I started having horrible painful beyond anything I had ever felt in my life contractions that night at about 4. This is after days of contractions and early labor. I had gone to the hospital on the 17th and the 20th. Of course I got sent home. The contractions those days weren't doing enough to justify keeping me in the hospital. But these new contractions were coming every 3.5 to 5.5 minutes and had me sobbing. I kind of knew this was something else. It had to be it. So I made Kevin take me to the hospital. Of course as we are packing everything up the tornado sirens go off. We live in St. Louis. The hospital that we were going to was about 10 minutes from the airport. Perfect timing no? So we get to the hospital without getting blown off the road and walk in and I'm totally drenched from the storm. I SO didn't care what I looked like.
We get up to L&D and they check me and there had been NO progress. I just about lost it. How could there be no progress? That's ridiculous! But thankfully my doctor was the one on call and so she said to hook me up and monitor my progress and set me up with an IV and the antibiotics for the group B strep infection I had. This is about 8. At midnight they check me again and still no progress. They had me there for the night anyway so I asked for an IV drug. They gave me Stadol and that really helped me relax and get to sleep. At 2 I'm feeling totally loopy and out of it but I asked Kevin to help me use the restroom. As he's unhooking the monitors I sat up and "peed" the bed. I was so embarrassed! I call the nurse and let her know but I still felt the need to use the restroom so I get to the bathroom and the nurse comes in and asked did you pee or did you rupture. In my loopy mind I was convinced I just peed. So I told her that and then she said, "nope that's a rupture. You have to get back in bed NOW." They worry about cord accidents once that happens so I wasn't allowed to get up again. One of the nurses I had seen just days before was there and in my loopy drug induced state I said, "I get to stay!" She just laughed at me.
They checked me at that point and I had FINALLY progressed from a 2 to a whopping 3cm. But it was a change and a water break so I knew I was going to have my baby! They gave me more Stadol when I was allowed and I was able to go back to sleep. At 6:30 or 7 I was started on pitocin because there was meconium in the fluid and I was still at a 3. I asked for the epi at that point and I was able to get back to sleep at about 8:30.
At 11:30 or 11:45 I told the nurse that I was feeling a LOT of pressure. She checked and I was at a 9! At noon she checked again and I was complete. They called the doctor to come back and she got there at 1. I pushed for 15 minutes and little Elizabeth was born!
I have a 2nd degree tear and 3 stitches. My back really hurts from the bruising the epi inflicts but other than that I feel really good! The nurse said I'm healing really well and I've only had to take ibuprofen twice. It definitely could have been worse.
Elizabeth is fantastic! She weighed in at 6lbs 2oz and 19in long. She has quite the set of lungs on her. Even the doctor and nurses were talking about how vocal she was. She was not a happy baby to be born. She scored great on her AGPAR and she hasn't left my side at all. We have been able to keep her with us at all times. So far she doesn't have any signs of jaundice which was a concern given her gestational age. Almost 2 weeks early. She's fed several times and although its painful to me I'm trying to get the hang of it. She has had a few moments of forgetfulness of what she's supposed to do when she gets latched but she's getting better with every consecutive feeding. I have a great nurse who is also and lactation consultant. This little girl's such a trooper. She had a rough day yesterday so I can't blame her for being a bit forgetful sometimes.
That's about it for now. I'll update more when we get to take her home tomorrow. I can't believe that just a little over 24 hours ago this perfect little angel was living inside of me. I'm so truly blessed to have this girl as my daughter and to have such an amazing man for my husband and her daddy. She's a great Easter present. Just one more thing to be thankful for on this day. The Lord really loves me and I'm so thankful for all of the blessings He has given to me.
Now for your viewing pleasure, Ms. Elizabeth Josephine Jokela.
