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After showing some signs of possible preeclampsia on Wednesday, my doctor, Dr. Supnet, decided to induce Jax's birth on Thursday. Chris and I checked into the hospital at 6am, and by around 8am the nurses started the pitocin drip (medicine to induce labor). The contractions weren't all that bad, and I was even able to take a nap for a couple of hours. By about 1pm, though, the contractions were starting to ramp up and I had about 6 really bad ones before the epidural was done. Whew! That epi is a DREAM! Chris looked up at the monitor as I was lying back down after having it put in and said, "You're having a contraction," and I said, "I am?" I couldn't feel a thing! The contractions went on like this for an hour or so and then the nurses noticed that when I had one, Jax's pulse would drop. (They had attached a monitor to the top of his head, which is how we first found out he had hair!) They stopped the pitocin and gave me a muscle relaxant to stop the whole process and start again-- a sort of reboot. Shortly after that my blood pressure crashed to 78/24 and so that was a scary moment. After stabilizing me and before starting the induction again, Dr. Supnet checked me out and reviewed the situation (around 3pm). He thought Jax might have the cord wrapped around his neck, and so it would be safer to have a c-section. They added medicine to my epi to really knock out my lower half, and by 4:30 I was in the OR. Chris sat by my head and talked to me so that I wouldn't think too much about the fact that they were cutting into me. Since I couldn't see anything, Chris tells most of the rest of the story best. But in any case, after what he calls a surreal scene of the c-section, I can hear Jax for the first time-- screaming like a duck who's been set on fire. QUACK! QUAACK! QUAAACK! Chris said, "Well, he has your lungs!" Finally they handed him to Chris who brought him around and put him next to my head. Being far-sighted and not having my glasses, he was a bit blurry but so, so beautiful and perfect. I said, "Hello, Jackson!" and he turned his head to face me and opened his eyes and blinked at me! I was so surprised! (My only experience is with kittens, who don't open their eyes for weeks!) Then Chris took him to the nursery while the doctor and nurses finished sewing me back together. It was a little strange-- I had just had the most important experience of my life to date, and there I was, able to see nothing but a blue drape, listening to them talk about taking trips to Spain as if I wasn't there. (Which I suppose to them I wasn't.) In any case, they took me back to my room and then to the recovery room and Chris met me there. They finally brought Jax to me around 8:30 (Chris, is that right? I just know it took FOREVER). He was so beautiful and bright-eyed! I just couldn't believe it. I don't remember much else from that night as the pain meds kicked in right about then! (I got to have one of those pain med IVs that has a button you click when you want more! Whoo-hoo!) We stayed in the hospital until Saturday. |
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