I became a mom on March 21. We expected baby Jade in April and never thought she'd be here at 36 weeks.
On the 19th I went to my regular appointment, ultra-sound and non-stress test. Baby passed the non-stress just fine, and the ultra-sound looked great. (And we made it out still team green.) The only problem was showing up with my blood-pressure. It was too high, again. Additionally, my platelet count was continuing to drop.
I was told that I needed to take Thursday off work in order to have 24 hour labs run (for the third time). My midwife left to consult the OB, and I sent Andy a text saying I would be home the next day.
When she returned she informed me that plans had changed. They wanted me to check into the hospital so that they could monitor my blood work, blood pressure, and baby for 24 hours.
That didn't sound bad. I went home to pack and stopped at the school to pick up papers to grade. It was no big deal really. I even had Andy stay home to take a nap instead of coming with me. He went back to set that night to work because I really believed it was just observation and I'd be home the next day.
Thursday saw my NST results coming back as great. Baby was in a good shape with no concerning signs. My platelets continued to drop all day, reaching below 100 that evening. My blood pressure was high all day, ranging from "a little high" to "really" high.
Early evening the nurse began assuring me that there was no way I would be returning to work. She predicted I'd be put on modified bed rest at least. My midwives refused to make a prediction, waiting for my 24 hour analysis to come back.
I kept waiting to worry. I kept waiting to be scared. I kept waiting for some intense emotion. It never really came. I just knew that the test results would come back about 8:30pm, and I would get all answers then.
My mom stopped by that evening for awhile. She left when the midwife (Claudia) and OB came into the room.
They suggested I be induced. They assured me that baby would be okay, but because of my blood pressure and platelets my own health had become at risk. As much as they wanted baby to keep baking, the scale had tipped in the other direction.
Before leaving my midwife asked if I was okay and told me it was okay to cry if I needed. I didn't need to. This was what was going to happen. I was a little in shock as I called Andy, trying to remember everything we were supposed to bring to the hospital with us. The only thing I could remember was chap stick. I think I ended up sending him a dozen texts of things to remember.
He arrived late that night. We both did our best to sleep. The next morning, Friday, I was hooked up to pitocin. My midwife (Jenn) let me know that when I reached a 4 or 5 she would be hooking me up to a magnesium drip to prevent seizures due to high blood pressure. It was expected to make me feel like I had the flu, so I was glad to put it off.
A few hours later, I had barely progressed. Jenn assured me that things would start to happen, and no one was impatient yet. A few hours later, I had not progressed. Jenn started to seem concerned, but mostly about starting the magnesium. She knew I needed it, but didn't want to start it too early because it slowed labor down.
Because of my blood pressure I was not allowed out of bed except for the bathroom. This was the hardest part. I had planned on a non-medicated birth using the bath tub, a birthing ball, and walking around. I was not allowed to do anything but lie in my bed. Contractions started to get worse, but I had little that I could do except breathe through them. I counted up or down every time. They were painful, but never lasted long. Andy and I even had fun watching how high they would spark on the monitor.
Late afternoon Jenn returned, impressed with the contractions. They had been strong. They had hurt. I had not progressed. I asked for an epidural. If I was not going to be able to handle my pain my way I wanted it to go away. Jenn let me know they would be starting the magnesium soon because delaying it further with my contractions was dangerous.
The epidural came. The needle went in at the same moment a contraction started. I yelped from the pain. Not my finest moment, I admit, but the pain was soon over. I had not progressed.
Jenn was pulled away for a delivery and returned after the magnesium started. She was very concerned at my lack of progression, especially since my pitocin was almost as high as it could go and the magnesium was known to slow things down. She told me that I was looking at a possible c-section, and she wanted me to be prepared. She assured me she was not rushing to one yet, but that I needed to prepare for it.
It had been two hours since I had been checked, and she offered to check again just to see. I had not just progressed, but caught up to where they wanted me to be. I guess the rebel in me that didn't want a c-section had won out.
Three hours later, about 10:30, Jenn informed me that I was almost ready and that I would have a baby by the end of the night. At 11:00, we were ready to push.
With Andy by my side telling me I was doing a good job, Jade was born at 11:33pm. Andy told me she was a little girl, and he cut the cord. She was on my chest for only a moment before she was taken away by the respiratory specialist and two others. I knew she was okay though, as she started crying before she was taken away. When the specialist announced her score as an 8-9, I was so relieved. I knew she would be okay at 36 weeks, but it was nice to have it confirmed.
They gave her back to me very soon after taking her because she was healthy. I got to hold her for a few minutes and then handed her to Andy. He was a dad, her dad. This is my favorite picture.
This was the first minute he was holding her. A little while later I was taken to my hospital room, and Andy went with her to the nursery to finish her testing and bath.
Fast forward to Sunday. The magnesium had some how never made me sick. I had been light-headed, but the nurses always seemed surprised to see me doing so well while "on mag." Jade passed every test she took with flying colors. She was discharged Sunday morning. I had to wait for decisions to be made because my blood pressure was not going down.
About 4:30 that afternoon the nurse said I was being discharged and we needed to decide when we wanted to leave. That decision took all of 15 seconds: we want to leave now.
We took Jade home that night. We are parents.
It was not the timing we wanted, but I am so glad she is here now.
