Labor and delivery went relatively well, although I was the one in the pain and I wouldn't say that it was very fun for me. Monday morning at 6 am we got to the hospital where Jenna saved us the labor suite with in-room jacuzzi and comfy couch. Because I still was only dialated to 1/2 cm and 75% effaced they started with a vaginal dosing of a pill called citotec around 7 am. This is supposed to ripen the cervix. When they checked me again I was dialated to almost 1 cm and 90% effaced. They decided to do another dose of citotec at about 11 am. That was all it took.
Around 1 p.m. my body took over and I was having regular painful contractions. They considered me in active labor around 3 p.m. as I was dialated to 4 cm and 100% effaced. We were really excited that we got to skip the Pitocin, as the nurse and my mom had informed me that Pitocin contractions come on much stronger and it is very rare to get through a pit induction without an epidural. I labored in every position possible- in bed, in a rocking chair, on a birthing ball, on all fours, hugging a birthing ball, walking, in the jacuzzi and by about midnight I was in pretty severe pain. I was ready to give up and get the epidural but my support team (Chad, my mom and my nurse) knew I could do it and offered a bunch of other options like other positions, or iv medication like Stadol or Demerol. I was in too much pain to decide and asked my mom to make the decision for me as a nurse and knowing the effects of the medication. She chose the Stadol.
This was perfect. I could still very much feel the contractions but I was able to relax in between contractions and wasn't so scared of them. My mom helped me breathe through them and I could tell Chad was starting to fade so as I started to relax and it seemed like my contractions were slowing down I told Chad to try to shut his eyes because I was sure it was going to be a lot longer before she came. He laid down on the couch and before he could fall asleep I thought I felt my water breaking. I had the nurse check me and then... a HUGE gush of water. Apparently my water hadn't broken until she got in there to check. The nurse grabbed my knees and said sternly, "Your contractions are going to get more intense now. "
Understatement! I then started contracting hard and fast and almost instantly I began having urges to push which they kept telling me to breathe through and not to push. Apparently I asked for other pain relief so they brought me nitrous oxide. Let me tell you, that was a waste. Instead of helping at all it made me sick and every time I contracted I would vomit which would make me push uncontrolably. This made me way more stressed out. Trying to control pushing, not vomit, breathe and hold the mask was way to much to think about at that time, so if I could go back I would say no to the laughing gas.
Around 3 am the nurse was telling me how and when to push. I actually really enjoyed the pushing because I had been trying to hold back for so long it felt so good to do what my body wanted to do. Within 30 minutes the nurse got on the phone with the doctor and I was thinking she still had to come all the way in from home and I knew the baby was crowning, but 5 minutes later Dr. Berg walked in suited up and ready to go and Kiley Sue was here in just 2 pushes. She cried instantly and they put her on my stomach for the skin to skin contact while Chad cut her cord and they did the Apgar score. She scored an 8-9 which is perfect (a 10 is the highest but is very very rare). Such a relief as I didn't know how the Stadol would affect her, but it didn't seem to at all. I had some tearing that the doctor stitched up while my mom made a ton of calls and Chad and I tried not to act shocked. It was absolutely amazing and went better than we expected.
Since then we've been trying to create a schedule. My mom has been amazing and helped with everything from cleaning, to taking shifts of sleeping with Kiley because she wouldn't sleep by herself for the first few nights, she woke up just to sit with me during night time feedings, and even helped me with getting Kiley to learn to latch while breastfeeding because I basically needed a third hand. I really don't think Chad and I could have done it without her staying as long as she did. By 5 days old Kiley was already letting me sleep about 6 hours a night (waking up every 2 hours-ish), eating well, and her poop had already changed from meconium, to brown, to green, to mustard yellow (the color it's supposed to be). You should have seen the proud/excited looks on Chads and my face over these different colors of poop. So funny.
On Friday we took Kiley to her first appointment with her pediatrician. I was a nervous wreck because to me she looked so skinny and I was worried she wasn't getting enough milk even though I was nursing her all the time. She had lost a few ounces and was down to 6 lbs 7 ounces which made me freak out, but the doctor was great and very reassuring. He said it is very common for newborns to lose 8% of their birth weight and she had only lost 6% and he thought she was probably already on the upswing. He assured me that 90% of babies that do not make it, don't make it before they are even born because our bodies have a way of sensing something is wrong. Babies that make it through birth are survivors and especially babies born with no complications to very healthy moms. The other thing he checks at the first appointment is Jaundice, which he said she looks great, and overall gave her an A+. I walked away from the office feeling so much better, and calmer knowing that the doctor was so confident in her progress.
My mom had to leave on Sunday which was extremely difficult not only because I want her here all the time, but because I know how much it hurts her to leave and not be able to see her grandbaby every day. They developed such a bond while she was here and although I know Chad and I now have the confidence and skills to do this on our own, I hate that it hurts my mom to not be here watching Kiley grow up. I expect she will be making plenty of trips up here now though and when she can't I hope we can fill in the gaps by making more trips down to Reno.
Coming soon, more pics of baby Kiley from her first week!
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