Megan Daisy - March 25, 2008 - long

It was a week ago and I’m trying to remember the details. I guess it started on Easter Sunday night. 40w 5 d. I had just taken a shower and was getting dressed. As I put on my underwear, I felt a small gush of fluid and I looked down and was dripping blood. – not a lot – just 4 or 5 drops. This wasn’t’ the first small gush I had over the weekend, but the blood put me on alert. After hemming and hawing for an hour I called the dr. She said to go to L&D to get checked. When I got there, they put me on the fetal monitor and checked me. I was having contractions – very mild and they were about 15 minutes apart. My water had not broken and I was not dilated or effaced- so home we went.

I woke up at 4:51 in the morning with a strong contraction. I started to time them and they were about 10 minutes apart. When they got to be 5 minutes, I called the DR again and again, we were off to L&D at about 7 am. This time I was 1 CM dilated and partially effaced and baby had dropped. I don’t’ remember the station. However, I was sent home again, b/c my contractions weren’t “painful” or long enough and I would be more comfortable laboring at home. “Come back when you are on your hands and knees from the pain and that they last longer than a minute.”

I should have mentioned earlier that the Ultrasounds from my 40 w apt indicated that the baby was 9 lbs 1 oz and 2 of the Drs at my practice strongly recommended a C-section. So they told me to schedule it on Monday morning for the week, so when we got home from the hospital on Monday am, I called to schedule and got it for the next day at 8 am.

So went through the day having contractions about 5 minutes apart- in retrospect they weren’t that bad compared to what was to come. I took a shower and a nap and at about 4:30 started with really bad contractions that were all around my belly and back – DH was helping to massage my back during them and they were coming at 4 minutes apart. So off to the hospital we go – again- and let me tell you that each 15 minute car ride is getting progressively worse!

Once at Winthrop, they said I was now between 2 and 3 cm (is that all??? After all those contractions???) and 90% effaced (at least there was progress there) and that I should go home again!!! (WERE THEY KIDDING – I was practically crying during them – they were that painful- I was breaking my husband’s arm during each contraction)

This is when the breakdown began – first of all I was told this by the newest and youngest member of the practice. She is also one who wasn’t concerned about the baby’s size during my 35 w appointment (I specifically asked her) – but when a Sr. Doc at the practice saw me at my 40 3 d apt saw me she said she would have spoken up about my weight gain if she saw me. (this is a long tangent so I’ll stop here)

So I said, no, I didn’t want to go home – please give me an epidural – I’m in a lot of pain. She said they wont’ give me an epidural until I at least 4 cm dilated. I said, I’m scheduled for c-sec in the morning – why can’t you give me an epidural until then. She was basically refusing and trying to get me to take staydel (Sp?) I didn’t want to take a narcotic – I heard it crosses the placenta and since its relatively new I wasn’t comfortable taking it. I have heard good things about epidurals and wanted that. - All the while- I’m having mind blowing contractions and now I start to cry – I mean literally sob – when I heard no epidural- that was the end for me. . . I’m crying now, just remembering

DH was trying to get me to have a c sec immediately, but because I had recently eaten, they wouldn’t do it. They also said it was not an emergency situation. So I argued that 2 Sr Drs at the practice strongly think that I will not be able to deliver the baby naturally due to the estimated size. Well here I am in labor and if the baby is trying to be born naturally and gets stuck and stressed, wouldn’t that be considered an emergency situation? Why are you sending me home? Finally, someone listened to me and they agreed to admit me and give me the blessed epi

Once admitted, I calmed down some – the anesthesiologist came and DH had to leave the room for me to get the epi. He was great and so was the nurse- The pain went away almost immediately and DH was given a lounge chair and we both went to sleep. However, they kept waking me up to move my position so they could monitor the baby’s hr better – so I didn’t sleep much. Then at about 2 in the morning I started to feel pain again through the epi and I called the nurse – it took them a long time to get the anesthesiologist back to check on the epi. The weird part about these contractions were that I felt them mostly in my urethra where the catheter was in place – It was most annoying – I felt like I had to pee really bad. Then they were moving up into my lower abdomen – progressively getting worse. Well the anesthesiologist came and did something, but the pain was still there – just more mild. At this point the contractions were still coming 4 – 5 minutes apart and I was between 3 and 4 cm dilated.

At about 6, the contractions were back to painful again, but they were now at 10 minutes apart. I never made it to 4 cm dilated. The nurse said they were to come to get me for the c sec around 7, so I’m guessing they just let the epi wear off in prep for the pain reliever for that procedure? It was never explained. Also, I though my water might have broken, but they never checked it.

Cut to the c sec – they pulled my bed to an OR and the new anesthesiologist decided to remove the epidural and give me a spinal shot – he said it would be faster. That it would take 15 minutes for the epidural spinal to work. OK – except it took 10 minutes for him to find a good spot to give me the shot b/c I was so swollen from all the fluids they gave me overnight. Once he found the spot, I felt numb almost immediately. They needed me to help them move me into position, and I could barely move my legs. I also got VERY sleepy and they had to give me air to help me stay alert – I was really struggling b/c I wanted to be awake when my DC was born. DH was at my side and talking to me. I couldn’t breathe through my nose b/c the air made it stuffy so they put the air over my mouth and nose and it dried out my mouth and throat. However, I did not feel a thing down there – I was told some people feel pulling etc. I didn’t.

Then I heard the Dr say – here she is – that’s a big baby! And then DH was saying she has Dark hair and then I heard her cry! OMG – what a sound! DH couldn’t cut the cord from me, but he cut the excess cord from her, and was there where they took her footprints and took some pictures so he could bring the digital camera back to me and I could see her.

While the procedure was being finished I felt a little better, they took the oxygen off of me and DH helped me blow my nose. They brough my baby to my arms so I could hold her for the first time and I still can't believe how incredibly adorable she is and how relieved I am that she is healthy.

My recovery went very well, I could move my legs again within the hour and I didn’t get nauseous (which happens with c secs). They won’t give you solid foods until you pass gas, and it took me 2 days to do so, but everything else was fine and Megan was completely worth it all.

Megan Daisy
Born March 25 2008 at 8:21 am
She weighed only 8 lbs 1 oz (don’t trust ultrasounds!)
Measured 20 inches

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Re: Megan Daisy - March 25, 2008 - long

what an ordeal! but OMG she is sooooo gorgeous!!! congrats!!!

Re: Megan Daisy - March 25, 2008 - long

Congratulations! Thank you for sharing your story! Welcome little sweet Megan!

Re: Megan Daisy - March 25, 2008 - long

Megan is GORGEOUS!!! Congratulations mommy!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Megan Daisy - March 25, 2008 - long

She is beautiful!!!!!!!!! congratulations!!!!!!!!

Re: Megan Daisy - March 25, 2008 - long

Ugh! Sounds like you went to hel! and back!! Congrats on your gorgeous baby girl!

Re: Megan Daisy - March 25, 2008 - long

Congratulations - she is so beautiful!!

Re: Megan Daisy - March 25, 2008 - long

Congratulations! She is beautiful!

Re: Megan Daisy - March 25, 2008 - long

congrats she is so cute

Re: Megan Daisy - March 25, 2008 - long

ADORABLE!

Re: Megan Daisy - March 25, 2008 - long

Gorgeous!!!

Re: Megan Daisy - March 25, 2008 - long

Great story. I had the same problem with the epi. Megan is beautiful!

Re: Megan Daisy - March 25, 2008 - long

wow I am so sorry you had to deal with all of that but thankfully she is healthy and soooo beautiful congrats!!

Re: Megan Daisy - March 25, 2008 - long

Jen.... congratulations... she is a beauty!!!!!! And I can say that first hand!

Re: Megan Daisy - March 25, 2008 - long

She is amazing!