DS is sleeping away in his vibrating chair so I finally have some time to type this all out!
After finding out I was still 4cm, 90% effaced at my dr appointment at 39 weeks, we decided to have a plan. Dr planned for me to come in on my due date the following week to have my water broken, and see what would happen with that. Our biggest worry was making sure I had the antibiotics for Group B Strep in four hours before that happened.
The early morning of the induction, nurse calls to tell me not to come in, that they got SLAMMED the night before and there aren't any beds available. I was super disappointed, and we just kinda hung out all day waiting for the call. Finally at 2:30pm, got the call and we went in.
Once I got there, they were SUPER efficient. Got hooked up to ivs, changed, into our L&D room. Nurses were awesome. Started antibiotics around 4ish, so we hung around, going back and forth between being monitored in bed, and walking around the unit. At 8, I was 5cms, and they decided to break my water. WOW.....talk about a flood. I was not prepared for the amount of fluid. I sat there awhile leaking, and getting up to use the bathroom was tricky (had to hold a towel in between my legs from flooding the floor). Totally gross.
An hourish later, was checked and there was no real progress. Dr came in to talk about Pitocin. Decided to give that a try. Got my epidural around midnight, and pitocin started shortly after. Epidural was great, except it really went down my legs. I didn't really like not being able to feel my legs. I especially had dead leg on the left....I couldn't even help the nurses move me around. Granted Id rather feel dead leg than the pain of pitocin contractions, but it was hard to get used to. DH, my mom and I got some sleep between 2-3.
At 3:30, was checked and was at 8, 100%! At 4:30 was complete! That pitocin really did work for me. Started pushing at 4:50. Dr and nurse kept saying, "he is right there, you will only push for 10,15" THat was enouraging, except I felt like i sucked at pushing since i couldn't feel a thing! I almost asked for epi to be turned off. But they kept saying I was doing it right. His head came out about 2 inches and stayed there for 45 minutes! Part of his large head was stuck under my pubic bone. Dr and nurse kept remarking on all his hair, so they washed it several times between contractions, and made mohawks out of it. It was weird at first but gave me a laugh.
Finally he made his way at 6:05, and he came out screaming I have never felt that kind of relief before. Instead of that flood of emotion and love when he was placed on my chest, I thought "oh thank god thats over". He was 8 lbs 6 oz, and 21 inches with a large noggen.
Recovery was tricky. Epi took a while to wear off, and when they wanted me to get up to take a shower before moving me to postpartum, I almost fainted. Felt really weak, light headed, low BP, had thrown up, etc. So i got a sponge bath instead. I really wasn't sore in the stitches area (I had a 2nd degree internal tear). But my tailbone felt broken! It hurt to lay down, sit, stand, you name it. I asked for lots of drugs in the days that followed.
Staff was wonderful, but after having slept 2 hours in 48 hours, I was anxious to get out of hospital and home to sleep a little. The constant flow of people in and out of the room was enough to make my DH crazy. He can sleep anywhere (he has slept through earthquakes on deployment) but I on the other hand am not able to do that. Lack od sleep made me hallucinate, and when pedi came into talk about baby's care/hip issues....I was so not absorbing any of it. Lots of crying later.
First few nights at home were rough, but we are settling in a bit now. Waiting on a referral to see a specialist for hip dysplasia (he may have to wear a harness....more crying). But I cannot complain, he is a healthy, relatively happy little man who was well worth the wait
Oh my your epi was very strong. I wish mine would have worked just a little bit Keep us updated on the hip issues. Hopefully it will be an easy fix. How long will your dh be home? Glad your delivery went pretty smooth.
Congrats! Hope you feel better soon and good luck with the hip dysplasia! My daughter had hip dysplasia and wore a harness from 5 weeks to 24 weeks weeks. I'm happy to answer any questions if it comes to that. FWIW, it didn't bother her one bit and she's perfectly fine now!
Congrats! Hope the hip issue isn't difficult for either if you.
I have a broken/fractured/dislocated tailbone from delivery too. Stay ahead of the meds. I've tried to cut back over the last few weeks and it sucks. It's just starting to feel better this week. I don't mean to scare you with this, I just wasn't expecting it to hurt quite this long!
Thanks for the tip.....I appreciate the reality of it. Will def keep taking the meds!
Congrats! Hope you feel better soon and good luck with the hip dysplasia! My daughter had hip dysplasia and wore a harness from 5 weeks to 24 weeks weeks. I'm happy to answer any questions if it comes to that. FWIW, it didn't bother her one bit and she's perfectly fine now!
Thank you....I needed to hear this. I may PM you at some point if you don't mind. Especially after we meet with specialist , I know I'll be filled with questions.
Congrats Hun! Glad your DH was home with you for his birth, glad everyone came out healthy. GL with the hip business, and cry as you need to over the coming weeks. For me, I cried a lot lol
And I always felt a bit better afterwards. Let it out mama. Enjoy your son!
Congrats! Hope you feel better soon and good luck with the hip dysplasia! My daughter had hip dysplasia and wore a harness from 5 weeks to 24 weeks weeks. I'm happy to answer any questions if it comes to that. FWIW, it didn't bother her one bit and she's perfectly fine now!
Thank you....I needed to hear this. I may PM you at some point if you don't mind. Especially after we meet with specialist , I know I'll be filled with questions.
Definitely let me know if you have any questions. She's 5 now, so it's been a while, but it really wasn't as bad as I was anticipating. If they catch it early, it's not difficult to treat. Good luck and hope you don't need to deal with it, though