Happy Birthday Kevin!
Hard to believe 9 years ago today, I became a Mommy!! Here's his story
I must start by telling you that for a first time mom, I had it VERY easy. There was nothing difficult about Kevin pregnancy, labor and delivery all went extremely well! I never had morning sickness, no swollen ankles, and I didn't even show until I was well beyond six months along. I have felt guilty about all of this when I have heard some of the "horror" stories out there, but I have since decided to count my blessings and be thankful that I am one of the lucky ones. I wish everyone could have as good of an experience as I did.
On Tuesday, December 21st I went to my regular OB appointment, I was 4 days overdue at that point, and no signs of labor starting on it's own. My OB scheduled me for induction on Tuesday, December 28th 1999, which would make me 11 days overdue. I had instructions to go to the hospital on the Monday night (before induction) to get cervical gel put in as my cervix wasn't quite ripe. I did, and was there for 4 hours, then sent home to get a "good night's sleep!"
I arrived at the hospital on Tuesday, December 28th 1999 at 8:00am my nurse Sue took all my vitals and hooked me up to the fetal monitor. At 8:30am the OB came in and checked me 1.5 centimetres and my cervix was favourable for induction. She also said that whenever I was ready for the epidural to go ahead. They began the Pitocin drip at 9am, Sue kept moving it higher every 30 minutes or so, I felt increasing pressure and pain, but it was still tolerable. I didn't know how bad it was going to get, so I held out on the epidural as some people told me horror stories of the epidural wearing off before the baby came.
I did well until about 11:45am, when Sue informed me that once I got the epidural (which I KNEW I'd want - maybe I was just scared) she'd boost the pitocin so that things would move faster and I'd have Kevin faster. She didn't have to ask twice!!! Off we went to get the epidural! I had the epidural in by 12:00pm, and it didn't hurt a bit (even when it was being put in - felt like a bee sting) and was feeling no pain, only pressure (finally).
I relaxed in bed, playing gameboy, reading some birthing books and watching Gary sleep (you'd think HE was doing all the work!) and was checked again at 2pm when they broke my waters (I was 6-7 centimetres dilated.)
One thing I learned from labor is that all your pride disappears, so many Doctors lifting up the blanket to take a "peek and feel" and my wonderful nurse taking a wet towel to "clean" me up a bit. I relaxed some more until 3pm, when I asked for my epidural to be topped as I could feel some increasing pressure and a bit of pain (I knew I had become a wimp at that point!) This epidural "topping" completely numbed me.. I couldn't feel a thing.
They came in again at 4:00pm to check me, and I was 9.5 centimetres dilated with a bit of a lip. The OB said whenever I was ready to let them know, and we'd go to the delivery suite. At 5:00pm, she checked me again and I was 10 with no lip!! WOOHOO!!!! They got me ready, took my catheter out (not a fun invention!) and wheeled me down to the delivery suite. I took my 1st push at 6:00pm, I didn't think that my pushing did anything, as I was TOTALLY numb from the waist down, Gary had to hold my leg up, and I just pushed when I *thought* I was having a contraction.
I had been pushing for about 40 minutes when Sue noticed that Kevin's heartrate was dropping just under 100 after every contraction (it was normally about 140). They called for the OB to come, and she arrived at 6:50pm. We talked and decided to use the vaccum to get him out a bit faster as he was obviously in distress. They hooked up the vaccume (now THAT hurt!) so they got me all hooked up and I pushed with just one contraction. At 7:10pm, Kevin was born the cord was wrapped around Kevin's neck and that's why his heart rate was dropping.
I must start by telling you that for a first time mom, I had it VERY easy. There was nothing difficult about Kevin pregnancy, labor and delivery all went extremely well! I never had morning sickness, no swollen ankles, and I didn't even show until I was well beyond six months along. I have felt guilty about all of this when I have heard some of the "horror" stories out there, but I have since decided to count my blessings and be thankful that I am one of the lucky ones. I wish everyone could have as good of an experience as I did.
On Tuesday, December 21st I went to my regular OB appointment, I was 4 days overdue at that point, and no signs of labor starting on it's own. My OB scheduled me for induction on Tuesday, December 28th 1999, which would make me 11 days overdue. I had instructions to go to the hospital on the Monday night (before induction) to get cervical gel put in as my cervix wasn't quite ripe. I did, and was there for 4 hours, then sent home to get a "good night's sleep!"
I arrived at the hospital on Tuesday, December 28th 1999 at 8:00am my nurse Sue took all my vitals and hooked me up to the fetal monitor. At 8:30am the OB came in and checked me 1.5 centimetres and my cervix was favourable for induction. She also said that whenever I was ready for the epidural to go ahead. They began the Pitocin drip at 9am, Sue kept moving it higher every 30 minutes or so, I felt increasing pressure and pain, but it was still tolerable. I didn't know how bad it was going to get, so I held out on the epidural as some people told me horror stories of the epidural wearing off before the baby came.
I did well until about 11:45am, when Sue informed me that once I got the epidural (which I KNEW I'd want - maybe I was just scared) she'd boost the pitocin so that things would move faster and I'd have Kevin faster. She didn't have to ask twice!!! Off we went to get the epidural! I had the epidural in by 12:00pm, and it didn't hurt a bit (even when it was being put in - felt like a bee sting) and was feeling no pain, only pressure (finally).
I relaxed in bed, playing gameboy, reading some birthing books and watching Gary sleep (you'd think HE was doing all the work!) and was checked again at 2pm when they broke my waters (I was 6-7 centimetres dilated.)
One thing I learned from labor is that all your pride disappears, so many Doctors lifting up the blanket to take a "peek and feel" and my wonderful nurse taking a wet towel to "clean" me up a bit. I relaxed some more until 3pm, when I asked for my epidural to be topped as I could feel some increasing pressure and a bit of pain (I knew I had become a wimp at that point!) This epidural "topping" completely numbed me.. I couldn't feel a thing.
They came in again at 4:00pm to check me, and I was 9.5 centimetres dilated with a bit of a lip. The OB said whenever I was ready to let them know, and we'd go to the delivery suite. At 5:00pm, she checked me again and I was 10 with no lip!! WOOHOO!!!! They got me ready, took my catheter out (not a fun invention!) and wheeled me down to the delivery suite. I took my 1st push at 6:00pm, I didn't think that my pushing did anything, as I was TOTALLY numb from the waist down, Gary had to hold my leg up, and I just pushed when I *thought* I was having a contraction.
I had been pushing for about 40 minutes when Sue noticed that Kevin's heartrate was dropping just under 100 after every contraction (it was normally about 140). They called for the OB to come, and she arrived at 6:50pm. We talked and decided to use the vaccum to get him out a bit faster as he was obviously in distress. They hooked up the vaccume (now THAT hurt!) so they got me all hooked up and I pushed with just one contraction. At 7:10pm, Kevin was born the cord was wrapped around Kevin's neck and that's why his heart rate was dropping.
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