Birth Story (The painful truth)

I figured I would make a post to let everyone know the real birth story. Erin's recount, like most expectant fathers who do not fully comprehend the agony of childbirth, was written from a bed of roses. Not to down play Erin's role, she did labor for at least thirty minutes... over her feet that she was filing with my ped egg that she made me bring because she did give me the only pedicure appointment the salon had available. I wish I had a picture to post of her scraping away at her feet, while I am laying in pain waiting for my epid,ural. Listening to that sound was almost as bad as the labor, almost.

Finally it was time for my epid.ural, my OB had come and ruptured my water, and I was starting to hurt. It took about a hour for anesthesia to get to my room, as Erin posted they had just started a c-section. In Erin's original post she wrote that the CNA was placing my epid.ural, those of you in the medical field (and some not in the medical field) know that a CNA is a nurses aid. So to clarify things, no I did not let an aid place the epid.ural, although I was about at the point I would have allowed anyone, including housekeeping, to do it. She has now changed her post to say CRNA, which was a skilled nurse anesthetists. Within fifteen minutes of the epid.ural placement I was feeling no pain. I did have a complication with the epid.ural, in which my blood pressure dropped to 80's over 30's, which is quite a drop for a girl on blood pressure medications to control elevated blood pressure, necessitating a dose of epinephrine. I should have just suggested Erin get back out the ped egg because I am sure that made my pressures hit the roof.

By this time my mom had arrived and she and Erin decided to leave me alone to rest in my drugged up stupor. My nurse, Pam came to my room to check my progress and reported a 5 cm dilatation. I got on my phone and tracked down Erin and my mom to give them the update, they were in the cafeteria. I guess with all the foot filing Erin did she had worked up an appetite. Next I placed a call to Trevor and Greg letting them know to come on in, although I expected 2-3 more hours of labor. Within the next hour I began to have decels which are drops in the heart rate of the baby. The decels were happening with every contraction, which I had to let my mom know I was still having as she was on the phone with her sister reporting the contractions had stopped because she could not see them on the monitor.

Next thing I knew in walks the nurse and my OB. I immediately got nervous because from my past two labors I knew they didn't call the OB until right before the baby's debut. I thought great I am getting a c-section. Instead as Erin posted the plan was to insert an internal monitor and infuse fluids to get the baby off her cord, which was compressing with the contractions causing the heart rate to drop. The plan changed as OB checked my cervix finding me complete and ready to push.

Trevor had not made it to the hospital yet, but they began placing me in the stirrups. Trevor arrives and is guided in by a nurse because he is refusing to open his eyes, afraid to receive an unsolicited eyeful. Trevor was place in a chair at the head of the bed, looking more than a little queasy, and the pushing began. Both of my boys were delivered with one or two pushes because I was able to labor down, which means when the pushing started they were low and ready to come out. With Audrey, I started pushing with her in a much higher position. Later that night as I recounted my pushing with my mother/baby coworkers at the nurses desk, I was telling them how hard I pushed and how it was much more difficult than delivering my boys. I told them it was only about 30 minutes but it was intense. I had my nurse Keisha look up in the chart how long I pushed and she looks up at me and says, Angie it was only 7 minutes. Everyone got a good laugh at that, but I told them it was a hard 7 minutes.

Next Audrey was here and the deliberation over who would cut the cord began. My OB offered it to Erin first, she declined, next Trevor declined, I began to think I was going to have to cut her cord myself. Finally after a stern "Trevor get up and cut this cord," from Greg, Trevor relented and cut the cord.

The baby was then given to Erin and I was left with my OB who was dealing with my excessive blood loss. He got the bleeding to stop and finished up with me. The baby was doing great and my recovery period began. A normal recovery is an hour and a half, well mine was extended to five hours because you guessed it I started bleeding again. After two more bags of pito.cin, lots of painful uterine massage (by massage I mean pushing so hard I could feel it in my spine) and 4 cyto.tec pills place up my bottom I was stable enough for transfer to the post partum unit.

Once on the post partum unit I thought I was doing great and everything was fine until I got up to the bathroom. I felt a huge blood clot come out but when I got to the bathroom just one tiny clot was on the pad. That is when I realized it fell in the toilet. I thought great my nurse was my good friend Keisha who gets a little queasy with blood and the protocol is when a patient has a large blood clot you have to measure it. So I called for my sister to bring me a glove and I fished that thing out myself. The only thing available to place it in was a lid from my lunch at Gates BBQ so I placed it in that. Which is where the french fry rumor started, no I did not have a french fry in my blood clot, there may have been a few left in the lid. It is surprising that I left any in the lid because I did eat enough french fries it wouldn't be that surprising if one were in my clot. I called Keisha who had to check the clot and notify the doctor that my bleeding was continuing. She came back with a shot and lots of uterine massaging. Finally that was the last of my excessive bleeding. I think my uterus was afraid of Keisha and decided to behave.

That concludes my part of this journey and I will gladly pass the sleepless nights and crying baby on to Erin and Trevor. She is beautiful. Enjoy!

Birth Story and Beyond

I guess this is really part two of the Birth Story beginning with the epid.ural. For the exciting first chapter, including but not limited to such thrilling topics as cervical thinning gel and Big Poppa, you will have to check out my earlier post.

Angie was none too happy that the anesthesiologist was called into a c-section, so her epid.ural, which she had thought she had timed perfectly to receive before the pain actually hurt too much, was delayed. My mom was arriving just as the CRNA was prepping the injection site, so I stepped out into the hall to fill my mom in, and to avoid the procedure, as I get a little squeamish at the sight of blood (and there was more than expected as it took two sticks to get it properly positioned).

Once Angie was sufficiently drugged and comfortable, mom and I went downstairs to grab a little breakfast in the hospital cafeteria and let Angie rest. As we were finishing up about 30 minutes later, Angie called from the room and said she was dilated to 5 and that the doctor said she was progressing, finally.

We called Trevor and Greg and told them to come up and then sat around and stared at the monitor, which wasn't really registering the contractions properly. What it was registering was what the doctor called "variables" in the baby's heart rate. From what I can tell, this is a new politically correct name for what I knew as "decels" or decelerations of the baby's heart rate. They seemed to correspond with the contractions, so the nurse and OB came in and the plan was to insert an internal catheter which would get a more accurate reading of the contractions and also give them the ability to add more fluid to the uterine cavity to cushion the baby, as they felt the decels were probably due to cord compression during contractions.

Plans changed when the OB examined her to prep for the catheter and found that she was "complete" (I thought he said "an eight") and she needed to start pushing. I do have some pictures, including some classic annoyed looks, from the next few moments of pushing (which were intense, if not lengthy... Angie has a funny story to post about that if she so chooses) but even I have some restraint over what I post on the Internet.

The only labor picture I will post, promise.

Despite my squeamishness, I decided that I would take my place behind the doctor to watch all the action. I mean, how many mothers get this great of a view of their child entering the world. Greg was also at Angie's feet because he thinks watching births is "really cool." Trevor wasn't sure he even wanted to be in the room, but Angie and I convinced him otherwise and that he wouldn't see anything he didn't want to see if he sat in a chair near the top of the bed. Children aren't allowed in the room during delivery, so my mom was watching Fletcher in the family waiting room.

I have to admit, it was really hard watching the pain and effort Angie went through to birth my child. It was hard, and incredible. I really can't put it into words, so I won't even try. It was just... awesome. As I gawked in wonder, Trevor sat in the glider and tried not to pass out. I think he was just having flashbacks to Fletcher's birth and was very, very nervous.

After a handful of very intense contractions and even more intense pushing, out popped this head. This beautiful, gunky, only-slightly-cone-shaped head. One more push and her body followed.

Our First Look

Presentation for the Camera

After this picture the doctor placed her on Angie's belly and, after a little convincing from Greg, Trevor cut the cord. After quickly being dried off, they gave Audrey directly to me for a little kangaroo care. I had to wait over a week to hold Fletcher, so I was thrilled to get to hold Audrey immediately. Trevor was slowly regaining his strength, but was still a little nervous. He kept asking when they were going to check her O2 sats or do further testing. I told him that she was pink, which means her O2 was fine. But you have to understand, after being in the NICU for so long with Fletcher, it was really hard for him, for both of us, to really wrap our heads around a normal birth.

As I held Audrey, she let us know that she wasn't really thrilled with her new, cold, bright, noisy environment. I had read in a baby book that if you planned to breastfeed, it is a good idea to try it out as soon as possible after birth. I have heard plenty of breastfeeding horror stories about pain, and problems latching, and you name it, so I thought is was pretty ridiculous to expect a minutes-old baby to breastfeed. But Audrey was crying, and laying there on my bare chest, so I thought, what the heck. And, what would you know, that little girl almost immediately latched on and began quietly and contentedly sucking away. What? Believe me, I realize how lucky we were, are, in that department, but it was just so unexpected.

First Cuddle

Trevor went and got my mom and Fletcher to introduce them to Audrey. Fletcher loves a room full of people, little did he know how his life was about to change.

You can't really see it, but his shirt reads "I'm the Big Brother" (thanks, Aunt Shannon!)

Next, the nurses from the nursery came in to do their assessment. Finally, the medical attention Trevor was waiting for (but, alas, still not a pulse ox to be seen).

Tolerating the Stethoscope

Eye Goop and Vitamin K Shot... Not So Much

The Weigh In

After the assessment, they wiped her down and wrapped her up and I thought it was time for Fletcher to really meet his little sister. Honestly, he just really wasn't that interested. He has always been more drawn to adults than children, particularly babies, and I am not certain at this point that he realized that Audrey wasn't some doll. The good news was that he didn't dislike her, and wasn't acting particularly jealous.

Mom and Her Babies

First Family Picture

While the Smykays were busy posing and welcoming their newest member, Angie was enduring the yucky post-birth procedures, and not without complication. I won't go into too much detail here, but in a nutshell, they had some trouble stopping her bleeding. Luckily, with some extra time in recovery, a couple different medications, and a large blood clot containing a french fry (not really, there is a story there, too) by late that night things were looking much better.

Speaking of later that night, after a trip to the nursery for a nice bath and change of clothes (I have a 13 minute video of the whole endeavor, but I will spare you) Audrey was ready to eat again and settle in for the night (as much as any newborn settles in for the night).

Tucked into Her First Bed

Running on adrenaline from the events of the day, I stayed up until after her midnight assessment, fed her, and then settled down at around 1:00 am (but not before a little diaper changing incident that involved lots of meconium, spit-up, and then peeing all over her little bed). Although I slept with one eye open to keep watch on her, I actually did sleep for a few hours, and she didn't wake up until a little after 4 am.

Due to the timing of the birth, we got another day and a half in the hospital for recovery and observation. So the next day was spent getting to know more family, including the family Audrey has lived with for the past nine months...

Cousin Trey... So Sweet

Cousin Michael... Equally As Sweet

Angie's boys were just so incredibly excited to meet her, and were so curious and gentle with her. And I know I told Angie I wouldn't post any of the photos I took of her this day, but I think she looks fine in this one and Audrey's expression is too cute not to share.

Super-Aunt Angie and Audrey

Maren and Alexa with Their "First Girl First-Cousin"

Not Happy about Trying on Her First Photo Outfit

Between visits from her cousins and Great-Aunt Shirley, Audrey got her hospital photo taken and her newborn hearing screen, both with success. Saturday night they did the skin test for billirubin, which was slightly elevated and necessitated a blood test, but even so, Audrey's second day of life was blissfully uneventful, medically speaking. Her night was more of the same, although she didn't sleep quite as soundly as she did the night before (a trend she has continued).

The morning of her third day was spent hanging out with her brother and cousins while we packed up and got ready to go home.

Audrey and The Boys

My Two Moms

Nothing Jazzes Up a Hand-Me-Down Car Seat Like a Cute Matching Outfit

Leaving the Hospital

Coordinating Car Seats... Purely Coincidence, I Swear

What's next? That would be trying to figure out how to manage TWO kids on my own after Trevor goes back to work (which thankfully won't be for another couple of weeks).

I think I need another pair of hands.

And, no, Fletcher's don't count (although look at him already teaching his little sister how to stick out her tongue).

Introducing

Audrey Mae Smykay

June 11, 2009

12:40 p.m.

7 lbs 12 oz

19.5 inches

Birth Story Coming Soon

In Labor

I am sitting here in Angie's labor and delivery room feeling awful for putting her through this, but not as awful as she is feeling actually going through this, I'm sure. Her contractions are coming every three minutes and they are a little delayed bringing the epid.ural she requested about 20 minutes ago.

We arrived last night and they gave her some gel at about 8:30 to help thin her cervix. She got another dose at about 1:00 a.m. She was having some somewhat regular contractions at the time, more than she had with her boys who were delivered under a similar scenario, and since they were born around 10 am, we thought she might be here even earlier than the boys were.

We both brought some (rather disparate) reading material to pass the time, but most the night was spent chatting with Angie's coworkers from the mother/baby unit next door.

Angie's Book of Choice

My Choice: Last Minute Cramming

However, the early-morning delivery was not meant to be. Smykeeny Baby wants to stay with her Aunt Angie a little longer, so for encouragement they started the pi.tocin drip this morning at 6 am. Her OB then came in at a little before 8 am to break her water and now, about an hour later, they are prepping for the epid.ural.

Angie is tough, and has been suffering in silence, not even yelling or snapping at me once, even though I managed to get about 5 hours of sleep last night to her none. My mom will be here soon with my chai tea and Angie will be getting her epid.ural momentarily, so we are both about to be much happier.

Hopefully the next time I post I will have an introduction to make.

Last Night

Was the last full night of uninterrupted sleep that I will get for a long time. Checking into the hospital in 8.5 hours. Getting nervous and I'm not even the one who has to go through labor...

Last OB Appointment

Was uneventful. Doc said Angie was dilated to 1 cm, but that her cervix was thick and unfavorable for delivery (I think I am getting all the lingo right). So... even though Angie feels like there is a chance she will go into labor sooner (wishful thinking), my money is on our (her) admission next Wednesday night when they will give her some kind of gel to thin her cervix. If that doesn't do the trick, they will give her pit.ocin on Thursday to induce labor.

Trevor leaves tomorrow for his last pre-delivery trip. And while my bags are not packed, exactly, I have washed at least a weeks worth of newborn clothes as well as the cover for the co-sleeper. I treated Angie to a pedicure today, so her feet will look nice in the delivery video (which she thinks I will want; I am still not sure).

Next time I post I very well may be in the hospital "in labor" as Angie has made it very clear to me that once she is admitted, I am admitted and cannot leave unless it is for a food run, for HER. Fair enough. I think I may owe her one after all of this, huh.

Still Plugging, um, Pumping Along

Thank you mom and Little Einsteins. Without you both, I don't think this induction thing would work out. Trevor has been flying a lot recently, and Fletcher doesn't exactly entertain himself well (in large part due to my actions, I know), so I was getting a little nervous about how I was going to adhere to my pumping schedule. Thankfully, because my mom lives four miles away and will keep me company and entertain Fletcher the millions of times a day I need to pump, I have actually been semi-compliant with the prescribed routine and have been producing about 1/2 an ounce at each session. And, for the times when we are at home, Fletcher's new found interest in Little Einsteins has proved to be very, very helpful.

Thanks for your suggestions on the outfit. Pink is the clear winner, but I think I will take both pink and white to the hospital and see which one looks better. My mind has been racing lately with horror stories of bad births and last minute complications, so it has been good to think about inconsequential things, like wardrobe.

I will probably post one last time after Angie's appointment tomorrow and after that, check back on the 11th or 12th for the big birth announcement!