Zane's Birth Story

If you would rather not read about the specifics of Zane's birth, please don't continue reading!  :)

Zane was due June 24th and we were so hoping he would make a punctual appearance!  No such luck!  I had a doctor's appointment for the following Wednesday, the 27th, and when I went, there was really no change in progress.  I was still dilated only to 1 cm and my cervix was not thinning.  So, my doctor suggested waiting no longer than Monday to have our baby by induction.  Monday would have been July 2nd.  I called Jeff to get his input while she called the hospital to schedule the induction.  She would have scheduled it anytime but was very uncomfortable going into the 42nd week because the risks to the baby go up drastically.  We were to go in Sunday at midnight and at 4 am they would start the pitocin.

That evening on the 27th, we went and ate ice cream with a couple from church at Marble Slab and when we got home, I started having cramping.  All night long I had cramps and didn't get much sleep except maybe two hours.  I decided to wake Jeff up at 4:30 am and we went to the hospital because they were about every minute according to my phone app.

When we went to the hospital, they checked and said I was 3 cm and they admitted us.  I didn't want an epidural because I really wanted to try a natural delivery.  ha!  More on that later!  Our doctor came around about 1:30 pm and was not pleased because she checked and I was a tight 2 cm.  She said that I had several choices-I could labor there and not be able to eat or walk around, or I could go home and labor.  She didn't want to start pitocin because I would likely deliver in the middle of the night and she wanted to have all the resources available in case I hemorrhaged or something.  She also talked to me about natural childbirth and said that I would not be getting a metal hung on the wall for having Zane naturally.  I certainly listened because I was having quite a bit of pain with every contraction.  Everything looked great with Zane and so we opted to go home and come back at 4 am for an induction.

At home, the contractions got stronger and stronger and I would try my best to relax through them, but it was tough.  I got to eat and then settled on the couch.  Jeff was the absolute best.  He would sit by me and help me to relax.  At about 1am, he went to sleep on one couch because he was beyond exhausted at this point.  I woke him up at 3 am because I couldn't stand it anymore and we got to the hospital about 3:30.  I couldn't walk, so they wheeled me upstairs and we told them we were ready for an epidural!  Seriously, it's 2012, not 1950 or 60 when they thought epidurals were horrible.  So, I happily admit the error of my ways!  Was I that proud that I thought I needed to do it naturally?  Anyway, I just went on and on about the epidural and how wonderful it was once I received it.  I did still feel contractions in a softball size area on my right side, but after I turned to the left side, it eventually went away.  My legs felt just like they were really asleep.  I couldn't control the left one, but that was just fine!  I didn't care and was so relieved not to feel anything anymore.  I think I may even went to sleep which was great after not sleeping pretty much for two days straight. They started the pitocin around 4 am.

I was dilated to a 6 or 7 when several nurses came in about 7:10 am and also my doctor, which was surprising because I didn't know why she would be there at the hospital that early.  There was much discussion and they told us that Zane's heartbeat had dropped to unacceptable. I heard them say that it was about 86 beats per minute.  Every contraction was harder on him.  I didn't understand why because he had been just fine the day before!  Dr. Gonzales said that she thought I needed to have a c-section.  I asked why he was having trouble and she thought that the placenta had gotten old and was not able to deliver the oxygen Zane needed.  So, what could we do but go with what our wonderful doctor recommended?  She said if we waited it would turn into an emergency c-section and we didn't want that because it was very scary.  Well, I would never want to experience that because in less than 5 minutes, the room was a flurry of activity.  The epidural guy was there, tons of nurses-all having their own job, and Jeff was given some scrubs to put on.  They told him he would be going into the operating room with us and he was very surprised at that, but said that was fine.  I was crying because it was scary, but I was also shaking uncontrollably.  They said it was from the medicine they were giving me.  It was awful because I seriously could not control myself.  In about five minutes we were literally flying down the hall to the operating room.  Jeff said he could barely keep up.  He was asked to wait outside while they finished prepping me.  I kept asking questions and they were so kind to answer them.  When they put up a drape across my neck to shield me from the surgery, Jeff was able to come in.  We got into the room at 7:30 and Zane was delivered at 7:40.  I felt so much pulling and pressure.  It was so scary.  But everything I said, like I don't feel right, my chest has a lot of pressure, the epidural guy said it was normal.  He also gave me medicine to make the feeling go away.  I heard Zane's first little cry, so high pitched and wonderful, and Jeff got to stand up and see him as they held him up.  Jeff said the cord was wrapped around his neck, it went from the back of him, around his neck, and back down the other side.  I could see him as they dried him off.  They took Zane back to the room and asked Jeff if he wanted to go with them, but I asked Jeff to stay.  I was just pretty much in a panic at all the sensations I was feeling.  There was so much going on, as they cleaned me out and up and started putting me back together.  Jeff was so wonderful and calming.  I am so thankful for him.

It really worked out for the best when I decided to get the epidural.  If I hadn't, I wouldn't have been awake and seen Zane when he was first born.  The c-section was for the best also because the placenta was calcified, Zane's cord was around his neck, and he was a whopping 9 lb. 1 ounce baby-too big for me, according to the doctor!  Thank you God for watching over all of us.

We got back to the room and settled in.  We got to hold our newborn son and start letting family know.  I think they were surprised that we had already had him!  Both sets of grandparents were able to come later that day and see him.

Dr. Gonzales with her little patient!

We really had a great experience with the staff at the hospital.  They took such great care of us.  We were able to get help with breastfeeding, we got to go to the nursery and have a nurse let us bathe him with her instruction, and they actually had great food!

We went home on Sunday, July 1st, at 11:30 am and have just been doing great ever since!