Elizabeth Grace's Birth Story at Winthrop Hospital (Really Long!!!)

First off, I just have to say thank you to all the ladies on this board. Without all of you, my 9 months would have been drastically different! I learned so much from all of you – this board is a god send!!

Second, I have to say that Winthrop Hospital was amazing! I had such a great experience and everyone I crossed paths with throughout my labor and delivery was fantastic!

Ok – so here’s my story! My original due date was 10/14/07. At my 40 week appt I was still dilated at all, so the doc said to sit tight. I went back to her at 40.5 weeks and again nothing. I went to see her again right before I hit 41 weeks - Still nothing. This baby was nice and content where it was!! We made plans to induce the evening of 10/20. The doctor warned me that it could be a long process and that I should prepare for it not to happen right away.

Well, contractions actually woke me up at 6am the morning of 10/20 and they were about 10 minutes apart lasting about a minute each time. I waited about 6 hours before calling the doctor. As expected, she said to wait until they were 5 minutes apart. They never got that close, so I just waited at home. We were scheduled to call the hospital at 5pm that evening to make sure that had a bed for me and so we could start the induction. They did and off we went!!

By the time we got to the hospital, I had already labored for 12 hours. It wasn’t that bad at all. Once admitted and into the labor room, they gave me a drug called Cervadil. It is supposed to aide in dilation. It literally looks like a white twist tie that they insert next to your cervix. It wasn’t uncomfortable, it just felt like another internal. DH and I joke about how many hands were up in my va jay jay that day!! It felt like everyone that came into the room had to get a hand up there! LOL….Anyway – I had the Cervadil in for 12 hours and the contractions were getting worse and I started to be in a lot of pain when they came. After the 12 hours – I was only dilated a fingertip!!! So….another round of Cervadil was inserted into me. We didn’t wait the whole 12 hours for this one – I can’t remember how long though, but then my doctor started me on Pitocin. She checked me after awhile and I was at 3cm. At this point I was in a lot of pain and I was given an epidural. It was heaven. It didn’t hurt at all going in and I begged for them to let me see the needle afterwards but they wouldn’t! The anesthesiologist was awesome – he was so funny and really put me at ease. We waited awhile and I wouldn’t dilate anymore than the 3cm ? So after 36 hours of labor, some of it being very painful we decided that a C Section was the way to go.

Before I knew it I was being wheeled into the operating room. I wasn’t scared because I had prepared myself beforehand that I may have to have the C section because we knew the baby was going to be big. I was a little disappointed, but after the painful contractions I was having, I was exhausted and didn’t know how I would be able to push if I had to. After I was in the operating room, they prepped me. The put your hands straight out to the sides and strap them down and then put heating pads on them to keep you warm. The drugs made me shiver but they said that was normal. After I was all set up, DH came in and was by my side the entire time. The put up the sheet so we couldn’t see anything and after awhile DH asked if they were going to start soon. It turns out that they were almost done!!! A little while later, we heard, “It’s a Girl!!” but no crying. Elizabeth Grace was finally born at 5:23pm. She had fluid in her lungs and that is why she did not cry right away. It was a little scary, but everything worked out ok and she did not have to go to the NICU. After what seemed like an eternity, they finally brought her over to me for about 2 minutes!! It was really sad that I was not able to hold her. That is the only thing about having the C section that bothered me. I wanted to hold her a nd look at her so badly. Then they quickly wisked her away!

I was in the recovery room for about 3 hours. I was out of it for most of the time and do not remember much at all. I finally made it to my room around 8:30pm, and the baby was brought to me around 9:30pm. It was so nice to finally hold her and look at her. It was an amazing moment knowing that you actually made this tiny person and that she was living in your belly for the past 10 months!

C-section recovery – it definitely hurt and it was hard to move. When I heard I had to be in the hospital 4 more nights I was dreading it, but you really need that time there to recover. Once you get home it’s a whole new ball game, and even though you are in pain, you have to take care of the baby, the house, etc…. The nurses got me up the next day and I started walking. I tried to walk as much as I could and it really helped. I found that if I laid in bed for awhile when I got up, it was extremely painful. My suggestion is stay as mobile as you can if you. And take advantage of the pain medication. I recommend taking it before you go to bed as well. There were a couple nights when I didn’t and was in extreme pain when I woke up at 3am. I guess I was naïve, but I didn’t realize that you will still bleed when you have a c section ? They have these giant pads that I wore the entire time there. I would stock up on some overnight Always with wings for when you go home or for the last day of your hospital stay. I am 2 weeks PP now, and still lightly bleeding. I am wearing light pads right now and will probably switch to panty liners in about a week. They also gave me disposable underwear that I wore for the first 2 days, then I switched to my granny panties. I also spend about 2 days in my hospital gown. It was very comfy. I then wore some night shirts I brought with me. IMO, they were easier to wear than PJs with pants.

I had a shared room and my roommate was great, but she was discharged the following morning. Then I got a new one and she sucked. I had to hear her birth story 5 million times, she was on the phone in the middle of the night, turning the lights on and off and blaring her TV. About 3am, I got up and requested a private room for the next 2 nights and I moved out the next day. It was the best decision and well worth the money. I felt I really got to relax and was not distracted by her or her guests and it gave DH and I more time to bond with the baby alone.

What to Pack – here’s what I packed and thought it was sufficient:
• 3 Night shirts/gowns
• Slippers
• Toiletries – shampoo, conditioner, face wash, toothpaste, toothbrush, hair brush, gentle bar soap (like Dove), razor
• Boppy – came in very handy
• Coming home outfits for me and baby
• Magazines

I didn’t bring a hair dryer – I let mine air dry, but there were outlets to use in the bathroom if I did bring it.

The first 2 weeks being home has been very rough. You can be as organized and prepared as you can be, but I don’t think that you can really prepare yourself for what its going to be like when the baby actually comes home and the sleep deprivation kicks in. I broke down in tears multiple times a day and had a bad case of Baby Blues. I am feeling a lot better now and feel a lot more confident in what I am doing.

Take it slow and ask for help!!

I think that’s it!! I am 2 weeks PP and feel about 98% back to normal. I am also 2 lbs less than my pre-pregnancy weight and am wearing my old jeans! One tip is to wait at least a week to weigh yourself. I weighed myself as soon as I got home and I weighed the same as before I left for the hospital!! It was so depressing!!

Good luck to all the future Mommies out there and let me know if you have any questions!!

Christine

Here's my angel:


Album

ETA: One more tip! make sure you eat and drink lots before you go to the hospital. The last time I ate was on 3pm on a Saturday, I was in my hospital room by 6pm that night and I couldnt have ANYTHING except ice chips from them until lunch time on Monday!!!!!! It was torture!!

Message edited 11/5/2007 5:03:31 PM.

Re: Elizabeth Grace's Birth Story at Winthrop Hospital (Really Long!!!)

she is beautiful! great review, i'll be delivering at winthrop too

Re: Elizabeth Grace's Birth Story at Winthrop Hospital (Really Long!!!)

that was a great story with a beautiful baby at the end of it! congratulations on your beautiful DD!

Re: Elizabeth Grace's Birth Story at Winthrop Hospital (Really Long!!!)

Congratulations!!!

Thanks for the story. It's nice to hear someone be honest about how hard this can be. I'm happy to hear that you are recovering well and got thru the baby blues. You look great BTW!!!

DD is adoreable!!!!!

Re: Elizabeth Grace's Birth Story at Winthrop Hospital (Really Long!!!)

thanks for the detailed story!!!

She is so cute!

Re: Elizabeth Grace's Birth Story at Winthrop Hospital (Really Long!!!)

Great review. She is a beautiful little girl.

Re: Elizabeth Grace's Birth Story at Winthrop Hospital (Really Long!!!)

Congrats! Thank you for the detailed story and the great advice. Your daughter is beautiful!

Re: Elizabeth Grace's Birth Story at Winthrop Hospital (Really Long!!!)

Thank you for that wonderful review. She is beautiful!

Re: Elizabeth Grace's Birth Story at Winthrop Hospital (Really Long!!!)

Congrats! I will be at winthrop too! How much extra was the private room?

Re: Elizabeth Grace's Birth Story at Winthrop Hospital (Really Long!!!)

Posted by JChia

Congrats! I will be at winthrop too! How much extra was the private room?

Re: Elizabeth Grace's Birth Story at Winthrop Hospital (Really Long!!!)

Thanks for the review and for the tips on what to pack. I don't want to go to the hospital looking like I'm moving in and your list was extremely realistic.

Once again, she's absolutely georgeous..congratulations!!!!!!!!

Re: Elizabeth Grace's Birth Story at Winthrop Hospital (Really Long!!!)

I am so happy for you all!

Re: Elizabeth Grace's Birth Story at Winthrop Hospital (Really Long!!!)

Congrats!! She's BEAUTIFUL!!

Re: Elizabeth Grace's Birth Story at Winthrop Hospital (Really Long!!!)

GREAT review, thanks!
She is beautiful and the halloween teeth/pacifier made me

Re: Elizabeth Grace's Birth Story at Winthrop Hospital (Really Long!!!)

She's beautiful! Congratulations!! The review is fabulous.

Re: Elizabeth Grace's Birth Story at Winthrop Hospital (Really Long!!!)

Thanks for sharing your story. Congratulations again on having such a beautiful baby girl!

Re: Elizabeth Grace's Birth Story at Winthrop Hospital (Really Long!!!)

Congrats. She is beautiful.

Re: Elizabeth Grace's Birth Story at Winthrop Hospital (Really Long!!!)

Great story and she is beautiful. I delivered at Winthrop twice and had a great experience both times.

Re: Elizabeth Grace's Birth Story at Winthrop Hospital (Really Long!!!)

Congrats and thanks for sharing your birth story!

I also had a very good experience at Winthrop.

Elizabeth is beautiful!!

Re: Elizabeth Grace's Birth Story at Winthrop Hospital (Really Long!!!)

Thank you for sharing...Elizabeth is such a beautiful baby!!!!

Re: Elizabeth Grace's Birth Story at Winthrop Hospital (Really Long!!!)

Congrats!! Thank you for sharing your experience - extremely informative!

Re: Elizabeth Grace's Birth Story at Winthrop Hospital (Really Long!!!)

Thanks for the great review...I am delivering at winthrop this month. Congrats on your baby girl......Elizabeth is adorable!!!!

Re: Elizabeth Grace's Birth Story at Winthrop Hospital (Really Long!!!)

Congrats!! Your little girl is so precious!!
Thanks for sharing your birth story and for all the helpful tips.

Message edited 11/5/2007 11:08:16 AM.

Re: Elizabeth Grace's Birth Story at Winthrop Hospital (Really Long!!!)

Wonderful story!

ITA on the night gowns. I was too much in pain to even think about lifting my legs to put on some pants.

I had requested the private room from the beginning and it was not available. I had to share a room the first night and just like you, I had an horrible roomate.

I was able to rest so much better in my private room for the following 3 nights. Best decision EVER!


Congrats again!

Re: Elizabeth Grace's Birth Story at Winthrop Hospital (Really Long!!!)

Thank you so much for sharing your experience! Your daughter is beautiful!

I'm glad you were happy with Winthrop - that's where I will be delivering as well and it's good to hear such positive things!

Enjoy motherhood!