Isabella’s Birth Day ~ Part 2

(Continued from Part 1)

Oh course, I had to go into labor on the weekend and it just so happened to be the weekend Dr. Baiza (my OB) was NOT on call. I really like my Dr. too. Bummer.

We made our rounds around the maternity ward…just walking (in my Chacos none the less). Due to the fact that  I wasn’t progressing, they decided to give me something to soften my cervix. So at about 9 or 10 pm they gave me Cytotec. *There are several things that occurred during my labor (this being one of them) that I wish I could have made better, more informed decisions about. Look for a post about that very, very soon.* While on the Cytotec, I had to be continuously monitored. So they strapped me to the monitors and I was stuck in bed. They prepared an IV just in case, and after my nurse blew the vain TWICE, she asked another lady to come in and help. Due to this I had a nice sized bruise on my left hand. Derrik hadn’t had dinner yet, so I sent him to Sonic. He brought me back a fruit slush, which I drank even though it was slightly against the rules (but I could have popsicles so I figured it was the same thing. At this point, I was actually starting to contract. I knew I was in for a long night. So we popped in “The Office” (a minor distraction) and we waited. My parents stopped by around 11 before heading to our house to stay the night.

Let me just say, being stuck in bed while in labor is miserable. Each time I was allowed up to use the restroom, I felt so much better. Being able to walk/move and run my hands under water during contractions made a huge difference. I wish I would have been more pushy about having more time not attached to the monitors. All night, I labored. Each contraction was more and more intense. They were about 5 minutes apart. The nurse kept asking me if I would like something to take the edge off. After a few hours, I consented and had a dose of Nubain. It really did help…took just enough of the edge off to allow me to cope. During these contractions, the only thing that helped was for Derrik to squeeze my bruised hand with all his strength. I think this detracted from the pain of the contractions.

The night passed by…slowly. I slept for 5 minute spurts at a time in between contractions. Derrik moved over to the hospital bed permanently to squeeze my hand. At some point, I asked for another dose of the Nubain. I was upset with myself for accepting pain meds so early but it did feel better. The morning finally came around. The anesthesiologist came in around 7 am. He informed me that either I received my epidural right then, or I would have to wait until 9 or 9:30 because he would be in an operation. I told him (without thinking) that I would rather wait. I was determined to get to at least 5 cm before getting an epidural, not wanting it to slow down my labor. I called for the nurse immediately to see where I was at. She came and checked me and I was at 5 (or maybe 6…can’t remember). So I asked her to get the anesthesiologist back in the room. He was able to come and I received the epidural. Almost immediately, I felt pain free. I could tell I was having contractions, but I couldn’t feel the pain. All of the sudden, I could talk and even laugh. But now I was permanently bed ridden.

The epidurals now-a-days have a button. Each time, you push the button, more medication is delivered, making you more numb. I was determined NOT to push the button, knowing I wanted to feel enough to be able to push effectively. At around 9 am, my mom and dad arrived. While they were attending to me, Derrik napped – he was so tired from squeezing my hand all night long. My momma was excited and anxious beyond belief. She couldn’t sit still. So, as a result, our hospital room underwent some cleaning…it was spotless. After the room was clean, she started on me. She painted my toe nails, my finger nails, did my hair and my make-up. I felt like a new woman and I was excited to look good in labor.

My mom and I still laugh about a certain moment during my makeover. She was finishing up with a little bit of lipstick. In her anxiety, she just kept going ’round and ’round my lips…I don’t even know how many times…it was ridiculous…not only that but the smell of the lipstick was making me sick. All of the sudden, I yelled “stop!!” and we both burst into laughter. I wiped it all off and we waited. Derrik’s family arrived and we all chatted away. At some point, probably around 9 as well, they started me on pitocin to speed things along even quicker. I couldn’t feel the intensity of the contractions increase but they did.

The Broncos were playing a game while I was in labor. My dad and Derrik joked about putting the game on in my room while I was in labor….haha….not funny…not going to happen. But they did actually win.

Things kept moving along, until 12. My nurse came in. She checked me and I was at 9 cm. She told me she was going to eat a quick lunch while I progressed to 10 and that she would be back in 30 min at which time I would most likely begin pushing. That moment was surreal. I couldn’t believe I was nearing the end of my labor…how crazy!! Everyone was anxious and excited. My parents prayed over me and we prepared for the end.

At 12:30 pm, Kari (my awesome nurse) came back in. She prepared me to push and I was really starting to feel the pressure of the contractions. She asked me before we began whether I would like to have the mirror. I was super hesitant but she told me she thought it would help me to see the progress I was making. Kari knew birth and all that it entails doesn’t freak me out. We had already chatted about how I seriously considered being a Labor and Delivery nurse for many years. (I even asked her to let me see my placenta before they wheeled it out….weird I know but I wanted to see this amazing organ that I had grown!) So after a tiny bit of convincing, she retrieved a mirror. I am SOO glad I had it. It really did help to see the progress I was making. So around 12:30, I began the long push. Kari told me that many women push for 2 hours with their first. Blah!

I pushed for an hour with decent progress. It wasn’t quick but we were definitely going somewhere. At this point, a nurse walked in to see how I was doing. Apparently many woman were in the ending stages of labor as I was. And there were only 2 doctors on call. At that particular time, they were needed for a C-section. I guess they need 2 OBs present. Because of my progress, the nurse told me to stop pushing…just until Dr. O’Connell was out of surgery….This was a bittersweet moment. I just wanted to keep pushing…I was finally getting the hang of it. But I also was so tired so I figured I could rest while waiting. I even dozed off a bit.

I waited for 45 minutes….45 MINUTES until I could start pushing again. At some point, I got nauseous and threw up all over myself….lovely (luckily the only thing in my stomach was water and strawberry popsicle). Finally, the nurse came back in and I began to push again. Praise the Lord that our baby was such a strong one. Her heart rate never dropped and she did so well considering she had been sitting in my birth canal for 45 minutes. After pushing for 5 minutes, the nurse came back in and told me to stop again…apparently there was another lady in labor with no epidural at the same stage as I was. She would need to deliver first and I would just have to wait….SERIOUSLY?!?! What the heck? The nurse told me to push every other contraction.

Finally, after pushing for every other contraction for 25 minutes. The Dr. finally appeared. FINALLY. I was exhausted and ready to be done pushing. Because I had never pushed the epidural button, I was seriously feeling the pressure of this little one. It was crazy intense. It was painful. And I was sooo soo tired. It was 2:45 at this point and I kept pushing. Derrik was holding one leg and the nurse was holding another. I pushed and pushed. I was starting to lose my focus and not breathing well. The Dr. helped me to calm down. Just when I thought I couldn’t handle it anymore, the Dr. told me to look down. Isabella was almost out. He warned me that he would have to do an episiotomy to make more room. It was quick and I didn’t feel it because after that occurred, I pushed one for time and our baby emerged.

I burst into tears instantly (it makes me cry now). It is unlike anything I have ever felt. The baby cried. The Dr. let Derrik call out what the sex. The Dr. said “It’s a….”. Derrik was speechless and in shock at that point. It seemed like a giant gap, even though it was only a few seconds, before he said “girl”. They put her on my chest immediately and I sobbed and sobbed. They stitched me up (absolutely awful and soooo painful…wish I would have hit the epidural button at that point!!) and showed me the placenta. I got 1 precious hour with that sweet baby of mine before they took her and Derrik to the nursery. I tried to nurse (she wasn’t that interested) and we cuddled. I stared and stared and cried.

Our parents (as well as my aunt, brother, Derrik’s brother and sister, and Derrik’s grandparents) were in the waiting room as I screamed and pushed. As soon as she was born, both my mom and Krista (Derrik’s momma) knew it was a girl by the pitch of her cry.  They came in as soon as I was decent….ready to meet Isabella Ann.

Isabella Ann. Isabella means consecrated to God, God’s promise, God is my oath, pledged to God. This is exactly how we felt with our first born. Not to mention, I have LOVED that name for years! Ann is a family name: my middle name, Krista’s middle name, and my mother’s name. Isabella Ann….perfect.

Sunday, October 3rd, 2010 at 2:58 pm Isabella Ann was born. After 22 hours of labor and 2.5 hours of pushing (sorta). She was born weighing 7 lbs. 6.5 oz and 18 inches long. She is our precious little girl…amazing, perfect, beautiful, and absolutely the most wonderful blessing in our lives. We love her more than she’ll ever know.

Thank you Jesus for this little life. Thank you that she was born strong and healthy, even after a bit of a stressful labor. Thank you for blessing us and giving us the responsibility of raising your child. We know that she is ultimately yours. Thank you for giving her to us. We love you and pray that she would come to know you very soon. Thank you.