*A week of labor* Monica's labor and delivery.

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I've shared my story with many people, but I have never written it down! Monica came into this world in such a funny fashion - and ready to show just what a little monster she would be.

It all started at my 36 week O.B. appointment. At that time, my husband and I had no car, so my Father in Law drove us to the appointment. My In-Laws very very supporting and extremely helpful and wonderful to us the entire pregnancy. When Dr. Branson checked my cervix, I was two centimeters dialated and having mild contractions. He sent us to the Hospital to be observed. They checked us into the observatory room and hooked me up to the monitors. They gave me an I'V for fluids and then we waited and watched the contractions come every few minutes. They felt like menstrual cramps to me, and I was all ready for them to send me home. But after a few hours, they thought I was going into labor. They took down my information and they wheeled me into the delivery room. I was panicking! My mother, father, sister and brother were all vacationing in Florida, and nothing was ready back home! I had to call my mother and tell her the news. She as panicked as well, and got off the phone fast to find the first flight back. The next few hours were exciting. The nurse started my I.V. for group B strep, and because of the penicillin in it, my throat started to close. I was even wearing my allergy bracelet! Friends of mine and my husbands were calling to see hoe I was and visiting us. They even offered me an epidural. At about 3:30 in the morning however, my contraction came to a stop, and we were discharged. We were flustered, disapointed, and tired. The only good that came out of it, was that my family did not miss Monica's birth. My lovely In-Laws bought me some McDonalds, and we went home to fall asleep.

It was a few days after we had been in the hospital, and it was the day of my husband and sister in laws confirmation into the Catholic church. That morning I felt awful and the contractions started in again. I wanted to stay behind, but my husband insisted I go in case I went into labor. Through the entire ceremony, I was gripping the pew in front of me every few minutes. Me and my husbands family flew out of the church as soon as him and his sister were blessed by the preist. When we checked into the labor and delivery department, they put me right into the delivery room and hooked me up to moniotrs. I was starving because all I had eaten that morning was a cheesestick. My husband was hungry too, and decided it would be a good idea to bring some chicken strips up to the room I was in to eat them. I really wanted some but I wasn't allowed. My husband offered to leave the room to eat, but I threatened him to stay put - I needed my foot rubs! My husbands family came in my room, gave us a few presents, and went out into the cafeteria to get some food. My mom was there and all prepared with little packs of cookies and MnM's. When they checked my cervix after a few hours, it had not gone past 3 centimeters. So once again, they discharged us and sent us home. We were all so frustrated!

A few more day passed and it was April 3rd. It was a Thursday, and I was exactly 37 weeks pregnant. I went in for my appionment. Dr. Branson did a cervical swab to get my labor going and sent me on my way. That night, about 9:00 P.M. the contractions got stronger and closer. They were definitly more intense than the other contractions I had experienced. At 10:00, we started our treck to the hospital. It was a good 25 minute drive. They put me in the observaory again and hooked me up to the monitors. My huband took a nap in the chair next to me while family came and waited to see what would happen. At 1:30 in the morning, the nurses gathered that my contraction were once again fading, and they discharged us. More frustrated than ever, we piled in the car to go home. Halfway home, something exciting happened. I felt a little gush like I had peed myself. I wondered if my water had broke, but I didn't want to make any rash decisions. I waited to see if it would happen again. A few second later, it did! "Um, guys!" I said to my In Laws and my hubby, "I think my water broke!" So we pulled off into the nearest exit at a Denny's and my Mother in Law and I went in to check. I stood there in the big stall with my pants down just waiting. Sure enough, I was leaking clear fluid! I called my mom and told her to head on back to the hospital. We got back into the car, turned around, and went back up to the hospital as well. They had us fill out all the paperwork again- even though we had just been there. The nurses at the check in counter must have thought I was loosing it. They put us back into the observatory room and took a sample of the gushing fluid running down my legs. A few minutes they came back to tell us that yes, indeed my water had broken and we would have a baby soon!

They wheeled me into delivery room number 23 and hooked me up to everything. It was then a waiting game. I read magazines and talked with my family as the night went on. At 5:00 A.M. I got my epidural. It was the greatest thing ever. I was immediately relieved and ready to go! About six in the morning, my nurse came to check my cervix again. She told me I was at a 9 and the hospital called my Dr. He was in the middle of an emergency C-section and didn't get there until after 10 A.M. When he went to check me, he discovered I was at a 4 and he was upset with the nurse who gave me such an off reading. He left and told the nurses to call him when I was closer and then the nurses started my pitocin. After awile, I called a nurse because I needed to use the restroom. Then they gave me the ever-so-lovely news that I would have to use a cathetor. I was really nervous, but it turned out to be a godsend. Especially after I started vomiting all the orange jell-o I was eating. My family came in and out through the day and encouraged me. And by 6:00 P.M. I was fully dialated and ready to push. My mom held one leg, and my Mother in Law held the other. My husband was by my side refreshing my cool rag and cheering me on. But after 45 minutes of pushing, nothing was happening. Dr. Branson checked me, and told me my tailbone was in the way. I had two options. They could pull Monica's head  out with forcepts, or I could deliver by C-section. I was so afraid to do a C-Section, but I opted for it in the best intrest of my girl. They gave me some nasty medicine to drink and then wheeled me off into the C-section room. My parents and my In-Laws were in the hallway, cheering for me as I was wheeled  into the operating room. I thought I'd be terrified but I had a certain peace about me because I was making a sacrifice for my baby. My husband put on some scrubs and joined my side. They pu up a shett and went to work. I felt a little pressure in my upper stomach. They told my husband she was coming out if he wanted to look. He stood up to watch and I heard the most perfect little cry in the world. It was soft and sweet.

The nurses put her on the warm table a few feet away from me and checked her vital signs. She was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I managed to whisper a "shes beautiful!" to my husband before he sprung up to get a closer look. I watched them weigh her and hand her to my husband while they sewed me up. It was a dream.

Monica Rae came at 8:07 P.M. April 4th, 2008. She was 6 pounds, 5.5 ounces, and 19 inches long. She brightens every day of my life. :)

 

[HunterMaysonMom]

Oct. 23, 2009 at 12:54 AM

allyson that was such a beautiful and exciting story!