Submitted by Erin in Mechanicsville, VA
(Read more by visiting her blog here.)
I had to be induced at 36 weeks due to pre-eclampsia and IUGR (intra-uterine growth restriction). We arrived at the hospital at 6 am for the induction. We waited in the waiting room for about an hour and finally got into a labor and delivery room around 7. The hospital was packed that day–there were 36 babies born at that hospital on November 22, 2006!! Nevertheless, we did get a room and it was lovely.
At 36 weeks pregnant, I was 2.5 cm dilated and 90% effaced. My Pitocin drip was started at about 8 am. I progressed to 4 cm by noon, and then my water was artificially broken.
Sidebar: Having my water broken was a very strange experience. I did not enjoy it.
After having my water broken, the contractions intensified and I asked for an epidural. Surprise! The anesthesiologist was in an emergency C-Section, so I would have to wait. I waited in severe pain from my Pitocin-intensified contractions, breathing through them as best I could (since Jack was early, I never had a chance to take my birthing class–it was scheduled for the following week).
By 2 pm I was at 6 cm and 100% effaced, and the anesthesiologist showed up with the blessed epidural. The administration of the epidural was interesting: you have to hunch over so that the catheter can be placed between vertebrae (from what I understand). There were only two problems with this:
1. I was pregnant and therefore had a giant belly, which made it a little difficult to “hunch”
2. I was having intense contractions
We did get the epidural placed, and immediately thereafter I began to feel lightheaded. One of the things that can happen with epidurals is that your blood pressure can drop sharply, which mine did. I was put on oxygen and my husband got me a wet cloth for my forehead: problem solved. I will attach a photo of this, because it was quite funny. I looked a fright, but the epidural had taken effect and I was feeling pretty super.
People wonder what labor feels like. My best description is this:
Without epidural = extremely intense menstrual cramps that feel like they could tear you in two
With epidural = feeling like you have to poop really badly
Not a bad trade-off, if you ask me.
Within less than an hour of receiving the epidural, I progressed from 6 to 10 cm. Epidurals can sometimes speed things up that way. Finally the doctor came in and told me it was time to push; I was thrilled–especially because I didn’t think I could “hold it” any more.
The epidural had worn off enough so that I could feel to push. My husband held one leg, and a nurse held the other back. I pushed through one contraction and remember being really annoyed with the nurse who kept telling me to push harder. I was pushing as hard as I could, thank you very much!!!!
Unfortunately, during that first contraction my baby’s heart rate had slowed dangerously, so my doctor knew that she would have to do an episiotomy in order to get him out quickly and safely. She did the episiotomy between contractions; I pushed for the second time and my son was born! It took him a heart-stopping moment to cry, and then they whisked him away to weigh him and clean him up. He weighed in at 4 lbs 11 oz; 18 inches long. Tiny and perfect. They let me hold him for a minute, then took him up to the NICU to warm him up (he had trouble maintaining his body temperature for the first few days).
Due to my pre-eclampsia, I had to stay in L&D overnight, hooked up to an IV of magnesium sulfate, which prevents seizures. That is a story in its own right; that stuff has nasty side effects. Three days later though, I did get to take my baby home–and we lived happily ever after. 
awww thanks Carole! Me too!
I can’t imagine having a 1 lb. 13 oz. baby; that must have been heart-wrenching…and how wonderful to watch her grow up into a young woman!!!
Eryn’s last blog post..Sunday Morning
This blog post caught my eye since my daughter was born by emergency C at 27 weeks. I had RH toxicity. She was 1 lb., 13 oz. She was born Nov. 21, 1991.
Hard to believe she is 17. Wow. Memories.
I’m glad your story ended ‘happily ever after’!
Carole’s last blog post..Another Manic Monday