Keith's Birth

While pregnant with Daryl I knew for sure I wanted to try again. I didn't want to stop at 13. I don't find 13 unlucky but I didn't want the comments. Because of my age I was a bit worried it would take longer or that I might not get pg at all. I decided to nurse Daryl for 6 months then ttc again. Daryl wasn't much fun to nurse anyway so I was happy to stop. By 7 months he was happily on the bottle. I got a cycle while weaning but had a very short lp. Next cycle, to my surprise, I got pg.

I found out at 9 dpo. I had just read on a message board that the CBE test gets the earliest positive results. Some also said it gave false positives. Costco recently started selling them so I picked up a pack. The cashiers know us and one tried to get me to go take it in the store bathroom lol. I did take it as soon as I got home. I was out so not drinking my water. A line came up. It was faint but there. I was charting my cycle so already knew I was due Feb 12th.

I made an OB appointment for 8w6d. Since it was close to 9 weeks I decided to try to hearing the heart beat the day before. It took a while but I heard it. I had an amnio at 14w6d and did a private FISH test. I got the results for the FISH the next morning. 4 normal chromosomes and boy! After 4 girls in a row I was very happy Daryl was getting a buddy.

At my 19 week ultrasound he was measuring 8 days ahead. Since I had the amnio there was no question about my dates being off. I charted so knew ovulated a couple days later than average too. I never measured that far ahead that early. I was expecting a big baby. I also found out that I had placenta previa. I knew that it was 90% likely to resolve so tried to ignore it.

I hurt my foot before getting pg with something that can take a couple years to heal. Normally during early pg I'm tired and want to take it easy. Later in pg I tend to have pelvic joint pain. I was hoping between the staying off my foot and pg hormones it would heal faster. A friend encouraged me to check out Facebook. I had a rarely used account for seeing my adult kids' pictures. I noticed another friend played games so checked them out. Next thing I know I'm totally addicted and the pg is passing really fast. My only regret is I missed the cut off week for the public cord blood bank, ugg.

At my 35 week ultrasound the baby was only measuring 2 weeks ahead so pretty typical for one of mine. He was head down too. Well, Colin was too so I assumed he'd flip. She couldn't see the placenta's position until she switched to an internal one. I started to get worried because it looked really low. With the internal she could see it was almost 3cm away. I was so busy worrying I didn't enjoy the ultrasound. I decided to buy the cd since at least I'd have pics. The clerk ended up giving us the cd. None of the pictures turned out except the cervix one lol. It was like someone was taking pics while moving the camera. We had talked about doing a 3d ultrasound the last 3 pg's but never got around to it. The bad pics encouraged me to get it done. It was late for doing a 3d and the pics weren't great but the us was really fun. It was neat to see what he was doing. He smiled and blinked. He grabbed his cord and held his hand in front of his face. He felt more like a real person after that. I'm really glad we had it done.

My dr wasn't going to be at the hospital during my 38th week. Baby was staying head down so I wasn't as worried. Also I had read that 39 was better than 38 weeks so didn't do things to encourage labor. At my 38w5d appt I was 2 cm. After mentioning not losing my plug the night before I lost some right before the appt. I was having contractions once a day for the past while. I wish I reread Daryl's birth story because I did exactly the same thing and they felt the same. I never got noticeable bh's.

By my 39w4d appt I was getting them every 20 min. They didn't really hurt and I had no menstral cramp feeling or back ache so I thought they were just bh's. We scheduled the appt later than usual because we brought Robyn to her speech appt before. Robyn was excited to meet my dr lol. I was a bit worried to have her with us. It's a 65 min drive if there isn't traffic. It would be long to bring her home and drive back. Had I known how close I was I would have cancelled her appt lol. I was 3 cm at my appt. I had 3 ctx while there but never told the dr because I wasn't sure if they were bh or real. I did tell Shirley because I asked for an appt she'd like to have cancelled for next week. I was assuming soon not in 8 hours.

After getting home I folded the last of the baby wash. I used to not understand people that waited till the last minute to get things done and suddenly I was one of them lol. At 6:30 my water broke. I was confused at first because it seemed wrong. The color was yellowish. I knew it was amniotic fluid. I collected some and then realized there was meconium in it. Suddenly I realized the baby hadn't moved in a while. The next ctx was a bit stronger. I was happy the car was packed but so was my doppler. Reg and I got ready to go. I quickly posted on FB and luckily Gretchen was online. I never arranged with anyone to keep everyone updated.

After getting in the car I checked the heat beat. I found it right away. It sounded perfect. I timed the ctx in the car and they were every 12 min. I still wasn't sure if they were bh's or real. With my 3rd my bh's were stronger than my real ctx. My real ones always had a back ache. I was still thinking I'd need to get pit and would have the baby the next afternoon. We arrived at the hospital at 8:14 according to the parking time stamp.

We made it up to the caseroom. I told the nurse my water was broken and was having ctx every 10 min. I remember feeling funny for saying that as I still wasn't convinced. She sent us to the waiting room. Another couple was there and one arrived shortly after. It seemed really busy. One couple had just finished a NST and was given another appt. The other was supposed to be induced if they weren't busy.

I got called back and told the nurse there was meconium in the water. She said that it wasn't my first if I knew to say that. I laughed and said no not my first. I said my 14 and she looked up and said that she was told to be expecting me this week. She asked if it was 14 pg's and I said no 14th baby, 15 pgs. She asked me to leave my "pad" in the bathroom and give a urine sample. She was going to give me a girdle then Reg and I realized that I forgot my straps in the car. Reg went to get them. She offered me hosp ones but I figure I should use my own. I was asked to sit in a really horrible chair. I think it converts into a horrible delivery bed. I have pelvic joint pain and arthritis in my tailbone so ouch.

I continued having ctx every 10 min. They weren't painful but I didn't want to walk with one. The nurse was going to examine me. We went to a small room with an exam table. I told her I had pelvic joint pain and the table was torture. She said I should just wait since my water was obviously broken anyway.

I walked to my room. Reg was asked to go register me. He asked if he should leave. I still wasn't convinced I was having real ctx so I said sure. I changed and went to the bathroom. There was a big purple ball in the shower. I'd like to try the ball out but with my joint pain I'm pretty sure it's not a good idea lol. Purple is my favorite color so it was fitting.

Two nurses walked into my room. As soon as one got close I mentioned I had severe allergies to scented products and I was starting to react. I said I had no idea what it was. They both backed away. I assumed it was the closer nurse. The other was just starting orientation so needed another nurse. They both left. I had another ctx but wasn't thinking much of them. Reg finally got back. Registration was close for for 30 min. It was about 10:40. He had also gone to the car and brought back more stuff.

A new nurse came back and started my iv. They got me connected to the monitors. The bp cuff kept over inflating. The nurse left and I just had the one in orientation. I had another ctx. Then another one. I said to Reg oh damn that's too close. Reg looked at me then left. They were at least 5 min apart. Reg came back with the nurse. She started putting my bed down so she could do the first exam. I was just finishing a ctx. I was going to complain but she wasn't the type to listen and besides I wanted to know so I could get an epi. That last ctx was finally enough to convince I was in real labor. Even though it wasn't very painful Reg could tell too I was hoping to hear 5 or 6. She said 8. I said crap call the anaesthetist. She ran out of the room and did lol. My orientation nurse had nothing to do so started getting the epi cart ready.

The next ctx was really painful. I knew I wasn't 8 anymore. The dr showed up and they asked me to sit. I was really uncomfy and starting to panic. I sat up but felt like I was sitting on his head. The nurse tried to give me the hosp pillow. The detergent they use smells. Reg had brought a pillow. I growled no. She finally listened and jumped back then ask why why. I asked Reg to get the big pillow. I had another ctx and started screaming. I was wondering if I should lie bacvk and push or wait and hope. The anaesthetist said right at that moment that he was going to have the pain all gone in one minute. I continued screaming. The nurses were asking if the baby was coming. I wasn't sure what to say. They called my OB who was right outside. He had heard I was 8 cm and getting a epi so left again. Suddenly the pain was gone and my legs were tingling. The anaesthetist taped the catheter to my back but said I probably wouldn't need it. He said I should feel better. Reg and I thanked him and he left.

The nurse was fiddling with my belts and the monitor. I told her it didn't matter the baby was coming now. Someone checked and said the head was right there. The nurse said stop pushing and blow. I said I wasn't pushing I was just talking. I felt pressure but no pain. I didn't mind not pushing but geez don't accuse me of pushing if I'm not. My room was full of nurses. They started yelling for the dr. When he walked in the head was crowning. One nurse applied gentle pressure so my OB could get his gloves on. He put a pad under me then moved so the med student could catch. The baby slide out so fast that he did most of the catching. He said they had to wait for the body so I asked if he wanted a small push. He said sure and out slipped Keith. He put him on my belly and asked if I had a hold of him. I said Yup. Reg said it was my turn to cut the cord. They put the scissors in my left and for once I remembered to switch lol.

They pulled up my gown so he'd be on my skin and put a warm blanket on him. He pinked up nicely and had poop in his eyebrows. It was really just stained vernix.

Reg started asking a nurse if her name was Holly. She had a holly tattoo on her arm. She was happy to hear we had a Holly. Reg showed her her picture. She the one making a face lol. Before the birth we told our dr that we only had one fuzzy picture of him from 18 years ago. Reg got him to pose for a pic. After doing some paper work he left.

I didn't realize I was in real labor until I was 8 cm. In the past I had stronger Braxton Hicks contractions. The birth seemed incredibly fast. Reg and I kept saying we couldn't believe it was over. I was still holding Keith. I got him to nurse. The nurses all finally left except mine. I had forgotten to make sure my uterus was well contracted so suddenly I felt clots. The nurse had just asked me to say if I felt something. She was an aggressive no nonsense nurse. Good but I still have bruises 4 days later. Since change of shift happened I got another nurse. A lot of the paper work hadn't been done because the birth and epi happened so quickly.

I noticed it was getting close to 12. I had to call Gretchen. The nurse took Keith. I had held him since the birth. Reg figured out the phone. All I could tell Gretchen was his birth time. They hadn't weighed or measured him. She could hear him making little cries.

Reg mentioned that he never registered me so went down to do that. They started to get ready to transfer me. I was told I would be in a ward but I should get a private or semi private in the morning. I had no problem standing up. They put me in exactly the same room and bed that made me decide to go home early with Daryl, ugg! I realized they never removed my epi catheter. I have an adhesive allergy so was a bit upset. Reg went back to get the L&D nurse because the floor nurse had no experience with it.

After chit chatting with the nurse and getting settled Reg opened up the daddy bed. It was in bad shape. He said he was so tired he didn't care. I played try to keep the baby quiet. My roommate's baby and mine seemed to take turns crying. Finally both were sleeping so I decided to change my pad. My stuff was on the other side of the room. I called for Reg but he was sound asleep. He would be driving and dealing with the kids so I wanted him to get some sleep. I still had really bad pelvic joint pain so getting my slippers and stuff was hard. I didn't even have an iv pole but decided I could carry it. Just as I'm set to go my roomie goes, sigh. Then my nurse shows up to remove my iv and give Keith a bath. They are big on skin to skin contact. While I'm all for progress at 5 am I wouldn't have minded getting some sleep. I was so hot that I only had a light sheet on and my skin was anything but warm lol.

I nursed and warmed him up and nodded off. When I woke up I put him back in his bed. I slept till it was light in the room. I was served a "light" breakfast. Reg and I brought food so I just found it funny. They never asked about my food allergies so I couldn't even eat some of the food (cereal). My nurse shows up and I tell her we are leaving at 11:15. I've learned it's best to say and not ask. She said she'd tell the ped. The ped had not yet checked Keith. She mentioned he wouldn't be there for a while but that he would come see Keith first.

11:15 came and went. I got served a "light" lunch with half servings. When I asked the nurse she said the kitchen probably had me marked as csec. I got the feeling the ped wasn't going to be there any time soon. I figured if the baby was healthy enough to not be seen for over 14 hours he could wait longer. I dressed Keith up in his going home outfit. I got dressed and packed the bags.

Reg brought the car seat up and stuff down to the car. While he was gone the ped showed up. Phew just in time. I really didn't want to leave later and get stuck in traffic but I did want him checked.

We brought Keith in his car seat to get checked. The secretary was about to call the nurse when she looked at the seat and said it was perfect. When we got downstairs the parking machine was broken so Reg had to go to the one in the ER to pay. We joked about the birth costing 12$. Quebec medicare isn't free because we pay for it through taxes. We also "pay" for it with lack of doctors and horrible wait times.

I'm not sure if this birth was my longest or shortest. The CLSC nurse asked how long the labor was. I said I wasn't sure. The ctx I was having once a day were exactly like the ones I was getting when my water broke. They didn't change after either. She asked when they started hurting. The one at 8 cm wasn't really painful just too close to the one before. The next one hurt but I'm assuming because the baby was moving down. The nurse asked how long I pushed for. I just timed the video. The time from when the nurse stopped holding his head to he was born was 18 seconds lol. I only gave a small 2 second push.

Catherine (mabear)

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