Originally my due date was October 22nd. As things progressed, we learned baby girl was measuring big. My OB and I came to the agreement to have a natural delivery and avoid a C-section, a 39-week induction was the best move. We would start the process October 14th and she would be born 10/15/20. My OCD and body were great with this plan. I planned my work schedule and even made arrangements for Syrus. But that’s all it was – a plan.
I went to a routine OB appointment at 37 weeks and my blood pressure had randomly spiked after being consistently normal the weeks before. Knowing my previous Pre-Eclampsia complications my OB was extra cautious with making sure it was not a problem this time. After taking my blood pressure repeatedly in the office with elevated readings, I was sent to the hospital for testing to rule out Pre-Eclampsia and a possible induction. As one can imagine, I was not OK with the thought of an induction on the whim. I had not even made it to 38 weeks so the fear of an under-developed baby was suddenly on my list of things to worry about.
If you followed along on my instagram stories, you likely saw that hospital visit was cut short once my blood pressure stabilized. Despite this victory, I knew the next time we left Elynna would be on the outside. Eddie and I went home and packed that very night.
The following morning I had a follow-up with my OB and as soon as I saw him I had a gut feeling how that appointment was going to end. I had dilated to 1 centimeter and my blood pressure was once again elevated. Cuff reading after cuff reading. One last ultrasound to check fluid levels. My OB walked in the room and handed me a copy of my chart. “Alright Mama, we’re having a baby. Go have dinner. Hug your son. Do some laundry. We’re having a baby tomorrow.” I sat there and somehow was able to hold back the tears. Was this really happening again.. another emergency induction?
That night we made it to the hospital (after a stop at Chick-Fil-A) to begin the induction process. Earlier that day my OB and I came up with a game plan because of the rapid progression with Syrus’ delivery. We were to start Pitocin at 1 AM, break my water by 5 and have a baby by 7 or 8 AM. Of course things always happen on their own timeline.
Once Eddie and I were settled in – signed release forms, made phone calls to family and friends, and indulged in some snacks before my cut off time, it was time to get some sleep. By 11:30 my nurse suggested I try and get some sleep before 1 AM comes.
12:59 AM she was back to begin my Pitocin drip to begin inducing contractions. I turned on re-runs of Keeping Up with the Kardashians and went back to sleep.
2 AM she back to check my progress – from 2 centimeters to 3. “Great! If we can keep this rate up Doc will be happy because your baby girl will be here by 10 AM. If not for sure by lunch.” I chuckled to myself thinking how easy this labor was going to be for me and went back to sleep.
3 AM comes around. No change in my dilation progression.
4 AM my nurse reminds me a doctor will be in by 6 AM to break my water so if I want my epidural I should let them know before.
5 AM I woke up to all the lights being turned on as the anesthesiaologist comes in. “Good morning!” he says as he introduces himself. “Just the man I wanted to see!” I replied. Within minutes I am so relaxed and lay back and resume watching Kardashian re-runs before drifting off to sleep once more.
6 AM a doctor with the hospital comes to break my water. “We are at a 3, maybe 4 now and and mmmmm 50%.” he says to the nurse. “What’s that mean” I asked. “We are almost halfway there mama,” the nurse replies. As time went contractions became more intense but I felt no pain, just pressure.
7 AM the nurse is in and my OB is on the phone. “Good morning mama! We are moving on along. Not as fast as I thought but things are looking great overall. How are you feeling?” “Well I had my epidural and I’ve been watching Kardashian re-runs. Life is good.” He laughs and says he will be in later to check on me. I look over to Eddie who is sound asleep through it all. I lay back and try to get some sleep too.
8 AM. 9 AM. 10 AM. No progression in my dilation and contractions were consistently the same in strength and time. I felt somewhat defeated. She should’ve been here by now. What’s wrong with me?
11 AM the nurse is back in the room but this time on the phone with my OB, “Hi doc, the baby keeps decelling. What do you want us to do?” The doctor replies, “How’s Mom pressure? Have her get on all 4’s for about 15 minutes and call me back.” The nurse and I watch the monitors closely waiting for Elynna’s heart rate to stabilize. 15 minutes later we had great news; her heart rate is normal so I can lay back down. Back to sleep I fell only to awaken shortly thereafter for the same thing – Elynna’s heart rate had dropped again. This time my OB told the nurse to turn my Pitocin off and have me on all 4s again. “If this does not work, prep her for C-Section. Please put her on the phone so I can speak with Mom.” The nurse hands me the phone. “Hey Mama! Listen. Baby girl is stressing out so we are going to turn off your Pitocin. If you don’t continue into labor on your own without the Pitocin I will need to do a C-section…” I interrupted him, “NO! I don’t want a C-section.” “I don’t think you understand. This is not a matter of preference.” I knew I had to do what was right for my baby. I dropped my head and handed the phone back to the nurse. “I will give her another 15 minutes without Pitocin. That is it.” I quickly turned to my nurse with tears in my eyes, “Please help me. I don’t want a C-section. Let’s turn off the Pitocin and see how she does. Tell me however I need to. However I need to lay. Whatever we need to do please.” She unplugged my Pitocin and sat me straight up in the bed with my knees up by my shoulders. Then I flipped on my side. Then on all 4s again with a birthing ball. After 15 minutes my nurse checked me and I had dilated to 5 centimeters. I laid back and cried tears of joy. We had crossed a milestone but we weren’t done. I sat up and stuck my hand up to give her a high 5. “We did it! Please tell him so we cancel C-Section.” My nurse called the doctor with the progression and he agreed to begin Pitocin again but slowly since I progressed without it.
12 PM I am dilated to 8 centimeters. Eddie is awake and hungry so he leaves to get food. As soon as Eddie left, in walks my OB. “Good job mom. Let me check you again.” I lay back and he tells the nurse, “She’s at a negative 1. Get them in to prep the room. I’m going to get a jacket.” He looks back up at me, “Push down as hard as you can 2 times.” I pushed and grabbed my phone to call Eddie. “My doctor is ready for me to start pushing. You need to get back right now.”
10 minutes later in walks my OB prepped and ready to go. Eddie was right behind him lunch in hand. As he sat down to eat, the doctor said, “No no Dad. It’s time for baby. Mama is about to push. Put down that chicken.” Eddie laughs and walks over.
I laid back, fixed my mask and and began to prepare myself to push. “3. 2. 1. Push down as hard as you can,” my doctor says. I did just as he said – 3 pushes and Elynna was out. They handed her to me and I placed her on my chest. I ripped my mask off and as I kissed her on the top of her head, I whispered, “I’m so happy you’re here. I love you so much. I wish your brother was here to see you too.” All during quarantine, I had waited for this moment so I felt as if a weight had been lifted my shoulders. The nurse for Elynna took her and began to clean her. I looked over to Eddie and smiled, “We did it again.”
Not as soon as I said that did my doctor stand up from his stool and tell the nurse to prep me for another IV so we can do a blood tranfusion. I did not understand. How did the situation change from seeing the beautiful girl I’ve waited months to see and hold in my arms to my life being on the line? “My doctor stood in the doorway. You have lost too much blood and your uterus is boggy. You’re hemorrhaging.” I looked up at him and the nurse, “I don’t take blood. No.” My doctor takes a step towards me, “What do you mean? You would rather die than take blood?” “I don’t take blood,” I replied firmly. “You would rather die than take blood?” he repeated. I shook my head, “I’m not taking it. There is something else to be done.” “You WILL die if you don’t take blood.” My doctor looks at the nurse. “Prep for a hysterectomy or D&C at the least. Start the salines now.” The hours that followed were a blur filled with medications, IVs, vomiting and bloodwork. I had 3 IVs in each arm and so much blood drawn they started taking blood from my toes to run labs on. 7 hours later I was finally stable and was able to avoid surgery despite the hemorrhage.
The following morning my OB came to see us and explained I had lost 3 times the normal amount of blood for mother’s during delivery. Postpartum hemorrhaging is the number one cause of death in pregnant women. I thanked him for acting fast and saving my life. An attitude of gratitude took on another meaning after all of this – grateful for my family, health and overall just to be alive to enjoy it all.
Check out some of my current must haves with Elynna:
Swing Chair / Tote Savvy Diaper Bag Organizer / Haakaa Manual Pump
– DECEMBER 2020
What a birth story! I hate when they say “ would you rather die” ummm no doc there are alternatives. I had to do my own research and advocate for the things I needed going into a second csection.