Georgia Mae's Birth Story

MotherofIreland's Journal

Georgia Mae's Birth Story
Feb 24, 2011 at 9:49 AM
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- MotherofIreland
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No detail will be spared. You have been warned.

Thursday was my bi-weekly appointment with my doctor. I had a list of complaints: walking up the stairs felt like running a marathon, my legs would feel like they would explode if I got up from being asleep for a few hours, my cold was getting worse (I’ve only been fighting it for 4 weeks), and my Braxton Hicks contractions were a wee uncomfortable at times. My doctor asked to “check” me but I declined. She told me in no uncertain terms “You let me know if anything changes!” I let her know emphatically “I will!”

On Friday morning I had a realization; I couldn’t poop. I had this problem while pregnant with Ireland. It made the last three weeks of that pregnancy a real treat. The thought that I would be miserable with cramping for at least three weeks with Georgia was almost enough for me to throw myself off the house. See, when you can’t “go”, the cramping of not being able to “go” mix with BH contractions so you tend to wonder if you just need to poop or your child wants to come out. So that is when I became very impatient to have my little girl.

Saturday was The Big Date. Michael had his Employee Appreciation Dinner (his employer’s version of a holiday party). It’s held at a nice hotel; good food, very nice door prizes (we didn’t win…) and usually a sub-par DJ. We were having a good time just visiting with his co-workers but I noticed that some of the BH contractions I was having were intense enough to shut me up. At 8 I decided to time them. They were coming every 30min, to the minute. We left (we didn’t win so that was our cue to go home anyway). As we were arriving home, I had another contraction and decided to call my doctor (it was 10pm). She said to go to the hospital for observation. We went inside the house, apologized profusely to our siblings that they had to spend the night, got just a few things together and left. The contraction was “late” and we both thought “such a waste of time”.

Well, the contraction was just 10 minutes late. When we arrived at the hospital the contractions were getting closer together and I started to get worried. Checking into OB seemed to take forever, the contractions were fairly intense and I began to panic thinking that I would pop my child out right there in front of the damn desk. But we made it to an observation room without incident. I was “checked” by a nurse and was dilated to 5-6cm. My doctor was contacted and I was admitted.

Just being in the hospital relaxed me enough so I could handle my contractions much much better. I even managed to “go”, you know the “cleansing-before-you-have-a-baby” “go”. I was “checked” a few more times and I was dilated to 8cm and completely thinned out (yes, ladies, I was having vag exams. I wanted to know if there was progress). So, I was dilated but the contractions started to slow down and they weren’t regular for more than, about, 30 minutes. I walked the halls, pumped my breasts and even try to have Lincoln nurse, but my labor was still a bit stalled.

My doctor suggested breaking my water. I declined. I don’t remember what time it was, perhaps 3 in the morning. Although labor had stalled, I hadn’t been in labor for all that long. I was hoping that it would pick back up soon. I believe it was around noon that I seriously started to contemplate having my water broken. My family wouldn’t STFU about it (but my husband was always supportive of what I wanted). They couldn’t understand why I was hesitant to having my water broken. In my head I was doing the “math”. If my water was broken but it doesn’t do anything to jump-start labor, we would then be on a countdown to “infection-pitocin-possibly c-section” time. For this woman who was in pre-term labor, that option made me a bit freaking nervous. However, I was tired and sleeping was very difficult. I was also very hungry but afraid to eat for fear of throwing up while trying to push out my daughter. (the hospital “allows” clear fluid, even broth, during labor but I was afraid to consume any of it)

At 1pm, I consented to having my water broken. I felt a small “gush” and we waited. Well, it didn’t take long, maybe 20 minutes and I had my first post-ruptured membrane contraction. They got regular and slowly more intense. Cool! It worked! I didn’t feel dread that I had made the wrong decision. I was a freaking champion during the contractions. I would close my eyes, relax my body and visualize the contraction. I didn’t try to mentally run from them. I could sit there and just let them happen. They were uncomfortable but very manageable.

I was waiting for that primal urge to push as the contractions started to come in on top of each other. That urge didn’t arrive (maybe fear had something to do with this). Just when I was about to cry out from intense discomfort, I decided to push. The pain went away for a moment. Awesome! I think I had another contraction (pressure wave!!!) and pushed again. I’m pretty sure I heard my husband say “I see the head!”. Well, no turning back now. I could feel her coming out, it was painful but just 3 more pushes later she was out! 90 minutes after having my water broken, I had my baby girl. Georgia Mae was born at 2:32p, 6lbs 6oz and 18 inches long. She was “big” for being early.

I heard my doctor state/ask “the cord has stopped pulsating, I’m going to cut the cord” I said “OK”. I was still on my hands and knees and really just wanted to sit. They were cleaning up under me and I was finally able to sit down. I had my eyes closed because I was still in pain (it was suppose to go away after she popped out!!). I was asked “do you want to see Georgia?” I simply stated “I don’t feel good” and I think I may have followed that with “I think I may pass out”. Well, I guess I was bleeding like a stuck pig.

An oxygen mask was placed over my face and was told to “breath deep in through your nose and exhale out your mouth”. Hey, OK, if you say so! I also had my husband’s very calm face looking at me telling to “keep your eyes open” and “stay with me”. Well, alright, I think I can do that! I felt like a small child being lead through instructions. It was just odd how you go with the flow.

After having the O2 and being poked for what I assume was fluids and pitocin [yeah, just 90 minutes earlier I asked about a small vile on one of the tables. I was told it was pitocin. I told her “I will talk with my doctor about that but I don’t want it!” But, well, when one is losing 3 times as much blood as one normally does after delivery, you don’t argue with what the docs and nurses are doing] I started to feel better but I knew that my freaking placenta hadn’t delivered yet. I pushed and pushed. My doctor was trying her best to get it out. She called the OB and asked for guidance. The guidance was successful but not without her hand ending up in my uterus (in case you forgot, I had this issue with Lincoln).

It was awhile before I saw Georgia. I think she was doing better than I was. When we were all sure that I had the strength to see her, I saw my baby girl. She was hooked up to all sorts of stuff but I was assured that she was doing fine. Oye, it wasn’t “suppose” to happen like this but what do you do? Life happens.

When your child is the in the NICU, you have very little control. They have their protocol and it’s based on a simple principle “the child is sick unless proven otherwise”. Everything I believe and hold dear is turned upside down. She was just a little early, but I guess she was enough early to justify all this “stuff”. I’m now at the point where I just want her home, nursing, sleeping on my chest.

I wait for her to “prove” to these people that she’ll do fine at home. I was told two days ago that if things continued to improve and followed her current progress, I will have her home in 7-10 days. I try to keep some perspective, some mothers are separated from their children for weeks, even months at a time. I miss my baby girl but I’m doing OK.

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1-7 of 7 comments

Feb. 24, 2011 at 10:18 AM

I think you did great!! Thank you for sharing your story!!

anklebitr

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Feb. 24, 2011 at 6:25 PM

I hope things calm down soon Prayers for peace you sound very brave

goatmom4

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Feb. 24, 2011 at 7:00 PM

I see you are using Hypnobabies language...lol! You did great!

The postpartum stuff sucks. I can relate on the placenta deal because my midwife was insistent on getting Taylor's out. I didn't have all the bleeding you did though. I was simply being held to the 1 hour rule that Florida has.

I hope that you can reach a compromise with the hospital about Georgia coming home. If not, then I hope that you get some energy back so you can stay with her as much as possible.

How are you feeling, by the way?