Labor and Birth of Sean Emery

It was a very difficult pregnancy, complicated with Gestational Diabetes. I went to my 39 week Dr. appt on January 4, which also included and U/S to see how big Sean was getting. The U/S concluded Sean was about 8lbs, and that was big enough for my Doctor. See I was attempting another V-Bac (vaginal birth after C-section) and we didn't want Sean to get so big he wouldn't come out. Also with all the risks associated with Gestational Diabetes we decided it would be best to induce Labor.

It was a two part induction. I was admitted into the hospital the evening of the 5th. At that time they put a cream on my cervix to help soften it and to get it ripe for Labor. This was after getting my IV's and filling out about a thousand forms! While doing all the preparations, they took my blood pressure. It was running about 143/92. Not very good. In fact for the last 3 weeks my pressure was running high, but it would go down when I laid on my left side. So no one was really worried.

Things were going smoothly until about 10pm. That is when I started getting a headache. It really was no big deal, and my husband asked the nurse if I could take some Tylenol. She said yes, so I proceeded to get my self settled in for bed. As the night went on my headache would not go away. I complained about it several times, but was basically ignored. Because of this headache I only got about an hour sleep all night. It was not a good start.

The next morning we had the change of nursing shifts, and my blood pressure taken again. It was still running high now about 148/98. My Doctor came in mildly concerned about it, and then proceeded to get the dreaded Pitocin ready. About 9am the Pitocin got started and the contractions started getting regular about an hour later. My headache was getting worse and worse now. I was playing Scrabble with my husband when my vision started getting so bad I couldn't see the board. Now I was crying in pain from this headache. It was then that all hell broke loose.

I was spilling protein in my urine and was diagnosed with Pre-eclampsia. My blood pressure was going up to 198/130. I was started on a drug called Magnesium Sulfate in order to help prevent seizures. Everyone was running around crazy, but all I knew was my head hurt and bad! I have never experienced a headache as bad as this one! They turned off all the lights in my room, and made my husband turn off the TV. It was quite amusing to see the Doctors and nurses going about activities in my room with only a flashlight.

This went on all day, I had the Pitocin going, and the magnesium going. I had so many lines going in my IV it was ridiculous! The contractions were getting pretty bad by the afternoon, and I begged for an epidural. Finally the Epidural man came in but that was also a disaster! He gave me the shot to numb my back before he started, but he didn't wait long enough. I wasn't numb. The pain was pretty intense, then he proceeded to hit a nerve. It felt like I was being ripped open from my spine all the way down my right leg. You should have heard me Scream! I would have made all the horror movie stars proud! He did finally get it in, but then I kind of passed out. I don't know exactly what happened, it was called "questionable seizure activity".

When I got over this 'spell' I felt better. Contraction wise anyhow, I still had the headache. My epidural lasted maybe an hour. When it wore off the contractions were massively intense. I was at 7 cm then, and my Doctor told me I would probably have the baby before the Epidural man came back. Well an hour later, still no epidural and no progress. It seems the Epidural man was in surgery (small hospital, there was only one of them there) and we didn't know why I wasn't progressing. Another hour and still at 7cm but at least I got a boost of the epidural. I was devastated though when it only took effect in half my body. The right side was numb as heck, while I felt everything in the left. After another hour at 7cm and the fact of my blood pressure being so high it was decided then I would need a C-Section.

Everyone was once again running around like crazy as they quickly got everything ready. It really did go quick then! I just remember the relief when they gave me a full fledge epidural and I felt nothing. What a great feeling after all that pain! Before I knew it, they were holding up Sean saying "It's a boy". He was so beautiful, It was love at first site.

Sean came into this world at 8:26pm on January 6, 2000. I had to stay on the magnesium sulfate for four days. It took that long for my blood pressure to go down. During this time I was allowed no visitors, except immediate family. The worst part I wasn't allowed to breastfeed Sean. I had to sit there and pump then throw the milk out because of that drug. I was truly relieved that after the 4 days he latched on like a champ and we been breast feeding every since!

Well that is the short of my labor and delivery. It was a horrible experience all around. Well except for Sean, he was the miracle that made it all worth while.