I would have wanted to post this when the information was still fresh in my mind, since I was admitted to the hospital on March 6, 2017 for a very lengthy induction, but today is the first day that it’s just Jake, Aurora, and I at the house since we brought our adorable baby into the world. The induction we didn’t want, but had to have anyway! My placenta was getting “mature” and calcifying, the doctors were getting angry and upset, and it was just time. After talking to Jake’s sister and mother and everyone that would listen, we decided to go in around 6 in the evening to the hospital to begin what would total nearly 60 hours of induction and labor. I was there long enough to go through four full nursing shift teams and two on call doctors.
Our first overnight was to be 12 hours of cervadil, which morphed into a full 24 hour hurry-up-and-wait dosing of cervadil, before they began the pitocin (artificial oxytocin) drip. And then more waiting. I sent my mother, sister, and husband home on shifts while pretty much nothing happened. Unless you count me nearly breaking the on call doctor’s fingers because I didn’t want her checking my cervix anymore, I guess that’s a little something.
The early hours of the 8th, the pitocin induced contractions became murderously painful. Nothing eased them. There is not a breathing trick in the world to calm down that storm. I was not dilated enough for an epidural, so Jake laid in a recliner beside my bed trying to sleep while I screamed in what he would describe as operatic tones to try to make it through them. Eventually, it became unbearable, and I begged for the stadol narcotic to help relax me. I managed to pass out for an hour or so before it wore off and everything was back full force. The silver lining? I was dilated enough and I could request the epidural! Send in the anesthesiologist!
….he missed the first time. After summoning some sort of magic to not writhe or scream during 3-4 contractions, only my right leg went numb and I had no relief from the labor pain. They sent in a second anesthesiologist (and the first one got a major ass chew by the doctor). After taking his time through 6-7 contractions, I was numb and could relax. After literal days of being 1-3cm dilated only, things finally ramped up and I was 9cm! Practice pushing time! This is the major downside of the epidural: I couldn’t feel fuck all of what I was supposed to be doing while pushing. I was on my fourth nursing team, and my head nurse was my least favorite person in the room. After several hours of trying to push and move things forward, the doctor came to check on me. My head nurse told her it was time for a stat c-section, and my doctor was having none of it. She put her gloves on and decided to stay for the remainder of the birth to make sure we could avoid any unnecessary surgery.
Lots of pushing, lots of nothing happening, lots of the baby’s heartrate rising and falling, and suddenly something clicked in place and the doctor said “it’s time!” Nothing seemed different for Jake or I, but the doctor was putting on a large smock and getting a table full of tools ready and it only took minutes after that. Jake was amazing during the whole process. He was on my left side, holding my leg, cheering me on, and was the most supportive husband I could have ever wished for. My mom seemed like she was going to faint, and my sister was having sympathy pains, but they were amazing to have with me, too. Aurora’s head was 36cm and a little big for me, so I did have to get a 2nd degree episiotomy (this area does NOT numb with a epidural, by the way) but just like that, we got to welcome Aurora Quinn Atwood into the world at 1:01pm on Wednesday, March 8th, International Women’s Day!
My journey wasn’t over though. We had to stay until a discharge on Friday the 10th, full of the last finger prick blood tests of my pregnancy, bad breastfeeding advice, and some x-rays for Ms. Aurora’s left foot, which I think will be the subject of many blog posts to come. Once her medical team figures out where to refer us and what to do with her bone development anyway. My mother had to leave the first weekend, but my sister had a miraculous flight cancellation and her week long trip was extended for an extra week. She was an absolute lifesaver. Jake immediately went back to work, but Jenn stayed to pick up all the slack that was left while I healed up. She cooked, cleaned, baby soothed, let me sleep in one morning, took us shopping, and was all around the rockstar aunt. I’ve probably missed a lot, and hopefully will remember to fill in the gaps, and keep updating as our little Rory grows. <3
Aurora’s X-ray team was amazing, and their machine was a giant giraffe! She was very relaxed during the whole process on both days she had to be examined, and we have high hopes for a smooth journey on her adorable footy adventure.
Aurora Quinn, born 8March2017 at 1:10pm. 8lbs7oz, 20 1/4 inches long, 36cm head!