Okay here it goes, this is the birth story of Dalton Jensen Herman.
First off, I went to my OB appointment on Monday May 15th. I obviously had
still not delivered. My cervix was only a fingertip dialated and I can't remember
the effacement if any. As discussed the prior week, we decided to start
an induction. I was sent to the hospital to start the ripening of my cervix
with cytotec. I was told that I would have to stay at the hospital, and that
the cytotec could be applied up to 8 times, but usually started working by
the second or third application. I was told after my cervix was ripe enough,
based on a number of things they look for, that they would start me on pitocin.
After getting our daughter to a sitter, Casey I arrived at the hospital
around one pm. I had the first dose of cytotec applied at 2:15. After they apply it
they wait 4 hours to check the cervix before applying a second dose. Since
they had to monitor me and baby- I was confined to the bed. So, for the first four
hours Casey and I just watched tv and chatted. I did not really feel anything
happening. Around 6:30 they came and checked me again. My cervix was maybe about a one.
They applied the second dose. This started the contractions. I felt them close together.
They hurt, but nothing I could not stand. By the time the next dose was due, I was
having such frequent contractions on my own that they did not want to give me any more
cytotec. I was confused because I assumed they would start the pitocin- but the
doctor was afraid the baby would not be able to handle the contractions. I was to spend
the night at the hospital and see what would be done the next morning. I was allowed off
the monitors for awhile and me and Casey walked around the hospital trying to get things going.
They gave me a sleeping pill, but It did not do much, I still was up all night.
In the morning we had to wait for my doctor to come in and make some sort of decision.
I was still having contractions on my own throughout the night. My doctor came around 10:00am.
My cervix was still only at a 1. They went ahead and started the pitocin drip. Of course
these made the contractions worse and I was definatley beginning to feel some real pain.
About 12:15 I was asking for pain medication. I was given a narcotic in my IV- I don't
recall the name- but it was not stadol (this did not work for me last time). I felt
this medication right away- of course it does not take away the pain- but made me
so that I did not notice the pain. The first dose lasted almost 2 hours. I fell asleep for
a few minutes here and there.When it wore off the contractions were so much worse, they had
turned up the pitocin. I was about to get a second dose of the medication- I had
let Casey leave to get himself something to eat- thinking I would rest with the medication.
The nurse was just about to put the medication into the IV when Daltons heart rate dropped considerably.
She quickly had me turn on to my side- this seemed to work and the heart rate went back up.
The resident doctor came in and they turned off the pitocin. She would not
let me have the pain medication- because the baby was not being reactive- his heart beat was
fine- but he was sleeping- they want to make sure baby is moving around and alert before
they give meds.
At this point I get somewhat confused as to what is going on. I know I begged for more pain
medication and after getting some reaction from the baby on the monitor they let me have
the second dose. It wore off much quicker than the first. I wanted a third soon after and was given it.
This third dose had no effect what so-ever. My water broke in between the second and third dose- I believe.
I remember asking the intern if they would consider breaking my water to get things
going. She was out in the hall about to call my doctor when I felt a pop, and the gush
of water. Of course after this the contractions came on alot harder. I believe the pitocin had
been turned off this whole time since the heart rate incident. Soon after this my
doctor was called in- This is where I think I did not really know what was going on. I
thought they were just trying to okay an epidural, but I think the monitor was showing the
babys heart rate dipping with each contraction and then excellrating afterwards. My doctor
showed up and checked me- the baby was facing sideways- my doctor then called
an OB (my doc is a general practicioner)- for a surgical consult. All I could remember was thinking
that after that awful but successful version I was going to have a C-section afterall.
The OB came in and consulted with my doctor- she decided that she felt I could deliver without C-section.
They gave me the epidural- (which was nothing like the one with Kaitlyn- this one I felt and it took forever for him to find the right spot)
and after about 3-4 strong contractions it started to work. The OB and my doctor
decided that they did not want to do anymore internal exams because they were afraid that the
baby would get in a worse position than he already was. I was told that when I felt
pressure I would know it was time and then they would check me. Well- at this point- right
before getting the epidural my cervix was just barely a 3. So I, and everyone else assumed it would
probably be another 7hours or so before I was at a 10. The OB went back to her office, and my doctor
left the room. The nurse was just readjusting the monitors and I thought I felt some
pressure. I really doubted it myself but finally said something to the nurse.I said it like, "
I know this is not possible yet- but I think I feel some pressure down there", she agreed that
it probably was nothing. A few minutes later I was feeling it a bit stronger and some cramping as well. I brought
it up again and she said she would tell my doctor as soon as she saw her. Well then my doctor came into the room.
I started telling my doctor that I felt a little pressure- then all of a sudden
it was not a little pressure anymore. I was like "I feel like I gotta push NOW!!!"
My doctor checked me and I was at an 8. So from an almost 3 to an 8 in about 15-20 minutes.
I was told not to push- haha. Had to bare with the contractions until 10. She noticed that
baby had turned face up- she immedialtey had the OB called back in. I had started pushing before
the OB got there. I did not realize how serious things had become- I was just thinking that
the baby was coming fast. After trying to push for maybe 10 minutes they knew that
they had to get baby out. They used the Suction Vacume and with about 3 pushes he was out.
I was told afterwards that Dalton was not breathing at all when he was born,
He did have a heart rate though. They took him over to the isolet and got him breathing
again. I was told he had been a purple color. Finally they brought him to me for
about 20 seconds- When I saw him he looked fine- but it was just because they had just
got him breathing and he had some color back from being under the lights. They took him away to the
special care unit- I sent Casey with him. They put him under oxygen in this thing
that looked like the top to a dinner tray- a plastic bowl thing. They also had an
IV in him to give him fluids- the only vein that they could get was in his head. They had
poked him all over. He also had the monitors for his heart, his respiration and his
oxygen. After my epidural wore off they wheeled me over to see him. I was only able to hold his little
hand
After I was settled into my room I went again and checked on him. They told me
that he would be off the oxygen by the morning. The next morning he was off the oxygen and doing
good breathing on his own. His oxygen was doing great. I could not feed him for
24 hours and They told me he would probably be in the hospital until friday.
The rest is pretty standard stuff. Just me in the hospital going to nurse him every few hours- once they finally
okayed the feedings. They had him off IV by Thursday. He was released Friday morning, but
we stayed for a few tests to be done. Everything came back okay. He is a little
jaundice- and I just have to watch for signs of it getting worse. Now I will just
tell you a few other things.
Well that is all I can think of for now. I am very tired after this whole thing and am just happy to be home with my son. I will have pictures for everyone soon.
