aejh143's profile

aejh143
	Age: 27 Country: Province/region: City: Partner: Josh Children: Yes, 1 Pregnant: Not anymore Occupation: teacher/coach/musician
	Online: 11 days ago. Last updated: 22 days ago. Member since: 240 days
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BIRTH STORY IN A HURRICANE

Well, I want to share my entire birth story. I haven't been on in so long because we had no power, not to mention we were on lockdown in the hospital because of the hurricane that came through here. So- finally, a week later things are beginning to get back to normal and I can type this out...Be warned this might be long...because it seems that when it rains, it pours. Literally.
Ok- we went to our doc appt last Wed, it was my due date appt. I honestly wasn't thinking anything would have changed and I was so fed up with getting disappointed I didn't want to expect anything. But when we got there the nurse heard an irregular heartbeat and that's when it all began. The doc came in and heard it too, and sent me to u/s. So there- we saw the arythmia and then we were also told my fluid was low. The doc said to me, "you're having this baby today!"... uh....my heart skipped about 5 beats. Then for some reason I was just so calm. It was kind of like, yes...this is right. And I was so at peace with it. So much came flooding back to me of how I'd pressed and pressed to have some kind of change, wanting to induce, wanting to change doctors, not wanting to deliver in downtown Houston with those people, etc. As this story goes on, you'll see- just like I did- that God works in mysterious ways. And if I had in fact done any of those things I wanted to, the results wouldn't be as positive as they are. He had a plan all along, I just didn't know it.
We spent the afternoon and evening in Antepartum because there were absolutely no beds available. I was having my normal cramps and contractions all day long. The last meal I was allowed to have was lunch, which was 11:30 am, right after my appt. Finally around 7pm they got us a room and it took another 2 hours in the room for them to even come check me. Once the doc came in, I was still 1-2 cm and 80% effaced, same old same old. I actually started to worry they were going to send me home again because they kept saying they couldn't see the arythmia in his heart anymore, so it may be fine. Well, around 9pm they gave me the gel that was supposed to soften my cervix. They told me they'd come around 4 am and see about beginning Pitocin. So it was all still very in the air it seemed. I was still contracting into the night, but nothing painful, or regular. Around 12am my contractions starting getting regular and I should say, more uncomfortable than usual. But not quite painful yet. Around 2 am I got up to go to the bathroom and I leaked something down my leg. It was pink, and I was sure it was amniotic fluid based off what I read. The nurse that came in though said the PH test was negative, so they left me alone again. Contractions at that point did get painful. So much that I asked about pain meds and they gave me demerol so I could be comfortable and get some sleep. At about 4am I had to pee again and even more leaked out, so I was so sure this time it was amniotic and I was wondering why a PH test would be negative with this. There was a new nurse that time and when she checked she said it was definitely my water breaking. The doc came in, they were supposed to anyway, but I hadn't dilated any more. I was 90% effaced though and little man was now at -1 station, before he had been at -3 the whole time. So since there was a change they started me on Pitocin. All night long I was having painful contractions and the demerol helped me sleep, but it was in patches. The nurse I asked about an epidural actually told me to wait until the contractions got unbearable. So they wouldn't let me get it when I wanted it, regardless of what they had said they would do. At 8 am I was 3 cm and I demanded an epidural. It was sad to me because I knew it was just the beginning but I couldn't take the pain. It was just too much and I was already crying at one point in the morning to my husband. It was compounded I think because I was so tired and I hadn't eaten in almost 24 hours. They would only give me ice, no water either. So my energy level was so down that I could hardly keep my eyes open. In fact, they drooped and blinked all on their own. I had to force myself to keep them open, only the contractions were so uncomfortable I couldn't sleep through them. The guy brought the epidural and I immediately started feeling better. I caught 3 hours of sleep, thank goodness, but all the while I was still 3 cm dilated. I stayed that way for hours. Around 5 pm I was in horrific pain. I couldn't believe how much I was feeling having an epidural. Turns out I didn't know I was supposed to ask for "refills" because I thought it was on constant, but it wasn't. My epidural had worn almost all the way off. The guy came in and gave me another boost of it right as the doc came in and checked me. You guys won't believe it, but I was at 9.5 cm. I had completely skipped from 3-9.5 cm in a matter of an hour and a half from one exam to another. And I had no epidural helping me. The doc that was to deliver me came in and she was awesome. If she hadn't been I don't think I'd be so happy with my birth story because I really did suffer for a while, and I don't believe it all should have been that way. She said give it an hour and I'd be ready to push. In that time I had to get more boosts of epidural because I hurt so badly. Right before time to push he gave me 4 in a row to help me and my legs were completely numb, and my feet swelled up to 5 times their size and still haven't gone down. A combination of the fact that I hadn't eaten in a day and a half, that I hadn't slept in 2 days but about 3 hours, and that he pumped me with a lot of medicine all at once right at the last minute, I had the worst shakes ever. I was pretty much convusling through the delivery. I pushed for an hour and a half, and by the end of that time the epidural boost was again going away. I told the doctor and she said she was extremely sorry, but they shouldn't give me another dose. She said you'll just feel it...and she encouraged me that I could do it. So I did... I was so hot I was afraid my head would explode, I had a fever of almost 100, and I threw up during pushing. But I refused to scream. In fact, one time my voice tried to scream and I stopped and said, "no, I'm not going to scream," and the doctor and nurses cracked up laughing at me. I felt like I was complaining so much and that I was so rude because I was demanding cold washcloths and asking people to stop saying how good I was doing- but later the doctors said how really well I did because I was cracking jokes and being sarcastic through the whole thing and they said I kept apologizing for not being able to hold my breath to their count of 10. OK....I don't remember that much. I remember the complaining I think. She kept saying my third push was always the best, and I do remember that... but afterward I always felt like I would throw up so it seemed so long between pushes that I would recover from it. After a while I started getting so mad at feeling so sick so I fought against myself and made myself overdo it. I refused to let my body screw this up- I'm a stubborn one that's for sure. I ended up pushing for only an hour and a half and after I decided to get mad at my body I pushed through every single contraction, 3 times- 2 min apart. When Jackson came out I literally sighed and said, "thank God!" because it was such a relief from the pain that it was unbelievable! Basically in the most painful of times I had minimal epidural, so I was as close to natural childbirth as I would ever like to be. It was certainly the hardest thing I have EVER done in my life, and to be honest I didn't know I was capable of something like that. At one point I looked at Josh and told him I didn't know if I could do it anymore. But I did. 22 hours of labor (16 of which my water was broken) 36 of not eating before hand, 3 hours of sleep and an hour and a half of pushing.
Jackson was whisked away and the docs sewed me up, I only tore a little and needed only 2 stitches even though Jackson was 8 lbs 6 oz. (I'm only 5 ft tall) So that shocked me. He came back and I held him and I balled like a waterfall. Not pretty or coherent at all. A gurgling eyes squeezed shut waterfall. :) (By the way, he latched right on like a pro and we breastfed for 15 min...so easy compared to what I expected)
We got moved up to the 25th floor for postpartum and they were supposed to bring Jackson to us. But the cardiologist came up and informed us that his arythmia didn't go away and now he was breathing too fast so they were sending him to NICU for monitoring. They made it sound like just a precaution...so I felt ok with it. Then after that we were informed that we were moving down to the 3rd floor because of the hurricane coming through. We found out instead of a private room, we'd be sharing with another couple. So we spent Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in the hospital on lockdown. No one could come in, and we couldn't go out. We watched the news and the devastation of this hurricane was so much more than we expected. Especially as far north as we are from the coast, we thought for sure that 75 miles would break up this hurricane, but it didn't. Our favorite beachhouse spot (Boliver Peninsula) no longer exists and quite a few of our friends that lived in Galveston either have destroyed houses or haven't seen their houses yet. Our entire town is flooded and has massive wind damage. My house was fine, or so we thought. We don't have power still- but we found out our satellite dish broke off the roof leaving a hole and now there is water damage in the kitchen- the ceiling is about to fall in. So that's just one more thing on the list. We're waiting to see basically what happens and we're trying to get an insurance guy out tomorrow but all cell phone services are down so it's hard to get ahold of anyone. All I know is we won't be living in that house for a while, just in case of mold or mildew.
We spent the weekend making the trek to Texas Children's Hospital from St Lukes over and over and over to visit Jackson. He went from just precautionary to them not letting me feed him because he threw up the feeding. He had an IV in his head and monitors all over his body and pricks in his feet. Basically I just felt useless and that I wasn't being a good mom because I couldn't do much. We weren't getting clear answers from the doctors either because on one hand they'd say how good he looked, but on the other they'd be running tons of tests and giving him IVs and all that. Then to make matters worse the lockdown at the hospital forced us to have to go into the NICU one at a time. My husband couldn't even come in with me and I couldn't go in with him. (And we couldn't have visitors anyway so no grandparents at all) In fact, it's still like that even today, even though the roads are cleared and businesses are beginning to get power back. Anyway-back to the story.
Then thankfully, Jackson was moved up a level, which means he'd improved. They removed the IVs, stopped antibiotics, and I was able to breast feed him again. We live an hour away so when I couldn't drive up there, they gave him my breastmilk in a bottle and I just kept pumping every 3 hours. We were told all that was left was getting the results of the echocardiogram and that he'd be discharged soon. Of course they said the echo would be done Fri, then Sat, then it got moved to Sun, then Monday...then we were told it wouldn't be until Wed because the echo was closed until then. Well I think I caused enough of a stink that they made an exception for me and the tech (who is required to be there anyway due to lockdown) agreed to go ahead and do it Tuesday. (And it didn't hurt that my father in law, who is a congressman, made a call to the President of TX Childrens, who he happens to be friends with. Lucky for me that connection worked- which I NEVER use, but Jack was furious so he made the call on his own accord) Well it turns out the tests were completely normal and he was discharged Tuesday night. The attending doctor said the reason that all this happened was because back at 35 weeks my water had broken a little but the OB docs said it was just discharge. She called it "prolonged membrane rupture". It was the reason for the high white cell count and the extremely difficult transition for his heart and his lungs. There's nothing I can do about it now, but it is very, very scary to me that my water was actually broken for 4 weeks and the only way they even knew the levels were low to begin with was because the aryhtmia forced them to do an ultrasound at the 40 week visit, otherwise they woudn't have.
Anyway, that's my good/bad/ugly birth story. I've never been through anything quite this intense, but I guess it is making me a stronger person, so I am grateful. But to be honest if it weren't for the breastfeeding, I'd have been an emotional wreck. Just that opportunity to hold Jackson and just be there and be a mother to him was the only thing keeping me sane when he was in the hospital. Jackson was saving my sanity for sure. He's so beautiful and he barely cries. He cooes and talks to me and absolutely LOVES the sound of my husbands voice. He smiles and stares at me...I just love him so much and I need him so much and this week has made me realize that. This was the hardest thing I've ever done, but also the most worthy thing I've ever done.

So- there it is. My book of a birth story. I pray that none of you have so much drama in your story, but I don't take back any of it for myself. It only has made me love Jackson more, and I wouldn't want that taken back from me at all-not even to have all this not have happen/be happening to us.

:) thanks guys for letting me share that. I also uploaded pics, I have tons more but these are awesome. Check out how long his fingers and feet are! It's crazy!

~Amy

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cmmbear - Tuesday, 9 September
Emilies birth story is now up...if you have any questions I'll be happy to answer them :) Hope you all are doing great!

mommyrock - Tuesday, 9 September
Thank you all for the well wishes

Birth story and pics are up.

sweetxcheekss - Tuesday, 9 September
im 39 weeks and so far all ive felt are cramps nothing painful or unbearable though but i havent dialted at ALL. im coming in tomorrow night to get induced so hopefully i should have him by wednesday. im so scared and nervous! wish me luck!

mommyrock - Monday, 8 September
Well this is it. I had my pre op blood work done this morning and just finishing up things before I go to bed. Jon and I have to be at the hospital bright and early at 6am and the c-section is at 7:30am so baby Jenna should be here by 8am. As soon as I am able I'll post pictures and the birth story. Hugs to you all!

mamastarr2 - Sunday, 7 September
i go to the dr on tuesday, i havent yet been dilated at all but now im hoping i am....i'll cross my fingers for boyh of us, hoping these little ones come soon

LovingMommy - Sunday, 7 September
It's preparing!! All those cramps and contractions are obviously doing some minor stuff that will soon turn into major lol. At least you're 2 cm now, so your body is probably doing some good because before you know it you may be already 3 soon, then 4 and hopefully serious labor will start! It shouldn't be too much longer now I think, at least your body is doing something. I say by this coming weekend he'll make an appearance! I have no clue, just something I feel (hope I'm right for your sake lol).

sweetxcheekss - Sunday, 7 September
hey i have a question.. how do u know if youve had contractions? what do they feel like?? this morning i had terrrible terrible cramps but i dont know if theyre "contractions" or not. are they??

LovingMommy - Sunday, 7 September
It's been 1 day, wondering what's going on!!!?? Hope everything is going well!

LovingMommy - Saturday, 6 September
Oooo how exciting, so maybe things will keep moving along and he'll be here!! Keep me up with the updates!! Is hubby getting more excited now?

LovingMommy - Friday, 5 September
How is everything? When do they check you next for dilation, has anything changed? Hope everything is going well and better for you and lets hope that little boy comes soon!!

Judesmama - Tuesday, 2 September
I am so sore and just plain ready. I don't know why it has to be such a long drawn out process for my 5th baby. I expected to go in and have her slide right out! I feel for you, and hope we have our babies soon!

LovingMommy - Sunday, 31 August
12 More days, hopefully less! I'm starting to get excited for you now, could happen anytime. Can't wait to here the birth story and see lots of pics!

jules94 - Sunday, 31 August
I like your method for choosing names. And I think Adia Lee is absolutely beautiful! =)

LovingMommy - Friday, 29 August
Haha, I know how that feeling is, with not wanting to wait anymore!! It'll be over soon, you're in the last weeks! Although, it's strange how the last weeks feel the longest lol. Having a stomach virus is never fun, hope it goes away soon. I know you want him really soon, and I never promote inducing for no reason other than medical, BUT have you talked about it to your doctor at all? Just wondering. Hope he comes sooner than later, have a great night!

LovingMommy - Thursday, 28 August
I noticed you were on two days ago, how has everything been? I hope all is well!

afontenot - Saturday, 23 August
aejh143-What did this labor you were going through feel like? Because I have been getting these shooting meriod cramps but they are sharp and quick...Does that sound like what it felt like?