Monday, March 23, 2009 started out like any other work-day. Got up way to early for my pregnant body, got Charles out of bed, got ready, grabbed our lunch and headed out the door... and we grabbed our overnight suitcase for when I go into labor. Not a bad thing considering we were heading into Council Bluffs for our regular 2 week prenatal check-up. The suitcase had been in the car for the last few weeks, but I went through and re-packed it the day before.
At work, everyone keeps talking about the possibility for tornadoes and storms all day and night. I worry because I HATE tornadoes. But my mind is elsewhere while the chatter goes on around me. Then I am waved at by a friend's mom who says, "Desiree is just sure you're going to have that baby today or tomorrow because of the storms bringing in the pressure change!" I laugh, and tell her, "Yeah right! I have a little over 4 weeks left!"
Work ends, and we are off to the doctor's for my check-up. I have a few braxton-hicks, but nothing to worry about. Considering all the books say that if you cannot talk through a contraction, you're really in labor. I just sat there and sang along with the radio and chatted with my wonderful husband.
We get to the hospital and get in the room with Dr. Potter. I have my GBS test to do, so it's pants off! He swabs me, and I'm feeling all sorts of gross! Then he tells me to make fists with my hands so that I can place them under me so he can check my cervix and see if I'm possibly dilating. He then pauses, looks at me confused, and says, "Umm... have you been having contractions?!" I look at him, and say, "Well, just Braxton Hicks..."
He looks at me and tells me that I'm already dilated to 4cm and I need to go across the street to Mercy to be put on the fetal monitor. I look at Charles and he just stared back at me. We didn't know what to say. Dr. Potter continued with my ultrasound and sent us on our way.
We get outside to hear all the sirens going off. Tornado Warning. Awesome. We get over to the other side of the street and pray that if it hails, our Jeep would be okay. We get out of the car, and grab the suitcase. Thank goodness we grabbed it!
We get up to labor and delivery to find that everyone is out in the hallway for the tornado warning. I got to talk to some people and laugh about what Desiree had said earlier about the pressure change brining on my labor.
I got into the room and my contractions were about 1 - 2 min apart. I wasn't in pain, so I wasn't worried. I was checked to see if I was progressing and I was 5 cm and 80% effaced. Dr. Potter was called and he didn't want to stop the labor... so I was hit hard with the reality that Charles and I were going to be meeting our little girl really soon.
I stopped progressing at 6 cm. Was given pitocin to help on Dr's orders, but it just hurt me and didn't dilate me. He broke my water... nothing happened. I opted then for an epidural. I was exhausted from working on my feet all day, to being in labor all night. The nurse checked me soon after and I was at 7 cm. I told Dr. Potter I felt the need to bear down, and he checked me. He said, "Good thing you need to push... you're ready to go." I went from 7 cm to 10 cm in 2 minutes!
After just under 12 hours of labor and 13 minutes of pushing, I was looking at my beautiful little girl! Caitlin Nadine!! 6 lbs, 13 oz!! 20 1/2 inches long! I wasn't able to hold her right away. But after they cleaned her up, I got to hold her for just a minute. She was having difficulty breathing. I knew then that she would be taken to a different hospital. Which she was.
As of today, Caitlin is breathing on her own. She is doing really really well! She is getting ready to be converted from an incubator to a crib! And she is breastfeeding now! Her lungs are doing better! She has a small nasal passage, so she likes to breath out of her mouth, but breastfeeding is helping her to adjust to breathing through her nose. We plan on getting out of here within the next few days, but we'll see.
I'd post pictures, but we aren't allowed to do that here. Hospital rules. I cannot access Facebook, Myspace, or anything else really for that matter. But Charles will post some soon when he goes home to go back to work on Monday.
I will keep you updated otherwise. Pray for our little girl! She needs it!
P.S. Janelle, you are going to be taking our baby photos and family pictures! Just thought you should know ;) LOVE YOU!
