Of my 3 children, all three birth experiences have been incredibly different. When Jonathan was born, I was induced at 37 1/2 weeks because my blood pressure was elevated. He was trying to push himself out and was in distress, so they ended up doing a c-section. He spent a few days in the NICU due to fluid in his lungs, but he was a good size and just needed a tiny bit of extra attention at first. Peyton was, by far, the easiest. She was born at just under 40 weeks... a repeat c-section that was scheduled. I got to do immediate skin to skin with her in the OR. She stayed in my hospital room with me, and we went home after 2 days, together.
I knew from day 1 that #3 was going to be significantly different. I went to my first appointment with my dr and my blood pressure was 160/100. Due to my blood pressure and other physical circumstances surrounding my medical history, my dr was not comfortable going through with being my doctor. She referred me to a high risk doctor that could monitor everything I needed monitored. Over the next few months, my blood pressure was consistently high and gradually would increase. In January, they finally got me up to my max dose of my BP medicine...2400 mg/day...plus baby aspirin, one other BP pill, 2 iron pills a day, and my prenatal. I felt like a walking pharmacy, but I was doing what I had to for "Baby Bob."
On February 22nd, I went back to work after having a week at home due to the stores being closed because of our winter storm in Texas. I felt okay. Simply tired and sore, but chalked it up to being 34 weeks pregnant and feeling gigantic. My feet and hands were swollen to the point that they hurt, and I couldn't even make a fist with my hands. I was sitting at my desk (It was Monday, so Admin day...no, I was not running around like someone asked me a few days later). Anyway, I was sitting at my desk and I felt something like a small leak. I didn't think anything of it. About 2 minutes later, I felt a gush of liquid. For the ladies, (TMI, sorry), you know how it feels when you have your period and you get a large gush of blood... that's what it felt like. So I immediately got up and went to the bathroom. I sat down and my underwear and pad (I was wearing one for uncomfortable leaks) were completely soaked in blood. I immediately started crying. I went back out and was sobbing as I mumbled something to my supervisor about leaving because I was bleeding. He immediately came into the back with me and called his mom, who was a L&D nurse. She told him to hang up and call 911. He called 911 as I called Jonathan. My mom called me and told me that everything would be fine. Within a few minutes, the paramedics were there. The next half hour or so was a bit of a blur. They got me onto a stretcher in the lobby, and got me loaded into the ambulance. I remember the paramedic telling me that we had the same due date when she asked me what mine was. March 31st. In the ambulance, my blood pressure was 196/110.
I cried the whole way to the hospital. They took me to L&D when we got there. Jonathan was able to get there shortly after I got there. They consistently checked my blood pressure, and they found the babies heartbeat for me. My BP was consistently elevated...the highest I remember it getting was 225/106. They did an ultrasound and found that my placenta had detached from my uterine wall...a placental abruption. The nurse started to prepare me for the fact that I would probably be having my baby that day. My bleeding had started to slow down a bit, but had never stopped. They eventually moved me to an actual room in L&D. When I got there, the nurse let me go to the bathroom. I went pee, and when I stood back up, everything was fuzzy, my head was spinning, and I looked down and there was blood on the floor. I sat back down. A minute later, the nurse asked if I was okay. I said that I was dizzy, so she came and got me and helped me get back to my bed. I laid down, and I can remember feeling like there were so many people in the room. There was a nurse that was working on trying to get a good reading on the baby. I can remember laying in the bed, just having tears streaming. I remember hearing the nurse say that the baby's heart rate was at 70.
After hearing that, it seemed like even more people came into the room, and my bed was moving. I was being rushed to the OR. The OR was bright and I was crying. Everyone around me was moving so fast, and I was terrified. The doctor kept saying she was ready to go. The anesthesiologist was behind me, and honestly, the most comforting voice in the room. The last thing I remember hearing was him telling the doctor that I was almost ready. From what I was told later on, the doctor had her out of me in under 2 minutes.
Aria Sue was born at 34 1/2 weeks...at 4 lbs, 11oz...17.5 inches long. The day I was leaving, my original nurse came to see me. She gave me a hug and said that she was so glad we were both okay. She said that we came very close to losing both of us.
Its hard to put into writing exactly how I feel. But this was 100% the most traumatic event I've ever experienced. And there has not been a day since that I don't think about it...and theres not a day that hasn't brought tears to my eyes. I know that, in time, the fear that I felt will start to fade away. And memories will start to fade.
I will say that I am forever thankful for my nurse Melissa. She was with me from the start, and she was absolutely amazing. I am thankful for the rest of the amazing nursing staff, and NICU nurses that took such great care of my sweet girl. I am beyond thankful for the fact that myself and Aria are both here and healthy today. However, don't be surprised if you ask me a question about her birth and I start to cry. It will take time.
