Wednesday, 11 April 2012

• Spencer's Birth Story - Graphic

  This is a note from mom: This birth story is a bit graphic, so if the thought of blood loss (and lots of it) is something you can't handle, you may not want to read any further.

  

  At about 11:20 pm Tuesday night, I went to the bathroom. I pooped a little and then felt like I had to pee. I wasn't sure, but I thought my water broke (it did). Being the compulsive toilet paper checker that I am, I checked the paper and there was blood EVERYWHERE. I could feel LOTS of gushing as I sat there on the toilet, in shock. Since I didn't have the slightest idea any of this way coming, I didn't have a phone on me. It took me a few minutes to compose myself (I was freaking out) and grabbed a pad and shoved it between my legs. I also grabbed a towel. (I was not dressed at the time, so there was nothing to attach the pad to.) Managed to leave the bathroom and grab the phone and Chris's work number off the fridge. I made it back to the bathroom and sat on the edge of the bathtub. First, I called Chris and told him to get home NOW. I then called my OB. I was shaking and terrified by now because the blood just kept gushing out. I was also losing tissue - I was scared it was placenta. I decided while on the phone with the OB that I would call 911 and go to the nearest hospital via ambulance (not the hospital I was planning to deliver at - my OB is 20 min away).

  I then called 911. Somehow, I managed to stay conscious while on the phone with the operator as I waited for emergency personnel to show up. Chris had walked in right before I called them - he was on the phone calling my father to meet us at the hospital to take Audrey. Chris also put Audrey's car seat back into the car as I had it out that night when a gf of mine and I had gone out for a tiny bit of shopping (nail polish and pads LOL).

  Firemen showed up first. I puked in the tub while on the phone. I passed out twice on a fireman. At this point, I had lost a TON of blood. It just wouldn't stop gushing. I was terrified. I thought I was gonna lose Spencer. They had to throw a towel into the tub for me to step on to get me into a wheelchair. I slipped a couple of times, but managed to get up (with LOTS of assistance). They wheeled me out the door and apartment building. I was able to help stand up to get onto the stretcher and into the ambulance I went. Thankfully, they had me covered up with sheets (I didn't really want to flash my neighbors LOL).

  In the ambulance, I remember having lots of abdominal pain and more gushing. The EMT started an IV and was able to get Spencer's heartrate with a stethescope. I felt ONE kick/movement (which eased my fear a little). It was a long ride to the hospital. Chris didn't go in the ambulance with me as he had to get Audrey to the hospital as well, so he left shortly after in the car.

  Arrived at L&D around 12:15 am. Passed my dad in the hallway, but he didn't really say much. I'm guessing he was pretty scared - I had managed to catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror on the way out of the bathroom and I was pretty pale (Chris said I was not just pale, I was GRAY). Chris eventually got there and passed Audrey to my dad so he could take her home with him.

  Things got fuzzy from here on....apparently, I was having contractions, but I didn't recognize it since my body was in shock. I was about 5-6cm at this point. Still losing blood. They ended up placing a foley catheter (that hurt like hell) and I got an epi soon after. The on call OB started me on pit to regulate the ctx. However, I started to feel every single contraction after the pit took effect. They hurt like hell. The nurse gave me a button to push for more epi meds...but I never got any relief. I started feeling immense cervical pain/pressure. Anesthesia came back in and gave me another bolus dose. Too bad, it didn't do crap for me because they had me start pushing immediately after. (Was I 8cm? 10cm? No clue.) For the longest time, Spencer's heartrate was erratic. He'd decel to about 80 bpm and then come back up to 120 or 140 or what not. This basically went on the entire length of my labor. (I had internal heartrate and ctx monitors.)

  The pain was unbearable, but there wasn't a single thing I could do about it, so I pushed through it. Thankfully, Spencer was out after 6 VERY intense minutes. Placenta came out very soon after and was sent to pathology.

  Spencer made it into this world at 2:56 am, not even 4 hours after my water broke. He was 7lbs 9oz and 21" long. Apgar scores were 7/8 - he was both pink/blue and a little floppy at birth, but he was crying immediately after. I was able to hold him immediately while Chris cut the cord. I didn't get to hold him for very long though as he had to have some oxygen and there was meconium present when he came out.

  I had a small tear by the urethra but didn't need stitches. The OB was able to stop the bleeding with a little pressure. It hurt like hell to pee for the first day and a half, but thankfully, the stinging has subsided. I still have some swelling, but not much pain. What little pain I do have is eased by dermoplast (the best invention ever LOL). Bleeding isn't too bad, it's either normal or lighter than normal, probably because I lost so much before birth. I didn't need a transfusion, so that's good.

  Spencer's blood sugar was 100 at birth (needs to be over 50), but dropped to 35-36 later that morning so he received 20cc of formula via cup and went up to 43. Another 20cc and half hour later and he was up to 68. He never dropped back under 50 again while we were there. He did have a little trouble keeping his body temp up, so he took 2 trips to the warmer and then spent the rest of his stay dressed in a one piece sleeper and swaddled in 3 blankets.

  Unfortunately, he referred in his right ear for his hearing test. He didn't pass, but he didn't fail either. He went for a repeat test last night and got so worked up that he referred then as well. (Apparently, the test cannot be done if the baby is moving.) So, we'll be going back in a week or two I presume to have him retested. The on call ped also said that he may still have fluid behind his ears so to not worry about it (easier said than done as Chris is deaf).

  My milk started coming in yesterday and I'm super engorged today. Good thing is that Spencer's nursing like a champ, pooping too. He's already having typical BF poops! His circ is healing well, but delayed his peeing. Nurses weren't worried about it since he did pee after and he's nursing so often that he will become more regular about it soon.

  The afterbirth pains hurt like hell! The nurses and OBs I saw all said they get worse with every child (no more....no more pregnancies after this one). I've been taking Motrin and percoset around the clock to help with the pain, but now that we're home, I'm just gonna take motrin.

  We came home this afternoon around 3pm. Unfortunately, Chris just left for work until midnight tonight (7pm-12am), so I'm on my own with both kids tonight. lol FX for an easy night!

  As for the bleeding...the speculation is either fast cervical change causing all the blood (I don't see how that much blood is possible with just cervical change) or some sort of placental abruption or both. I'm guessing both myself. There was soooo much blood. The tissue I lost was blood clots. Chris came home around 4 or 4:30 am to clean up the bathroom. Thankfully, that's where all the blood was. He said it looked like a murder scene. There were footprints (mine), blood all down the front of the tub, on the floor....and the tub was covered inside as well. He estimated the blood was about an inch deep in places and said some of the clots were bigger than his hand (he has some big hands too). He also said that a very large portion of what was in the tub were clots. I saw the fear in his eyes that night...we've talked about it a few times and he said he was afraid he was gonna lose us both. It all feels like a horrible nightmare. I remember coming to in the fireman's arms and thinking oh...what a bad dream. And then, I realized it wasn't a dream.

  Chris said they had 3 kits out in L&D - a section kit, a vaginal birth kit and a baby kit. They were getting ready to section but they were able to stabilize Spencer and I so I was still able to delivery vaginally. This whole pregnancy has been rough for me, so I guess I shouldn't have expected a simple labor/delivery. lol

  It was scary. And the whole time, I never worried about myself....only about him. It never occurred to me that I could die from blood loss...only that he could die. Thankfully, he is here and healthy and I am over the moon. I was having the hardest time with gender disappointment during my pregnancy, but I wouldn't change him for any girl in the world. I think the trauma/fear of the whole ordeal just cemented my bond to him. I'm so in love. And so relieved.

  I'm also super proud of Chris. He stayed calm at home and was able to take care of what needed to be done without losing it. I'm not sure I could've done the same. I'm glad it's over.

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