Yesterday we arrived at the hospital at 7am to be induced. When we got there we found out the hospital was hoppin' and no rooms were available. We had to wait in the waiting area until about 11:00 when we were sent back to the triage to get the ball rolling. Anyway we finished there and eventually got a room around noon. We found out there had already been 14 births that morning since 7am! What a day to be induced. We got settled into the birthing room and I got started on pitocin around 1:00. I felt pretty good for the first few hours and then the contractions began to come 1-2 minutes apart. They were getting more intense but I was breathing through them and can actually say, I was surprised how tough I was being :) I knew I was going to be needing the epidural soon and so I requested it around 6:00, knowing it would be a while for them to actually get it in and working. Needless to say, I was waaaay off. With the hospital being crazy as it was, my nurse called for the anesthesiologist and he was stuck in a cesarean with a patient who was not numb enough. Since he had to stick around there until she was okay, I had to wait. Next thing I know, 2 more were sent for an emergency cesarean and he was going to be doing those epidurals before getting to me. Things were getting quite intense and painful at this point and my relaxations and breathing techniques were no longer working. 2 hours later he made it down to me and I was so relieved to see him! Having an epidural inserted was not near as bad as I had imagined and before long my legs and butt got real warm and went numb. I was in HEAVEN! Finally, I was able to relax, watch some tv and I even got a nap. Around 10:00 the doctor checked me and said I was dilated 6cm. I was thinking okay, this is going at a nice, steady pace for a first time pregnancy and induction and I felt good about the progress. Shortly after I fell asleep for about 30 minutes and just happened to wake up. Within a couple of minutes, in came the nurse saying the baby's heart rate was dropping and she wanted to check on things. She had me turn on each side as she moved the monitor around on my belly. Next, she said she wanted to check my cervix so of course she did. "There's just a lip left, you're at about a 9 1/2" Holy crap!! I was just at a 6 less than an hour ago! I started freaking out as I was so nervous for the whole pushing part. Robert was wonderful and kept telling me everything would be fine and I would do just great. I wanted to cry, I was sooo scared. I had thought I still have at least another 2-3 hours before I would be completely dilated. The doctor was concerned because heart rate was dropping some and he wanted to get her out. I am so thankful that my body was working so cooperatiively and moving her into pushing position as it did. (even though I was scared at the time) My epidural was still working amazingly and I couldn't feel any of my contractions, so all was well with the pain management. They got me into position and I began to push. 10 minutes later, Madelyn was born!!! January 9, 2008 at 11:36pm. I was completely shocked how fast and easy this whole labor really was. I looked down and saw her come out, eyes wide open. The next thing that happened, wasn't such a happy a moment. The cord was wrapped around her neck very tightly and she wasn't very responsive. She WAS breathing and had a good heart rate and respiration, but was very limp and was not crying. They didn't give her to me but quickly put her in the hands of the NICU staff in the room who began trying to get her to cry and respond to her new world. I was caught completely off guard because I was never expecting anything to go differently than planned. She was completely healthy the entire time in the womb and even the whole day I was in labor. The doctor and staff were very calm and he said she was having a hard time adjusting to breathing on her own with coming out so fast. I could hear the nurses in the room talking to her and I also hear them say her heart rate was good and she was breathing. That made me feel better, yet she didn't let out that wail of a cry that newborns need to. The other thing they were concerned for was that she had a low blood count and said somewhere along the line she had lost some blood. That would contribute to why she was so limp and floppy. They took her away to the NICU and I remained in the room to finished the delivery and recovery from the epidural. It was almost 3 hours later that Robert and I were moved to our recovery room and able to go visit her. She had to get a blood trasfusion to make up for the lost blood and that had started just as we arrived. She was recieving this through an IV into her belly button. The doctors said this will help her regain her strength and responsiveness. She was also breathing on her own now but was just very pale from the lack of blood. We spent about and hour with her, although we couldn't hold her yet. It was heartbreaking not being able to have that special bonding time you always dream of having with your baby right after birth. We had to come back to our room by ourselves and get some sleep. Of course my hormones are already going crazy and having a situation so unexpected like this wasn't helping at all.
We were able to get some sleep and by the next morning we heard from the doctors that Madelyn was doing much better and taking the new blood very well. It wasn't until we went down to visit her that we could really tell how well she was doing. Her color had returned and her limbs were much more responsive. She even had a really good cry for the nurse earlier today. She was holding onto our fingers and she responded to both of our voices as we would talk to her. It was so sweet. She would start fussing and then Robert would get down next to her and talk to her and it soothed her b/c she knew her daddy's voice. So precious:)
Anyway, tomorrow I should be able to start breastfeeding b/c she will have her IV out finally. Doctors say tha she shows no signs of damage from the distress she faced passing through the canal, so that's a very positive. He says he has confidence she will be just fine. She will have to continue to be monitored in the NICU just to be sure. We don't know if she will come home with us or not yet. I don't think it will be long, but I know those doctors and nurses know what they are doing and only want Madelyn to be the best she can be before going home. I can't wait to have my sweet little baby girl in my arms forever. I have complete trust that my God is watching over Madelyn and taking care of her:)
