I tried to get ready for work, but I didn't think I'd be able to last very long with the contractions. Chuck was getting ready as well, but in the end we both decided we should probably go to the hospital (Banner Gateway) instead just to make sure everything was okay.
When we got there, they had me change clothes and hooked me up to a machine to monitor my heartbeat, the baby's heartbeat and my contractions. In the end, I was only dilated to about a 1.5/2 and since my contractions weren't very strong they sent me home.
We spent the day at home and I tried to take a nap. My contractions didn't go anywhere but throughout the day they got a little further apart but started to become more painful. It was around midnight I could barely stand the pain anymore and woke Chuck up. We gathered our things and headed back to the hospital. It was around 1AM that was got back to the hospital. I think I was dilated to about a three or a four and they decided to admit me.
At 4:00AM I got my epidural and we waited. (And by waited, I mean we both fell asleep.) It was several hours later (I think about 9AM) that I was now dilated to a seven. And then finally around noon I was dilated to a ten. They had broken my water and given me pitocin and they were ready to have me push. Since I couldn't feel anything from the waist down, pushing seemed impossible! I honestly don't know if I was even doing it right. They had me push for about an hour until my back was in so much pain and I was so exhausted I needed a break. Chuck and I took another nap and after about an hour they had me start again. They were about to see her head, and told me about all her dark hair! We were both so surprised! I thought for sure she'd either be bald or blonde!
In the end, I had pushed about three and a half hours and nothing was changing. They discovered that she was face-up and we were having no luck trying to turn her over. They had my doctor (Eric Huish) come in and talk to me about my options. He told me I could either keep pushing or I could have a c-section. He also told me they were worried that if she ever did end up fitting her head through that her shoulders might get stuck and it could be hours before we even got that far. At this point it was about 6PM. I had been pushing for hours with no luck. I was completely exhausted and my back was in so much pain. They gave us a few minutes to be alone to talk about what we wanted to do. I knew I couldn't keep this up anymore and so Chuck and I agreed that a c-section would be the best option. We said a prayer and when my doctor came back in we told him about our decision. He told me it was probably the best option and that it would only take about half an hour, we just needed to wait for the room to open up and to get the team together.
It was just after seven when they got me into the operating room. It was time for my nurses to change shifts and I was sad to see them go. They had been super sweet to me and had taken care of me all night. When they got everything ready they told me I shouldn't be able to feel anything, but my back was still hurting, which had me worried. They finally had everything ready and let Chuck come over to hold my hand. I think at this point I was just so physically and mentally drained and was a little bit freaked out about having to have a c-section. I could feel them tugging to pulling (which was supposed to be normal) but I felt it up near the right side of my belly button. I have to admit I was freaking out and in a lot of pain. They kept giving me different things. They gave me something that was supposed to help relax me and told me I might not remember some things later. I told him "No, that's okay." because I didn't want to forget anything, but I think he thought I meant it was okay to give it to me. All of a sudden I felt this weight come off of my stomach and fall flat and I heard my baby girl crying. They called Chuck over to take a look at her and they brought her over for me to see. They kept telling me she had such long eye lashes and tons of hair! I remember my first thought when they brought her around the curtain so I could see her being: she didn't look like either one of us. (I think I was pretty out of it.) They started to clean the baby off and asked Chuck if he wanted to cut the cord. I think me freaking out had him a little bit shaken, so he didn't leave my side. I asked him if he was sure and he said he was. (I was secretly glad he didn't leave me, even though it would have only been for a second.) They cleaned her off and brought her over to me which they stapled up my stomach. The nurse asked us if we wanted a picture and took a couple for us. Here are a few pictures.
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We ended up staying in the hospital till Saturday. We had lots of visitors and the hospital staff was all so nice and helpful. I have to admit I was nervous to take the baby home and do everything alone! Haha. But now she's almost three weeks old and we couldn't be more in love!
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| Cora Ann Linton - Born 7:08 PM July 9, 2014 8 pounds 5 ounces / 21 inches long |
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