A Birth Story - Joshua Daniel
At 3pm on Saturday (6/ 19) Mom & I decided it was time to go to L&D as I'd been experiencing some fairly serious contractions all day (see last post!). After being checked out I was told that I was 3cm and 90% effaced, told my contractions were not that serious, and sent home to wait it out. I drove the truck back to the house were it belongs, and the rest of the afternoon went by fairly quietly. When I spoke to Erik he said "You are not allowed to have this baby on Father's Day"....
I laid down on Mom & Dad's bed in the AC to take a nap. When dad came in to wake me up I went to go to the bathroom and felt a little trickle of wetness; didn't think much of it. I put a pantyliner on and sat down in the Family room to talk about dinner. Dad started a BBQ going and suddenly I felt a GUSH of wet and ran to the bathroom; the pantyliner was soaked through so I changed my cloths, put on a thicker pad and sat back down to see if it would happen again. It did. I tried to waste some time and procrastinate because my contractions hadn't gotten much worse. But after hastily eating something, Mom & I grabbed my bags and drove to the hospital. By the time we got to LIJ I was soaked and so uncomfortable I wanted to cry.
We were at L&D by 1030PM but they had no rooms ready so I sat in the hallway listening to the woman in the nearest room screaming at the top of her lungs "Oh god help me, please someone, I need to get out of this bed, pleaseeee!" I kept my cool as best I could although the contractions had picked up a little I was still not in too much pain. I sat in that hallway for 20 or 30min just doing my breathing exercises and concentrating on being calm. Finally they took me into a "Triage Room" to check me out. They said I was 3 1/2cm dilated and 90% effaced, but my water had definitely broken and they said "We're keeping you!". I struggled through getting an IV but the nurse was amazing as they usually are. I called Erik and told him "It's time!"
I was in a labor room by 12am and Erik arrived. My water just kept gushing out I can honestly say the discomfort was worse than the pain from the contractions; at least for a little while. I (again) had an awesome nurse tending to me :)! I was terrified when they said they found Meconium in my water, but the nurse said not to worry; baby's heart tracings were perfect. Things started to get pretty painful around 3am. Erik decided to go home to get a little sleep because the AC in the labor room was making him sick (he's allergic to the stuff that leaks out of AC units...) so he left around 4am. 430AM I tried to nap with minimal success.
At 6AM they checked me and I had made no progress, I was still 3 1/2cm and 90% effaced. Erik came back. I was warned that they were concerned of letting me go past 12Hrs since my water broke for risk of infection.
At 8AM a Resident & a Doctor came into our room and explained to me that since it had been 12Hrs since my water broke they needed to take some action and presented me with my options; (1) They could give me Pitocin which might or might not help. If it helped, the risk was more to the baby. Or it might not help and I'd have no choice but a C-section. OR (2) I could opt for C-section. The risk was more for me. They said they could only give me about 1/2 Hr to decide. I cried. I talked my options over with my Mom & with Erik. Mom was for trying the Pitocin (the route she went with me when I was born). Erik was for the C-section. In the end the Sledgehammer of logic won, as it usually does and I gave my agreement for the C-section. Then I cried some more.
10AM found me being "prepped for surgery" with me still in tears, and starting to panic a little. between the three of us we decided Erik would sit in the waiting room & Mom would come into surgery with me. So she get all dressed up in scrubs; I wish I would have taken a picture!
1030AM they took me to get a Spinal Block (similar to an Epidural but slightly different and required for C-section). I panicked. They refused to let my mom in the room and I really panicked. The anesthesiologist was really rude and mean and kept forcibly shoving my head down which made me panic worse. Essentially I had the worst panic attack of my life; screaming, crying, hyperventilating the whole bit, I barely even remember it. Finally one of the nurses took charge and brought in another anesthesiologist (a woman) and between her and the two nurses they got me calm enough to get the Spinal Block put in. Once it was in they pretty much slam you down; they have to lay you down really fast or else all that goes numb is your butt LoL!!! It took them just over 1/2 an hour to accomplish this and get started.
By roughly 11am Mom came in and sat with me, and I was in surgery. The first (and hopefully only) surgery of my life. The anesthesia made me sick to my stomach (not that there was anything in it after being allowed nothing but ice chips all night..)
At 11:25AM on Sunday, June 20th 2010 (Father's Day) Joshua Daniel Bolten was born weighing 9lbs 6oz and measuring 20in!
Granny (my Mom) was the first person to hold him (even before me since I was still in surgery). She brought him over to me and when I saw his face for the first time my heart simply exploded. I fell in love in the split second and couldn't take my eyes off him for the rest of the surgery. The rest is all very hazy as I started to get drowsy and dopey. They moved me into a Recovery Room and I got to hold my son for the first time.
I just remember crying; but for the first time in my life I think they were true and honest tears of happiness. He opened his eyes right up and started at me and I knew I could never let anything happen to him in that moment.
"Granny" took Joshua to the Nursery to be checked by the Pediatrician, and so I could rest (Nurse's orders). I wasn't there for this but Mom described it to me; Erik was napping on a bench and as she got to him she called his name and his head snapped up and he focused on Joshua. Mom told me all he said was "Is that.." and she told him "yes". He says it was the best wake up he's ever had; waking up to his son's face :)! He walked Joshua to the nursery with "Granny" and then came into the Recovery room to see me.
After about 2 or 3 hours they moved me into a Postpartum Room. I got to try my hand at Breast-Feeding my son. At this point I still had a catheter in, I wasn't allowed up out of bed and was on a strict liquids only diet. Then the first visitors came: "Great-Grandma-ma-ma" (my Grandma), "Grandpa" (my dad) and "Anti-Stephanie" (my sister).
Erik - The Proud New Daddy
Mom - "Granny"
Steph - "Anti-Stephanie"
Mimi - "Anti-Mimi"
After they had their fill of Joshua they left and I had some quality time alone with my son :)! I stayed up all night just holding him and staring at him; I couldn't get over how absolutely in love I am with him :D!
I was in the hospital for 4 days, a blur of 2 dizzy spells, 1 fall, lots of blood work, removing the catheter, removing the staples, sponge bath, trying to get up and move around, hospital food, visitors (Vicky + Meghan, Aunt Liz, Uncle Gary, Bobby + Andy and Mimi all put in additional appearances) and well Joshua. My initial room-mate left the next morning but I had 2 other room-mates (Shannon and her daughter Alice, and Missy and her daughter Kaitlyn). Wednesday night/ Thursday morning my milk came in and I got to really nurse Joshua :D!
On Thursday 6/25 Erik came and picked the two of us up and took us to Queens, our temporary home. I left the hospital still struggling to move, still in pain, and with a long list of "Do Not Do This..." (ie: no lifting anything heavier than the baby, no driving, no extensive walking or standing, no bending over, limit stairs, etc.).
Friday 6/26 Dad drove Me & Joshua to the Pediatrician, the Doctors just wanted to keep an eye on his Jaundice. He weighed in at 8lbs 9oz (yeah he lost weight but that's OK), he measured 20 3/4in (he grew already!), his Jaundice looked good and everything else was perfect. Aunt Joanie + Ruth came to visit us and spent some time holding Joshua (unfortunatly I forgot to take pictures of them :( *sigh*).
Saturday 6/27 Louise (the turtle lady) and Diane (across the street) came to see us (and AGAIN I forgot to take pictures!) My Grandparents came to meet their Great-Grandson as well. They could not stop going on & on about how beautiful he is and how "blessed" they are etc. I had some trust issues with my sister Stephanie, but I'm not going to get into that now..
I laid down on Mom & Dad's bed in the AC to take a nap. When dad came in to wake me up I went to go to the bathroom and felt a little trickle of wetness; didn't think much of it. I put a pantyliner on and sat down in the Family room to talk about dinner. Dad started a BBQ going and suddenly I felt a GUSH of wet and ran to the bathroom; the pantyliner was soaked through so I changed my cloths, put on a thicker pad and sat back down to see if it would happen again. It did. I tried to waste some time and procrastinate because my contractions hadn't gotten much worse. But after hastily eating something, Mom & I grabbed my bags and drove to the hospital. By the time we got to LIJ I was soaked and so uncomfortable I wanted to cry.
We were at L&D by 1030PM but they had no rooms ready so I sat in the hallway listening to the woman in the nearest room screaming at the top of her lungs "Oh god help me, please someone, I need to get out of this bed, pleaseeee!" I kept my cool as best I could although the contractions had picked up a little I was still not in too much pain. I sat in that hallway for 20 or 30min just doing my breathing exercises and concentrating on being calm. Finally they took me into a "Triage Room" to check me out. They said I was 3 1/2cm dilated and 90% effaced, but my water had definitely broken and they said "We're keeping you!". I struggled through getting an IV but the nurse was amazing as they usually are. I called Erik and told him "It's time!"
I was in a labor room by 12am and Erik arrived. My water just kept gushing out I can honestly say the discomfort was worse than the pain from the contractions; at least for a little while. I (again) had an awesome nurse tending to me :)! I was terrified when they said they found Meconium in my water, but the nurse said not to worry; baby's heart tracings were perfect. Things started to get pretty painful around 3am. Erik decided to go home to get a little sleep because the AC in the labor room was making him sick (he's allergic to the stuff that leaks out of AC units...) so he left around 4am. 430AM I tried to nap with minimal success.
At 6AM they checked me and I had made no progress, I was still 3 1/2cm and 90% effaced. Erik came back. I was warned that they were concerned of letting me go past 12Hrs since my water broke for risk of infection.
At 8AM a Resident & a Doctor came into our room and explained to me that since it had been 12Hrs since my water broke they needed to take some action and presented me with my options; (1) They could give me Pitocin which might or might not help. If it helped, the risk was more to the baby. Or it might not help and I'd have no choice but a C-section. OR (2) I could opt for C-section. The risk was more for me. They said they could only give me about 1/2 Hr to decide. I cried. I talked my options over with my Mom & with Erik. Mom was for trying the Pitocin (the route she went with me when I was born). Erik was for the C-section. In the end the Sledgehammer of logic won, as it usually does and I gave my agreement for the C-section. Then I cried some more.
10AM found me being "prepped for surgery" with me still in tears, and starting to panic a little. between the three of us we decided Erik would sit in the waiting room & Mom would come into surgery with me. So she get all dressed up in scrubs; I wish I would have taken a picture!
1030AM they took me to get a Spinal Block (similar to an Epidural but slightly different and required for C-section). I panicked. They refused to let my mom in the room and I really panicked. The anesthesiologist was really rude and mean and kept forcibly shoving my head down which made me panic worse. Essentially I had the worst panic attack of my life; screaming, crying, hyperventilating the whole bit, I barely even remember it. Finally one of the nurses took charge and brought in another anesthesiologist (a woman) and between her and the two nurses they got me calm enough to get the Spinal Block put in. Once it was in they pretty much slam you down; they have to lay you down really fast or else all that goes numb is your butt LoL!!! It took them just over 1/2 an hour to accomplish this and get started.
By roughly 11am Mom came in and sat with me, and I was in surgery. The first (and hopefully only) surgery of my life. The anesthesia made me sick to my stomach (not that there was anything in it after being allowed nothing but ice chips all night..)
At 11:25AM on Sunday, June 20th 2010 (Father's Day) Joshua Daniel Bolten was born weighing 9lbs 6oz and measuring 20in!
Granny (my Mom) was the first person to hold him (even before me since I was still in surgery). She brought him over to me and when I saw his face for the first time my heart simply exploded. I fell in love in the split second and couldn't take my eyes off him for the rest of the surgery. The rest is all very hazy as I started to get drowsy and dopey. They moved me into a Recovery Room and I got to hold my son for the first time.
"Granny" took Joshua to the Nursery to be checked by the Pediatrician, and so I could rest (Nurse's orders). I wasn't there for this but Mom described it to me; Erik was napping on a bench and as she got to him she called his name and his head snapped up and he focused on Joshua. Mom told me all he said was "Is that.." and she told him "yes". He says it was the best wake up he's ever had; waking up to his son's face :)! He walked Joshua to the nursery with "Granny" and then came into the Recovery room to see me.
After about 2 or 3 hours they moved me into a Postpartum Room. I got to try my hand at Breast-Feeding my son. At this point I still had a catheter in, I wasn't allowed up out of bed and was on a strict liquids only diet. Then the first visitors came: "Great-Grandma-ma-ma" (my Grandma), "Grandpa" (my dad) and "Anti-Stephanie" (my sister).
Grandma - "Great-Grandma-ma-ma"
Dad - "Grandpa"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was in the hospital for 4 days, a blur of 2 dizzy spells, 1 fall, lots of blood work, removing the catheter, removing the staples, sponge bath, trying to get up and move around, hospital food, visitors (Vicky + Meghan, Aunt Liz, Uncle Gary, Bobby + Andy and Mimi all put in additional appearances) and well Joshua. My initial room-mate left the next morning but I had 2 other room-mates (Shannon and her daughter Alice, and Missy and her daughter Kaitlyn). Wednesday night/ Thursday morning my milk came in and I got to really nurse Joshua :D!
Happy Father's Day!
On Thursday 6/25 Erik came and picked the two of us up and took us to Queens, our temporary home. I left the hospital still struggling to move, still in pain, and with a long list of "Do Not Do This..." (ie: no lifting anything heavier than the baby, no driving, no extensive walking or standing, no bending over, limit stairs, etc.).
Friday 6/26 Dad drove Me & Joshua to the Pediatrician, the Doctors just wanted to keep an eye on his Jaundice. He weighed in at 8lbs 9oz (yeah he lost weight but that's OK), he measured 20 3/4in (he grew already!), his Jaundice looked good and everything else was perfect. Aunt Joanie + Ruth came to visit us and spent some time holding Joshua (unfortunatly I forgot to take pictures of them :( *sigh*).
Saturday 6/27 Louise (the turtle lady) and Diane (across the street) came to see us (and AGAIN I forgot to take pictures!) My Grandparents came to meet their Great-Grandson as well. They could not stop going on & on about how beautiful he is and how "blessed" they are etc. I had some trust issues with my sister Stephanie, but I'm not going to get into that now..
Posts
What a great labor story, and you remembered so many details, including your roommates names? Wow! Happy that the c-section worked out in the end. Just make sure to really listen to those doctors and take it easy. This is the one time in your life where you get everyone to take care of you without question, enjoy it and little Joshua!!!
ReplyDelete