The Phamily Blog

I started having contractions that were consistent but kinda not (7-10 minutes apart) from Thursday night at 11pm into Friday. Then, they totally slowed down and almost were 20+ minutes apart for an hour or so. I went and walked and that didn't do much. I sat on the couch and tried to sleep and they started to come back. Go figure. All day they came and went and finally stayed around 6-7 minutes apart during the afternoon. I had bloody show and the contractions were painful so I was pretty positive this was the real thing.My best friend came over around one-ish and hung out with me. Then they started getting more intense so I called my mom and she came over.

All of a sudden, around three o'clock, they started getting crazy...like every 2 minutes or sometimes three but they were short contractions, but VERY painful. I started to panic and think I was going to have the baby in the car. Nguyen got home and we headed out to the hospital. They slowed down to about every six minutes. Oh yeah...and I was exhausted!So then they get me checked in and take me back to be monitored. I figured it would take no more than 20 minutes. WRONG. I sat there with those monitors on for over two hours and the pain was excruciating. And they still hadn't checked my cervix. I started to get all crazy and told Nguyen to go tell the nurses to get in there ASAP. So he walks out and they immediately say, "WE'RE COMING RIGHT IN!" Thank God. I so could not take the pain.They check me and I was 4-5cm, -2 station, and 90% effaced. ! And get this...my water was broken? HUH? How did I miss that?

So they admitted me. All I cared about was getting the epidural. I was so beyond tired and really was losing it. BUT, we had to wait for my blood work to come back before I could get the epi. So I contracted some more, and nearly went ape a few times, but FINALLY the bloodwork came back and I was good for the drugs! The anesthesiologist came in and worked her magic. Felt good for a minute but then I had a spot that didn't take, ughh! So I complained a little more and she came back in and said "This will make you really numb, you'll like it. Cool, whatever.

UM, NOT COOL. I totally panicked. I was so numb it freaked me out. I could not move for anything. It was the most bizarre feeling ever but I suppose it was still better than the pain. I had to keep having everyone talk to me and try and calm me down. I am usually pretty laid back but it totally scared me. So anyway, I try to relax and the nurse checks me again...6cm, -1, 90%. Then the on call doc comes in and says I will probaby dialate 1cm per hour so his guess for Gabby's arrival was between 3-6am. He said this around 10pm.

So my whole crew starts pulling out the bed sheets and getting cozy in my little delivery room. My nurses change shifts and the new nurse starts reading my charts and entering all of her data in the computer. And so she is asking me " do you feel the urge to have a bowel movement?" Which I honestly felt NOTHING so I said no. She seemed baffled but went about her business. So then she asks me a few more times..."do you feel pressure in your bum?" Again, "NO".. I finally asked why she was asking and she said the baby was having heart decels with every contraction and this was telling her that the baby's head might be super low. So I tried to concentrate as best I could and I finally felt like maybe I did feel some pressure in my bum with the contractions. So then she says" okay lemme just check you again then...she had just checked maybe an hour before. All of a sudden there were like five nurses and it was "baby time." It was maybe 11:15pm. I started flipping out because all I could think about was how I could not feel a thing and I wouldn't be able to push which would lead to something like forceps. She assured me baby was "right there" Apparently Gabby was crowning and if she hadn't checked I would have birthed her head and not known.

So the CNM comes in (she rocked) and she get's prepped and I assume the position. Well, actually, Nguyen and one of the nurses assumed it for me since I couldn't pick up my legs. She had me push and as soon as I put my chin down (didn't even push) just put my chin to chest, she was OUT! WOW?! It was so bizarre. One little not-even push and she was born. It was miraculous. I cried. She was screaming and flailing about and looked like a little asian alien just like cam did! 6lbs, 14 ounces, 19 inches Her apgars were 8 and 9 but then the baby nurse noted she was snorting a bit and thought maybe she had some fluid in her lungs from not being in the birth canal long enough so she took her back to the nursery and Nguyen went with her. I got stitched up (2nd degree tear).She never got to come back to me They wanted to admit her because her oxygen saturation level was low and they couldn't figure out why. Her lungs are clear. She flairs her one nostril when she breathes regular oxygen. So they have her on 60 % now and she is doing well with that. She can't quite get coordinated enough to eat well either. She doesn't understand the concept of breathing through her nose and drinking at the same time so she chokes.

It is so depressing leaving the hospital without your baby but I know this is minor and hopefully she will be home soon. I can't get an answer on when that will be. I am thinking it might be a week or so. Cameron doesn't understand at all. One day I will give birth and bring my baby home on the same day I go home!