Livin' The Dream: September 2010

Labor was about 20 hours long...I say "about" because my water broke before I totally realized it at 8 a.m., when I woke up and hopped out of bed on Thursday, August 26, 2010. We went to the Dr. at 11:30 a.m. to confirm that my water was actually leaking/broke, which it was broke. My Doctor wanted me to go directly to the hospital. However, I was not having contractions. So, Chris and I decided to go to lunch at Red Robin, since I knew I would need the strength for labor of a natural child birth and the hospital would not allow me to have any food. I also called my Mom & Dad, so they could leave Kansas. After lunch, we came home and I took another shower, packed the car, and Chris took a nap. After he woke up from his nap, we went for a long walk around the neighborhood trying to get the contractions to start mid afternoon. I had a Voice Message from my Doctor about 4:00 p.m. wondering where in the world I was since she noticed in the computer system I didn’t check into the hospital. We finally decided to leave for the hospital about 6:15 p.m., during rush hour traffic and my contractions were about 4 1/2 minutes apart. We stayed away from the hospital as long as possible because of our desire to have a natural childbirth and to use the HypnoBirthing Method.

Once we arrived at the hospital at 7 p.m., everyone was expecting our arrival about 7 hours before we actually showed up. Once we were at St. Joseph Hospital, the nurse and doctors didn’t want to check my cervix to see where I was dilated because my water had been broke for a long time and they were all afraid of increasing risks of an infection.

By 8:00 p.m., there were no breaks with my contractions and they were one on top of another. We were surprised the Dr.’s and Nurses never wanted to check my cervix when we asked, because how close my contractions were. They told us everyone has contractions different and they didn’t want to check my cervix. Which looking back, I was fully dilated by 8 p.m. and at 10 centimeters! My Parents arrived about 9 p.m. and I could barely speak to say hello and was in constant pain from the contractions. At midnight, the pain was SO bad…all I could say is the word “EPIDURAL!”. I was in so much pain, I didn’t know your body could handle and all I could do is moan and groan from the intense pain and tried to use HypnoBirthing.

Looking back, I was dilated from 8 p.m.-Midnight at 10 Centimeters and my cervix was never checked. At midnight, she asked if I wanted it checked right before they did the epidural and I was in so much pain and the thought of a hand going up there to check, sounded horrible! I declined and said “Epidural Please NOW! Chris was by my side when they administered the Epidural, which I couldn’t feel because the labor pain was so intense. All family members in the waiting room were relived when they heard I was getting it, because they could see how much pain I was in during labor.

After about 10 minutes after the epidural, the nurse decided to check the status of my cervix…and she said “OMG Teiah, no wonder you’re in so much pain…you’re at 10 centimeters, it’s time to push honey, Chris go get the family!” So, all the family gathered in the large birthing room and with 1 Doctor. I pushed and pushed and pushed…No Emma. Finally, after about hour of pushing they realized Miss Emma was like a corkscrew and stuck, and she was coming out sunny side up. I took a 5 minute break while the Nurse & Dr. went and called 2 more Doctors into the room. The 3 different Doctors at some point had their arms in me up to their elbows for 3 hours straight trying to manually turn Emma into the correct position. I pushed, pushed, and pushed, no Emma. Emma would turn and then slip back in the incorrect position. I finally had a temperature of 100.6, which is starting to show signs of an infection due to the water breaking for such a long time. Finally at 4:15 a.m. with all 3 Doctors attempting to turn her and pushing 4 hours and 15 minutes straight, they figured out that she was not coming out and that my pelvis was too small is why she wouldn’t stay turned. They were one sentence away from the “C-Word”, and we asked what else we could do. Chris and I watched the Doctors faces and kept shaking their heads in disbelief and looking at each other but not saying much. The main Doctor suggested that first we try the Vacuum. At that point, there were a total of 17 people in the room, yes 17 people (8 family members, 3 Doctors, and 6 nurses)! We all knew something was going to happen, one way or another when all the nurses came into the room. One of the Doctors got the vacuum setup and ready. I started to push, push, push, push, etc. and the Doctors started to pull on Emma’s head, like she was picking up a car or like playing tug of war. The Dr.'s ended up doing an episiotomy (I ended up with a 2nd Degree tear even after the episiotomy). Finally, Miss Emma made her debut into the World at 4:32 A.M. and everyone was thrilled for her to be healthy and apart of our lives! Emma Parker Cox was 7 lbs. 8.6 oz., 19” long!

The only drugs I used were the Epidural for her birth. I always hoped I could have done it 100% naturally, but I made it until 10 centimeters for a long time and what matters most is that we have a healthy Baby Girl! During my labor the Nurse and Dr’s. suggested that we use Pitocin during Emma’s birth, but we politely declined. It would have probably would have ended up in a emergency C-Section.

Miss Emma scored a 9 out 10 on the Apgar Test (no baby in Colorado scores a 10, due to the high altitude and 9 is the highest level in Colorado). She was not jaundice. She had perfect skin and appears to be a perfect healthy baby girl. She had a good size bruise on the back of her little head from the vacuum, but it has since healed.

The past week and half have been life changing for Chris and myself. We are so thankful my Mom & Dad were able to stay a week and help us adjust to our new life with Emma. Chris and I never knew our love for each other could grow and bring us closer together. Lastly, we never knew we could love Miss Emma so much (even though she likes to be awake from 2 a.m. – 5 a.m.). She is our “Hawaiian Souvenir Princess”.

Btw, Chris and I joke that Emma is available for rent from 2 a.m.-5 a.m. Rates are VERY cheap. Interested parties, please inquire. ;)

Cheers and love!

Teiah & Chris

P.S. All of you taking bets... I have only gagged twice since Emma's birth. The first occurred at her 1st poopy diaper change and the second time occurred time when Emma vomited all over Chris.