Last Tuesday, I went to the hospital for a regular check-up (my final one before being induced on the 28th). My blood pressure was a little high (145/95), so the nurse didn't want to let me go until it went down a little. Well, 2 hours later, it was still high (and getting higher by the minute because I really had lots to do). 4 hours later, the doctor on call came to see me and let me know politely that I was being induced THAT night!!! Although I wasn't too upset that I was being induced early, I was upset that I couldn't go home and get my things (see, the baby's bag was packed, but mine wasn't). Also I wanted to say bye to Blue.
So I was shown to my room around 5:00 pm and waited for Barry to arrive. He was a little shocked when I called him at work to tell him that the baby was coming that night. My doctor showed up around 8:30 pm and explained to me what was going to happen. For those of you that have been induced, you know the details... It wasn't painful at all (a little uncomfortable), but the first method to start induction (balloons), didn't work on me. I popped both balloons inserted into me. On to the next method... A tiny thing that holds the power times ten of sperm. The doctor said that within 6 hours labour was supposed to begin. True to her word, around 2:30 am, the contractions began to really become painful. But that wasn't the only thing. Every time I would contract (about every 2 minutes), the baby's heart rate would go really low (75/80 bpm). With nurses buzzing around me and an oxygen mask strapped to my face to help the baby, the doctor arrived and explained to me that the best thing to do was to have a cesarian. She said that it would all be over with in an hour. Barry and I looked at each other and it didn't seem like such a bad option.
(As an aside, I never put much thought into having a cesarian. I am super glad that my baby's birth went that way. I don't feel cheated in any way, after all the whole point is getting the baby, not actually giving birth. Plus, my privates are intact and still pretty!!!)
Getting back on track...
I was given an epidural, which was THE BEST (I highly suggest them). I was transfered to a gurney and wheeled into the operating room. Barry was told to scrub up and when the doctors where ready, he would be able to join me for the birth of the baby. He never did, things went too fast. The baby was born on Wednesday, December 19th at 3:58 am. It was a girl. She had a quick visit with me on the operating table and then it was off to the nursery with dad. Evelyn Ireland Sullivan got to spend her first hour out of the womb with her daddy. I was in the recovery room, waiting for the epidural to wear off.
There are many more details that I wrote down once my head cleared so that Evelyn knows how she came into the world. Everything with her is great. She weighed 6 pounds, 7 ounces and measured 18 inches. No jaundice. No colic so far (knock on wood). She is very cute and has my blond hair. She had Barry's chin. Stew and Jess are in love with her.
I can't ask for anything more. I had a great birth experience, my baby is healthy, she is a great eater and I really like breast feeding (I wasn't sure I would).
2008 is going to be a great year!!!
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