go and get Chick Fil A (I was starving) and my hospital bags first and she told me no, to get straight to the hospital. I immediately called Bryan and told him it was time for the baby and to meet me at the hospital. I was nervous as he could hear it in my voice but excited at the same time. I knew I was about to meet my baby boy which I had patiently waited for the past 9 months. My mom and I walked into the Labor and Delivery unit at the hospital and straight to the nurses check in desk. I told them I had just left the OB office and the NP sent me here. They asked me if I was in pain or having any consistent contractions. I answered no to both. They just kind of starred at me in confusion since I was acting and looking like someone who definitely would not be in labor. They said before they would send me to triage to be checked they were going to call the OBs office to see what was going on. I was confused, I hadn't come there on my own, a doctor sent me there. Why were they not going to take the doctors orders and get me checked in and admitted? Finally after speaking to the OBs office they put me in the triage room. They said they wanted to check me themselves to see how far dilated I was since there had been some "discrepancy in dilation numbers." I freaked out on them since I hated the checks and had just had it done a few minutes prior. I fought with them for awhile on this (that's how bad I hated dilation checks). They said before they would admit me and put me in my own room they required a dilation check and wanted to put the monitor on my tummy to see if those minor cramps I was having were truly contractions. A little while had passed and then Bryan flew in the door of the triage room where mom and I were. He asked me what was going on and I explained they wanted to check me before being admitted. Bryan told me to do the check and see if it was the same number so we could figure out what was going on (we were all ready to know if baby boy was coming that day or not). The nurses told me if I wasn't really 5cm and having contractions they were sending me home. Right then I agreed and a contraction hit the screen as soon as they strapped the monitor against my belly. They asked me if that was the cramping I had been feeling and then realized they were indeed contractions. The nurse then did the check and said "yep you are 5 cm and 90 to 100% effaced with contractions lets get you in a room." Well OF COURSE that is what I had been trying to tell them and exactly what was said at my OB appointment!! Part two to come.. |
Archives
November 2019
Categories |