Pregnancy: After 35 Community

Theresa Elizabeth French
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
8:00am
7-lbs 9-oz
19-in

Okay, so on Monday morning, I had my 39 wk D/A appt where the doc said I needed to go into labor or he was inducing the next week.
I was stressed out most of the day. Anyway, remember when I asked if there was anything I could do? Well, I told hubby we had to "have relations" and it was doctor's orders. Well, we laughed about it but thought, heck... let's give it a try. It WAS easier said than done. UGH.

Anyway, I kid you not... less than 45 minutes later, I was in labor. I had the first contraction at 10:16pm. Hubby thought it was very funny. I said I didn't think it would actualy work! Two hours later, it was definitely time to go. We called my FIL to stay over since Catherine was alseep. I think we arrived at the hospital about 1am. At that time, my contractions were 2 mins apart. I was 5 - 6 cm.

The epi was complete by about 2:30am (they were waiting for blood work and for him to come from his house to do the procedure). Then, ahhhh!!! Relief while we wait.

The doc called at 5am and said he'd come on in, break my water and get things going. At 5:30, my water broke naturally. I was also 9 1/2 cm.

When the doc got there (somewhere near 7), I was 10cm, but the baby was still too high. They had me sitting up straight to get some gravity to help. They started pitocin.

I told the doc he could have WARNED me that the "relations advice" was an immediate fix. I had wanted to go to work that day to hand back exams. He laughed and said "You got busy and went into labor? Yup... I should write a book." Anyway, he left for a bit while things progressed.

During this time, I ran out of the epi meds and they had to replace them (I was in a panic that they weren't going to come on time). Drugs came back online and sometime between 7:30 and 8:00 or so, the nurse said we should try to push the baby down. It was just me,
the nurse and hubby. I did three sets of three. It was HARD. I was crying because it was so uncomforable, but I'm not sure it actually HURT. The drugs were still good and strong.

Then the nurse said we needed to get the doc in there. Doc came in and smashed his finger in the unit where he was grabbing for his outfit thing. Then he cries out that he broke his finger. WHAT??? There I was, legs open, baby "down there" and now I have a doc with a broken finger. He said not to panic. He can deliver a baby with a broken finger

Anyway, he was there for 2 pushes, I started to push a third time, and out she flew!!!! The doc plopped her on my belly and said: "Now THAT's what a full term baby looks like!" Hubby got to hold her while the doc stitched me up (2nd degree tears just like the first time). I was so happy. Denny never got to hold Catherine since she was so sick. He was grinning from ear to ear.

Anyway, we were stuck in the delivery room for three more hours b/c the nurse who took so much time to replace the epi unplugged the wrong IV. I was supposed to get a bag of oxytocin (sp?) and she unhooked it. The entire bag dripped onto the floor. So... we started over again.

Later on that day, Denny brought Catherine in to meet her sister. Here is a picture: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=34742753&l=455155e2b5&id=42705848

So far, things are good. Just getting used to being home. I'm tired and sore, but that's to be expected Nursing is going well (more soreness, but I know it'll pass).

Thanks for ALL of your support, ladies. It's hard to get online right now, but I'll be popping in to keep up with your pregnancies. I can't believe I've been on this board since July of 2008. Who would have thought we'd welcome baby girl #2 into our family!!!!????!!!!