Birth of T. J.

[Adelicious]

8/20 - I started leaking small amounts of fluid. I noticed the difference, but wasn't sure if it was something to be concerned about, or just increased vaginal discharge.

8/27 - Discharge increased and was pink-tinged. I went to the hospital to get checked. Tests confirmed that I was leaking amniotic fluid, and I was informed I would have to stay in the hospital until delivery. I was 33 weeks. I was transferred to two other hospitals, ending up in Sacramento at a level 3 facility because of how early I was.

9/4 - I was 34 weeks, at which point they would normally have induced from preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM). I asked to be allowed to go at least a couple more weeks with the hope of going into labor naturally, and giving the baby a little more time to "ripen up". Technically I was supposed to be on bedrest, but they weren't strict, and I started going out every day and walking in the parking lot. I also started secretly taking a birth prep tincture from my midwife, which I would normally have started at 36 weeks.

9/12 - At 35 1/7 weeks, Saturday evening, I had a bloody show. My contractions had gotten a little stronger over the week, but nothing regular. My mom was headed out of town for a couple days to see my brother off on a deployment to Afghanistan. I really wanted her to be there!

9/15 -For two nights I'd had crampy feeling in my lower abdomen, headachy, and a few painful contractions in the night. Tuesday my contractions were coming 8-15 minutes apart. I avoided telling the nurse, wanting to labor in peace. When they monitored me that night, I shifted the monitor during contractions so they wouldn't know how regular I was. Throughout the night, though, my nurse got the idea, but she was really holding off on telling anyone else, knowing my wishes. My mom, husband, and a friend were there with me, rubbing my back and helping me through the contractions. It was so peaceful.

The only problem was, I was nauseas and couldn't keep down any food or fluids. I was concerned about getting dehydrated, but the nurse brushed it off, telling me to just not drink. I'd written on my birth plan I didn't want an IV until medically necessary, and I think she was trying to honor that. I wish I had been more assertive about asking for an IV.

9/16 - I hadn't kept down food or fluids since the previous morning, and after laboring all night, my contractions went from 4-5 minutes apart to 8 minutes apart. The oncoming doc immediately transferred me to a labor and delivery ward, even though the previous doc had been willing to deliver me in the antepartum room. I was finally put on IV fluids, and hoped that would start labor again. I had a big fat, non-nonsense nurse who insisted on monitoring me every hour, even when my contractions slowed to 30-45 minutes apart.

I agreed to the antibiotics, which I hoped would keep my baby from having to be on antibiotics, in case there was any infection. I was running a low-grade fever. The doc came by and reminded me I could take Pitocin, which he knew I didn't want. I asked about the blood test they had done in the morning, and he looked at discovered my white blood cell count was up, indicating infection. I had hoped to rest and await labor in the evening, but I was still unable to keep anything down. Now with the indication of infection, I didn't want to wait. I agreed to the Pitocin, after taking a nap in the afternoon.

Pitocin was started around 5 pm, and I braced myself for contractions from hell. Actually, they weren't bad at all. A few I didn't even feel. Around 7:30 the other doc came back on, and I was examined vaginally for the first time. I was thrilled when she said, "Oh, you're 7 cm!"

Contractions continued to pick up, and as long as I could stand and rock or sit on the birthing ball, I could handle them. The only bad thing was that because of the pit, I had to be on the monitor full time, and as the baby got lower, it was harder and harder for them to get a regular beat. Fortunately, baby was handling the contractions without any sign of distress.

My legs got weak, and I had to get in bed. That's when it REALLY started to hurt. I went into transition, which was such a painful, confusing, agonizing and sad place I thought would last forever. Fortunately, the doctor was really great about keeping the lights low and limiting staff to herself and the nurse. A pediatric nurse came right at the end.

I'd requested to be allowed to squat during pushing, and the doctor actually knelt on the floor so I could squat on the labor bed. This was amazing, because this doctor had pitched a fit over my nursing plan when she first saw it. The nurses all warned me she liked to have her own way. Now she was really trying to work with me.

During the first squatting/pushing contraction, I felt the baby's head move down. The doctor instructed me to reach down and feel. I felt my baby's head for the first time! After a couple more contractions, my legs were so shaky I had to lie back down. I lay sort of on my right side with my legs up on the bar. I asked for a mirror so I could watch. In two more contractions, the head came out, with the doctor carefully instructing me to push with little grunts to avoid tearing. I only pushed for about 20 minutes.

9/17 - 12:25 a.m.: It was all downhill from there. The little body came out and the doctor told me to reach down and grab my baby. I did, and lifted it up on my belly. There he was, perfect little arms and legs and scrunched up, squalling little face. I thought I would cry, but I was laughing with uncontainable delight. I lifted his leg and said to my husband, "You got your boy!"

He was 6 pound 4 oz and 19 inches long. He was healthy, nursed right away, maintained his temperature and blood sugars, and didn't need any IV antibiotics. The only horrible thing was when they took him to the nursery soon after he was born to bathe him and take blood. I watched in horror through the window as my newborn lay exposed in the glaring light on a warming bed, screaming for comfort and reaching his tiny arms and legs out into the great, scary, unknown. That site will always make me feel angry and guilty. I wish I'd had the courage to barge in there and demand him back. But like every other parent, I stood by helplessly. Well, not like every other parent. Most parents went back to their rooms.

We went home Saturday and had to continue doing blood tests for elevated bilirubin. Our last blood test was Thursday, and we went to the doctor Friday for a weight check. Bilirubin was going back down, and when we weighed him, he had gained 10 ounces in four days! He was 5 ounces over his birth weight. The PA was amazed he'd gained so much on breastmilk. And that's vegetarian breastmilk, too!

We named him the next day. 

We went home Saturday and had to continue doing blood tests for elevated bilirubin. Our last blood test was Thursday, and we went to the doctor Friday for a weight check. Bilirubin was going back down, and when we weighed him, he had gained 10 ounces in four days! He was 5 ounces over his birth weight. The PA was amazed he'd gained so much on breastmilk. And that's vegetarian breastmilk, too!

We're so happy to have our little T. home and healthy!

[outstandingLove]

Sep. 26, 2009 at 5:55 PM

I just read this in our group. Congrats momma! What a beautiful baby you have.

[airadan]

Sep. 26, 2009 at 10:38 PM

Congrats!  Its an amazing story!  So glad that things turned out well for you!

[MSugarKane]

Sep. 27, 2009 at 8:33 AM

Congratulations!!!