Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Dylan's Birth Story
Let me preface this post by saying I don’t remember much… luckily Dustin and mom do! The entire induction took about 28 hours (Dylan was quite cozy) and I only remember bits and pieces- what happened when is a total blur. All I can say is thank goodness for drugs!
Last belly shot. Saturday brunch (day of induction) in La Jolla.
Ok so here’s how it happened. We checked into the Scripps Encinitas hospital at 8PM on Saturday night. They hooked me up with fetal heart rate and contraction monitors. They also inserted an IV port. Around 9PM the nurse gave me a drug called Cervidil, which is used to “ripen” the cervix and start labor. I didn’t really feel anything all night… I kept checking the monitors… “Was that a contraction?? What about that??” I wasn’t really sure what contractions were supposed to feel like (little did I know what was coming my way). Saturday night was pretty easy. I was able to eat and sleep no problem- only a few small contractions, which I wouldn’t have even known I was having if I wasn’t hooked up to a contraction monitor!
Saturday night. Might as well get comfortable!
Sunday morning started a little rough… throwing up. I didn’t really feel bad- just got really nauseas (a feeling I’ve been quite familiar with throughout pregnancy). I threw up all over my bed and the floor (barely missing Dustin’s shoes) around 7AM. Once they got everything cleaned up, the nurse checked for dilation. I was so sure I HAD to be dilated to at least 2-3!! Wrong. Dilation just isn’t my thing I guess… So onto phase 2 of the induction- Oxytocin (commonly called Pitocin). They hooked me up through my IV and started slow… 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Nothing- No dialation. But I was starting to have contractions more frequently- not really painful (only 2-3 on a scale of 10). I was able to visit with everyone (Dustin’s parents & my mom were at the hospital with us) throughout the morning. We all eagerly watched the monitors for any and every change. Things were moving so slow… so the nurse suggested everyone go home and get some rest. She would call when things started happening. Dustin’s parents went home and so did Dustin- he needed some sleep since he didn’t get any the night before (those “husband recliners” are not comfortable!). Mom stayed with me.
The waiting game... Reading Sunday's paper
Sunday breakfast in the hospital courtyard.
Before too long (around 4PM) my Pitocin dose was at 8… and WHAM out of nowhere contractions from hell!!! My pain went from about a 3-4 to an 7-8! Drugs!!! Now!! I was so frustrated to be having so much pain with no dilation that I wanted to give up. I told mom it just wasn’t meant to be… I wanted to go home. Whatever they were doing wasn’t working. I was ready to either do a c-section or just go home and try again tomorrow. Since neither of those things were an option and I still wasn’t dilated, they put me on something (don’t remember the name) to help me relax and sleep. It worked great- I was out like a light in no time. Bye-bye pain- hello sleepy time! Too bad it only lasted for about an hour! I woke up shaking in the worst pain I’ve ever felt. Too add to the misery I started throwing up again! The nurse immediately called the doctor and he ordered the epidural even though I was still only dilated 1-2cm. Within 15 minutes the anesthesiologist was there. This man saved my life. He gave me the epidural and told me within 20 minutes it would kick in. This was the longest 20 minutes of my life. I was so sure the epidural wasn’t working… the contractions were constant and soooo painful. Luckily in 20 minutes, just as promised, relief. Back to “la la land”.
My "the drugs are working" face
I fell asleep almost instantly (around 5PM) and slept until push time. I guess not too long after the epidural Dustin noticed I was sleeping in a pool of water- he called the nurse and she confirmed my water had broke. I was so out of it I don’t even remember this. I vaguely remember waking up a few times when I was being checked for dilation. I was dilating- FINALLY!! Too bad I was too sleepy to even enjoy this magnificent accomplishment! Around 10:30PM the doctor came in and told me we were close and that the baby would probably be born early Monday morning. He told me to let the nurse know if I started feeling any pressure or contractions. I was still feeling nothing… literally. Back to sleep. I woke up a few minutes later and it felt like I was sitting on an ostrich egg. I called the nurse, she checked me out. She calmly said “let me go get the doctor”. Dr. Biter came in and did a quick exam. I was at +2, which basically means the baby is falling out. Push time! Dr. Biter had to walk me through pushing- I had no urge to push and still wasn’t feeling contractions (seriously, thank God for epidurals). Dr. Biter was so calm and reassuring during the entire process. He just sat on the end of my bed, told me when to hold my legs (no stirrups), and guided me through. Only 15 minutes of pushing (I might be a bad dilator, but I’m a damn good pusher) and Dylan was born!!! It was the most amazing experience ever to hold Dylan for the first time. I can’t even describe the emotion that flooded over my body. Dustin and I were both instantly in the deepest love we have ever felt with our new son.
Dr. Biter- The best "baby catcher" in the world!
Now here's the most surprising part about the whole delivery- Dustin didn't pass out!! He watched the entire delivery! Orginally we were planning on him being up by my head the entire time... but I had a feeling curiosity would get the better of him (assuming he didn't hit the floor) and it did. He even cut the cord!! Dylan scored an 8/10 apgar score at birth, and a 9/10 after 5 minutes. He lost points for coming out a little blue (ok, ALOT blue). The sack was around his head and I guess it affected his circulation. He didn't really cry immediately, but he was VERY alert. He came out with his eyes wide open- looking all around. The expression on his face was a look he definitely got from his father... He was was like "what the hell????" It was really cute/funny. A few seconds later he started crying. After about 10 minutes he totally "pinked up" and calmed down. He latched on right away and fed for about 30 minutes.
Holding Dad's hand for the first time
Dylan slept really well the first night and was very alert/calm all day Monday. Monday night he had to go under light therapy for a little jaundice, which he did NOT like at all. He stayed under the lights all day Tuesday as well (excpet for feeding) until we were discharged Tuesday night at 10PM.
Under light therapy
Everyone is happy and healthy- glad to be home! Dylan is the most amazing blessing ever. A perfect little bundle of joy! Thank you to everyone for all the love and support!!! We'll keep you posted with updates.
Let's go home- Tuesday night @ 10:00PM!
Last belly shot. Saturday brunch (day of induction) in La Jolla.
Ok so here’s how it happened. We checked into the Scripps Encinitas hospital at 8PM on Saturday night. They hooked me up with fetal heart rate and contraction monitors. They also inserted an IV port. Around 9PM the nurse gave me a drug called Cervidil, which is used to “ripen” the cervix and start labor. I didn’t really feel anything all night… I kept checking the monitors… “Was that a contraction?? What about that??” I wasn’t really sure what contractions were supposed to feel like (little did I know what was coming my way). Saturday night was pretty easy. I was able to eat and sleep no problem- only a few small contractions, which I wouldn’t have even known I was having if I wasn’t hooked up to a contraction monitor!
Saturday night. Might as well get comfortable!Sunday morning started a little rough… throwing up. I didn’t really feel bad- just got really nauseas (a feeling I’ve been quite familiar with throughout pregnancy). I threw up all over my bed and the floor (barely missing Dustin’s shoes) around 7AM. Once they got everything cleaned up, the nurse checked for dilation. I was so sure I HAD to be dilated to at least 2-3!! Wrong. Dilation just isn’t my thing I guess… So onto phase 2 of the induction- Oxytocin (commonly called Pitocin). They hooked me up through my IV and started slow… 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Nothing- No dialation. But I was starting to have contractions more frequently- not really painful (only 2-3 on a scale of 10). I was able to visit with everyone (Dustin’s parents & my mom were at the hospital with us) throughout the morning. We all eagerly watched the monitors for any and every change. Things were moving so slow… so the nurse suggested everyone go home and get some rest. She would call when things started happening. Dustin’s parents went home and so did Dustin- he needed some sleep since he didn’t get any the night before (those “husband recliners” are not comfortable!). Mom stayed with me.
The waiting game... Reading Sunday's paper
Sunday breakfast in the hospital courtyard.Before too long (around 4PM) my Pitocin dose was at 8… and WHAM out of nowhere contractions from hell!!! My pain went from about a 3-4 to an 7-8! Drugs!!! Now!! I was so frustrated to be having so much pain with no dilation that I wanted to give up. I told mom it just wasn’t meant to be… I wanted to go home. Whatever they were doing wasn’t working. I was ready to either do a c-section or just go home and try again tomorrow. Since neither of those things were an option and I still wasn’t dilated, they put me on something (don’t remember the name) to help me relax and sleep. It worked great- I was out like a light in no time. Bye-bye pain- hello sleepy time! Too bad it only lasted for about an hour! I woke up shaking in the worst pain I’ve ever felt. Too add to the misery I started throwing up again! The nurse immediately called the doctor and he ordered the epidural even though I was still only dilated 1-2cm. Within 15 minutes the anesthesiologist was there. This man saved my life. He gave me the epidural and told me within 20 minutes it would kick in. This was the longest 20 minutes of my life. I was so sure the epidural wasn’t working… the contractions were constant and soooo painful. Luckily in 20 minutes, just as promised, relief. Back to “la la land”.
My "the drugs are working" faceI fell asleep almost instantly (around 5PM) and slept until push time. I guess not too long after the epidural Dustin noticed I was sleeping in a pool of water- he called the nurse and she confirmed my water had broke. I was so out of it I don’t even remember this. I vaguely remember waking up a few times when I was being checked for dilation. I was dilating- FINALLY!! Too bad I was too sleepy to even enjoy this magnificent accomplishment! Around 10:30PM the doctor came in and told me we were close and that the baby would probably be born early Monday morning. He told me to let the nurse know if I started feeling any pressure or contractions. I was still feeling nothing… literally. Back to sleep. I woke up a few minutes later and it felt like I was sitting on an ostrich egg. I called the nurse, she checked me out. She calmly said “let me go get the doctor”. Dr. Biter came in and did a quick exam. I was at +2, which basically means the baby is falling out. Push time! Dr. Biter had to walk me through pushing- I had no urge to push and still wasn’t feeling contractions (seriously, thank God for epidurals). Dr. Biter was so calm and reassuring during the entire process. He just sat on the end of my bed, told me when to hold my legs (no stirrups), and guided me through. Only 15 minutes of pushing (I might be a bad dilator, but I’m a damn good pusher) and Dylan was born!!! It was the most amazing experience ever to hold Dylan for the first time. I can’t even describe the emotion that flooded over my body. Dustin and I were both instantly in the deepest love we have ever felt with our new son.
Dr. Biter- The best "baby catcher" in the world!
Now here's the most surprising part about the whole delivery- Dustin didn't pass out!! He watched the entire delivery! Orginally we were planning on him being up by my head the entire time... but I had a feeling curiosity would get the better of him (assuming he didn't hit the floor) and it did. He even cut the cord!! Dylan scored an 8/10 apgar score at birth, and a 9/10 after 5 minutes. He lost points for coming out a little blue (ok, ALOT blue). The sack was around his head and I guess it affected his circulation. He didn't really cry immediately, but he was VERY alert. He came out with his eyes wide open- looking all around. The expression on his face was a look he definitely got from his father... He was was like "what the hell????" It was really cute/funny. A few seconds later he started crying. After about 10 minutes he totally "pinked up" and calmed down. He latched on right away and fed for about 30 minutes.
Holding Dad's hand for the first time Dylan slept really well the first night and was very alert/calm all day Monday. Monday night he had to go under light therapy for a little jaundice, which he did NOT like at all. He stayed under the lights all day Tuesday as well (excpet for feeding) until we were discharged Tuesday night at 10PM.
Under light therapyEveryone is happy and healthy- glad to be home! Dylan is the most amazing blessing ever. A perfect little bundle of joy! Thank you to everyone for all the love and support!!! We'll keep you posted with updates.
Let's go home- Tuesday night @ 10:00PM!
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)