It all begins back during the night of my baby shower. Yep, you read that right...
We drove to the hospital. Halfway there Leif told me to let him know if he needed to start running the red lights. I said not yet. I had called the hospital a few weeks in advance to find out where we would need to go during the day and during the night. Emergency room it was.
I already hated this hospital from when Leif had his surgery. I did not want to go back to this hospital and I surely did not want to have my baby at this hospital. However, we don't always get our way now do we?
We arrived at the ER entrance and both flew out of the car with it still running. We went to the front desk and Leif informed them he thinks I was having contractions. They brought me into an office where I started filling out the paper work. At this point, Leif decided he should go move the car and I was moved into the Triage where they told me to start undressing and get in the bed. Leif was back quickly and started on the paperwork. I kept informing him to hurry up. He wasn't listening! Finally the resident on call came by and told him he could not do anything to help me until he got the paperwork filled out. That hurried him up!
Once they hooked me up the resident came back and asked the nurse why I did not have an IV in yet as I was having contractions. This is where everything started to go South. The reason I did not have an IV in yet was because the nurse who was supposed to give me the IV could not do it for the life of her. She tried in two different spots before calling in a pro. Thankfully, the real nurse was able to do it fairly quickly. The resident finally did an exam and informed us I was not dilated. She believes I was on my feet a lot from the baby shower and probably did not eat or drink as much as I should have. She said she was going to continue to give me fluids and see what happened. At this point I was having a contraction about every 3 minutes for about 30 seconds long.
Shortly after that, they came back to inform us they were moving me to another area as many women were coming in having contractions. Apparently it was a full moon and this is what happens during a full moon. Before they had me lay back down, I went to the bathroom as they were going to give me Demerol to relax me and try to help me get some sleep. You're not allowed to stand or walk around after. I'm pretty sure everything I had eaten in two days came out along with blood. The nurse informed me it was probably from my exam earlier.
Finally, I laid back down in a dark corner of the hospital and Leif tried to sleep. Leif said I slept for about a half an hour before I woke up and was having a bit more pain. We informed the nurse and she said I would have to hold out awhile longer before they were allowed to give me anymore drugs. Eventually, after huffing and puffing awhile longer, the nurse came back and said the doctor said I could have more Demerol. I remember saying, that did nothing, I don't want more Demerol. However, they gave me more and disappeared again.
This is when the pain really started to kick in and my contractions were about every minute apart. I pretty much lost all control of everything at this point and noticed I had either wet myself or my water broke. Leif went and got the doctor and they did an exam. I had dilated 1cm and it was not amniotic fluid. I did not know at the time I had dilated 1cm. But, even if I had, I knew you could be 1cm dilated for weeks! Leif then asked the doctor what the likely hood was I would be having the baby that night. She said not high and she did not think I would have the baby that night. The plan was to continue giving me fluid over night and I would be released in the morning. I heard this and started crying. My biggest fear at this point was that I was going to have to go through all of this all over again in four weeks.
The doctor disappeared again. At this point, there was nothing anyone was going to do for me. My contractors were every minute and lasted about 30 seconds. I was screaming at the top of my lungs now. I had not really made much noise until now. I was bracing myself with my right arm on the wall and the left arm gripping the side of my bed. I kept screaming, "Someone please help me! This is not right. My pain is a level ten!" No one came. Not once. I kept asking Leif to go get the doctor. He would go and come back with no one. Apparently, as previously mentioned, there were a lot of women in labor. We later learned there were five babies born during that time. He said the halls were empty.
For an hour and a half, roughly, as we both could not remember the time frame except that we arrived around 9:30pm, I screamed bloody murder with my bedmate. Leif said it was torture. He did not understand how the nurses did it each night every night. I informed him I had to go to the bathroom really badly and to find someone. Again, no one came. I don't know how much longer but again, I said to him, Leif' I'm about to shit all over this bed if you don't go get someone now! This time, miraculously, he came back with someone.
I guess those must have been the magic words because the first thing they did was an exam and immediately I heard, she's fully dilated, let's go! I had dilated from 1cm to 10cm in an hour and a half! AND NO ONE CAME TO CHECK ON ME.
Before I knew it, everything was unhooked and we were literally running down the hallway to the delivery room. Leif was right next to me running too! During the one minute run down the hall I had a major contraction and said he's coming! They said close your legs and don't push! Do you know how hard it is to NOT push? Your body was literally making you push.
We turned into the delivery room and they asked if I wanted to wait for my doctor. I said no. Then they asked if I wanted to get on the table. I said no. Then I had another contraction where they counted to 10 and screamed PUSH!! I literally felt like what it was going to feel like to push him out and knew I could have him out on the next push. Shortly after, it happened. I pushed my little heart out and on eight, he was out screaming his head off!
Oh my gosh, I could not believe what just happened! And, with no drugs at all! My whole family had asked me to give birth while they were here. I always deliver, apparently! The pediatrician took him and examined him. They wanted to take him up to the NICU. Before they did, a nurse took a family photo of us which I thought was very sweet. I did not get to hold him though and he was whisked away. The nurse looked and Leif and said "Wow, your wife is a rockstar."
I was informed that I had a second degree tear and needed stitched. They finished removing the placenta, which was extremely uncomfortable. More uncomfortable than the actual birth. Then, she shot me up with some numbing medicine and started the stitches. That was also uncomfortable. Leif held my hand tight and I believe at one point I asked how much longer.
I do not even remember being wheeled into recovery but I remember being in there and being very uncomfortable. I asked the nurse and she said it was normal. I honestly did not feel it was normal as from what everyone always told me, once the baby was out, instant relief. Well, apart from the immediate stitches, no immediate relief. I just held in there and waited for what I was supposed to do next. I thank god for listening to my friends who told me to bring my own pillow. It was a life saver. I eventually asked the nurse if I could lay on my side as laying on my back was very uncomfortable with the pressure in my behind.
My doctor finally showed up. He apologized profusely for what had happened. I informed him I was ignored for an hour and a half and almost gave birth on the stretcher without the drugs I wanted or without him. Oh wait, I did.
I told him about how uncomfortable my behind was and how it felt like a lot of pressure. He immediately did an exam and told me I had a hematoma, which means blood clot. Still to this day, I don't know what the blood clot was from. He said I needed surgery. My first question was, will I be put under? He said yes. So much relief went through my body right then and there. That is how I knew how much pain I was in.
When I was out of surgery, which was apparently only ten minutes long, is when my Mom and Aunt Nancy showed up. Jennie had to stay back with Elliot. Apparently I looked awful. My mother said I was grey in color and looked like I had just been run over by a truck. That was a pretty accurate description to how I really felt. Although, they did not tell me this until later.
A little after this, they moved me into my room. I still had not been able to go up to the NICU to see Wyatt. Leif and and my Mom had gone up while I was still in recovery and Aunt Nancy stayed with me. During that time, they changed my bedding and my pads as there was blood everywhere. We packed my things to be ready for when I was going to to up to the room.
When the nurse realized I had not seen him yet, she turned around and took me right to the NICU to go see him. He was in an incubator with tubs sticking out of him. They informed me at this time that he had stopped breathing and needed to be triggered to breath by the doctors. He also did it again shortly after that however, he started breathing on his own that time. I got to stick my hand into the incubator and touch him. At that moment, I still did not have a bond with the little guy. All I wanted to do was go lay down.
I went back to my room and lunch had been brought while I was away. I ate a little, still not very hungry. My Mom had to go take Aunt Nancy to the airport so Leif hung out with me for awhile then Jennie came. I was so exhausted. Leif came by a little later that evening and we went and saw Wyatt again. This was the first time I actually got to hold him. It was so strange with all the cords and beeps. It did not feel real and still had not sunk in.
That night I slept extremely well. I was so tired. The following morning I asked Leif and my Mom to be there for 8am. I knew I would want company after being alone all night. My Mom came while Leif took Jennie and Elliot to the airport. I went up and saw Wyatt alone as Grandmas were not allowed until noon. I walked, however, I needed a ride back as I felt faint and got very hot. I did take my sweatshirt off and felt better.
Eventually Leif came and we went back to see him. Leif's brother Dean and his Mom came later in the afternoon. They brought lunch and gifts. His sister Diane also stopped by. My Mom and I did some hallway walks, as Ditty recommended, to get my legs used to walking again after all that trauma. Leif took his Mom up to see him and eventually everyone left.
We had started to feed him. He was not taking the formula well and I did not want to breast feed. It was just something I was not interested in. I also had a breast reduction in college. Because of that, the doctors told me I may never be able to breast feed and I'll know when I know. So I did not want to put too much pressure on myself as well. I also did not want to try too early and it not work and then I gave up. There were a lot of factors. However, the little guy could not keep anything down. He was puking left and right. We felt so bad and so did his NICU nurse who eventually got the pediatrician to change his formula. She said the good news is I got the doctor to change his formula to the really expensive stinky stuff! But, he's doing better!
That evening when I went to see him, I felt really weird tingling feeling in my boobs. I mentioned it to my night nurse and in the morning I mentioned it again to the day nurse. She brought a pump in and I tried to pump. I actually got a little out of my right boob. So I continued to pump. I also met with the lactation consultant. She helped me out and showed me the different holds. Wyatt loved being next to my warm body and would just melt into me. I just became a sweaty mess and could not not him or the boob and he would just pass out!
The doctor wanted to keep Wyatt in the NICU for seven days. He said babies that tend to stop breathing will do it again within seven days, if they do it at all. Thankfully, Wyatt did not do it again. Once I was discharged, Leif and I came back to the hospital three times a day, 8am, 1pm and 8pm to feed him.
My Mom had extended her trip for another week so she could be here to help out. Oh my gosh, was she a life saver. When I went into the hospital, we had not cleaned up from the baby shower, gifts were everywhere, things needed to be washed, his closet organized as I had piles of things in it, and I had not bought the last list of items I needed! My Mother did it all. She was amazing. Thank you Mom, from the bottom of my heart. You saved me there.
I did exert myself a little too much we think one day and I had some excessive bleeding. I laid down the rest of the day and the following day I was much better. Leif went to feed the baby on his own that day.
Oh Thursday, we learned we would be taking Wyatt home on Saturday morning. My Mom was supposed to be leaving Saturday morning. So, she extended her flight a second time to leave Sunday morning. This way, after two weeks of being here and helping out, she actually got to hold him! You see, parents can hold the baby, but Grandparents can only go see the baby one time a day for five minutes. I was so thankful and wanted to make sure she would have a day with him. My Dad agreed and it was set.
On Saturday morning, Mom came with us to pick him up. We had practiced, with Mom's help of course, putting the baby in a car seat by using a teddy bear. It worked! The NICU nurse who let us walk out out of the building ALONE with Wyatt that morning was wonderful!. She really made sure we knew everything and had all our questions answered. So, we loaded the little guy in the car and headed home!
Once home, Grandma held him for the very first time! She was smitten! We pretty much watched movies and hung around. As he was in the NICU for so long, he was used to lights on and loud noises 24/7. We made sure we continued that as we knew this house was never going to be very quiet with three dogs and Leif.
That night, when we put him in his bassinet to go to sleep, he was fine until we turned off the lights. The poor little guy didn't know what to do! He had never had the lights off since he was born! He was and is a good sleeper so eventually he would go back to sleep and we would feed him every three hours. The NICU nurses had him on a such a set schedule that he would wake up right on time to eat. It was amazing!
I varied that schedule just a tad to get on a new one I read in the book "Mom's on Call," Wyatt has been on that schedule since we brought him home and it has been marvelous. He has taken to every little change so well. I highly recommend it. Thank you Shannon for the book!
The next morning, Sunday, I dropped Grandma off at the airport. We were on our own! We did really well rotating feedings. Therefore, Leif and I got decent sleep. I also napped a lot during the day. I was still pumping but not breast feeding. I was getting a lot of milk now and it was going well.
The following weekend, we took Wyatt up to the cabin for the first time. It was a nice little break, even though it wasn't. We spent a weekend at home then went up to see Aunt Nancy and Uncle Dan at the Vineyard. Wyatt did extremely well in the car ride. He slept the whole way. He woke up only in time for us to feed him. We had a very nice five day visit with family and came back. He was great in the car again.
Overall, the little guy only gets cranky when he is hungry, his tummy hurts or he has a dirty diaper! We love him so much and are so glad he is finally here!
We drove to the hospital. Halfway there Leif told me to let him know if he needed to start running the red lights. I said not yet. I had called the hospital a few weeks in advance to find out where we would need to go during the day and during the night. Emergency room it was.
I already hated this hospital from when Leif had his surgery. I did not want to go back to this hospital and I surely did not want to have my baby at this hospital. However, we don't always get our way now do we?
We arrived at the ER entrance and both flew out of the car with it still running. We went to the front desk and Leif informed them he thinks I was having contractions. They brought me into an office where I started filling out the paper work. At this point, Leif decided he should go move the car and I was moved into the Triage where they told me to start undressing and get in the bed. Leif was back quickly and started on the paperwork. I kept informing him to hurry up. He wasn't listening! Finally the resident on call came by and told him he could not do anything to help me until he got the paperwork filled out. That hurried him up!
Once they hooked me up the resident came back and asked the nurse why I did not have an IV in yet as I was having contractions. This is where everything started to go South. The reason I did not have an IV in yet was because the nurse who was supposed to give me the IV could not do it for the life of her. She tried in two different spots before calling in a pro. Thankfully, the real nurse was able to do it fairly quickly. The resident finally did an exam and informed us I was not dilated. She believes I was on my feet a lot from the baby shower and probably did not eat or drink as much as I should have. She said she was going to continue to give me fluids and see what happened. At this point I was having a contraction about every 3 minutes for about 30 seconds long.
Shortly after that, they came back to inform us they were moving me to another area as many women were coming in having contractions. Apparently it was a full moon and this is what happens during a full moon. Before they had me lay back down, I went to the bathroom as they were going to give me Demerol to relax me and try to help me get some sleep. You're not allowed to stand or walk around after. I'm pretty sure everything I had eaten in two days came out along with blood. The nurse informed me it was probably from my exam earlier.
Finally, I laid back down in a dark corner of the hospital and Leif tried to sleep. Leif said I slept for about a half an hour before I woke up and was having a bit more pain. We informed the nurse and she said I would have to hold out awhile longer before they were allowed to give me anymore drugs. Eventually, after huffing and puffing awhile longer, the nurse came back and said the doctor said I could have more Demerol. I remember saying, that did nothing, I don't want more Demerol. However, they gave me more and disappeared again.
This is when the pain really started to kick in and my contractions were about every minute apart. I pretty much lost all control of everything at this point and noticed I had either wet myself or my water broke. Leif went and got the doctor and they did an exam. I had dilated 1cm and it was not amniotic fluid. I did not know at the time I had dilated 1cm. But, even if I had, I knew you could be 1cm dilated for weeks! Leif then asked the doctor what the likely hood was I would be having the baby that night. She said not high and she did not think I would have the baby that night. The plan was to continue giving me fluid over night and I would be released in the morning. I heard this and started crying. My biggest fear at this point was that I was going to have to go through all of this all over again in four weeks.
The doctor disappeared again. At this point, there was nothing anyone was going to do for me. My contractors were every minute and lasted about 30 seconds. I was screaming at the top of my lungs now. I had not really made much noise until now. I was bracing myself with my right arm on the wall and the left arm gripping the side of my bed. I kept screaming, "Someone please help me! This is not right. My pain is a level ten!" No one came. Not once. I kept asking Leif to go get the doctor. He would go and come back with no one. Apparently, as previously mentioned, there were a lot of women in labor. We later learned there were five babies born during that time. He said the halls were empty.
For an hour and a half, roughly, as we both could not remember the time frame except that we arrived around 9:30pm, I screamed bloody murder with my bedmate. Leif said it was torture. He did not understand how the nurses did it each night every night. I informed him I had to go to the bathroom really badly and to find someone. Again, no one came. I don't know how much longer but again, I said to him, Leif' I'm about to shit all over this bed if you don't go get someone now! This time, miraculously, he came back with someone.
I guess those must have been the magic words because the first thing they did was an exam and immediately I heard, she's fully dilated, let's go! I had dilated from 1cm to 10cm in an hour and a half! AND NO ONE CAME TO CHECK ON ME.
Before I knew it, everything was unhooked and we were literally running down the hallway to the delivery room. Leif was right next to me running too! During the one minute run down the hall I had a major contraction and said he's coming! They said close your legs and don't push! Do you know how hard it is to NOT push? Your body was literally making you push.
We turned into the delivery room and they asked if I wanted to wait for my doctor. I said no. Then they asked if I wanted to get on the table. I said no. Then I had another contraction where they counted to 10 and screamed PUSH!! I literally felt like what it was going to feel like to push him out and knew I could have him out on the next push. Shortly after, it happened. I pushed my little heart out and on eight, he was out screaming his head off!
Oh my gosh, I could not believe what just happened! And, with no drugs at all! My whole family had asked me to give birth while they were here. I always deliver, apparently! The pediatrician took him and examined him. They wanted to take him up to the NICU. Before they did, a nurse took a family photo of us which I thought was very sweet. I did not get to hold him though and he was whisked away. The nurse looked and Leif and said "Wow, your wife is a rockstar."
I was informed that I had a second degree tear and needed stitched. They finished removing the placenta, which was extremely uncomfortable. More uncomfortable than the actual birth. Then, she shot me up with some numbing medicine and started the stitches. That was also uncomfortable. Leif held my hand tight and I believe at one point I asked how much longer.
I do not even remember being wheeled into recovery but I remember being in there and being very uncomfortable. I asked the nurse and she said it was normal. I honestly did not feel it was normal as from what everyone always told me, once the baby was out, instant relief. Well, apart from the immediate stitches, no immediate relief. I just held in there and waited for what I was supposed to do next. I thank god for listening to my friends who told me to bring my own pillow. It was a life saver. I eventually asked the nurse if I could lay on my side as laying on my back was very uncomfortable with the pressure in my behind.
My doctor finally showed up. He apologized profusely for what had happened. I informed him I was ignored for an hour and a half and almost gave birth on the stretcher without the drugs I wanted or without him. Oh wait, I did.
I told him about how uncomfortable my behind was and how it felt like a lot of pressure. He immediately did an exam and told me I had a hematoma, which means blood clot. Still to this day, I don't know what the blood clot was from. He said I needed surgery. My first question was, will I be put under? He said yes. So much relief went through my body right then and there. That is how I knew how much pain I was in.
When I was out of surgery, which was apparently only ten minutes long, is when my Mom and Aunt Nancy showed up. Jennie had to stay back with Elliot. Apparently I looked awful. My mother said I was grey in color and looked like I had just been run over by a truck. That was a pretty accurate description to how I really felt. Although, they did not tell me this until later.
A little after this, they moved me into my room. I still had not been able to go up to the NICU to see Wyatt. Leif and and my Mom had gone up while I was still in recovery and Aunt Nancy stayed with me. During that time, they changed my bedding and my pads as there was blood everywhere. We packed my things to be ready for when I was going to to up to the room.
When the nurse realized I had not seen him yet, she turned around and took me right to the NICU to go see him. He was in an incubator with tubs sticking out of him. They informed me at this time that he had stopped breathing and needed to be triggered to breath by the doctors. He also did it again shortly after that however, he started breathing on his own that time. I got to stick my hand into the incubator and touch him. At that moment, I still did not have a bond with the little guy. All I wanted to do was go lay down.
I went back to my room and lunch had been brought while I was away. I ate a little, still not very hungry. My Mom had to go take Aunt Nancy to the airport so Leif hung out with me for awhile then Jennie came. I was so exhausted. Leif came by a little later that evening and we went and saw Wyatt again. This was the first time I actually got to hold him. It was so strange with all the cords and beeps. It did not feel real and still had not sunk in.
That night I slept extremely well. I was so tired. The following morning I asked Leif and my Mom to be there for 8am. I knew I would want company after being alone all night. My Mom came while Leif took Jennie and Elliot to the airport. I went up and saw Wyatt alone as Grandmas were not allowed until noon. I walked, however, I needed a ride back as I felt faint and got very hot. I did take my sweatshirt off and felt better.
Eventually Leif came and we went back to see him. Leif's brother Dean and his Mom came later in the afternoon. They brought lunch and gifts. His sister Diane also stopped by. My Mom and I did some hallway walks, as Ditty recommended, to get my legs used to walking again after all that trauma. Leif took his Mom up to see him and eventually everyone left.
We had started to feed him. He was not taking the formula well and I did not want to breast feed. It was just something I was not interested in. I also had a breast reduction in college. Because of that, the doctors told me I may never be able to breast feed and I'll know when I know. So I did not want to put too much pressure on myself as well. I also did not want to try too early and it not work and then I gave up. There were a lot of factors. However, the little guy could not keep anything down. He was puking left and right. We felt so bad and so did his NICU nurse who eventually got the pediatrician to change his formula. She said the good news is I got the doctor to change his formula to the really expensive stinky stuff! But, he's doing better!
That evening when I went to see him, I felt really weird tingling feeling in my boobs. I mentioned it to my night nurse and in the morning I mentioned it again to the day nurse. She brought a pump in and I tried to pump. I actually got a little out of my right boob. So I continued to pump. I also met with the lactation consultant. She helped me out and showed me the different holds. Wyatt loved being next to my warm body and would just melt into me. I just became a sweaty mess and could not not him or the boob and he would just pass out!
The doctor wanted to keep Wyatt in the NICU for seven days. He said babies that tend to stop breathing will do it again within seven days, if they do it at all. Thankfully, Wyatt did not do it again. Once I was discharged, Leif and I came back to the hospital three times a day, 8am, 1pm and 8pm to feed him.
My Mom had extended her trip for another week so she could be here to help out. Oh my gosh, was she a life saver. When I went into the hospital, we had not cleaned up from the baby shower, gifts were everywhere, things needed to be washed, his closet organized as I had piles of things in it, and I had not bought the last list of items I needed! My Mother did it all. She was amazing. Thank you Mom, from the bottom of my heart. You saved me there.
I did exert myself a little too much we think one day and I had some excessive bleeding. I laid down the rest of the day and the following day I was much better. Leif went to feed the baby on his own that day.
Oh Thursday, we learned we would be taking Wyatt home on Saturday morning. My Mom was supposed to be leaving Saturday morning. So, she extended her flight a second time to leave Sunday morning. This way, after two weeks of being here and helping out, she actually got to hold him! You see, parents can hold the baby, but Grandparents can only go see the baby one time a day for five minutes. I was so thankful and wanted to make sure she would have a day with him. My Dad agreed and it was set.
On Saturday morning, Mom came with us to pick him up. We had practiced, with Mom's help of course, putting the baby in a car seat by using a teddy bear. It worked! The NICU nurse who let us walk out out of the building ALONE with Wyatt that morning was wonderful!. She really made sure we knew everything and had all our questions answered. So, we loaded the little guy in the car and headed home!
Once home, Grandma held him for the very first time! She was smitten! We pretty much watched movies and hung around. As he was in the NICU for so long, he was used to lights on and loud noises 24/7. We made sure we continued that as we knew this house was never going to be very quiet with three dogs and Leif.
That night, when we put him in his bassinet to go to sleep, he was fine until we turned off the lights. The poor little guy didn't know what to do! He had never had the lights off since he was born! He was and is a good sleeper so eventually he would go back to sleep and we would feed him every three hours. The NICU nurses had him on a such a set schedule that he would wake up right on time to eat. It was amazing!
I varied that schedule just a tad to get on a new one I read in the book "Mom's on Call," Wyatt has been on that schedule since we brought him home and it has been marvelous. He has taken to every little change so well. I highly recommend it. Thank you Shannon for the book!
The next morning, Sunday, I dropped Grandma off at the airport. We were on our own! We did really well rotating feedings. Therefore, Leif and I got decent sleep. I also napped a lot during the day. I was still pumping but not breast feeding. I was getting a lot of milk now and it was going well.
The following weekend, we took Wyatt up to the cabin for the first time. It was a nice little break, even though it wasn't. We spent a weekend at home then went up to see Aunt Nancy and Uncle Dan at the Vineyard. Wyatt did extremely well in the car ride. He slept the whole way. He woke up only in time for us to feed him. We had a very nice five day visit with family and came back. He was great in the car again.
Overall, the little guy only gets cranky when he is hungry, his tummy hurts or he has a dirty diaper! We love him so much and are so glad he is finally here!
