We've been anticipating the big day, thinking it would never come and it was finally here. I decided to go to work so I could finish up what needed to be done and meet with Lendall to update him on what's been going on in the office since he's been busy with his new venture. I told Mike I should be done at 2PM but Mike told me that wasn't going to happen. He was right!
I finally left the office at 4:30PM, calling Mike to let him know I was on my way. As soon as I hung up with him, I starting crying, my emotions bursting out of me. I texted Mike to let him know that the emotions were really getting to me. He called me right away to make sure I was okay and that I could drive. I told him I could and that all the emotions I had been bottling up were coming out. Basically, I was working right up until today to block thoughts of what was about to happen. I finally got home and was still crying.
Mike and I were supposed to meet my mother, my brother and his girlfriend for one final dinner. We met at our favorite Thai restaurant. After dinner, my mom braided my hair and did some last minute organizing before heading to the office. During our drive to the hospital, we were both saying this is it and were both emotional.
We arrived to the front desk and told them we were here for an induction. We were lead to room 253 where we would inhabit for the next few days. The room was a fabulous suite with all the fixins for me but for Mike, he got a sofa bed which he couldn't fit. As we settled in, nurse Lori got started hooking me up with all the necessary gadgets to monitor me and the baby- I.V., blood pressure, baby heart monitor, contraction monitor. Then the nurse inserted the Cervadil which would soften my uterus to help me dilate/contract.
Finally, Mike and I were alone. Now it's a waiting game. It was hard to sleep with all the wiring and gadgets on me and Mike sleeping on a small sofa bed. Mike finally asked the nurse for the sleeping pill that Dr. Miller said I could take if I had a hard time sleeping that night. It was two little pills and I took one and slipped the other to Mike when the nurse left. It was still hard to get a good night sleep because the nurse would come in and out to do something to me.
Wednesday; December 5th (Continuation of Induction/Arrival of baby Lee) I finally left the office at 4:30PM, calling Mike to let him know I was on my way. As soon as I hung up with him, I starting crying, my emotions bursting out of me. I texted Mike to let him know that the emotions were really getting to me. He called me right away to make sure I was okay and that I could drive. I told him I could and that all the emotions I had been bottling up were coming out. Basically, I was working right up until today to block thoughts of what was about to happen. I finally got home and was still crying.
Mike and I were supposed to meet my mother, my brother and his girlfriend for one final dinner. We met at our favorite Thai restaurant. After dinner, my mom braided my hair and did some last minute organizing before heading to the office. During our drive to the hospital, we were both saying this is it and were both emotional.
We arrived to the front desk and told them we were here for an induction. We were lead to room 253 where we would inhabit for the next few days. The room was a fabulous suite with all the fixins for me but for Mike, he got a sofa bed which he couldn't fit. As we settled in, nurse Lori got started hooking me up with all the necessary gadgets to monitor me and the baby- I.V., blood pressure, baby heart monitor, contraction monitor. Then the nurse inserted the Cervadil which would soften my uterus to help me dilate/contract.
Finally, Mike and I were alone. Now it's a waiting game. It was hard to sleep with all the wiring and gadgets on me and Mike sleeping on a small sofa bed. Mike finally asked the nurse for the sleeping pill that Dr. Miller said I could take if I had a hard time sleeping that night. It was two little pills and I took one and slipped the other to Mike when the nurse left. It was still hard to get a good night sleep because the nurse would come in and out to do something to me.
When the morning finally came, nurse Jennifer was next on duty and the Cervadil was to be removed. She checked to see how much I have dilate and I didn't dilate at all. :o( Note: Being check for dilation is like being mined because it was very uncomfortable and it hurt.
The nurse called Dr. Miller to tell her my progress. She decided to put me on Petocin which they would start on a low dose and increase it every hour to help me contract and dilate. Great, ANOTHER waiting game... Nurse Jennifer had to help with a delivery so nurse Grace came to take care of me for the rest of the day. My mom, brother and Katlyn (brother's girlfriend) came in the afternoon to keep me company while Mike went home to take a nap, see how the dogs were doing & take a shower since it seems nothing was happening.
At about 6, Dr. Miller decided to break my water since I had not dilated much even being on Petocin for over 8 hours to speed the process. She broke my water with a long apparatus that looked like a plastic knit needle with a hook. I called Mike to tell him that Dr. Miller just broke my water and it should speed the process up.
So now, I feel like I'm peeing myself, laying in bed while the contractions are getting more and more intense. I proudly can say I didn't scream or anything. :o) After a couple of hours, Mike asked if I wanted the epidural as he could see I was getting very uncomfortable and unhappy. I said no but he went to ask the nurse how long would it take for the anesthesiologist to come and give an epidural when I wanted it- 45 minutes. He came to let me know and then he recommended that I order one since it is a wait. So I agreed. The nurse came in and said the anesthesiologist said if I wanted some other pain medication administered which could affect the baby before he arrives. I said I'll wait for the epidural.
The anesthesiologist arrived and explained how it works. The nurse stood in front of me holding my shoulders as I hunched my back. He said what I would feel right before he would do something. I felt a sharp pinch then a grinding of something being turned like when you screw together but instead he was trying to separate my spine disc. He did this procedure 5 times because he could not get it in the right spot. The fifth needle, the pain was so unbearable that I burst into tears as I breathe out.
He finally got it in the right spot and could administer the drug. I felt a cold burst at my back then a electrical surge down my right leg. I'm wasn't sure if I was going to be able to recommend the epidural to anyone, but then the drug kicked it and I didn't feel any contractions or pain from that time on. AHHHHHHHH. Nice.
Nurse Grace was soon to be replaced by nurse Remy. At about 8:30, nurse Remy came to check my dilation. I was stuck on 5 cm and was at the maximum Petocin dose. Remy explained that my labor wasn't progressing and they will probably have to do a c-section but Dr. Miller will have to make that decision. I told Remy to let Dr. Miller that I didn't want to have a c-section and if we could try a little longer. Mike says we'll agree to what the doctor recommends.
My biggest nightmare about my labor was about to come true. Mike knew that I didn't like the idea after we went to pre-natal class and saw the video on c-section. I also knew that if it had to be, it had to be. At about 8:50, Dr. Miller walked into our room and explained how we have come to the end of the induction phase and it wasn't working. We tried what we can do to have a vaginal birth but she wouldn't risk me or the baby, therefore, we need to do the c-section. I asked her who will be the doctor that is doing the c-section. She said it would be her. I felt so much better and relaxed that she was going to be the one as I was thinking it would be someone else.
Dr. Moore, the anesthesiologist came to prep me for surgery. He gave me a drug that made me shiver uncontrollably and made me numb all over. While a bunch of people prepped me, I could hear them trying to get Mike some scrubs for him to wear in the OR. He's a big guy so finding a size for him proved futile so he finally got a robe to wear. They rolled me from my room into the OR. Everything happened quickly but I was awake and alert for it all.
Dr. Moore told me what I would feel as things was happening. Mike was on the right of me stroking my hair while my arms were strapped down and I kept warm. I feel a little tug and heard my baby first cry. They walked him over to the warming area behind Mike. Mike said he was covered in goo. and he is so alert. I started to tear up as the little being that I have been carrying for 39 weeks has finally made his appearance.
Once they got him cleaned off, Mike went over to see him. The nurse asked if we had a name and I said does he look like a Lee and Mike said yes so Mike said he's name is Lee. They finally got him wrapped up and I got to see little Lee wrapped up like a little football; kissed him. Mike followed the nurses with Lee to the nursery while they finish up the rest of the procedure.
Dr. Miller mentioned that I had a scar tissue in my uterus and asked me if I had bad cramps when I had my period and I said no. Also, she asked how long were we trying to get pregnant. I said about 3 years. I did not have a chance to ask her about this conversation but I will when I have an appointment with her. The surgery was finally over and they rolled me back to the room.
When I was in the room, Mike came back to tell me that whatever a healthy baby is required to do within the first 24 hours, Lee had done in less than an hour- pooped, peed & drank a full bottle (50 cc). They had to feed him right away because he had low sugar blood count due to me having gestational diabetic. The nurse brought him in right next to my bed. I was still shaking/shivering. I got to hold Lee for a while. Mike had sent some messages to let some people know that Lee was born. I didn't want him to call my mom or brother till I stopped shaking. At about 11, I called my mom and told her that she had another grandson. I asked if she wants to stay with me and Lee that night so that Mike can have a good night sleep and take care of the dogs, she agreed. :o)
Thursday; December 6th (Monitoring of mother & baby) The nurse called Dr. Miller to tell her my progress. She decided to put me on Petocin which they would start on a low dose and increase it every hour to help me contract and dilate. Great, ANOTHER waiting game... Nurse Jennifer had to help with a delivery so nurse Grace came to take care of me for the rest of the day. My mom, brother and Katlyn (brother's girlfriend) came in the afternoon to keep me company while Mike went home to take a nap, see how the dogs were doing & take a shower since it seems nothing was happening.
At about 6, Dr. Miller decided to break my water since I had not dilated much even being on Petocin for over 8 hours to speed the process. She broke my water with a long apparatus that looked like a plastic knit needle with a hook. I called Mike to tell him that Dr. Miller just broke my water and it should speed the process up.
So now, I feel like I'm peeing myself, laying in bed while the contractions are getting more and more intense. I proudly can say I didn't scream or anything. :o) After a couple of hours, Mike asked if I wanted the epidural as he could see I was getting very uncomfortable and unhappy. I said no but he went to ask the nurse how long would it take for the anesthesiologist to come and give an epidural when I wanted it- 45 minutes. He came to let me know and then he recommended that I order one since it is a wait. So I agreed. The nurse came in and said the anesthesiologist said if I wanted some other pain medication administered which could affect the baby before he arrives. I said I'll wait for the epidural.
The anesthesiologist arrived and explained how it works. The nurse stood in front of me holding my shoulders as I hunched my back. He said what I would feel right before he would do something. I felt a sharp pinch then a grinding of something being turned like when you screw together but instead he was trying to separate my spine disc. He did this procedure 5 times because he could not get it in the right spot. The fifth needle, the pain was so unbearable that I burst into tears as I breathe out.
He finally got it in the right spot and could administer the drug. I felt a cold burst at my back then a electrical surge down my right leg. I'm wasn't sure if I was going to be able to recommend the epidural to anyone, but then the drug kicked it and I didn't feel any contractions or pain from that time on. AHHHHHHHH. Nice.
Nurse Grace was soon to be replaced by nurse Remy. At about 8:30, nurse Remy came to check my dilation. I was stuck on 5 cm and was at the maximum Petocin dose. Remy explained that my labor wasn't progressing and they will probably have to do a c-section but Dr. Miller will have to make that decision. I told Remy to let Dr. Miller that I didn't want to have a c-section and if we could try a little longer. Mike says we'll agree to what the doctor recommends.
My biggest nightmare about my labor was about to come true. Mike knew that I didn't like the idea after we went to pre-natal class and saw the video on c-section. I also knew that if it had to be, it had to be. At about 8:50, Dr. Miller walked into our room and explained how we have come to the end of the induction phase and it wasn't working. We tried what we can do to have a vaginal birth but she wouldn't risk me or the baby, therefore, we need to do the c-section. I asked her who will be the doctor that is doing the c-section. She said it would be her. I felt so much better and relaxed that she was going to be the one as I was thinking it would be someone else.
Dr. Moore, the anesthesiologist came to prep me for surgery. He gave me a drug that made me shiver uncontrollably and made me numb all over. While a bunch of people prepped me, I could hear them trying to get Mike some scrubs for him to wear in the OR. He's a big guy so finding a size for him proved futile so he finally got a robe to wear. They rolled me from my room into the OR. Everything happened quickly but I was awake and alert for it all.
Dr. Moore told me what I would feel as things was happening. Mike was on the right of me stroking my hair while my arms were strapped down and I kept warm. I feel a little tug and heard my baby first cry. They walked him over to the warming area behind Mike. Mike said he was covered in goo. and he is so alert. I started to tear up as the little being that I have been carrying for 39 weeks has finally made his appearance.
Once they got him cleaned off, Mike went over to see him. The nurse asked if we had a name and I said does he look like a Lee and Mike said yes so Mike said he's name is Lee. They finally got him wrapped up and I got to see little Lee wrapped up like a little football; kissed him. Mike followed the nurses with Lee to the nursery while they finish up the rest of the procedure.
Dr. Miller mentioned that I had a scar tissue in my uterus and asked me if I had bad cramps when I had my period and I said no. Also, she asked how long were we trying to get pregnant. I said about 3 years. I did not have a chance to ask her about this conversation but I will when I have an appointment with her. The surgery was finally over and they rolled me back to the room.
When I was in the room, Mike came back to tell me that whatever a healthy baby is required to do within the first 24 hours, Lee had done in less than an hour- pooped, peed & drank a full bottle (50 cc). They had to feed him right away because he had low sugar blood count due to me having gestational diabetic. The nurse brought him in right next to my bed. I was still shaking/shivering. I got to hold Lee for a while. Mike had sent some messages to let some people know that Lee was born. I didn't want him to call my mom or brother till I stopped shaking. At about 11, I called my mom and told her that she had another grandson. I asked if she wants to stay with me and Lee that night so that Mike can have a good night sleep and take care of the dogs, she agreed. :o)
The night was more of a try-to-rest time. Mom took care of Lee when he would cry. Of course, nurses came in and out of the room to check on us. I've been eating only ice chips for the past 30 some hours. I finally got to drink water, eat jello and drank ginger ale. Woo hoo! My first experience of breast feeding was a bit frustrating but Remy helped me through it where Lee did get colostrum which is known as "liquid gold".
As the day went by, we started the breast feeding and then the bottle so that Lee got used to my breast. The second time, he latched on quickly. Lee and I make a good team in the feeding department and eating is one of his stronger qualities. Mike came back to the hospital in the morning and bought my mother home to rest when Katlyn came to see Lee at 9 a.m. When Mike got back, he had to change baby Lee's poopie diaper. Mike got his welcome to fatherhood when baby Lee who hasn't finished his business pooped and peed on Mike.
Nurse Pam explained to me what I needed to do to get me back to my feet from surgery and how to work myself back to eating solids. She said that if I could walk around the maternity area, I could have a real dinner. So I started working on standing and walking around the room. Dr. Glasser,the pediatrician, came to look at baby Lee and said that he was doing great and thought she could release him to go home tomorrow. Dr. Turner, Dr. Miller's partner, came to look at my stitches and said I was healing great and probably could be released tomorrow.
Aunt Nancy came to visit and got to hold, feed & burp baby Lee which she hasn't done before. My brother and Katlyn came over to see baby Lee. After all the visitors left, it was mommy, daddy & baby time. We walked around the maturity area- me pushing my I.V. machine and Mike pushing baby Lee's crib. For dinner, I got a turkey dinner and it was good. :o) Mike took care of baby Lee during the night while I try to rest.
As the day went by, we started the breast feeding and then the bottle so that Lee got used to my breast. The second time, he latched on quickly. Lee and I make a good team in the feeding department and eating is one of his stronger qualities. Mike came back to the hospital in the morning and bought my mother home to rest when Katlyn came to see Lee at 9 a.m. When Mike got back, he had to change baby Lee's poopie diaper. Mike got his welcome to fatherhood when baby Lee who hasn't finished his business pooped and peed on Mike.
Nurse Pam explained to me what I needed to do to get me back to my feet from surgery and how to work myself back to eating solids. She said that if I could walk around the maternity area, I could have a real dinner. So I started working on standing and walking around the room. Dr. Glasser,the pediatrician, came to look at baby Lee and said that he was doing great and thought she could release him to go home tomorrow. Dr. Turner, Dr. Miller's partner, came to look at my stitches and said I was healing great and probably could be released tomorrow.
Aunt Nancy came to visit and got to hold, feed & burp baby Lee which she hasn't done before. My brother and Katlyn came over to see baby Lee. After all the visitors left, it was mommy, daddy & baby time. We walked around the maturity area- me pushing my I.V. machine and Mike pushing baby Lee's crib. For dinner, I got a turkey dinner and it was good. :o) Mike took care of baby Lee during the night while I try to rest.
Friday; December 7th (Homebound)
Early in the morning, baby Lee was taken for a bath and a hearing test. Again, he passed with flying colors. Nurse Jennifer came in and said that we may be able to go home if both doctors released us. I could take a shower to freshen up. Dr. Foster came to check on me and said I was released to go home today. The lactation consultant, Lisa, came to answer any/all questions I had. I told her we were successful with breast feeding and boasted on how baby Lee latched on. She asked to see and gave me some pointers. She said that I should go with her to the other new mother's room to show them my breast feeding technique. he he he :o) Also, she mentioned that new mothers met every week to talk, share, etc. I don't know if I'll be able to go but it's nice to know it's there. Dr. Glasser came to check on the baby Lee and release him to go home today. We were now waiting for the paperwork for us to be released. At about noon, we were all set to go home. HOORAY!!!
We just want to thank the staff at St. Rose Dominican- San Martin campus for making our first child birthing experience as great and as comfortable as a hospital can make it. Also, thank you all for your thoughts and prayers while going through the whole pregnancy and induction/delivery period.
Now we are VERY PROUD PARENTS OF LEE SIMPLICIANO HOWLAND and eager to share the next chapter of our lives with him.
Now we are VERY PROUD PARENTS OF LEE SIMPLICIANO HOWLAND and eager to share the next chapter of our lives with him.
-Jenny
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