Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
BR - Birth Story LONG - updated PIP
Finally getting around to telling my birth story...
Monday the 13th was a normal day at work, had a client meeting after and then went grocery shopping w/ DH. The plan was to work until Friday and then be off and be induced the following Monday or Wednesday. That didn't happen!
DH went to bed and I was watching TV and planned to go upstairs shortly after him. Most of you know that I have been on a blood thinner throughout my pregnancy that I inject daily, at 36 weeks I switched to a different blood thinner that is supposed to be safe for delivery, epidural, c-section if needed, etc. That one I had to inject 3 times daily. Anyway, around 12:30 I woke up on the couch and went upstairs to do my shot. I went to the bathroom and noticed (TMI) bloody mucus when I wiped. I knew this was called bloody show and meant the baby wasn't too far off. Before I did the shot I went to consult my PG books, sure enough they said usually after bloody show the baby comes 24-48 hours. I decided not to do the shot (as instructed if you think you might be in labor) because it has a 12 hour window to get out of your system and wanted to be clear in case.
Around 2 am the contractions started. After a few of them I knew something was definitely going on. I timed them and they were instantly 5 min. apart. They tell you to wait until they are 5 min. apart for 2 hours before going to the hospital, I waited about 40 min. before waking up DH. I knew he would get all nervous. I finally woke him up and said I think it's time. He sprung up and started packing a bag, ha ha. They did not stop and actually got even closer, like 3 min. apart so off we went to the hospital.
We entered through the ER at around 4:00 am. I was taken to L&D triage where they checked me and I was dilated to a 3 and 90% effaced. A baby was definitely on the way. Pain was tolerable until then. They needed to do a blood draw to confirm my platelet levels were ok for the epidural and told me as soon as those results came back they would administer it. I was transferred to a L&D room.
We waited for a while for the results and they finally came back and said my platelets were low, a 97 and the lowest possible they would do an epi is 100. Panic then set in as the contractions were getting bad and frequent. This was around 8:00 am. They did another blood draw around 11:00 am to see if they got higher but they dropped significantly into the 70's! No one really knew why but at that point it was clear, no drugs were going to happen. Contractions were unbearable at this point. I nearly freaked out when they told me. My Mom and Zac were both there just sitting in the room as I was in agonizing pain! I didn't want to talk or be touched at all. I'm sure it was miserable for them as well. Every once in a while I would open my eyes and see them helplessly staring at me. I was dilating fairly quickly so that was my only saving grace. I thought, ok I can get through this.
At 1:00 pm I was at an 8 so we thought it wouldn't be long. That's where we were sooo wrong! From 1:00 pm - 9 pm I did not progress past an 8. That whole time I was enduring the most horrible contractions. They kept trying to put me in different positions but nothing really helped. The only relief I had was a pain killer in my IV which did basically nothing for the contractions but did seem to relax me a bit in between them.
Finally around 9:00 pm they decided that it just wasn't going to happen, and honestly I was so worn out I just couldn't take it anymore. The baby was showing signs he was tired as well. So after 19 hours of labor with no epidural a c-section it was. The worst part about this was that for the same reasons they couldn't give me the epi, I could not have a normal c-section and had to be put under general anesthesia. They brought me into the surgery room and next thing I knew I woke up in the recovery room. DH was there. He couldn't be in the room for the surgery either. They brought the baby out to him about a half hour after he was born, he was already cleaned up. I had to be in recovery for 2 hours before I could see him.
When I was finally able to leave recovery they wheeled me to the nursery where I saw my baby boy for the first time. He was absolutely perfect. I have such sadness that the moment of seeing him born with DH was robbed from us. It was so not the way I imagined it would be. The important thing is he is here and healthy and we both made it through a horrible birth experience.
I have a million questions as to why or how this could have happened to me. I asked a lot of them while recovering in the hospital to all the doctors that visited me afterward. I still don't have the answers I am looking for but will be questioning a lot at my follow up appointments. The hematologist that had me on the blood thinner seems to think the platelet issue was unrelated to being on the blood thinner but it just seems pretty odd to me. Either way, I want to make sure that this doesn't happen again.
Tarah, Dr. Helmick was on when I first got there. Then she had to leave and Dr. K was there, she had to leave at 1:00 pm for a flight so Helmick came back for a while but then she also left and Dr. Jewell ended up being there from 1:00 on and doing the c-section.
Little man is perfect though! Loving every moment of being a mommy!
ETA - That day happened to be our 3rd anniversary, so 3 years to the day that we said I do we welcomed our little man into the world!
Re: BR - Birth Story LONG - updated PIP
My heart absolutely sank when you said that you had to be put under and Zac couldn't be in the room! So thankful that you have a healthy baby boy though! I hope you get the answers you are looking for so this doesn't happen again!
P.S. I had the same "don't touch/look/talk to me" feeling before my epi. Major props to getting through 19 hours of it! Mine was closer to 3
My Happy House
Oh Lori!! *hugs* My heart breaks for you - no mom wants to have to go through all that. You're right - the important thing is that both you and Nolan are OK and doing fine.
I hope you get the answers you're looking for - I know that Corsi, K and Helmick will do everything in their power to make sure you get them. Keep asking questions, I know you don't want to fear this for #2.
I wonder if there is another shot you can be on when you're pregnant again - I'm assuming that is why your count was so low? Thankfully you didn't take the shot that night - it may have been even worse!
I'm sure the birth was truely bittersweet. I can understand the frustration with that birth moment being "taken away" for you and your husband, it's probably something that you envisioned for years. I hope you find a way to come to terms with it. On the other hand you have your baby boy!
Congrats on the new baby! Sorry if I missed it, any pictures?
I'm sorry things didn't go how you had hoped, but I'm glad to hear that everyone is happy and healthy. I cannot imagine being in labor for 19 hours with no epidural. You are so tough!!!
Congratulations on the new addition to the family!!!!
Serendipity3, South Beach, Miami, FL 2012
BFP#2: 8/14/11 M/C 8/30/11 6w1d
BFP #3: 10/26/11
Beta #1 @11dpo: 22 Beta #2 @13dpo: 90 Beta #3 @17dpo: 480
Missed m/c 12w3d 12/28/11, d&c 12/30/11
dx Homozygous C677T MTHFR
How frustrating! I'm glad you are both healthy and hopefully get some answers. How fun him being born on your anniversary, what a special day!
Congratulations Lori... I teared up reading your story but I am so happy you are all safe and sound and home
Serendipity3, South Beach, Miami, FL 2012
2012: Running & Race Accomplishments:
2-12-12: Riverview Winter Fest 4 mile, 34:59 8:45 pace - 23 weeks pregnant
2-29-12: Leap Year 4 mile, 36:45 9:11 pace - 25.5 weeks pregnant
3-11-12: Corktown 5K, 28:33 9:13 pace - 27 weeks pregnant
3-25-12: Rock CF Island Half Marathon, 2:11:03 10:00 pace - 29 weeks pregnant
4-16-12 Boston Marathon, deferring to 2013
8-11-12: Run thru Hell 10 mile or 4.8 mile
9-30-12: Brooksie Way Half Marathon
10-21-12: Grand Rapids Marathon
11-22-12: Detroit Turkey Trot 10K
Im so sorry you had to go through that but Im so happy that you & baby Nolan are doing well
Congratulations! He is such a cutie!
I am so sorry for what you had to go through and hope you get the answers you need.
Congrats! Nolan is adorable. Enjoy your time getting to know him.
My feelings exactly.
How neat he was born on your anniversary!
Wow you are one strong girl! I'm happy that both you and the baby are healthy and well.
I do pray you get all the answers to your questions.
wow that is a crazy story!! I'm so glad that you & your LO are OK.
I just noticed in your siggy that today is your due date!
My Chart
TTC since Sept 2009
Cycle#9-Natural BFP 7/9/2010 ~ m/c 7/31/2010 ~ 8/31/10 beta 0.
Nov/Dec 2011, started seeing RE. HSG-all clear! SA is good! DX = unexplained IF.
Cycle#25-50mg clomid, IUI#1 = BFP 12/24/11 ~ m/c 1/5/12 ~ 2/21/12 beta level finally 0.
Cycle#28- 100mg clomid + Ovidrel + IUI#2 = BFN
Cycle#29- Follistim + Ovidrel + IUI#3 = BFP 5/8/12 ~ betas dropped 5/17/12 ~ Cytotec(fail) D&C (fail) & then a methotrexate shot to get things going ~ 6/28/12 Beta FINALLY 0.
RPL tests reveal MTHFR mutation(1copy)-adding Folgard & BA and moving forward.
Cycle#32-Follistim + Ovidrel + IUI#4 = BFP!
Beta#1 8/21/12: 11, Beta#2 8/23: 71, Beta#3 8/25:174
9/4-seen sac/yolk, 9/7-9/12 hospitalized for a ruptured cyst causing massive internal bleeding.
9/11-seen HB!! 9/18- no HB, 9/21/12-D&C. Fetal tissue testing revealed a healthy boy. Now getting more tests to try to figure out this mystery
What a scary story! So sad that your DH couldn't be there for the delivery.
I'm happy that everything turned out for the best, he is absolutely beautiful!
ETA: SO neat that he was born on your birthday!!
10 Years Later