Well...I started labor on Tue. June 19th. The contractions were 10 min apart, since we lived so far away from the hospital that we were delivering at, we headed over. It was a 2 hour drive. Well we got there and I was only 1cm dialated, but by the time we got there the contractions were 5 min apart. We went home and waited to see what was going to happen. By friday the contractions were coming strong and 3-5 minutes apart.
We went in and had my Dr. check me out. We were concerned because I labored hard for 3 weeks with my daughter, and never progressed. We had talked to the Dr. about this, and she had said at the beginning of the pregnancy that she would not let me go through that again. Well at her office on Friday, she confirmed that I was still just 1cm, very soft, and 50% effaced. So she stripped my membranes and sent me to the hospital for a NST. The heart rate was in the low one teens running about 113-118, and he was not really reactive to the contractions, my nurses seemed a little concerned about that, but the Dr. didn't. We did an ultrasound and saw that he had plenty of amniotic fluid, but that the umbilical cord was down by his head and shoulders. So breaking my water was out of the question, due to a concern of prolapsed cord. We also got to see him opening and closing his mouth. Well, they sent us home to see if the stripping the membranes would get anything going.
This whole time we have been staying at my parents house 12 miles from the hospital. This particular weekend happened to be my neices 10th birthday party out in the pasture, and we weren't the only ones staying at my parents. Luckily I have a very close and supportive family, so everyone tried to help make me as comfortable as possible. My contractions would continue 24 hrs at 3-5 min apart, but they would loose some strength in their pain during the day, and at 6pm like clock work they would begin to get very intense. Sat. we went in to L&D just to have them check me out to see if DH should go to work on Sunday, I was a whopping 1 1/2 cm dialated and his head was still audible(floating). So we expressed a concern to the nurse about my water breaking while we were at home, my dd broke the water at 1 1/2 cm and was at a -3 station. So we were concerned about a prolapsed cord up the river. She went to call our Dr. because she agreed that that was a legitimate concern. Well, our Dr. apparently got very pissy with her and would not even talk to us! I was not happy! His heart rate was still nonreactive to the contractions and was just "flat lining" in the low teens. It wasn't going up with the contractions. So, again we headed home to my mothers and all the company! So we stayed home until monday night when the contractions were so intense that I was in tears. That's when my mom said that's it were going back!
We arrived at the hospital and the contractions were 2-3 min apart, but I was only 1 1/2 cm dialated, and 50% effaced! So, my doctor reccomended to the nurse cecanol and demerol to see if that would knock out the contractions. Well, I received the shot, and went off to sleep in the hospital. I woke up the next morning and the contractions were still there at 6am. The nurse came in and was pretty impressed, because I had one contraction last 6 minutes! What a whopper! I think that's the one that woke me up. Well, the Dr. was supposed to come in and see me, when she was doing rounds....we waited...and waited... and no Dr. Finally the nurses called her office, and she was seeing patients....she FORGOT...to come see me! So she would be over during her lunch time! The nurses were PISSED..and so were WE! So she finally shows up, and she walked into my room with such ATTITUDE, you would not have believed it! She said that she was NOT going to do anything for me, and that this could very well go on for another 2 weeks. I told her that would be fine with me, if the contractions stayed in the moderate zone, but they were not, they were increasing in intensity! And that I could not and would not do this for another two weeks, this is the same thing I did with my dd, and I reminded her of our conversation when I interviewed her. How she said that she would not make me do this again! She said "I would never say that" I told her ...."You just LIED to ME then!" Her face went ash white, like she couldn't believe I called her on the carpet. I said "Either you do something, or your FIRED! I know YOU would not go through this for 3 weeks, and let your son watch you in pain every night!" She had nothing to say....I think the Dr. Patient relationship was over at this point for sure! I started to talk again, and she cut me off....this whole time my DH has been sitting there with his head in his hands, because he just wants to strangle her, and he pipes in when she cut me off.."You need to Shut up, and let her finish, She listened to you, now you listen to her!" When I finished she said, "I won't stop you from seeking another Doctor"...I said "Like you could!" She left and we left the hospital with no Doctor....ON MY DUE DATE! Talk about stressed....I just sat there and bawled. All of the nurses were just pissed at the Dr. They new she was just playing a power trip! So we went back to my mothers once again....without my son born....again!
When we got home my husband called his dispatchers to let them know what was up, and they told him he needed to contact this Dr. in Roseburg. Shawn thought, right he's going to take her with a weeks worth of contractions on her due date.....After talking to his office, they said to get me to Roseburgs Mercy Medical Center right away! So off we drove! After we got there, and met the Dr. He evaluated me, and my previous pregnancy history....he said he did not like Zachary's nonresponsive heart rate, and the fact that I lived 27 miles from the hospital! He wanted to induce! So, I called my mom and told her to get to the hospital, they were going to induce. She called my dad to come stay with my dd, and my brother had called her and was on his way down too with his wife. They all got there at the same time about 1/2 after the first induction medication was given(at 10pm).
The doctor wanted to use Cytotec....yes I expressed my concerns, and he let me know that the cases of Uterine rupture usually involved women with previous c-sections, and with to aggressive dosages given. He assurred me that he was very conservative in his use. Also, my cervix was so unwilling he was afraid just using pit would take a very very long time. He also said that there is a chance of uterine rupture with pit. So, I prayed about it, and put it in God's hands. He started with just 25mg dosage, and then monitored me....after the first dose of cytotec, the contractions were to close, so he would not use a second dose. We had to switch to pitocin. My sil & brother were great help all through the night. My brothers girls were c-section, so he did not get to see a natural birth, he said something about this and my dh & I told him to stay! He was so excited. He and I have always been very close, so it was great to let him share that experience with us!
Well, even with the cytotec and pitocin my cervix was slow to progress....I got stuck at a 5! The contractions were so awful, that I finally asked for something.....I made it all the way through my dd's labor with no meds, and I had back labor with her! But this was HELL! My water finally broke, or so we thought...it turned out that I had a double bag....they say that happens sometimes....the Dr. finally came in about 7:50am and checked and I was still at 5cm and 6cm during a contraction. He spoke with the nurses for awhile, and was about to go to his office to see some patients. He gave the nurses instructions to call him ASAP if my water broke, or when I got to a solid 7cm. He also adjusted my pitocin again, because the contractions were still a little irregular.
As he was getting ready to leave....I guess I got REALLY PISSY!! He said...."hmmm....this sounds kinda serious...I had better check her agian!" It was only about 20-25 minutes since the last check...I was a solid 9 1/2cm! Wow!!! He said we had better break down the bed...after about an hour or so of pushing, I finally could feel the progress! For awhile I didn't believe that he was even near the birth canal!!!
The Dr. did a great job...Zach was coming down Sunny Side Up...just like his sister! But Dr. Ihara worked him while I pushed and got him to turn the correct way! Well, I guess the nurses pulled the monitors off my belly when he got really close...I didn't even notice....I was told later that Zachary's heart rate was dropping down to the 80's when I pushed. When I finally got his head pushed out the Dr. told me to stop pushing, he had to suction Zach out....I thought...that's weird...they didn't make me stop with Kirstyn....as it turns out the cord was tightly around his neck, and that's what he was doing! I found this out later also. When he gave me the go ahead again I gave one last LONG push and out he came!
He was very limp....my heart froze...I thought this doesn't look right! The nurses even looked concerned! They put him right on my stomach and started rubbing him with towels! Then he cried!!!! What a joyous sound that was! My heart rejoiced! Dr. Ihara informed me that I did not tear! I was so amazed, because I had torn horrible with my dd, and I could tell that he was bigger already! He was limp for a little longer and then started responding. Dr. Ihara told me that my placenta was aging and it would not have been good to let me go much longer. I was so thankful that God had helped us find this Dr. He truly was wonderful!
Well, Zachary was doing much better, and was sleeping, he was EXHAUSTED...it was a long week for him too! I got up after eating a breakfast, and took a shower and felt great! I was done! :-) I had a healthy baby boy! The ped on call came in and talked to me, and said Zachary was going to be fine! My heart rejoiced! We are all home now and trying to adjust to a family of four! My dd is being a great big sister, and we aren't having to much trouble with jealousy! She seems to be doing ok! The first night with her home and us home was a little rough...she had been camping and was exhausted! She also had a low temp and a very sore throat! We made it through though! Everything is getting back to normal now! Well I know this was long, but it feels great to have shared!
