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Ava's Birth Story (hella long, sorry kids!)
On Tuesday June 14th at about 6 pm, I went into BI per my OB's request to check out my headache I'd been having. When I arrived and went to nurse triage, my blood pressure was around 155/85 (ish). It wouldn't go down, after taking it a couple more times. Sometimes I get high BP when I am nervous or am just going to the doctor- but high for me is like 135/80. This was through the roof for me. Instead of going down, it would go to 114/102 (WTF???) or 160/90. That was enough for the OB on call to say the following word "You're 37.5 weeks. You're healthy otherwise. It's better for you and for the baby to induce you. We're going to start tonight." Well, I guess it was a good thing that I called MH before I left to go to BI and said, "Should I bring the hospital bag?" and his response was, "well, it can't hurt!" No kidding. I think deep down on my way there I knew this would be it.
So, fast forward to now about 10 pm on Tuesday night. I was still laying in triage (oh thank heavens for pre made sandwiches they had since that delightful tuna sandwich, potato chips, and graham crackers boxed lunch was our dinner...) and they inserted Cytotec to soften my cervix. After they checked me, I was about 1cm dialated. Nothing too much.
After telling our families to NOT show up because this was indeed going to be a long process (what we were thinking, oh somewhere around 20 hours ONCE I was ready to go)...my mother still showed up. Le sigh.Anyways, around 11, H and I were able to visit with her, and then finally got transferred into a private room for the night.
At 2:30 AM or so Wednesday morning, they inserted cytotec # 2. Around 4:30/5 AM, I started having really heavy period like cramps and the contractions were coming relatively close considering. So at 6:30, they monitored me for an additional hour, and checked my cervix again. This time 1.5cm dilated. So, a little progress and the new OB on call came in about an hour later and decided ok, let's now put you on Pitocin. Pitocin started about 8:30/9 AM on Wednesday morning, give or take.
Fast forward to 5 PM and about 3 internals later. No fvcking progress at all. Still 1.5cm dilated and 70% effaced. At this point in time, I basically lost it. My mother was in the room w/ MH and I and I was just fed up. I was having all of the contractions you would normally have, but NO progress? I remember just tearing up. I didn't like the OB on call, nor the things she was saying (basically saying if this doesn't work, we should consider c section, etc). She was saying the baby was too high to break my water, it was just one thing after another. I was annoyed at my mother for acting b!tchy to the nurse and the OB, and I think after some discussion, the OB realized how stressed and anxious I really was, "We're going to stop inducing you, since no progress is made; let you rest the night and reasses in the morning." Sigh.
So they transferred me to another floor and I got a sleeping pill (oh thank heavens) and slept the night.
They checked me Thursday morning, my blood pressure started at 126/80 (great, right?) well then it increased to 135/80 and then 145/90 and etc...the climb was there. Checked my cervix again, still about 1.5cm, but about 75% effaced. Ok, I'll take what I can get I thought.
So, cytotec round 1 start over started about 8:45 on Thursday morning. A little before that, the new OB on call came in and I was thrilled because it was my OB's husband. I had a good feeling about this. He reassured me, this baby would be delivered. He's not sending me home, he's not considering any alternative delivery.
Got into new L & D room and after the 1 hour monitoring time when cytotec is inserted, they rechecked me. Not a hell of a lot of progress from earlier in the AM. Oh well.
I'm going to fast forward now since this is getting lengthy...cytotec number 2 day 2 was inserted about 1 PM. Rechecked again about 2 pm. I *think* at this point there was no change again (UGH!!!!). But, contractions were definitely progressing. 5PM I got a third cytotec (I've never had so many people touching my whoo ha, BTW). By the 6 PM cervix check- HALLELUJAH. I was now 2 CM!
So MH and I had dinner, and I wanted to shower. So we walked to our other room on the other floor (that they graciously saved for us since we'd been in I think 5 rooms not including triage, had seen 7 or 8 nurses, 4 different residents, and 3 OBs on call by this point..) and I remember having a lot of pressure. When we got back to the L & D room, I walked to the bed and remember feeling like I needed to stretch my back. This was about 7 PM. So I bent over the bed to stretch my lower back and then it happened...I looked down and looked at MH and was like "Holy crap...I think my water just broke?!" And he was like OMG OMG OMG...so we page the nurse, she confirmed it was my water breaking.
At 7:30 my contractions started getting hella bad. But what did I know!? So MH started timing them and I was not getting a break. They were strong as hell, and about 1-2 minutes apart. I screamed epidural. So my favorite person at BI, the anestiologist came in. He started prepping my back and of course because my damn contractions were 1.5 minutes apart we had to break every 2 minutes for me to breathe through them. Now it is about 8:30. Oh for the love of god I thought..Finally he was able to finish (and apparantly I have some scoleosis, lovely). But now the epidural took a while to actually kick in. Finally about 9:30, I felt some relief.
I remember feeling calm and MH and I were just shooting the sh!t and talking. They checked me at 10 pm. I went from 2 cm to 6 cm. Whooohooo!!! They checked me again about 1:30 AM on Friday morning. I was now 9 cm!!! At 3 AM, the nurse, resident, and a med student came in to start setting up. They checked me, and the baby was at position 2. Oh and besides the labor shakes, I FELT NOTHING AT ALL. I love epidurals.
I started pushing at 3:50 or so, and at 4:08 on Friday the 17th, Little Ava was born. 5 lbs 11 ounces; 18 and 3/4 inches. With a Full.Head.Of.Hair!
We spent nearly 5 days in the hospital, and the end result was amazing. We're home now getting settled. Her first night was great. She only woke up once (although I woke up a ton; I kept checking on her...)!
And here are a couple of
photos of her for you 
Sorry this got so long!!!!
Re: Ava's Birth Story (hella long, sorry kids!)
Kristen- He did. It was overwhelming since we had so many people over the house, but the look in his eyes when he looks at her just makes me melt.
As for feeding. I am FF. It turns out, because of her size, this is the best thing for her because we need to beef her up! The pediatrician is on board and thrilled about her progress. Many babies as a lot of you know lose 1/2 lb or so in the hospital. She lost one ounce (after going from 5lb 11oz on Fri to 5 lbs 12 oz on Sat to 5 lb 10 oz on Sunday), She is eating like a champ!!!
ya, she's a tiny one
Oh I'm so glad you both made it through OK!
I was so worried about you!! You will definitely be even a stronger person after this experience.
You are definitely lucky that you only had 1 wake-up on night 1! That is amazing!
Can't wait to hear more updates over the week--and hopefully little Ava will give you some time to check in.
How long is Justin going to be home with you?
Alyssa, Justin will be home for 2 weeks. Phew.
I think we got really lucky last night. I think a nap may be in my future when she naps later. If I can. Even if for like 30 minutes.
Jax, that story is incredible, I can't believe that ordeal but the outcome was so worth it, she's beautiful.
Hope she continues to let you get some sleep and it's good to have J home with you for two weeks.
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Jackie - What an endurance you have. I'm highly impressed with just one stressed out break down. I would have gone apesh!t.
Congrats on beautiful Ava, she's absolutely incredible.
Im teary eyed writing this because your story is sooo amazing!! You went through a lot, but you stayed so strong throughout everything!! Im so happy for you guys!!!!!!! Ava is BEAUTIFUL!! Thanks for sharing your birth story!! I enjoyed reading it!
Oh yea, and I LOVE Epidurals too!!
Amen!
Loved reading your story!
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100% this! I think my exact words were "Oh my gosh, can I have one of these every day for the rest of my life?"
Ava is absolutely beautiful - I'm so glad everything worked out [even though it took forever] and that you all are OK! I hope you, Daddy and baby are settling in at home.
My epidural started to wear off, so I wasn't as big of a fan as I could've been. But, it did take the edge off the contractions, which I was grateful for, that's for sure.
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What a story!
Congratulations! She is adorable!!!!
--Question, did the scoliosis mess with the ability of them to put the epidural in at all? I have it, as well as a huge fear of needles... not that I need to know any time soon, just curious.