The Birth Story of Evi Reece (Part 2)

So on the way to the hospital, I had a couple of contractions.  They made me feel better.  I kept thinking about Kristin and how she thought they might keep me if I was far enough along.  I just hate feeling stupid and thought since I wasn't having "THE" signs that I was in labor (regular contractions and/or my water breaking) that I shouldn't be going in....  I called triage on our way since it is recommended.  I just told them that I wasn't having contractions, but that I had a little blood and was in pain and wanted to be checked.  I wanted to address that I wasn't necessarily in labor right away! :)

When we got to triage, we chitchatted with the nurses on duty.  They were all really nice and I was relieved since my last two experiences in triage weren't the best.  I have loved my hospital and my birth experiences there, but triage has not been my favorite place.  We found out that I was their first patient since their shift started at 7 p.m. (it was now after 2:30 a.m.) so they were definitely excited to see us and I felt like I was being fought over a bit. =)

Once they had me in the exam room, my head triage nurse said she would check me and then hook me and the baby up to a monitor for about an hour.  After that, she would see if she could determine why I was bleeding and then release me if everything looked okay.  This was exactly what I was expecting to hear.

So she checked me and then said "Or we will be immediately taking you to labor and delivery.  You are a 6 and 1/2 and almost completely effaced!!!!"  The room was then a blur of motion as they quickly moved me up to labor and delivery.  It took less than 5 minutes and in that time, I had gone from a 6 1/2 to an 8.  The anesthesiologist was waiting for me.  I laughed realizing just how bored everyone was!  I was definitely the first on the list to be taken care of... or the only one on the list!  Either way it was working in my favor.

My triage nurse came up and said that Dr. W had already called to check on me and wanted to make sure I was going to be able to get an epidural.  The nurse said "I told her that you were able to get the epidural, but that you'd be fine without one... afterall you came in acting completely normal at a 6 and a half when anyone else would have been screaming in pain!"  She totally jinxed me with that statement and I pretty much hate her for it.

I had texted Beth when we knew we would be admitted and told her to take her time... afterall, I figured it would take awhile for paperwork and epidural, etc.  When I texted her to let her know I was an 8, she called me panicking that she wouldn't make it in time.  She did though!  So thankful for that!

While we waited for Beth to get there and for labor to progress, Devin and I decided on a name.  My contractions were getting stronger and though my epidural had taken awhile to activate, it was working and I wasn't feeling much.

Not long after Beth got there, I started to feel the contractions again.  I kept pushing my button to up the medicine, but it wasn't helping.  My nurse came in and called the anesthesiologist.  He came in a total of three times, but it wasn't meant to be... My epidural wasn't working and there wasn't anything that could be done.

Most of the rest of this is pretty fuzzy in my head so I'm not sure how accurate it is, but it's what I remember of it...

I was in PAIN.  Pain like I have never experienced and I honestly did not think I would make it through it.  I kept yelling at my main nurse, Racquel, that I needed to push and she nonchalantly kept saying "Just push.  Let your body tell you what you need to do."  In my head, I was thinking "My baby is going to be born onto the floor because you all have done nothing to prepare!"  HA!  I also remember saying out loud "Is this a conspiracy to make me not want a fourth?"

There were a ton of nurses in my room... not sure if they were bored or if they didn't think my OB was going to make it and wanted all hands on deck, but my room was overflowing.  They also told Beth she couldn't video the birth even though we had videoed the other ones... I am not sure if this was a new rule or if this was because at that point they weren't sure my doctor was going to be there in time.

In the meantime I was in horrible pain and was squeezing Devin's hand and trying to avoid looking at Beth.  Beth has always been my "marker"... I could always count on looking at her and knowing if we were close to delivering and I just couldn't bear to look at her and see that I was going to be in labor even a second longer.  It was truly awful.

After a couple of "I NEED TO PUSH" episodes, Racquel could tell this was it... I really liked both my nurses by the way...  My other nurse Sarah came in and Racquel asked her if she had called my OB and she said she had paged her.  Racquel said "We don't have time for that.  I have her cell phone number."  So Racquel called her and my OB answered "I'm in the parking lot." and Racquel said "You better run if you're going to make this one!"  And they watched her as she parked and ran up!  HA!

After Dr. W got to my room (which was a HUGE relief to me and gave me a lot of comfort just having HER there... it made me feel like I could possibly do this!), I probably pushed for less than 5 minutes when Evi's head was out. I remember feeling relief and then everyone telling me to breathe over and over... apparently I wasn't breathing... I think at that point even breathing hurt!  As soon as Evi's head was out, I asked if I could take a break.  All eight of them shouted "NO!" all at once and even in my pain, I was thinking of the irony of the situation since there wasn't much they could do if I did take a break!

I kept thinking of the verse that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us and I was literally crying out to Him throughout it.  I had now been up for over 24 hours straight, had no breathing exercises, or other coping mechanisms that might help me through the pain and though I hadn't been in labor that long, I was DONE.

Thankfully, God always delivers (pun intended!) and with one more push, Evi Reece was out!

I was shocked and ecstatic that she looked just like Devin!  I completely expected her to look like Finley or Jude, but she didn't resemble either of them!  She was absolutely beautiful!

The next few minutes were spent clearing out her nose and mouth and letting Devin cut the cord.  I was still in major pain, but was sort of forgotten until Evi was on my chest.  I held her and kept telling her over and over "Thank you for being ours." or something of the sort which made Beth laugh... afterall, Evi didn't really have a choice in the matter!  Ha, ha!

Then they got back to business and if I thought labor hurt, I was far from done!  The rest of the aftermath doesn't need to be described.  It was horribly painful and made even more so I think because I had hemorraged with Finley and they had to make absolute sure that the bleeding was stopped this time.  I kept asking "Are you almost done?"

I was holding Evi throughout it.  For once my White Coat Syndrome didn't stop me from taking up for myself...  they had asked several times to take Evi to weigh her, etc., but I kept telling them no because I needed something to focus on other than the pain.

Eventually towards the end, I did let them take her.  I think it was time for shift change because they were all rushing through the bath, weighing, etc.  I was happy to hear she got a 9 on her APGAR.  Music to my ears!

After close to 45 minutes of post delivery pain, they were done and Dr. W was whisked away to deliver another baby.  This was just cruel timing because she wasn't able to do the paperwork necessary for my pain medication.  She came back in immediately after delivering though and when asked what I needed, she said she had already signed off on it.  I was so thankful!

When I look back on these pictures, it puts me right back in labor and the pain.  I keep thinking I'm being overly dramatic, but seriously, I know women have been doing it for centuries, but that doesn't make it any less painful!  Even though natural birth would not have been my choice, it is kind of nice to be able to say I did it!

And of course, she makes it completely worth it.  Love this baby girl more than anything!