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Birth Story Monday, August 18, 1997, 3:45 p.m. I had an ultrasound to check my amniotic fluid level. (Because it had been low.) And although I had been drinking 4 liters of fluids a day, the amnio fluid was even lower. But the NST showed that the baby's heartbeat was strong and regular. Since I was already dilated to 2 1/2, my doctor decided conditions were right for an induction. (TOMORROW!!!) So he stripped my membranes (ouch!) and sent me home. I had so much to do! I wasn't due for 2 1/2 more weeks. (Sept 5th) I called my husband Jeremy at work and informed him so be could tell his boss. Jeremy was so calm - I think he was in shock or denial. Then I made some more phone calls to my family and friends. My friend Ann came over and we went for a walk. To try and get my Labor going on it's own. She kept me company until Jeremy got home from work. We ordered Italian food (and lots of it!) because I knew it would be my last meal for a while and rented videos. Ann took my car to be cleaned and vacuumed (so baby wouldn't have to ride in a dirty car...) I packed my bag for the hospital. And did misc. things around the house. (bills and such...) Meanwhile, I was having cramping and bleeding from my appt earlier. Everyone started calling me and needless to say I didn't get a whole lot accomplished. I tried to get some sleep, but I had so many things going through my mind. Plus, I had a really bad cold and couldn't breath. (bad timing) Anyway, I ended up sleeping on the couch propped up. But the cramps (contractions?) were keeping me awake too. Tuesday, August 19, 1997 I got up at 4:30 am (couldn't sleep anyway). We were told to be at the hospital at 6:30 or 6:45 am. I got ready, finished packing my bag and woke up Jeremy. He wouldn't get up. He complained about how early it was and took his time getting ready. I was getting really upset with him. I think now - he was just so nervous that he was 'dragging his feet'. We arrived at the hospital at 7:00 a.m. I put on my gown and they took my temp and blood pressure. Then the nurse put the monitors on me. One for the baby's heartbeat and one for my contractions. After that she put in the IV. I hate needles and was nervous so I was talking to the nurse to get my mind off of it. And she told me to be quiet while she does this. That is when I noticed how bad her hands were shaking. I think she put it in wrong because the D*MN thing hurt all day! Then my doctor came in and broke my water. Yuck - it felt like I had wet the bed. She also hooked the internal monitor to the baby at that time. She said that she checked to be sure the cord wasn't around his neck - I don't know how she did that - but it hurt like H*LL! I was dilated to 3 when I got to the hospital and I was having contractions. But they didn't really hurt - just squeezing cramps. The nurse kept having me turn from side to side and on my back because the baby was sleeping. Since we couldn't wake the baby like that she ended up putting an oxygen mask on me. Well, for the next few hours they kept increasing the Pitocin. I switched from side to side and on my back. The Oxygen mask was taken off. I tried breathing through the contractions. Jeremy and I talked. We were excited and basically freaked out by the whole experience. I ate some hard candies. I remember my Mom calling a couple of times. Meanwhile, the nurses would come in and check my dilation, blood pressure and temperature and up the Pit. They gave Jeremy tips on how to help me. I started getting very grouchy. I began to hate the nurses for increasing the Pit and checking me - it hurt. I started to think that the external monitor that was measuring my contractions was hurting me. So I threatened to throw it across the room. My doctor came in and put an internal monitor to meas. the contractions - I was wrong it still hurt. I should have kept my mouth shut - so now I have more cords hanging between my legs. My doctor gave me a pain killer in my IV (Stidel - sp?) It helped me relax between contractions and made them more manageable. But I didn't like it because I felt stoned. It lasted about an hour. I had the nurse take me to the bathroom (with my IV and my cords hanging...) I really had to pee. It felt better to sit on the toilet (than to lay in bed...) I got back in bed and the drug wore off, so they gave me another dose this time it didn't help at all. That is when I started asking for the epidural. Jeremy tried to tell me that I didn't want the epidural (it freaked us both out that they put it in your back), but I told him I couldn't handle it any other way. Around 11:30 I wanted Jeremy to go to lunch. The contractions were coming hard and fast. I had really bad pain in my lower back and the pressure in my butt was terrible. I didn't want him to see me in that much pain. I kept trying to lift my butt off the bed - nothing helped. The breathing was a joke. I kept yelling at Jeremy that I couldn't breath through my nose. I didn't want him anywhere near me, because if be bumped the bed or talked I would yell at him. I really lost it then I started crying and moaning. I refused to do the breathing. I was saying that I just couldn't do it. Meanwhile, my doctor ordered the epidural and they started getting everything ready. I really felt like I had to poop - so they checked me and I was still at 6 (I had been at 6 for a while... it was so discouraging) So they let me go to the bathroom. (I couldn't go - but it felt better to sit there so they left me in there as long as I wanted.) Jeremy didn't want to see them give me the epidural so he finally did go to lunch. He had 3 beers too - I guess he needed them :) I finally got my epidural around 1:00 (it took them 1 1/2 hours from the time I asked for it - with me moaning and crying the whole time...) I was scared to death having them insert it - because I was having contractions continuously and I was afraid that I would move. I had a nurse in front of me giving me a bear hug to keep me still. It seemed like it took forever - and the next couple of contractions I could still feel. But pretty soon I couldn't feel ANY pain. I could just tell when I was having a contraction by the tightening. It was so great! I would definitely get one (a lot sooner) next time. Jeremy got back from lunch and I was smiling and talking on the phone (with my Mom). He couldn't believe the difference. We both slept for about 1 1/2 after that. (heaven...) Around 3:00 PM my sister Julie showed up at the hospital. I really didn't mind because she is my favorite sister, plus with my epidural and my nap, I was ready for some company. We talked for a while and it was very relaxed. Then I started feeling a lot of pressure. The nurse came in and I was dilated to 10 but there was still a little lip on the cervix; but my doctor said it was time to get this baby out. I guess his heart rate was going down from being in the birth canal for so long. So they got the room ready and such. I told my sister that she could stay if she wanted to and take pictures and video after the birth. (which worked out real well...) Time to push - the nurse had one of my legs and Jeremy had the other. I pushed for about 20 minutes. I was getting very tired. My doctor was trying to massage the baby's head out; but it just wasn't happening. So she ended up doing a small episiotomy. (I felt the needle when she was numbing the area - but at that point I just wanted him out so I didn't care.) As soon as she cut me - out came his head and she suctioned out his nose and mouth. Jeremy was amazed because he was looking around (and he wasn't even out of me yet!) Then his shoulders with the next push and out plopped his body. She immediately put him on my stomach and Jeremy cut the cord. I couldn't believe how big he seemed. His Apgars were 8 after 1 minute and 9 after 5 minutes. They brought him right to me and I got to hold him and nurse him for a long while. He was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen. And he quit crying and just looked at me with his eyes wide open. I will treasure that moment forever. (plus I have it all on video... hehe) They gave him his bath and did everything right there in the delivery room. He screamed the whole time. (which is great - because we were worried about his lungs because my amnio fluid was so low...) Finally, Jeremy got to hold him. (He quit crying then too - I know that he recognized our voices...) It was the greatest day of my life. (and yes... I would do it again...someday) Aimala, Jeremy & Gavin Chase - August 19, 1997 at 4:07 PM - 6 lbs 12 oz and 20 inches long
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