[ASheppa0821]

Well, the birth was hard. I was scheduled to go in on Feb. 20th in the evening to start medication to soften my cervix, and get the process rolling, then have petocin started at 6:00 a.m. the next morning. Well, I went in for my final NST (Non-stress test that they performed on the baby twice a week, since I had preeclampsia. It was one of the MANY tests that was done on me the last two and a half months of my pregnancy) on Monday the 19th, and my BP was a little high, as usual, but I didn't feel well, and they could tell I was exhausted after two weeks of no sleep due to being uncomfortable and having Siattica (it's VERY painful sensations in your hips and legs. You feel like your bones are being chisled away at with a pick axe and like they're going to shatter). Well, they evaluated me and called my doctor and he said to go ahead and admit me and get the ball rolling. So, they started my pills at 12:30 p.m. on Monday afternoon. Well, the next day, they came in to start an epidural line. Because of poor posture (I was sitting and sleeping in ANY possible position that was even remotely comfortable), my spine was terribly crooked, and it took 4 attempts to get it in, and each time, she had to poke through a tendon, and she hit my siattic nerve, or something that was causing my hips to flare up HORRIBLY!!! They wanted the line in my back in case of a c-section, but the medication was completely up to me. I asked them to give me medication since my hips were so bad. None of the contractions I had my whole labor were as bad as my hip pain! Anyhoo, they started it, and I had a reaction to the dosage, and the baby's heart rate dropped, and I started going in and out of it and throwing up, plus, my BP dropped. They got me back to normal again with oxygen and stopping the epidural, and giving me Nubain (AWESOME STUFF!!!) Well, I got Nubain every 3-4 hours, which helped me sleep part of the time. Then, they started my epidural as well, leaving it on for 2 hours to let me sleep and get strength from my hip and labor pain, and then turning it off for 3 hours to let me progress (slowed down my contractions). Well, FINALLY Wednesday morning at 7:00 p.m., I was dialated 1/2 a centimeter...!! So, that means they could start the petocin. Well, they start it out slowly, then every 20 minutes, they kick it up a dosage. It took me 1 hour to get to 1.5 centimeters, then another hour and a half to get to a 4, then i stayed at a 4-5 for a few hours, then i went from 5-8 in 20 minutes, then bounced up the ladder to a 9, then a 10 in another 15 minutes after that. Anyhoo, they stopped my petocin to let my body work on its own, and my contractions were every 8-10 minutes, and so my pushing was slow. So, they had my on a 4, and pushed me up to a 20 dosage, so my husband says... Then, they started coming every minute. After almost 3 hours of pushing, my doctor asked me if I wanted him to help me. Of course, I said YES!!! Well, they used the vacuum to get her out. I don't know when I've hated something so much, but been so grateful for it at the same time. They wouldn't let me see it beforehand, but picture a teacup saucer being wedged up there. Yeah...it hurts like crazy. But, 1/2 a push later, she was out. It was AWESOME!!! She was so little... I said "you felt a lot bigger coming out!!!" I have never felt more accomplished and fufilled in my life!! I had a second degree tear..not bad...that only required 4 stitches. I recovered quite fast, and only bled for about 2 weeks, when I was told 4-6 weeks of bleeding could be expected. I feel fantastic, and Emma's such a content, happy baby. I'm DEFINITELY blessed beyond measure!