Jordyn is wonderful and my life is pure bliss these days! I am loving parenthood, despite lack of sleep and some aches and pains that come after birth. Jay and I are slowly adjusting and learning about Jordyn. We also still wrapping our minds around all the events of the past week.
Let me begin.
Wednesday - March 2 - we went to the doctor and found out that my body was still only dilated to 2 cm (which is where it has been for 2 weeks) and with the due date being on March 2, we were encouraged to think about induction. This was something I had already considered and knew that if Jordyn didn't arrive by March 8, we would have to have an induction anyway. So, we were prepared and had decided that we wanted to go through with that as soon as possible. With Dr. Mitchell, my OB, being on-call over the weekend, we scheduled for March 5. However, we were still hopeful that Jordyn would come on her own. But, that didn't happen, no matter what all I tried to do.
Friday - March 4 - total craziness for me. I was a bundle of nerves, excitement, and fear all at the same time. I found myself cleaning all day and making last minute preparations. I cleaned...and cleaned....and cleaned. By the time I was finished, our house would have been ready to put on the market! I knew I needed to rest (um, yes, there was a major task ahead of me - called giving birth!), but couldn't. I also couldn't sleep much that night either. I went to bed around 10:45, woke up at 1, at 2, at 2:30 and then was up for the remainder of the night. I didn't get up, but I didn't sleep. My mind was filled with thoughts like "what if I have an allergic reaction to the epidural?" "what if my heart stops while I'm pushing?" "what if I have a c-section?" "who all will be there and how long will this take?" "what will I do when I first see her?" "what if the IV causes an embolism?" "what if labor takes longer than usual?" "what will my next 12 hours be like?" "what will it feel like to be numb from waist down?" At the same time I'm thinking about all this, the song "One of These Nights" by the Eagles kept running through my head OVER AND OVER AND OVER again! And you're welcome, because it's probably running through yours now.
I'm sure you can understand why there was no sleep to be had with a head full of this stuff.
Saturday - March 5 - We had to be at the hospital at 6am. We arrived right on time, but not until after I had a meltdown in the car as we drove from our house to the hospital. I was suddenly overcome with pure fear - none like I've ever experienced before. I cried the entire 15 minute drive and Jay was trying to encourage me. Bless him. I'm just glad he didn't say "Ok, now you go ahead and I'll catch you later."
I tried hard to compose myself before checking in, but just walking through the doors of Labor and Delivery shot more fear through me. I signed in while crying and shaking. If the nurses thought I was crazy, they didn't treat me that way.
The next hour was spent signing forms, getting blood drawn, and changing clothes - into the lovely teal and blue gown that doesn't close in the back. Really? The folks that make hospital gear can't do better than these things? Jay had his share of jokes as he watched me walk around half naked, wearing this gown that was much too big, by the way, in front of several nurses.
Around 7:30am, they started the Pitosin IV and reminded me that I was still dilated to 2cm. At 9:45, my OB doctor came through and told me I was dilated to 3cm and she was going to break my water. Some time in between those two visits, the epidural was put in, which was the easiest part of the entire labor! Really, it was! It was less painful than the IV in my arm. I highly recommend one to all future moms!
So, my water was broke, I was getting Pitocin and had the epidural going. I spend the next 4 hours going numb, and enjoying the company of Jay, my parents, his parents, and my friend Charlotte, who was there to take photographs of the entire day. At 12:45, my OB came in again and told me I was dilated to 9cm! Holy crap!! Good thing I had that epidural going! I could see my contractions on the print out, but had no feeling as to how hard they were, and for that I am thankful!
Shortly after my doctor left, I kept feeling lots of pressure and thought to myself "well, I think something major is happening, but I'm not sure what. Humm..wonder if I should call the nurse?" No faster did I complete that thought, when a nurse came in - Christy (she was awesome and I am so thankful for her!) - and said "Nikki, do you feel lots of pressure anywhere?" Um....YES! She checked me and at 1:10pm I had dilated to 10cm. By 1:13, our room was filled with about 10 other people, who were ready to help me, check Jordyn and handle all the other business. It was organized craziness, if I've ever saw it! Around 1:15pm, I started pushing - three pushes and then rest for about 2 minutes. During those 2 minutes, we would all watch the Clemson vs Virgina Tech basketball game on ESPN - including the doc! That may sound strange, but it was a great way to relax enough during the pushes that I could regain some of my strength. Clemson basketball has a whole new meaning to me now...and they won the game!
For roughly the next 30 minutes, we pushed and pushed and pushed. I could hear Jordyn's heartbeat on the monitors next to me, and knew it would slow down some when I had a contraction, but never knew that it dropped dangerously low at one point. I'm glad they told me after all this was complete that her umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck one time and while she was moving through my pelvis, it was getting tighter, causing her heart rate to drop pretty low. My doc looked at me and said, "Nikki, we've got to push with all your might or we'll have to do a c-section." Now, Dr. Mitchell is very laid back and doesn't seem to get frantic about most things. So, for her to tell me this, I knew she was serious. A c-section being one thing I didn't want to happen, I pushed as hard as I possibly could. With the help of a vacuum, Jordyn came out at 1:49pm - screaming, which was a beautiful noise! I don't really remember much of the next 10 minutes, but remember when they put her on my chest. She looked at me and looked at Jay and was just as....well, alien-like and pale. Her little head was misshapen due to the vacuum, but it is starting to round out just nicely these days....thankfully!
So, here we are - 3 days and a child later - at home and lovin' life! I'll spare you all the details of the 2 days in the hospital and all the medical interventions that I had to have. I'm sure there are those who would appreciate that. Let's just say the next 4-6 weeks will be gruesome for me. Prayers of comfort appreciated!
It's been a great experience and one that I will never forget - or at least I hope I don't! Jordyn is healthy and doing wonderful. She's a great baby - cries when she's hungry or naked. We try to prevent both, if at all possible! Jay and I are enjoying learning as we go and rather surprised at how much parenting comes naturally. I'm also surprised at how much I never knew I could love someone. Overwhelming.
