Life according to me…

That’s it…pregnancy is over! Here goes the story, as short of a version as I can get.

Last Sunday afternoon I noticed my hands, face and feet were very, very swollen - more than normal. I had my blood pressure taken here at home and it was very high. I called the doctor who of course said I had to go to the hospital. Everyone was here helping out and visiting anyways so I got the proper childcare and such and took off. I had nothing prepared - no bag packed, no baby things organized, nothing. Off I went to get checked out.

I knew something was up when they put me in a regular labor room instead of in the triage room that they usually send me to when I come in with a problem. I got into a gown and got in bed and they started monitoring things. I was checked and was only dialated about 1 cm, but not contracting so it was okay. My blood pressure was a bit high but started to drop after about an hour or two of being off my feet. I was all set to go home and get some rest as the doctor said that was all I could do since my BP wasn’t skyrocketing. I got my discharge instructions, signed the paperwork and was all set to go home and wait 2 more weeks. Before I went home they wanted me to drink some water as they were beginning to notice some contractions on the monitor and also wanted to check me and make sure I hadn’t dialated anymore.

Whoops. After drinking my water I started contracting even more. When they checked me, I was at 2-3 cm and changing. So, the doc was called and he said I had to stay and start on anti-contraction medicine to stop labor since it was ‘early’. 37 weeks is early? Whatever. To make a long night story short, I had the medicine 4 times, still contracting the entire night. My blood pressure would go up and down. Finally at 5 am or so, the baby had an issue with the contractions and they decided to call the doc again who said he would wait for my regular doctor to be on call and he could decide if I should have the baby or not. The baby’s heart rate was calming down as I kept taking the medicine, but I kept having contractions through the meds and my blood pressure was still going up and down. The medicine they give you to stop labor makes your heart race and makes you shake. It was miserable. In addition, high blood pressure gives you a headache. It was not a fun night.

At about 7:30 a.m., my doctor came in. He checked me and decided that it was ‘too early’ and was probably going to send me home after he checked my chart. I was so upset. The nurse who had taken care of me came in and told him everything that had gone on and he reluctantly went and checked my chart. This was the moment of truth - would the baby come or would I go home?

In ten minutes an anesthesiologist and my nurse came rushing in - ‘How does delivery in 10 minutes sound?’ The doctor said to go ahead and get the baby out, and the schedule for the operating room had a window right now or not until 4pm. They were going with the earlier one and we RUSHED around to get people told, get coverage for the kids, get me prepped for surgery. When the doctor came back in, he said he realized that iw as 37 and a half weeks and he really couldn’t send me home so he had to go ahead and do the surgery. He was so bummed, I actually apologized. Like I was burdening him to have a baby - hellooo, he makes a gazillion dollars for doing this, he could get over the inconvience.

I went into the operating room first as they wait until you are totally ready before they let your spouse in. They tried to do a spinal block on me to numb me and let’s just say it didn’t work. I had to be asleep when my baby was born which meant Steve had to wait outside. The side effects from being put to sleep were immeasureable and I think I’d rather have them cut me without anything than to ever be put to sleep like that again. No details on that one right now - ask me if you want to know.

Maria was born at 8:47 a.m. on Monday, March 13, 2006, and she is the most beautiful and perfect baby I have ever seen. There is more about her being posted in the kid journal. This birth experience was very difficult, unexpected, unplanned, and I am glad it is over. Right now I am in the midst of recovering from my surgery, helping Maria adjust to life on the outside world, helping Sarah and Stephen adjust to life with a mommy who can’t pick them up, and helping Elisa learn how to be an even greater big sister than she already is. I am worn out and tired…but this will pass soon and I will be on the path back to my normal life again as mommy and this time without the extra load of pregnancy. I can’t wait for that.

This whole experience was totally worth it though and I get a friendly reminder every time I look at my daughter’s face. Was I disapointed I didn’t have a boy? Not in the least. Am I glad she came early? You betcha. Am I a proud mother of four of the most beautiful and perfect children ever to be born? DAMN SKIPPY I AM. Welcome to the world, baby Maria. More on how she got her name and things like that to come soon…