Let me remind you all that she was nearly aborted without my consent at six weeks. At ten weeks, I had a threatened miscarriage and we nearly lost her. The story continues from there.
When I went in to the hospital, her heart beat was going up and down and was obviously very concerning. The doctor decided to induce labor. It took them four tries to get an IV in me, and then the doctor went to break my waters. Her head was right against the membrane and it was very difficult to do. Finally she got it on the third try and I thought we'd be getting started.
No.
Pitocin was started two hours later. An hour after that, there was no progress. My cervix was only 3 cm dilated and 60% effaced. And HIGH. Ugh! Pitocin was increased and we went from there. I was about to give up and ask for an epidural when I began to transition. The nurse checked me and I was still only 6 cm dilated and 70% effaced. Two contractions later we were up to 8 cm but only 80% effaced. Two more and 10 cm. 80% effaced. I was told *not* to push because I wasn't thin enough and my cervix was so high. There was a high risk of me tearing my cervix. But after three more contractions, I couldn't handle it any more.
Because there was meconium in the waters, the NICU doctors were on call. My doctor was prepared, called the NICU, and I bore down. There was a mirror on the ceiling so that I could watch the birth, and when I saw her crown, instead of taking a break (logical), I bore down harder. Seeing her head born, I bore down harder. She came out in ONE push, like all three of my daughters, now.
What was truly alarming is that there were two knots in the umbilical cord, and the cord was around her neck three times. The doctor got the cord away from the neck, and she screamed immediately (NICU unnecessary, in other words). The cord was about as big around as the cable connecting your computer to the outlet right now, and I'm serious. The placenta was about half the normal size.
Evvie spent NO time in the NICU. She's been doing brilliantly and nursing like a pro! We are both incredibly proud of her!
When I went in to the hospital, her heart beat was going up and down and was obviously very concerning. The doctor decided to induce labor. It took them four tries to get an IV in me, and then the doctor went to break my waters. Her head was right against the membrane and it was very difficult to do. Finally she got it on the third try and I thought we'd be getting started.
No.
Pitocin was started two hours later. An hour after that, there was no progress. My cervix was only 3 cm dilated and 60% effaced. And HIGH. Ugh! Pitocin was increased and we went from there. I was about to give up and ask for an epidural when I began to transition. The nurse checked me and I was still only 6 cm dilated and 70% effaced. Two contractions later we were up to 8 cm but only 80% effaced. Two more and 10 cm. 80% effaced. I was told *not* to push because I wasn't thin enough and my cervix was so high. There was a high risk of me tearing my cervix. But after three more contractions, I couldn't handle it any more.
Because there was meconium in the waters, the NICU doctors were on call. My doctor was prepared, called the NICU, and I bore down. There was a mirror on the ceiling so that I could watch the birth, and when I saw her crown, instead of taking a break (logical), I bore down harder. Seeing her head born, I bore down harder. She came out in ONE push, like all three of my daughters, now.
What was truly alarming is that there were two knots in the umbilical cord, and the cord was around her neck three times. The doctor got the cord away from the neck, and she screamed immediately (NICU unnecessary, in other words). The cord was about as big around as the cable connecting your computer to the outlet right now, and I'm serious. The placenta was about half the normal size.
Evvie spent NO time in the NICU. She's been doing brilliantly and nursing like a pro! We are both incredibly proud of her!
