Birth story (finally)

Ann · #1 (**permalink**) 10-26-2008, 04:17 AM

I can't believe it has taken me so long to write this but better late than never! I need to get it down on paper before I forget all the details.

September 16, 2008 marked my 35th week of pregnancy. Never in a million years would I have thought that I would make it this far. I had been on and off bedrest since the 12th week of pregnancy and had two hospitalizations which included steroid shots for the babies because doctors thought for sure I'd have some tiny preemies to take care of!

Anyway that afternoon I got Ryan off the school bus and drove to see my ob. First I had to get my weekly sonogram done and the tech said the fluid was a tiny bit lower than usual but nothing to get worried about. I met with the ob after and pretty much begged her to admit me to hospital. I told her how uncomfortable I was-I could barely stand and the edema was horrible. I was numb in my hands, I couldn't breathe, and sleeping was just out of the question. She promised that if she found a medical reason to send me to hospital she would as she felt both babies were a good size and it would be ok to give birth. She said the sonogram showed both babies looking good so no reason there to send me. Then she took my blood pressure and said it was perfect so no reason there either. My urine was fine too. She told me I would just have to wait until the babies were ready and then realized she never examined me. I was totally surprised when she told me I was 3 cm dilated. So she put me on the monitor and I was contracting every 2 minutes. She said I can't promise you anything but why don't you go to hospital to be monitored and don't eat anything-just in case you wind up being admitted and have a c-section. I called dh who was working overtime and told him to call his sargent and come home right away. I called my girlfriend to meet me at the house and get Ryan (the plan was for him to sleep over her house). I rushed home, changed into something comfortable, grabbed my bag, said goodbye to Ryan and hopped on the boards to let everyone know what was happening. Dh and I drove to hospital hoping this was it!

I got to the hospital and it was pure chaos everywhere! I blame the full moon. Triage was absolutely packed and the nurse said no one called from my ob's office to let them know I was coming. They had no room for me to be monitored so they asked that I sit in the waiting room until a bed became available. It was at this point that I started feeling pain. I've been having contractions since my 17th week and was so used to them but this was something different. I felt bad for some children that were in the waiting room because I kept moaning and cursing whenever I'd get a contraction which were still happening every two minutes. I was begging dh to rub my lower back and then I started pacing. I realized omg, I'm really in labor!!! Finally a nurse came to get me to let me know triage was ready. They gave me a gown, hooked me up, and started asking a million questions. Another ob from the practice came to see me and he examined me. He said wow, you are already a good 4 cm, lets have some babies! He said to the nurse lets do it stat because I don't want her to progress any further. I was prepped and in the OR within an hour of getting to hospital.

I remember the OR being very cold but quiet. My ob held my hand while I got the spinal and I kept saying really? you are done? I totally didnt feel a thing which is much different than my experience with Ryan. I then laid down and started to get really sick to my stomach. I kept trying to breathe thru the waves of nausea and then the anesthesiologist gave me something and it was gone. This is where I lost track of time. I think I fell asleep to be honest because what I remember next is dh being there and I don't remember him coming in and the dr said he was almost finished with the section! Jack Thomas came out first. He didnt cry right away and I did hear the nicu team talking about him having trouble breathing. Finally dh said he pinked up and we heard him cry. Emotionally I felt very numb because for years I pictured this moment and I thought for sure I'd be bawling. But I just sat there taking it all in. They announced his stats, 5 lb 4 oz, 16 inches and Apgars 8 and 8,. Someone from the nicu team came over and explaine he had to go with her because he was in respiatory distress and needed some help breathing. They brought him over to me for a quick kiss and he was whisked away. Owen William came out next with a very big wail. He was 5 lbs 11 oz, 18 inches, Apgars 8 and 9. I was told he was fine and would be going to the nursery to be watched and then brought to recovery to be with me. It was at this point the last four years finally caught up to me and I lost it. I could not stop crying or shaking. The dr performed a tubal ligation. I had always said I didnt want to chance another miscarriage (I have blood disorders that if a pregnancy not cared for in time would cause a loss) but I did want the option of being able to use my six embryos we had frozen and I know IVF bypasses the tubes. A tubal ligation seemed like the perfect solution to everything. The dr commented I had one of the biggest placentas he's ever seen and then it was off to recovery.

For some reason I couldnt stop bleeding in recovery and the nurse got concerned and called my ob who already went home! He said to call the ob that helped him with the surgery and she came down and checked me and said I'd be fine. Four hours I spent in recovery because of this but eventually my bleeding did subside. Nicu came to inform me that after 90 mins of life, Owen too developed distress and had to be taken out of nursery. I was pretty upset by this and sent dh to go be with the children. I sat in recovery and called friends and family, most of who I woke up because I had no idea what time it was!

I was then sent to a room and a wonderful nurse came in a few hours later and offered to wheel me to nicu so that I could finally see my babies up close and touch them. It was scary at first and I was still very groggy but it was wonderful to see my new little men that dh and I worked so very hard for.

My hospital stay was wonderful. The nurses took such good care of us and the nicu I swear is employed by angels! Jack was released after 12 hours to come room with me and Owen had to stay 6 days but both babies are healthy as can be. I just kept looking at these babies in total amazement! They were finally here! Ryan was not so keen on being a big brother but I'm sure with time he'll come around.

Sadly most of you know how this all turns out two weeks later but for those who don't-I developed a post op hemorrhage 17 days later and had to have an emergency hysterectomy, during which I almost lost my life. I'm devastated that my story ends this way but in the same breath, so very grateful I'm alive and that I have three beautiful children.

Thanx for reading!