The Big Day
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| The first thing I have to mention concerns when this all occured. From the beginning, when asked, "When are you due?" I would answer "Just after the hockey playoffs are over." Chances are most visitors to this site are not huge sports nuts, so let me say that on Tuesday, June 16, 1998 around 11pm (ET), the Detroit Red Wings won the Stanley Cup. Let's fast forward approximately four hours from that. 3:00amI awoke needing to use the bathroom. Normally I could get through the night, so this was unusual. I had been experiencing false labor for close to two weeks, so I didn't pay much attention to the contractions occuring at the time. In the bathroom I discovered the bloody showing, and decided to time the contractions. I took a warm, relaxing shower, keeping one eye on my watch. I returned to bed and noticed the contractions were 20 minutes apart. I ended up falling back to sleep. 6:00amBy the time I awoke, it was only four minutes between contractions, which still weren't painful. I told my husband what was going on, and decided to take a walk outside to confirm that this was the real thing, as I had been successfully walking off frequent Braxton-Hicks contractions for at least two weeks. After two laps around the courtyard surrounding the pool in our complex, the contractions shortened to two minutes. I was convinced. My husband still had to get coverage at work, so I spent the next hour and a half informing those who needed told then finished packing the suitcase. 8:15amRobert returned home and we were ready to depart for the Hyman Caplan Pavilion. Although the first doctor (I have 2) arrived early, I didn't see him much that morning. Most of the time I was monitored by a nurse and allowed to walk the halls, watch TV, or use the shower. My father-in-law arrived just after 9am, so we spent some time with him in the waiting area. I had to return to the room once an hour for a check of vital signs. 11:00amThe contractions were noticably stronger so I opted for a nice hot shower. That was quite relaxing and I thought about staying there permanently, but I finally relented and returned to the bed. Around noon, I was getting hungry, but was denied all requests. Just after 1:00, the decision was made to start pitacin intravenously, as I was only dialated 1cm. I was then moved to a private delivery room. The first attempts to break the sac were also made at this time. I didn't find that experience very enjoyable. Although the pitacin was not succeeding in increasing the dialation, it strengthened the contractions, which were still at intervals of one to two and a half minutes. Just before 3:00, sensing that the breathing techniques were not helping me through the contractions, they finally administered the first epidural. Shortly thereafter I was able to relax and dialation reached 4cm. At this point it was just a waiting game, so I sent my husband home to check on the cockatiels and get himself something to eat. I closed my eyes and managed to get an hour-long nap. 6:00pmAnother exam was performed and it was determined that there was no additional dialation. My husband had returned by this time. Another growing concern was that the amneotic sac was burst 5 hours ago and the fetus was ingesting its own waste. I kept myself calm by listening to the consistent beeping of the fetal heart monitor. My right side was becoming increasingly numb and I asked for assitance to change sides. As the discussions continued about the next decision, I chimed in that I was willing to agree to Caesarean birth should it become necessary (due to other medical circumstances, I was mentally prepared for that from before conception). I'm not sure how long I was on my left side but my calmness was interrupted when I realized the beeping of the monitor was slowing at an alarming rate. I remember crying out "What's wrong with my baby!" and all in attandance immediately focused on the monitor. I was quickly returned to my right side, where I could see the heart rate had been more than halved, dropping from 155-160 to 70-75. I tried unsuccessfully to remain calm and announced, "I did not come this far to lose my baby now!" I was panicked, despite my best efforts otherwise. I prayed as they worked feverishly. Slowly the heart rate began to climb. 7:00pmThe doctors seem to be disagreeing about what to do next. One wants to let things continue to progress naturally while the second believes that since I've consented verbally to Caesarean and the length of time with little dialation, we should just get it over with. The doctors left to discuss the options. When they returned I was handed a consent form as the nurses sat me up. I'm the type who reads every word on a contract, and I wasn't paying attention to why I had been sat forward. As it turns out they were starting the spinal anesthesia as I read the form. By the time I completed the reading, the anesthetic was taking effect. My signature was quite amusing! I was already lying down again and had no feeling in my legs, one of which was bent so the foot was tucked behind my right knee, leaving the left knee protruding from the side of the bed. The bed began rolling towards the door on a journey to the operating room when I heard a thump. The noise was followed by and apology and the question, "Are you ok?" I looked up and replied, "Who? Me? I'm fine, why?" I was then informed that the thump I heard was actually my knee slamming into the doorway. 8:00pmI was lying flat on my back, with my arms restrained. I chose not to be completely unconscious so I could experience the moment my child entered the world. Much to my dismay I wasn't permitted to watch the procedure (Hey, in school people always said they hated my guts. I thought I'd finally have a chance to see WHY!) My husband was allowed to watch, but knowing his inability to watch lesser scenes on television I recommended they keep a chair handy. Turns out he never needed it. So I laid there, staring at the ceiling and becoming increasingly thirsty. I begged for anything wet. I was given wet gauze. That worked. Now my sinuses were clogging and with the gauze in my mouth, I couldn't breathe. I finally maneuvered the gauze so I had some air coming in. Unfortunately, lying flat on my back, the anesthesia was "leaking" to areas not directly involved with the surgical procedure. Namely, my brain, specifically, the area that controlled my involuntary functions such as breathing. I was also barely clinging to consciousness. Occasionally I'd black out, then hear little alarms followed by a voice reminding me to breathe. After about the third repitition, I'd gasp for a breath as soon as I heard the alarms. It seemed like I was lying there for an eternity, or at least an hour or more. It had barely been a half hour. Finally I heard, "Here we go!" |
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