I'll fill you in with my birth story. It definitely didn't go as I thought it would. But Rowan is here and healthy which is all that matters. It all started with my blood pressure. Around week 36, my blood pressure was high. I was sent to the hospital for monitoring to make sure I didn't have preclampsia. For the next two weeks, I was in and out of the hospital being monitored. It was a long 2 weeks. Finally, my doctor decided it was time to induce. Which I was completely okay with since it was hard going back and forth to the hospital and the last thing I wanted was more complications. To me, it was safer if Rowan was out then in.
On August 30th, I was in the hospital to get a catheter in to start dialating me because in the morning of the 31st they were going to break my water and start me on pitocin. I had to spend the night on the 30th to make sure everything was going smoothly. I started getting contractions which were in my back and hurt quite a bit. I was given morphine to help with the pain and let me get some sleep. It worked for the most part. In the morning, I woke up and everyone started to show up. I was waiting for my doctor to come in to get things started. A few hours later he shows up with some awful news. They cannot proceed with the induction because there aren't enough nurses. It was the long weekend so of course they were under staffed. It completely broke me heart. Not that I wasn't going to have Rowan that day but because everyone had changed their work schedules to be at the hospital for the birth. I just felt so bad that it worked out this way.
So I was sent home but I was already 4cm and fully e-faced. I knew that my weekend was going to be filled with trying to get myself into labour naturally. My Dad and Step Mom were here and we did A LOT of walking. Unfortunately it didn't work. On the Sunday I had to go back to the hospital for more monitoring. Once I was there my blood pressure of course was high yet again. While the nurses were reviewing me it didn't sound like they were going to keep me. Luckily the doctor on call assessed me and decided to keep me. Right then he broke my water and immediately started me on pitocin. It took a long time for me to really start to feel the contractions. I got the epidural about 7 hours after they broke me water, although I didn't think I needed it yet cause the pain wasnt bad. I thought I better get it before it did get bad. May have not been the best idea though. I was not progressing in dialation very quickly. For the longest time I was only 3-4cm. At about the 10 hour mark my nurse was decussing the possibilty of having to have a c-section. It didn't seem like I was going to be progressing very quickly or anytime soon. We also knew that Rowan's was "sunny side up". Meaning his face was facing my belly button. Restricting his ability to pass down through the birth connel. This would make delievery extremely difficult and painful.
The doctor came back about an hour later to assess me again and I had progressed to 7cm. We figured since I jumped so quickly in dialation that I still had a chance to deliever Rowan vaginally. For the next few hours I was in so much pain with contractions that it felt like my epidural was not working anymore. My contractions were only seconds apart and I was not getting past 8-9cm. I was so exhausted that a vaginal delievery would have been impossible for me. I had to call it quits. I had to say I wanted a c-section. I knew there was something not right. Immediately they called the doctor and told him my wishes. All the c-section specialist were called in. About an hour and half later we were ready to get going. They wheeled me in and gave me a spinal. I could not stop shaking. It was the worst feeling I have ever felt. The doctor had quite a hard time getting Rowan out because he was so low. When they pulled him from me it took a really long time for him to make any noise. They immediately called specialist to have him looked at because something was wrong with him. When he did start to cry it was a horrible sounding cry. I knew something wasn't right.
It turned out that the cord was wrapped around his neck twice. So a vaginal delievery would have been very dangerous if I had gone through with it. Also, he was under a lot of stress from such a long labour but yet didn't show any signs of it on monitors. He had breathing issues and needed to be hooked up to machines for a few days. I didn't get to see him for over 8 hours! After my time in the recovery room they wheeled me to my new room but before doing so they were supposed to take to down to see him. My nurse, unfortunately did not do this. I couldn't see him to the 2pm and he was born at 5:44am. I was so upset. I didn't even see pictures of him because I wanted to see him face to face for the first time first. Once I did it was the most amazing thing. I couldn't believe he was mine.
It was such an overwhelming moment for me. I loved him and missed him so much all at once. He is here and hes perfect. Couldn't be more happier and excited to have him join our lives. Such a precious and sweet little man.
Rowan James Michael
Born: September 3rd, 2012
Time: 5:44am
Weight: 8 pounds 3oz.
