It is funny how things happen to you that you never expect would happen......
My entire pregnancy was pretty textbook. I complained about the discomforts of pregnancy....this second go around was a lot more uncomfortable than my first. I had the heartburn, pregnancy induced carpal tunnel, swelling, had to go twice for the 3 hour gestational diabetes testing (only for them to come back negative), and the basic pregnancy complaints. Yet, overall my pregnancy was textbook. I didn't have any scary ultrasounds and I never came down with the flu or had any scares. I never even worried about the delivery. I mean....if your first delivery was pretty perfect....why would you think that the second one would be any different? Everyone would say...the second one comes faster! Make sure and get to the hospital in time! Lily pretty much flew out and I did not feel a thing! SO....as Lily says it best...."Baby Preston's gonna POP out". So, when I started to lose my mucus plug on Thursday November 10th, 2011 .....I figured I would deliver Preston by the next day. Remember, that is what happened with Lily...and second pregnancies are always faster and easier...right?! I went to my doctor's visit at 2:40 and everything looked good. I was measuring right, heartbeat was good, and I was 2cm and 50% effaced. The doctor asked me about his movement and I said that it had decreased and she told me to pay attention to it....he should move at least once an hour. He is getting cramped at this point but I should at least feel a few jabs from him.
Note: This is where things are starting to look NOTHING like Lily. I never dilated or effaced early with Lily. I just went into labor and went from 0 to 10 within a day of labor pains.
On Friday my mom and I walked the mall with Lily and Cody. It was Veteran's Day and we thought we could snag up some clearance deals (we are some thrifty women!). When I got home my mucus plug started to come out more and I was excited! It would only be a matter of hours and I would be in agonizing pain and meeting my sweet boy! Well, that was not the case. Just more discharge, blood and some cramps. That night I started to have contractions but they were too far apart. And, if you have ever had a kid before...you don't want to go in to the hospital and be sent home. You know that you are supposed to wait till you can't talk/walk through the contractions and they are 5 min apart. So, I waited...and waited....and paced the floor. I finally fell asleep and woke back up with more discharge.....but as far as contractions....only every 20 minutes and I could walk. So....I keep convincing myself that it's going to happen soon! I call my mom to get Lily so I can go walk the baby out. B and I go shopping so we can walk and maybe speed up the process. Not really helping. I get home and play outside with Lily and then I start to feel very annoyed. I am not sure if it was the hopes of meeting Preston or maybe it was that I was tired. Either way....I took Lily to her Grandma Puddin' and I went home and showered. And GUESS WHAT?! Yep, contractions. 6-7 minutes apart and hurting enough to stop me in my tracks and shut me up! We put the stuff in the car and head to Petco....weird right? Oh yes....this crazy mommy had promised Lily that Preston was going to get her a fish...well, we had not bought one! So, we were going to get the fish and if the contractions were still as strong we would head to the hospital. We get the fish and the contractions go away. What the hell?
I go home and do homework while Brandon puts together Lily's fish tank from Preston. No contractions.
So, I start to type in phrases on google:
"mucus plug + spotting + 38 weeks"
"fetal movement + 38 weeks"
(you get the idea)
Well, of course when you attempt to use Google as a research portal most of the information you get includes Discussion Forums. I read a few and I feel slightly okay with the happenings. Your plug can fall out weeks before, light spotting is normal, and the baby is getting large and cramped. The key phrase that stood out was, "it is better to be safe than sorry". I researched possibly reasons of bleeding and some of the results were terrifying! I went to bed and I waited to feel him move. He moved a little but it was not strong. I had contractions on and off all night and would wake with concern. I decided that it is better to call and be safe. So, I called the call service for my office (remember, it's 7 am on a Sunday) and when they answered...I hung up. All I could think is that we are going to go and we are going to get sent home and then I would feel stupid. But, I thought about Preston and was worried about his movements and how I had been contracting for 31 hours. I called and the midwife called me back. I explained everything and she said to come in because we were better safe than sorry! So, we got in the car and headed to the hospital.
When we got there I was not having any contractions. The nurse hooked me up and checked me. I was still only 2 cm dilated and she did not see any blood or discharge that was abnormal. At this point I was sure that I was going home. Then, Preston's heart rate dropped. The nurse rolled me over. It stabilized. Then it dropped, again. After a few times of this happening my doctor came in and decided that she was inducing me. After a few hours of contractions and Preston's heart rate decelerating he finally stabilized. She broke my water, and attached a heart monitor to his head and inserted an amnio fusion (which is basically a small hose inserted into the cervix and flushes out the uterus and comes back out of the vagina. She cleared me to get an epidural which interestingly enough allowed me to relax and in turn allowed Preston to relax. His heart rate never dropped after that point.
I felt intense pressure after she told me I was 7 cm....she checked me again and I was 9cm. I felt pressure like I had never felt before. I looked at my doctor and I said...."I am NOT supposed to be feeling all of this"!!! She smiled at me and said "PUSH". At this point I had to concentrate. It hurt like hell but I had heard the doctor call in reinforcements and I was concerned. I gave it my all and within 10 minutes Preston was out. I felt the biggest relief in the history of my body! I NEVER felt any of that with Lily! I look down at Preston and he is covered from head to toe in meconium. He was stained from the meconium in his amniotic fluid. Brandon was not even able to cut the cord. They rushed him over to the incubator and then rushed him out to the NICU. When they opened the door I saw my mom holding Lily and Brandon's parents and I realized that I just gave birth and I was not going to be able to hold my baby.....I instantly shut down emotionally.
Now, as scary as it is to have your baby rushed away...I must be appreciative of the fact that he is alive. The doctor gave me a hug when everyone was out to see if they could see the baby in the NICU....and she told me that she is glad that I called....because I called, "JUST IN TIME".
Sweet Preston was in distress and he may not have made it another day. I am very grateful for the power of intuition, motherly instincts, and my midwife!
As of today, November 15th, 2011, Preston has shown improvements and is working on being weaned from the ventilator. I will write more about his issues and treatments in the future.
Thank you for all of your prayers! We love you
