Our sweet little princess wasn't due until August 2, but in my 34th week, (June 27th to be exact) something didn't feel right. I was having awful pains and my contractions didn't feel like braxton hicks. Kyle was working concrete down in St George that day and I was at work, but I called Dr. Allen's office anyways because my heart kept telling me something was wrong. His nurse talked to me about how I was feeling, talked to Dr. Allen and told me I needed to go to the hospital right away. I immediately burst into tears. This has not been an easy pregnancy and I didn't want to go to the hospital alone. Kyle promised me he would get to me as soon as possible but I needed to go in now. So alone I went. I cried as I undressed and continued to cry as they hooked up the monitors. It was obvious as soon as they got the monitors on that I was having regular contractions. Dr. Allen said I needed to be monitored for awhile longer and he would head over. He instructed the nurse that they needed to stop my labor (what... I was in LABOR???) I was told that the best option was a series of 3 shots... can't remember what they are called but it would relax my uterus and my labor would stop at that point. I didn't get the opportunity to talk to my dr about it to see if I had any other options, so she began the shots. A side effect of the shots is a racing heart, for me and the baby. I got the first shot and the nurse stayed with me while both of our hearts calmed down. Shortly after, Kyle showed up and I couldn't be strong anymore. I tried to hide it from Kyle but he knows me better than that! He came over to just hold me. I couldn't help but think I had done something wrong, that our baby was in danger and it was all my fault. By then, Dr. Allen had showed up and reassured me that it wasn't anything I had any control over. By then, they knew that the first shot didn't work, and prepped me for shot #2. This shot sent our babies heart RACING! I wasn't even concerned about what mine was doing, I needed to know that she was ok. Dr Allen stayed there as well to make sure everything was fine. The second shot seemed to work and we were released soon after. Dr Allen ordered bed rest for me until I could safely deliver her.
At 39 weeks, I couldn't handle the pain anymore. I was having pain EVERYWHERE! I couldn't even sit still at work anymore. I called Dr. Allen's office and he wasn't in, but I could meet with another dr if I wanted. Fabulous... "Ummm, I haven't met you before, but feel free to do a pelvic exam and a good feel around"... but that's what we did. Dr. Gray was fantastic as well. He informed us that because 5 weeks previously they had to "aggressively stop my labor" there is a good chance that I won't deliver naturally... so I could wait a week just in case, or go ahead an be induced. I am not for being induced, I think babies come when they are supposed to come, but she might not come, so we chose to be induced.
We went to the hospital at 3 am on July 27, 2011. The started the pitocin at 3:30ish and then kinda left me to be. I was surprised at how calm I stayed. I was able to sleep for awhile, catch up on some reading, and watch some tv. At 7 am, I looked over at Kyle, who was passed out because I needed him. I knew he was so tired so I just sat there, in complete pains and couldn't help but cry. The nurse came in and I tried to hide it, but she asked "do you have a slight cold, I can hear you sniffling" she took one look at my face and said "oh, you're crying... do you want me to call for the epidural?" She ran and did what she needed to do, then came back and sat on the bed with me and tried to keep me calm until Kyle woke up. It wasn't much later that he did and he took over holding my hand and stroking my hair. The epidural finally got there at about 8:40 (the anesthegiologist had been in with a C-section and couldn't leave until she was returned to her room). They got me the epidural and then things went FAST!!! Dr Allen came in at 9:20 to break my water and it wasn't 10 minutes later I was at a 10 and fully effaced. We had to wait a little while for Dr. Allen to get back, he wasn't expecting it to go that fast. I did a practice push to move her down, didn't even get to the 10 second mark and the nurse told me to stop pushing, she was starting to crown and the dr wasn't here yet. I had Kyle call my mom so she could come. We live really close to the hospital so I was sure she would make it. Dr. Allen got there and got suited up, he told me to push once, hard. So I did and there she was... 9:56 am July 27, 2011. She weighed 7 lbs 6 ounces and was 19 inches long. She is beautiful! I honestly didn't know how I could love someone else as much as Jaxton, but when they laid her on my chest, I completely understood. She had no health issues and we were released from the hospital 24 hours later. We are so in love with this little girl. She has her daddy completely wrapped around her finger... we are smitten!! I can't help but be grateful for how lucky and blessed we have been.
Congrats Shannon!! She is so beautiful!! You are such a trooper!! Your kids and husband are lucky to have you!!
ReplyDeleteIsn't that connection amazing!? I remember the second parker came out, i immediately picked him up and started loving on him and talking to him. Thanks for sharing your experience. If you were looking to make me cry, mission accomplished.
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