Pregnancy Journal

Things don’t always go according to plan.  We were scheduled for our induction on June 5^th, 2008 – meaning I was to report to the ER at Summit Medical Center on June 4^th at 11:30 p.m.  We arrive at the ER, as scheduled – to find out that there were no beds available on the L&D unit.  My doctor was called, and she advised us to go home and call her office in the morning to see what could be done about rescheduling.  I was extremely frustrated, and mostly just tired, but I did not have any control.  My due date had come and gone and I was ready to meet my daughter!  The next morning my doctor’s office called and advised us to report to the ER that night, at the same time, at the same place.  Doctor Thompson’s nurse was very apologetic and stated that there would be a bed available for me. 

We arrived at the ER closer to midnight on the 5^th of June and we were assigned a room (#201) and sent up to L&D.  Upon checking into the room and getting settled, we went over some of the preliminary paperwork and I was hooked up to the blood pressure cuff, fetal heart rate monitor and the contraction monitor.  I was having tolerable contractions every 6 minutes.  My cervix was checked and the nurse felt that I was only 1 cm. dilated.  I was given the cervix softener suppository, Cytotec.  We were then left to sleep for the night.  I do not know how I was supposed to sleep, filled with anticipation and a lot of pressure on my bladder!  My blood pressure cuff was also going off every hour and I was awoken at 5 a.m. for a blood draw!

At 7:00 a.m. I was given Stadol for pain and administered Pitocin to get my contractions started.  Doctor Thompson came in and checked on me at 8:30 a.m. and my waters were broken.  That was a weird experience.  Not much of a gush then, but when I tried to sit up later….

An hour later I was ready for the epidural!  Boy was I ready!  I had pretty strong contractions for two and a half hours and I was dilated to 4 cm.  The epidural was administered without a problem and labor was a wonderful thing….not that I could feel a thing!  By this time contractions were 2 to 3 minutes apart.  The nurse estimated that I would be giving birth at about 7 p.m.

I was monitored for progression approximately every hour thereafter.  Here at my stats as I have written in my journal:

9:30 a.m. – Epidural (4 cm. dilated, 80% effaced)

10:23 a.m. – 4 cm. dilated, 90% effaced (Nurse also commented that the baby had A LOT of hair)

11:44 a.m. – 6 cm. dilated, 100% effaced

1:00 p.m. – 8 cm. dilated

2:00 p.m. – 8 cm. dilated

3:00 p.m. – 9 cm. dilated

4:00 p.m. – 9 cm. dilated

4:30 p.m. – anti-nausea medication given

5:00 p.m. – 10 cm. dilated and ready to push

So, I am told I am supposed to get ready to push and they are going to call Doctor Thompson.  I begin to wonder how I am going to do this, when I really could not feel a thing!  Anyhow, Doctor Thompson arrives at 10 minutes after 5 and I begin to push!  The whole time I was thinking that this was not how I thought it would be!  I was expecting to be in some serious pain (again, thank you Epidural).  (And I had some very encouraging nurses who consistently told me I was a great pusher! - I reminded them that I had been constipated my WHOLE pregnancy!) At 5:47 p.m. Camryn Lee entered the world weighing in at 8 pounds and 10 ounces (OMG) and measuring 20 ½ inches in length!  I had a second degree tear, requiring some stitches, and that pain set in later that evening!  All in all it was a truly amazing experience, quick and easy as I had hoped and I am deeply in love with my beautiful daughter!

We went to the hospital last night as scheduled, for my induction and found out there were NO rooms available for me.  We ended up being sent home and I have to call my doctor's office this a.m. to find out when I will be rescheduled.  Needless to say, I walked out of the E.R. pretty discouraged, cranky and way over-tired! 

I know there is nothing that could be done.  It's better that I was not in active labor already, as that would have put me on one floor of the hospital and the baby on another.  I was just looking forward to meeting my little girl and I am not looking forward to going through another day filled with anxiety and nervousness!

Prestin slept over Nanny's last night, after we ate a pizza dinner, for what we thought would be the last time it was "just the three of us."  Looks like we may be waiting another day or two!

Slept okay last night, certainly not as good as I had thought I would for as tired as I am today!  I am up early, as always, but I am hoping to get a nap in here, shortly!

Editted to add:

My nap was interrupted by a call from the doctor's office.  I will go back to the hospital tonight.  Same time, same place - and hopefully we will be holding our daughter tomorrow!