Nate and I arrived at the hospital around 7:00 p.m., July 12. We made our way to the labor and delivery unit and were checked in at the nurse's station. I had a super great nurse that night that got us all settled and went over the plan of care with us for the next few hours/days. Later that evening she started the Cervadil (a cervix softening drug) and called it a night! We both slept, and at 5 a.m. she came back in to check my progress and to tell me we would be starting Pitocin at 7:00 a.m. Well, 7:00 came around, the Pitocin was started, and at 8:00 my doctor came and broke my water. She also checked me and said there wasn't a whole lot of change over night with the Cervadil (I came in to the hospital at 1 cm, and was still only 1 cm), so we would just continue the plan, and she would come check again around noon.
After breaking my water, this huge amount of pressure started as well as some pretty horrific contractions. They were getting really strong, and by 11:00 they had me on the highest dose of Pitocin we could go. Mom kept asking if I wanted to get the epidural, but I didn't want it until my doc came back to check at noon. I wanted to know how far I had progressed before asking for it. So, around noon she came back to check me again, and I just KNEW I had to be several more centimeters progressed with all the pain and crazy contractions the last 5 hours. Sure enough, I was still only 1 cm dilated. I was mortified. So she said we would continue on, and she would check me again around 5 p.m. I went ahead and opted for the epidural a few hours later. I felt like a huge wimp getting an epidural only being 1 cm dilated, but those Pit contractions are no fun. The nurse also felt it might help me relax and help me progress. So the sweet epidural was done! I rested and prayed and prayed until 5:00, hoping for some progress.
At 5:00, my doctor came in, checked and to my dismay, I was still only 1 cm. I couldn't believe it and started to cry. I felt like all this pain/anguish for the last 10 hours was for nothing. She discussed with me the very real option that this might end in a c-section. She gave me the option to call it quits right then if I wanted, but Nate and I talked about it and we decided to hold out. I wasn't ready to make a decision for a C-section yet and wanted every opportunity to have a vaginal delivery. I wasn't in pain any longer, so why not? So her plan was to stop everything...the Pitocin, the epidural, let me eat/walk, and then at 11:00 p.m. start it again. She said she had seen it work before that the sudden jolt would spur my body to do what it was supposed to do. Sounds great!! I felt hopeful and really honestly thankful I could just eat something. I had nothing to eat for the last 24 hours, so I was honestly more happy about my jello and popsicle than anything else at that moment..haha.
So, this plan was carried out. She told me we would let this go on until 5:00 in the morning. If I wasn't progressed to at least 4 cm by that point (when she would feel I was in active labor and would continue to progress), she would have to call it quits and go for the c-section. My water would also have been broken for almost 24 hours by that time, which was another factor being played. I felt extremely pressured...pressuring myself and wanting my body to just DO what it's supposed to do! I felt hopeful and thought this might be the key to get things moving!
It was now July 14, and at 5:00 a.m. the nurse came in to check. A measly 2 cm. She said she would be generous saying I was 3 cm. She said she would call my doctor and see what her recommendations were. So my nurse came back in around 7:00 and said my doctor felt a C-section was the best option now, and that I needed to decide. I began to cry out of frustration and fear. I didn't expect at all to come in on the 12th and end up having a C-section on the 14th. The nurse informed me this would be happening in the next 30 minutes, which was crazy!!
I never went into the birth process with a "plan". I didn't want to be disappointed if it didn't work out, which is highly likely. Not many people have a birth plan that is carried out to a T, from beginning to end. More than likely the labor process will be different in some way, and I didn't want to set myself up for disappointment. The only thing I DID halfway expect was to deliver vaginally. I expected my body would behave normally. All the women in my family have been able to have babies with no problem. Why wouldn't I? Well, I suppose because the Lord had a different plan.
I was tired, frustrated, and ready to just get everything over. I wanted the anticipation and hope of progress (vaginally) to be over. I was thankful this process was coming to an end, even though I was scared of the surgery. Immediately the nurses and Anesthesiologist came in to prep me. 10 minutes later I was being wheeled into the OR and at 7:33 I got to hear my sweet baby's cry for the first time. Nate was by my side. I was extremely drugged from the anesthesia, so I was slightly out of it. She closed the incision and within a few minutes we were all back in my room, together, as a family of 3, and lots of family visitors!
Pretty quickly the nurses sensed something was wrong as they were checking him out, weighing him, and getting him all cleaned up in our room (this hospital doesn't have a nursery they take them to. Everything is done in the L&D room which is super nice!). He was having trouble breathing, although he was crying great! They mentioned the NICU for a few hours just until he transitioned through and got everything working together. They placed him in my arms for the first time before they whisked him away to the NICU. That "few-hour-stay" turned into 7 days, which I will save for another post.
We are SO excited about our little man!
Luke Andrew Young born July 14, 2011 at 7:33 a.m.
7 lbs, 7 oz, 21 inches long.
We are so thankful for this answered prayer and blessing he has brought to our lives.
first picture
My parents checking him out!
With Mommy and Daddy for the first time!
