Elliott Kenneth Petersen
4 July 2007 @ 6:04 am.
7.6 lbs, 19.5 inches.
40w4d.Tuesday July 3rd, i went to my Doctor's appointment and was nervous knowing that today was the day. At the appointment, i was told that my cervix was actually starting to close back up (back at 2cm) and that they needed to get the baby out soon because she was "scared to see me go another week" positive in knowing that there was a HUGE baby in there. She called L&D at St.Mary's to make sure there was a room open and saved for me, and that she would meet me there that evening. i pratically RAN out of the office calling everyone telling them that i was having a baby today! My grandparents were already in town and getting an hotel, Peggy finished up at work, and Dave took off and met me back at the house so that i could drop my car off and pick up my overnight bags.
At 3:15 pm i was admitted to L&D. soon my grandparents and Peggy arrived. Gene showed up halfway through.
around 4:30 my OB showed up, checked me and by 4:50 she had broke my water.
breaking my bag of waters is a sensation i will never forget. it was more like breaking the hover dam, i swear to god.
It felt like i started to pee myself, and very quickly turned into a full out fire hydrant. My doctor and the nurses couldnt believe how much amniotic fluid there was. to give you an idea, the were litterally holding up the corners of the mats under my butt that catches the fluid and it was pooling and spilling over the edges. at one point my doctor put her hand up to cover the hole and the preasure from all the fluid just made it spray all over her. it was a pretty hillarious moment. Dave said right afterwards "and to think i only had one towel in the car..." haha.
Litterally afterwards, my belly was half it's size. i started to think my doctor was wrong about this HUGE baby....
At 6:30 Pitocin was started. My contractions started to pick up and fell into a regular pattern. soon they were getting stronger, harder and longer and things started to progress. i was pretty proud of myself for putting off the pain medication. it was really not that bad. sure there was a few moments of intense and agonizing pain but it was quickly overwith in a matter of a few seconds. it was bareable.
Labor quickly took a sharp turn and i was soon feeling sick and like i had to poop. the pain was getting worse and i was told i was starting the trasitioning phase of labor. I was checked and was only at 5cm. so they continued to up the Pitocin every 15-30 minutes and made it all the way to a 24 dose. (the nurse said they dont like to go any higher than 30) soon after, i was begging for something. i was strong for long enough! They gave me a shot of something through my IV at 11:30pm and boooooy was i higher than a kite!! [seriously for my next kid i want nothing but this during labor!] It didnt do too much for the pain, but i felt so much more relaxed and it helped alot when it came to the hard contractions.
I was checked shortly after, and was still only at 5cm. at this time it was starting to sink in that this was not going to be the quick labor that me and my doctor were expecting, and now taking bets on what time on the 4th of July the baby was going to be born. I had a feeling around 6am, my grandparents said in the afternoon, and dave's parents were positive that it would be at night during fireworks.
As soon as i was off my hour long iv medicine high (around 12:30am) the nurses rushed in and told me that the Anestesiologist was coming in right now to give another patient an epidural, and that if i wanted one, then i was to get it right now. i was dissapointed becasue i wanted to see how long i could take the labor without the epi, but knew that if i didnt get it now i would regret it later. so i gave in and agreed to the epidural.
WORST DECISION OF MY LIFE.
The anistesiologist was a chinese guy who i barely understood when he talked because of his ancent. he would say something and i would have to put tthe choppy sentences into one long one to understand. and let me tell you, NEVER EVER let a half asleep, pissed off doctor stick needles in your back. He litterally just started shoving them into my spine without warning and thus causing me to jump. and everyone knows that jumping with needles in your back is a HUGE no no. So Dr. Chan or whatever his name was started to YELL at me screaming that it was very bad and that it's all my fault if something happens in result of this and this and that... i starated pancking and had instant regret over my decision, but it was too late. The epi was finished even though i was bawling my eyes out. it only ended up numbing one half of my body and i started to worry about my contractions s i could feel them through the epi. i was too scared to tell the nurses though, thinking they would have to call him back and he would have to readminister it, so i tried to bare.
Around 2am, everyone was exhaused and tired of waiting. we all agreed that they would go home, and come back when my doctor told me that i was 9cm, and so they left and both me and Dave tried to catch some sleep.
At 4am, Dr. Ransom came in to check on my progress. still 5 cm. it had already been over 6 hours, so she delcared that my labor had stalled. even though the pitocin was doing it's job by making my contractions stronger, the baby's head didnt decend the right way into my pelvis and got stuck. the lack of head-to-cervix connection was keeping me at the same dilation.
She knew the last thing i wanted was a c-section but there was no choice. She was going down the hall to deliver a baby, and when she was finished, i was going straight into surgery. Soon after she left, i started bawling. i felt like a failure. i failed to deliever my child on my own. But then listening to the blood curling screams of the woman down the hall who was delivering her baby, i slowly started to feel better about my c-section, haha.
We called the family back who all only got an hour of sleep. they all looked dead on their feet.
Around 5:30am, i was being wheeled into surgery and prepped for the C-section. Dave came in all dressed up in scrubs and i thought he looked so cute! i was so scared about being on the table, and i could tell dave was just as upset about it as i was. but he rubbed my face and reminded me of how proud he was of me and i calmed down.
It felt like time had gone still. i could feel pushing and pulling. i remember thinking i wanted to fall asleep because i was so exhausted. finally after what seemed like ages, the doctors started talking and i could hear was was going on. "He's stuck in her pelvis." "I cant grab him to pull him out." "I need some help."
Three people surrounded me. one of them told me not to confuse alot of preasure i was going to feel with pain. on the count of three, the they pushed the baby down towards my pelvis with all of their might. over and over. i felt like i was being thrown around on the table.
Out of nowhere, Dr. Ransom said "The head is out." and a few seconds later everyone was yaying and saying congrats. I heard a man yell out "6:04 am!" Dave stood up and i watched his face fill with emotion. he was grinning ear to ear and said "He has lots of black hair!" i smiled. then his voice broke, looked right down at me and said "And he has your eyes..."
Suddenly, the tone changed in the ER. Dave was told to sit down, and we laid there listening hard for that first cry. nothing. I loked up at one of the doctors and asked "Is everything okay?" and he quickly said "They're working on it." i stared into Dave's eyes and saw the same fear i was feeling. i started to shake uncontrolably and found myself muttering "cry for me baby. cry for me. come on. cry for me. cry. cry. cry. CRY. CRY..." a cough. a squeak. a full on wail. my eyes were pouring out tears of relief and happiness. i was a mommy.
Dave was not allowed to take photos of Elliott's birth, but i can just imagine it in my mind. and it's the best moment of my life.
As i was being patched up, Dave got up to met his new son. i have never seen him so happy in his life.
The first time i saw my little baby was on the way out of the OR. a nurse brought him over and i will always remember those huge eyes just staring at me. they unstrapped my hand, and i reached out and touched his face. surreal. i savioured that moment i waited so long for. but it was short lived since they were rushing him out, so i kissed him, watched him and dave leave, and i laid there in a half asleep daze with a smile on my face.
I had to be closely monitored for an hour immediately after the surgery in a recovery room. Dr. Ransom came up to me and talked about how everything went, and how he really wasnt that huge baby she feared. i asked her how much he weighed, and she said that she was going down to check and would call when she found out. about a half hour later, i got that call. 7lbs, 6oz.
After what felt like an eternity, i was okayed and pushed in my big bed back to L&D. Dave met me down the hall and walked back with me, telling me Elliott looked alot like me and how alert he was. They wheeled me to the nursery windows and i saw my baby. he was so beautiful, and i was already in love.
Back in my room, i was dying of anticipation to hold my baby.
everyone talked about how he just laid there and looked around and my grandparents gushed bout how he looked just like i did. it was a happy time.
Then i heard a knock knock, and in wheeled my baby Elliott.
it was THE best moment in my life.
After 5 long days in the hospital we are finally home.
we had to stay to make sure my insision healed somewhat and to talk to a few pedi's about Elliott.
Elliott was born with Bilateral Club Feet. a tendon in his ankle is too short and causes his feel to turn in.
We are meeting with a specialtist Monday or Tuesday and talking about putting casts on his little feet to stretch out that tendon. if after a few months the tendon isnt stretched enough, they will probably have surgery to lengthen it. He should be perfectly normal by the time he's walking.
anyways, i'm sure everyone is anxious to see the cuteness, so if i think of anything else, i will come back and add it later! (and excuse spelling for now, these pain meds make it hard to focus)
his first cqar ride home. as you can see he wasnt a happy camper!
and for comparison, here's a photo of me when i was born!
creepy!
Thank you for all the well wishes while i was in the hospital!
and thank you to Megan and Erin for your presents! i cant wait to use everything!
anywho, gotta go tend to the little one now!
i'll post more photos and things later! :D