Announcing the birth of Caitlin Ryan S_ !
9 pounds, 14 ounces
20 inches long
November 27, 2007
1:22 am
I'm sorry its taken me so long to post--I just got home from the hospital today. Its been a very long week.
To make a long story short, I sent into labor late Sunday night--had contractions and no sleep all night. Went to the hospital at noon the next day and was 5 centimeters dialated. However, Caitlin had turned OP and was up high at +3 station. I was also leaking green fluid (meconium). Had horrible back labor, but used my Bradley techniques and handled it OK. My MW was incredibly supportive, as was my nurse. I pushed for 3 hours with absolutely no progress whatsoever. Caitlin and my heartrates/blood pressures were dangerously low, even with me on oxygen for the last hour and a half. I was also running a very high fever. She just couldn't descend. After 27 hours of labor, I ended up with an emergency c-section. Fortunately, the anastesiologist (my pp brain can't spell that word right now) was right there and was able to slip in a quick epidural so i didn't have to have a general and I was able to be conscious for the surgery.
It was a really rough surgery this time because my body was already in bad shape from the labor, but they got her out safe and sound. She was 9 pounds 14 ounces--bear in mind I am just over 100 pounds not pregnant. Unfortunately, Caitlin had to go to the NICU for about an hour (with DH) because she was sick from the meconium. They actually made it back to the recovery room before I did (I was getting stitched up). Her glucose was dangerously low, but she nursed like a champ right away and we got that up quickly. We both had infections from the meconium and had to have antibiotics for a few days. She is still having a really hard time keeping her body temp up--we have to go see more docs on Monday.
Anyway, it was really an emotional week. Sometimes I get really upset that I didn't get my VBAC. However, as my midwife said, I went through every stage of labor and handled it really well (I literally had random nurses coming to see me labor before things got ugly because they couldn't believe how well I has doing). She told me that I did everything I possibly could have to have this baby vaginally, that there was nothing more I could have done, that the c-section was necessary to keep Caitlin and I alive. I am trying to repeat this to myself and not get upset or feel like a failure.
We had to spend the whole week in the hospital, but are finally home. DH has to take 2 weeks off because I have a lot of extra activity restrictions. I'm glad to have him around--I think in some ways this whole ordeal was more emotionally difficult for him than for me. He was really worried that he was going to lose both of us for a while there.
Emily is in crazy love with Caitlin and is transitioning very well, especially considering she didn't get to see me too much this week when normally we are inseperable.
Anyway, that's the quickie version of my story. I will attach pictures once I have the energy to figure out how.
I can't wait to catch up with the posts over the last week and see how everyone is doing!
9 pounds, 14 ounces
20 inches long
November 27, 2007
1:22 am
I'm sorry its taken me so long to post--I just got home from the hospital today. Its been a very long week.
To make a long story short, I sent into labor late Sunday night--had contractions and no sleep all night. Went to the hospital at noon the next day and was 5 centimeters dialated. However, Caitlin had turned OP and was up high at +3 station. I was also leaking green fluid (meconium). Had horrible back labor, but used my Bradley techniques and handled it OK. My MW was incredibly supportive, as was my nurse. I pushed for 3 hours with absolutely no progress whatsoever. Caitlin and my heartrates/blood pressures were dangerously low, even with me on oxygen for the last hour and a half. I was also running a very high fever. She just couldn't descend. After 27 hours of labor, I ended up with an emergency c-section. Fortunately, the anastesiologist (my pp brain can't spell that word right now) was right there and was able to slip in a quick epidural so i didn't have to have a general and I was able to be conscious for the surgery.
It was a really rough surgery this time because my body was already in bad shape from the labor, but they got her out safe and sound. She was 9 pounds 14 ounces--bear in mind I am just over 100 pounds not pregnant. Unfortunately, Caitlin had to go to the NICU for about an hour (with DH) because she was sick from the meconium. They actually made it back to the recovery room before I did (I was getting stitched up). Her glucose was dangerously low, but she nursed like a champ right away and we got that up quickly. We both had infections from the meconium and had to have antibiotics for a few days. She is still having a really hard time keeping her body temp up--we have to go see more docs on Monday.
Anyway, it was really an emotional week. Sometimes I get really upset that I didn't get my VBAC. However, as my midwife said, I went through every stage of labor and handled it really well (I literally had random nurses coming to see me labor before things got ugly because they couldn't believe how well I has doing). She told me that I did everything I possibly could have to have this baby vaginally, that there was nothing more I could have done, that the c-section was necessary to keep Caitlin and I alive. I am trying to repeat this to myself and not get upset or feel like a failure.
We had to spend the whole week in the hospital, but are finally home. DH has to take 2 weeks off because I have a lot of extra activity restrictions. I'm glad to have him around--I think in some ways this whole ordeal was more emotionally difficult for him than for me. He was really worried that he was going to lose both of us for a while there.
Emily is in crazy love with Caitlin and is transitioning very well, especially considering she didn't get to see me too much this week when normally we are inseperable.
Anyway, that's the quickie version of my story. I will attach pictures once I have the energy to figure out how.
I can't wait to catch up with the posts over the last week and see how everyone is doing!
I'm sorry things didn't go as planned. But I am so happy that you and Caitlin are safe! Congratulations on your baby!!! I hope you are feeling ok.
to baby Caitlin!
