| Spencer Aaron's Birth (Unplanned C-section) by: Sue Tuesday, October 9 at 1 a.m. I had the first real signs of labor. I had lost my plug (a thick slug on my toilet paper). However, I continued to leak. I put a sanitary napkin on, and it was soaked with water and tinged with blood. So we decided to call the doctor. He asked us to come in to make sure my membranes hadn't ruptured. We called my mom and dad, and we also called my husband�s mom. All three grandparents stayed throughout the labor and delivery. What a warm welcome Spencer was going to receive! We were in the hospital by 2 a.m. My water hadn't broken, but they wanted me to stay anyway to check the timing of contractions and induce if my own contractions didn't regulate, since I was overdue (10/3/01). I labored only slightly uncomfortably until 8 a.m. when the doctor finally came in and induced me with a cervical gel (can't remember really what �the gel� is). They had me lie in bed for 45 minutes, then take a walk around the maternity ward. While walking my contractions were getting severe. I was having �camel hump� contractions (where you have one right after another, and the low point of the contraction never really stops, it just continues to climb). By the time I got back to my room, 9:30 a.m., I was laboring so hard I was dripping with sweat! Good news, it's working. I had the choice to labor in the Jacuzzi for a while or go ahead and have the doctor rupture my membranes. So I had the doctor rupture in order to speed the process up. At that time we found out that Spencer had meconium (he had a bowel movement inside). During the doctor breaking my water I remember nothing! This is a moment I was in so much pain (says my husband) that I can only assume I have blocked it out! He said I was shaking and crying and just kept saying how much it hurt and repeating �Oh, God� over and over! I don't remember a thing though. About 15 or 20 minutes after he broke my water is when I remember finally realizing that Spencer had meconium and started asking about the changes in birth plan. Danny wouldn't be able to cut the cord; I wouldn't be able to hold him immediately, etc. The doctor said I needed to labor for an hour before getting the epidural (pain relief), and I agreed, saying that I thought I'd be OK. But by the half hour I was asking how much longer it would be until I got the epidural. Each of my contractions were "camel humps.� It seemed to never have an end! I wouldn't allow my husband to leave my side, but he also wasn't aloud to touch me. I thought I was going to rip the handrail off of the bed! They felt like severe diarrhea cramps. The contractions were two minutes apart when I finally got the epidural. The procedure was very easy. I had no pain from the epidural except for a bee sting feeling. Actually sitting in that squatted position with back-to-back contractions was worse than the needle. Immediately I felt relief from the epidural (which is uncommon). The nurse continued to check how much feeling I had and found that I was really having some affects. I was numb from toes to neck, but you're only supposed to be numb from toes to belly button! It wasn't a complication, though, just a sign that I was easily susceptible to the medication. I labored from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. All the while Spencer's heart rate, normally 135-145, was dropping to 72 and 68 during contractions. At 4:30 p.m. it was decided that Spencer's heart rate was not recovering and that I needed an emergency Cesarean section. I was 80 percent effaced and 8 centimeters dilated. I had even begun to feel the urge to push. I was very upset and concerned about having a C-section, but if that was the only way I was going to see my Spencer then so be it! After the anesthesia specialist came in, we had another episode where I was way too susceptible to the medication. I had severe shaking and started vomiting. I was so doped up I couldn't even respond to people. I could hear everything going on but couldn't respond to anyone. That was the scariest feeling I've ever had. (Hard to imagine people actually dope themselves up like that to feel good, when it scared the crap out of me.) My husband was the only family member aloud in the operating room, but he was able to take pictures and videotape. Unfortunately, since I was so medicated I didn't have a clear memory of the actual birth. I was so glad my husband was able to videotape! After the surgery and back in my room I was finally able to hold my son. What an indescribable feeling it is to hold this wonderful miracle. We held each other and our new family member and starred in awe at what we had created |