I finally have the chance to update my blog for those of you who had followed my entire pregnancy. As you all finally know, I made it to the big day! 11 weeks ago! Many of you know I had complications during my pregnancy and delivery. I haven't had a chance to write about my experience so now that I do I want to warn anyone who may be expecting that my experience was not the normal labor experience. So, please don't take what I went through as something every woman goes through. Giving birth, no matter what happens, is the most beautiful thing you will ever experience. So, just remember that. Also, this is going to be long. So, prepare yourself!
I had my normal appointment (if you want to call going twice a week normal) on Thursday, April 26th. After the results of my blood pressure, urine, ultrasound, and stress test I was sent to Labor and Delivery. There, I was monitored for a few hours then sent home with a 12 hour urine (this was about the 100th one I've had to do by now) and told to come back first thing the following morning. That night, I noticed my entire right side of my body feeling numb and tingly. I was also a lot more swollen (if you could imagine) on my right side than my left. My pelvis had completely seperated (which feels like every time you move it is break in two) and I could not sleep because of the pain. When we got to the hospital Friday morning I could hardly walk. Keep in mind the day before, I walked just fine. Again, I was hooked up to the monitor and my 12 hour urine was collected and sent off for testing. When we finally got the results back, the amount of protein in my urine had more than tripled overnight. It was then that we were told I had severe preclampsia and was being admitted and they were going to induce me on Monday. On Monday, I would have been 37 weeks and they were trying to let the baby "bake" for as long as they could to ensure that she would be born healthy and not have to spend too much time in the nicu. Immediatley, I was hooked up to IV's that were to keep my blood pressure down along with other medicines to help control the preclampsia. I was so swollen that they couldn't find a vein for my IV. I ended up being stuck 5 times before they FIANLLY got a IV in me. Needless to say, I was annoyed and in pain. IV's hurt! But, after they got me all hooked up it was then a waiting game.
On Saturday evening, April 28th, the doctor came in and told me that there was no sense in letting me sit there in the condition I was in until Monday and he was making the call to go ahead and induce me that evening. Let's just say that I was NOT prepared for that! I was prepared mentally and emotionally for Monday. Monday was the plan! But, I trusted that the doctor was making the best decision for both me and Gracelyn so I held back my tears and all the fear I had and accepted that this was going to happen sooner than I expected.
That evening, the doctor broke my water. But, he didnt fully break it. He said that once my contractions started it would finish breaking on its own and he would keep checking my progress to make sure I was progressing. Well, over night, and by over night I mean (roughly 9 PM-5AM) I only progressed 2 cm. Not good. But, because of the medicine I was given to induce labor, I was having hard contractions at only 3 cm. They were so bad I had already asked for the epidural early Sunday morning (Around 1 AM) So, here we go again. He tried to break my water once again. This time. WHOOOSH! Yep, it broke! And things started to finally pick up. But still, It wasnt until Monday that I was fully dialted and ready to begin pushing. A lot of my labor is a blur. I was on so much medicine that I slept through 4 cm-10 cm and my wonderful husband, sat there and hit my button to give me more pain medicine every 10 minutes since the epidural was starting to ware off after having it in for 2 days. Before I knew it, I woke up and told Zack he needed to get the nurse because I needed to push. For those of you who do or dont know, when you have the urge to push, it feels like you have to take a really bad poop. No joke!
So, here we go! The whole time I was pushing the only people in the room was me, a nurse, and Zack. I did not want him to watch it but I didnt have a choice since he had to help the nurse. He later was relieved of his "duties" because he was too busy watching as the baby was starting to come that he wasn't doing his job properly lol. Also, I had cotton mouth so bad that after every time I pushed, Zack was giving me an ice chip. He said he felt like he was giving me treats rewarding me for doing such a good job lol. Anyways, after 45 minutes of pushing, the right side of my face went numb. I told the doctor and she immediatley got concerned. She said watching how I was reacting while pushing made her think I was having a stroke and she needed to get the baby out as soon as possible. She looked at Zack and asked if it was okay if she used the vaccum to help speed up the delivery. He told her to do whatever she needed to do just make sure both Baby and Me are okay. Finally, after an hour and getting stuck, she was here! I got to see her and hold her for a few minutes before I was took to have an MRI. Thankfully it turned out I was not having a stroke but had developed Bells Palsy which later cleared itself up. I was also on a 24 hour watch period after the delivery so was not allowed up out of bed until Tuesday at 1:09 PM. When I was finally allowed to get up and walk, it was nearly impossible. I was so swollen that my knees would not bend and because of my pelvis seperating, I could hardly take a step. The recovery from what I went through was worse than anything. But, it was WORTH IT! I spent a week in the hospital which sucked, but the outcome was bringing home a beautiful, healthy, perfect in every way little girl who is the love of both mine and her daddy's life.
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