Member- Lyndzo
- 4 years ago
I was 9 days past my due date on January 21st when I went into the hospital to start induction. They inserted the gel and sent me home 45 mins later, even though it had obviously kick started contractions.
We got home and made some dinner, I was already in quite a bit of pain. I was pretty sure it was back labour but was confused how to time the contractions. By 8pm it was obvious and I could time them. Most of them ranged from 4-6 minutes apart, but the odd 8 minute. We went up to bed at midnight with me in a lot pain, I timed contractions for an hour and they were 4 minutes apart consistently. I was in pain so much that I was shivering. I told DH we need to call the hospital, sure enough they said come on in.
We got to the hospital and they checked me right away. I was already at 4cm (I was at 2cm when I had the gel inserted). The contractions were now 2-3 minutes apart and I was admitted. It did not take long to have them come and give me the epidural. For the record, that hurt like a bitch. Everyone told me it didn’t hurt but it hurt so bad. The freezing needle was fine but when he inserted the catheter and said I would only feel pressure, that was a lie. I felt like someone was ripping my spine out. He had to give me more freezing just to be able to finish. Once it was done, about ten minutes later I felt so much relief.
I spent the next few hours either napping or visiting with my parents (and DH of course), I appreciated the company. At this time they started me on Pitocin because I was still at a 4. They increased it gradually throughout the day. The next check I was at 6 finally, so she broke my water. Then 4 hours later I was at an 8. I was also bleeding a lot at this point. I didn’t know how much until DH said something yesterday. He admitted he didn’t want to freak me out while I was in labour.
The doctor said she wasn’t sure the baby would fit through my canal but said let’s give it 2 more hours. I thought things were finally picking up, but noticed I was feeling contractions again. I was wincing in pain through them, so they came and upped my epidural. It lasted an hour and I was in pain again. They had to come again and give me an even stronger one, explaining I was becoming immune to it. At this point I had so many drugs in me I was shivering violently.
At one point she told me I would throw up at some point and I burst into tears. (I’m deathly afraid of vomiting and it just set me off). DH and my parents were pissed at her, they had gotten me so worked up. Later the nurse said I couldn’t have any water or anything in case I needed a C-Section, I hate that I was so thirsty my mouth was dry. I lay there passing in and out crying begging for water. I remember DH pushing a tiny ice chip into my mouth at one point because he couldn’t stand me suffering anymore. Eventually the nurse let me have a cold wash cloth in my mouth for the dryness. My mom had her thinking pants on and didn’t ring the cloth out, I was sucking the water right out of it. It helped a lot and I calmed down quite a bit. (For the record, the little bit of water did not make me nauseous or make me throw up during the C-Section like they had claimed).
Things at this point were hazy but I’ve been reminded of a lot of this.
At 5:30pm the doctor came and I was still an 8. She had me try to push to see if the baby would come down and I pushed as hard as I could but I was pretty weak. At this point she said I’m sorry but I don’t think the baby is going to come out because of her head, I think we need a C-Section. I said I think you’re right. I was ready for this to be over, it was a long painful 24 hours.
The anesthesiologist came and said they would take the epidural out and do a spinal instead for the best freezing (since I was becoming immune to the epidural). Apparently I started to cry and say no, but the doctor assured me I was frozen enough I wouldn’t feel it. She was right.
They wheeled me down to the OR and the spinal was a breeze, didn’t feel a thing. (Note I did NOT once throw up! Take the Nurse Crankypants!) They had DH come in and within 5 minutes they were pulling Quinn out of my belly, a very tight fit as she said. I heard her cry right away and the doctor said “Oh my god Lyndsey, she looks just like you” and the other nurses said “Oh my god she does!”
I caught a glimpse of them bringing her over to clean her while DH went to see her. I burst into tears, I just kept sobbing. DH kept asking if I was ok and I just kept saying I was so happy. Then I said “Is she still a girl?” and everyone laughed.
Quinn Elizabeth was born at 6:03pm on January 22nd, 9lbs 3oz and 20.5 inches long.
When she was born, she was born with a “cone head”, which was the reason why she would not come down into the birth canal and that I needed a C-Section. The cone head was crazy but they assured me it would go down quickly, it was almost gone by the time I had my skin to skin with her.
DH got to take her for some skin to skin while they closed me up. I was chatting with the nurses but the violent shivers came back strong from the spinal. It didn’t hurt but it was freaky. After they wheeled me out, I don’t remember a lot. I had so many drugs in me, my parents and brother came in to see me as I was having my skin to skin. I remember them being there and they were talking but I kept passing in and out. I don’t remember anything that was said, but luckily I do remember my skin to skin with her.
The labour experience was one of the hardest things I’ve ever gone through in my life. But it was worth every moment to have her safe and healthy in my arms.
Here’s my little Quinn at birth and a picture at home at 3 days old 🙂
