An hour passed, and it still didn't go away. I called once again, and after the nurse was trying to figure out what was wrong, since I had no other symptoms, they said I should come in. (We got there a little after midnight Monday morning). Once we got there, they took my blood pressure and it was really high, and kept saying things like, "This doesn't look good." They said if my blood pressure didn't go down they were going to induce me that night.
As excited as I was to not be pregnant anymore, and finally meet our child, I was scared. We still had 9 more days to go until his due date, and I just didn't feel prepared. Finally, after a little while longer and some blood work, the doctor came in and said that I was going to be induced and we were going to have the baby today! Apparently I had been diagnosed with Preeclampsia, a disease that only happens to 7% of pregnant women, most during their first pregnancy, and has to do with high blood pressure.
Soon after the announcement, they moved me into a delivery room, broke my water, and did all their medical stuff they needed to do at about 1-1:30am. They continually checked my blood work, and tested my blood clotting time. It took about 13 minutes for my blood to clot, and the blood work wasn't looking good. They told me the chances me of having an epidural were unlikely because my blood wasn't clotting quick enough, and it would've caused a lot of complications. That was the worst news ever... so I thought.
My blood pressure wasn't getting any lower. At one point, it got to 190... (whatever that means), and the medicine they were giving me to help lower my blood pressure didn't seem to be helping much. It was just my luck to have had a really good pregnancy, and then a terrible delivery day.
After lots of waiting and testing, they told me I was not going to have an epidural, and that because my blood pressure was too high to deliver naturally, they were going to have to perform a C-section. That was something I had been dreading the most. Luckily, because I couldn't have an epidural, they were going to put me to sleep while they performed the surgery, which put me at ease a little bit, since I did not want to be awake if they were going to have to do a C-section. I had felt some contractions during labor, but they were never consistent, and closer to the surgery, I began to feel less and less. I wasn't too nervous after they told me about the C-section, but knew that as time got closer, I'd probably start freaking out.
11:30 seemed to roll around quickly, since I had been in and out of sleep during that time, so it was a shock to see all these people coming in and getting me ready for the surgery. Once I got into the surgery room, I began to get really nervous, my body was shaking, and they had injected something that made my mouth really really dry, which made it seem like it was harder for me to breath. I was panicking... I remember seeing the clock for the last time at 11:47, before they put me to sleep.
I remember trying to wake up a few times after the surgery, trying to see if Justin or the baby was around. It took me several times to try and wake up, but I kept looking. That was the worst part of it... just trying to wake up. I was so anxious to see my baby, and see where Justin was. Finally, it wasn't until about 2 o'clock that I finally got to see Justin and JD for the first time! I was so excited, and so happy to finally meet our baby! I feel in love with him so fast, and thought he was the cutest thing I had ever seen. I was proud! :)
The rest of the day was such a blur. They had me on medication that made me real drowsy, nauseous, and I was in and out of sleep the entire day. I had nothing to eat, except maybe a few sips of broth they gave me, and juice. That night wasn't one of the best nights I had had either. I wasn't getting enough oxygen in my lungs, so they hooked me up to an oxygen mask, and I just remember hearing beeping sounds all night, and paging the nurse. They kept telling me I needed to keep the mask on, and some how I kept taking it off during the night because I wanted water, ice chips, or because it was just so uncomfortable, and became so sweaty in there. Those beeping sounds would never stop, and it just wasn't getting through to me that I needed to keep that mask on. The reason the beeping would occur was because the monitor they had me hooked into knew that I wasn't getting enough oxygen, and only with the mask on was I able to get the oxygen I needed. I'm pretty sure it had to do with being really stuffy that night... since I'd had trouble breathing during my pregnancy for those reasons alone.
I remember random moments in the night, like spilling ice chips all over my bed, and my nurse coming in to clean it up. I remember just feeling so sick... and just not being aware of anything going on. Luckily, they took JD for the night and took care of him the entire night. I couldn't imagine having to deal with all that and a baby for the first night.
Tuesday was a little bit better. I was still in and out during the day. I remember at one point my nurse telling me, "If there's anything you need, like something to eat, a milkshake, or anything..." I stopped her soon after she said milkshake! :) I remember looking over at Justin and him nodding his head with a smile on his face before I said, "actually.... a milkshake sounds really good!" Two hours later, a vanilla milkshake was brought out to me. :)
My time at the hospital was really long. I was there from Monday morning at midnight, until Thursday. All of my nurses were great to me, and they treated me so well, I actually miss being in the hospital and taken care of, and not having to worry about anything outside of that place. Although, I know I probably would've gotten a little crazy if I had stayed there any longer.
It may have been one of the more unpleasant experiences of my life, but I'm so glad everything worked out the way they did. I'm grateful to have the cutest little baby in the world, even though our nights have been taken away from us. I know it'll all be worth it! I love having him here, and am grateful for this opportunity to be a Mom. :) Justin and I couldn't be more happier!
Sorry this was an extremely long post, but it's the only journal I keep, and I'd like to look back and read about this again someday! Here's some pictures as a reward for those who actually read the entire thing.
After being induced
Justin's bed
Our hospital room
Me exhausted...
JD barely fits his crib
wow what a story! glad its finally over and your little man is healthy! congratulations!
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