We had
a scheduled induction set for January 2, 2014, two days before my due date. We arrived at the hospital at 8:30 in the
morning eager to meet our baby girl! It
was the first time I had arrived at the hospital without being in labor, and it
was a much calmer experience. We were
led to our room shortly after arriving where they proceeded to get an IV
started. I had tested positive for Group
B Strep so we wanted to get antibiotics going as soon as possible because it
takes 4 hours for them to be effective.
After two (painful) attempts, the nurses were unable to get the IV
started. I had been at the hospital just
4 days prior for IV fluids due to dehydration because of the norovirus, a nasty
stomach bug that had worked its way through our entire family. I am not sure if I was still slightly dehydrated
from being sick or what, but for whatever reason they had to call in an IV
specialist. After two more painful
attempts an IV was finally put in my hand and we were able to get fluids
going. When they placed the IV they also
took my blood. After way too long they
were finally able to get the penicillin for the Group B Strep started. I had to get 4 hours of these antibiotics
before we could even start the Pitocin for inducing. By the time we actually got the Pitocin started
it was 5pm and we had been at the hospital for 8.5 hours. This process was taking a bit longer than I
had anticipated. Meanwhile, my blood
work came back with extremely low platelet counts. The doctor explained that this may mean that
I could not get an epidural. That was a
little bit scary/disheartening to hear.
I was not set on getting an epidural, but with how long the process was
taking I knew I would be tired and may likely want the option of having an
epidural. The doctor thought that it was
unusual to have such low platlet counts so he ordered my blood to be drawn two
more times. Fortunately both of those
counts came back in the normal range, so I would be able to get an epidural
after all. At 5pm we got the Pitocin started! We were getting excited! I sipped on chicken broth, red jello, sprite,
and popsicles throughout the day and into the night, as I was not allowed to
eat anything and I had not had anything to eat since 7:30am that morning. Around 6pm Grandma and Grandpa Calvin and
Madison and Makenzie and Ellie came to visit.
It was a nice break in the day.
Contraction started picking up and becoming painful and at 9pm I was
able to get in the Jacuzzi tub for a while which was relaxing and helped with
the pain. And it was just nice to be out
of the hospital bed after laying down for over 12 hours. At 11pm I was 4 cm and it was decided the we
would break my water and stop the Pitocin since labor seemed to have
started. I asked for an epidural at this
point. Just after getting the epidural I
passed out for a moment. I was fine, but
it startled the poor nurses. Every time
I would have to lay directly on my back I would start to feel like I would pass
out, so I started to lay on my side for an procedures needing to be done. Hailey favored my right side so I spent much
of my time in this position. We would
try to switch it up and let me lay on my left side, but Hailey didn’t respond
well to it, so back my right side I went.
At midnight they broke my water.
With the epidural in I was able to take a short nap. At 4:30am the nurse checked me and said I was
8-9cm! I was so excited! I had been at the hospital for 21 hours and I
was ready to meet my baby! I thought for
sure that I would be feeling the need to push soon. Hours ticked by and I never felt the need to
push. My contractions slowed down and
finally at 7am my doctor decided to put me back on Pitocin to help speed up
labor. He checked me and said I was
actually only 7cm. That was a bit
disheartening to hear. I was really
hungry and really tired by this point.
Pitocin was restarted and contractions picked back up. At around 8:30am Josh decided to go grab a
cup of coffee. I thought it would be a
while before the baby came so I suggested Starbucks. He didn’t want to risk it and decided to walk
to the hospital coffee shop instead. At 8:45
am I suddenly felt a lot of pressure. It
was so sudden. It took me a moment to realize
what I was feeling. And then I realized
it was time to push. The nurse checked
me and I was 10cm. She called the doctor
and I called Josh. The pressure was
really intense and waiting for Josh seemed like forever. As soon as he got back and the doctor was
ready it was time. With one contraction
and two pushes Hailey Claire Thorp was born at 8:55am on January 3, 2014. I could not believe that you were actually
here. It had been such a long day and
then it all happened so quickly. I was
instantly in love. You were 8lbs 4
ounces and 20” long, beautiful, and absolutely perfect. We feel beyond blessed to have a fourth
healthy, beautiful baby girl.
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