Once we were in the triage area I changed into a gown and was hooked up to the monitors. One would watch the baby's heart rate and anther would track my contractions. The nurse started asking all sorts of questions about my pregnancy and medical history and entering them into the computer. The monitors in the triage area are connected with wires to the system, versus the wireless versions that are in the actual labor and delivery rooms. Because I was connected by wires I had to lay on the bed most of the time I was in triage. My contractions were continuing to get more and more intense and laying down was extremely painful and uncomfortable. Finally the nurse was done with her questions and had a chance to check my dilation. During this time I heard both of the patients on either side of the curtain be sent home because they were not far enough along. I was hoping that I was at least 3cm because I did not want to go home. At my last dr's appt I was only 1 cm and 60% effaced. When the nurse checked me at triage I was 5cm and almost completely effaced. The baby's head was very low as well. The nurse was completely surprised and said that they would get me to my room right away.
We got to our room and Andrew went out to the car to bring in the bags. At this point I was seriously considering an epidural and I knew that I would need at least 2 bags of fluid before that could happen so I decided to have the IV started just in case I decided to move forward with the pain medication later. The nurse also hooked me up to the wireless monitors (baby's heart rate and contractions) but I was still able to move around the room as much as I wanted. At this point I was either leaning against the counter or sitting on the birth ball during contractions. I was not able to talk or move while having a contraction. Once I was hooked up to all of the monitors the nurse checked me again and I was already 8-9cm. I also started shaking due to the pain. It looked like I was freezing, but I wasn't cold at all. I just couldn't control the shakes. I told the nurse that I wanted an epidural at that point. I was in so much pain I couldn't see the end. The doctor finally came in and she checked me and I was 9, almost 10 cm. She asked if I really wanted to epidural at that point, and she tried to convince me that I could do it on my own. She offered that getting in the tub would help with the contractions and help get me to the pushing point if I wanted to try and go natural. I decided that I would try that, if I could go natural I wanted to try everything I could.
At this point in labor all modesty goes out the window. I took off the gown and got right into the tub with just a bra on and not caring who was in the room at that point. The water did feel better and helped dull down the pain. I was feeling extreme pressure to push at this point and the nurse checked me again. She said that I was at 10 cm and that I could start pushing if I felt the need. Pushing felt so much better. The pain of the contractions was all concentrated into pushing and there was actually a sense of relief when I was able to push. About 10 minutes later the dr came in and checked me again while I was in the tub. She said that I actually still had a small cervical lip left and that I should not push yet as I might cause swelling that would impede the progress. It was at that point that I decided that I wanted the epidural. The pain of the contractions was so unbearable and I just could not hold off on pushing. They got me out of the tub and the anesthesiologist was there. I had to sit on the edge of the bed and round my back. Andrew was standing right in front of me and I was holding onto him and apparently his shirt for support. I had to sit still even throughout contractions. I was in so much pain that I guess I was twisting the handful of shirt that I had in my hands - I later learned that Andrew had to toss that shirt as I had stretched it completely out. The anesthesiologist had a hard time getting the epidural catheter into my back and had to insert the needle about 7 times. Finally the epidural was in.
After the epidural was in the pain of the contractions was dulled, but the pressure was definitely still there. But I was able to lay in the bed (there was no other option) without too much pain and actually rest for a little while. I was so exhausted at this point I took some time just to relax. The nurse said that I could try pushing whenever I was ready. Finally I wanted to push and she put up a bar over the bed that I was able to put my feet on. A sheet was tied to the bar and I was able to pull against it to provide leverage to push. That system really helped me feel like I was making progress when I pushed. At this point the baby's heart rate was falling every time I pushed and the nurse suspected that his cord might be around his neck or being squished every time I pushed. The dr and nurse decided to use an internal fetal monitor to watch the baby a little closer. I continued pushing for a little less than an hour and I was making a lot of progress. The baby's head was getting close and the nurse went to call the doctor to let her know that it was time. Apparently there was another woman right next door that was ready for the doctor as well. This was her second child so the dr thought that she would go quicker and went to her room. At this point the baby started crowning and I was told not to push. This was this most painful experience of my life. My baby's head was basically at the point that is referred to as the "ring of fire" and I was being told not to do the one thing that would relieve my pain - push. I was in so much pain that I started crying for the first time throughout the whole labor, as I had to continue holding off on pushing I started screaming (I was told later that I was screaming as I was in so much pain that I can't remember much besides the pain). Finally (about 15 minutes later) the doctor arrived and I had already started pushing as I could not hold it anymore. The doctor had not even sat down and the baby's head was out. The doctor told me not to do anything at that point as the cord was wrapped really tightly around his neck. I could not see anything, but the cord was so tight that the doctor could not even get her finger in between the cord and the neck. She had to squeeze the scissors in there and cut the cord. Finally I was able to push the baby the rest of the way out and he was brought right up to my chest.
We got to our room and Andrew went out to the car to bring in the bags. At this point I was seriously considering an epidural and I knew that I would need at least 2 bags of fluid before that could happen so I decided to have the IV started just in case I decided to move forward with the pain medication later. The nurse also hooked me up to the wireless monitors (baby's heart rate and contractions) but I was still able to move around the room as much as I wanted. At this point I was either leaning against the counter or sitting on the birth ball during contractions. I was not able to talk or move while having a contraction. Once I was hooked up to all of the monitors the nurse checked me again and I was already 8-9cm. I also started shaking due to the pain. It looked like I was freezing, but I wasn't cold at all. I just couldn't control the shakes. I told the nurse that I wanted an epidural at that point. I was in so much pain I couldn't see the end. The doctor finally came in and she checked me and I was 9, almost 10 cm. She asked if I really wanted to epidural at that point, and she tried to convince me that I could do it on my own. She offered that getting in the tub would help with the contractions and help get me to the pushing point if I wanted to try and go natural. I decided that I would try that, if I could go natural I wanted to try everything I could.
At this point in labor all modesty goes out the window. I took off the gown and got right into the tub with just a bra on and not caring who was in the room at that point. The water did feel better and helped dull down the pain. I was feeling extreme pressure to push at this point and the nurse checked me again. She said that I was at 10 cm and that I could start pushing if I felt the need. Pushing felt so much better. The pain of the contractions was all concentrated into pushing and there was actually a sense of relief when I was able to push. About 10 minutes later the dr came in and checked me again while I was in the tub. She said that I actually still had a small cervical lip left and that I should not push yet as I might cause swelling that would impede the progress. It was at that point that I decided that I wanted the epidural. The pain of the contractions was so unbearable and I just could not hold off on pushing. They got me out of the tub and the anesthesiologist was there. I had to sit on the edge of the bed and round my back. Andrew was standing right in front of me and I was holding onto him and apparently his shirt for support. I had to sit still even throughout contractions. I was in so much pain that I guess I was twisting the handful of shirt that I had in my hands - I later learned that Andrew had to toss that shirt as I had stretched it completely out. The anesthesiologist had a hard time getting the epidural catheter into my back and had to insert the needle about 7 times. Finally the epidural was in.
After the epidural was in the pain of the contractions was dulled, but the pressure was definitely still there. But I was able to lay in the bed (there was no other option) without too much pain and actually rest for a little while. I was so exhausted at this point I took some time just to relax. The nurse said that I could try pushing whenever I was ready. Finally I wanted to push and she put up a bar over the bed that I was able to put my feet on. A sheet was tied to the bar and I was able to pull against it to provide leverage to push. That system really helped me feel like I was making progress when I pushed. At this point the baby's heart rate was falling every time I pushed and the nurse suspected that his cord might be around his neck or being squished every time I pushed. The dr and nurse decided to use an internal fetal monitor to watch the baby a little closer. I continued pushing for a little less than an hour and I was making a lot of progress. The baby's head was getting close and the nurse went to call the doctor to let her know that it was time. Apparently there was another woman right next door that was ready for the doctor as well. This was her second child so the dr thought that she would go quicker and went to her room. At this point the baby started crowning and I was told not to push. This was this most painful experience of my life. My baby's head was basically at the point that is referred to as the "ring of fire" and I was being told not to do the one thing that would relieve my pain - push. I was in so much pain that I started crying for the first time throughout the whole labor, as I had to continue holding off on pushing I started screaming (I was told later that I was screaming as I was in so much pain that I can't remember much besides the pain). Finally (about 15 minutes later) the doctor arrived and I had already started pushing as I could not hold it anymore. The doctor had not even sat down and the baby's head was out. The doctor told me not to do anything at that point as the cord was wrapped really tightly around his neck. I could not see anything, but the cord was so tight that the doctor could not even get her finger in between the cord and the neck. She had to squeeze the scissors in there and cut the cord. Finally I was able to push the baby the rest of the way out and he was brought right up to my chest.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment