Surprise Labor & Delivery

On Saturday June 25, 2011 I had planned on spending a relaxing day with someone who is very dear to me, starting with a little time at the pool. However, by 11:30am I began having contractions. They were not that painful so I continued with the day as planned, but by dinner they still hadn't stopped and so I decided if they were still going once dinner was over I should head into the hospital. Then after dinner I went to the restroom and was surprised to find I had lost fluid along with my mucous plug. Then I knew I should head to Duke Hospital to be on the safe side.

Once at Duke I was hooked up to monitors, found to be 1cm dilated and 40% effaced, very shortly afterwards I was admitted. I was put on a liquids only diet in case a c-section was needed and then we learned that Zane was breech and would require a c-section. When I reached 3cm 70% they started magnesium sulfate to slow my labor, this was after about 30 hours of labor. This medication made me feel horrible, on top of back labor and a pounding headache from not eating anything for 26hrs my body felt terribly weak and like it was on fire. Aside from that, as soon as they started the magnesium my contractions became much closer together and doubled in intensity Thankfully the Lord blessed me with loving people that took excellent care of me, tending to every need before I could even ask. Eventually the contractions did slow down for a couple of hours but the intensity stayed the same. Then at about midnight, not having felt a contraction for 20 minutes I switched positions to lay on my side and was shocked by the most intense contraction and I knew Zane was coming out!

The doctors were rushed into my room to check me and almost instantaneously my room was filled with doctors and nurses, explaining that I would have to do the birth alone and would require general anesthesia. By the time they got me to the door the attending was having to hold Zane in and from that point I had four more extremely painful contractions before I went under. I was completely overwhelmed with emotions, knowing when I woke up I would find out if my little boy had survived, knowing that my body was doing everything it could to push him out as the doctor and I were fighting to hold him in, which I believe only increased the pain. I was excited and scared, praying between screams of pain for my little warrior.

Hours later I woke up from the surgery and the c-section felt like it was on fire, it was not comfortable at all. I asked the doctor how it went and he responded with a very guarded "It went okay. How is your pain." I told him it hurts and quickly asked how my son was doing, and he told me he didn't know but that he was with the pediatricians. Then he left and said he would come back to check on me in a minute once the pain had gone down a bit. I prayed and fought back tears hoping Zane was alive and that nothing went horribly wrong with my c-section, as those closest to me began to come in and sit beside me in the recovery room. I learned from them that Zane was alive, there had been a problem with his airway and what normally took 5 minutes to do, took 35 minutes, and could not be done at most hospitals b/c they lack the more advanced equipment that is required. One nurse said that in 35 years she had never seen a baby hold on that long, I knew that was God and my little warrior! Next I learned that my little man has a 6th finger on his right hand! My mom says that makes him an overachiever. It just made me smile because the first thing I did when my other two were born was count their fingers and toes and then laugh at myself for thinking they might not have ten of each! It seemed only right that my little guy would get an extra!

A little while later my doctor returned and explained the complication with my c-section was such that I would not be able to have a vaginal delivery in the future because of the cut they had to make on my uterus. Honestly, this was such a relief to me having been wondering if it was something more extensive like a hysterectomy or something. I am not thrilled by c-sections but it is definitely not the end of the world. The anesthesiologist required that my pain be at a four before I was allowed to go and see Zane so I was pushing the pain medication button as often as I was allowed so I could get back to him as quickly as possible. At one point about an hour after waking up I realized that my son was alive and tears of joy streamed down my face. The doctor had told me it was horrible and wouldn't be okay, but because of my God I was going to meet my little boy face to face. Finally around 6 a.m. after he was born at 12:29 a.m. I was allowed back to seem him, and I was even blessed enough to have a professional photographer document our first meeting! (I cannot wait for her pictures) Zane is the best looking little preemie baby! He has a head full of blonde hair and killer eyelashes. He is one of the teeniest physical representations of a miracle I have ever seen, and I could not be more thankful for each moment I have been blessed to share with my sweet sweet boy! Thank you all for praying him into this life and this time and please continue to do so, as he continues his fight for life!