Mayabird: Maya's birth story!

Dear Maya,

I wanted to share you birth story with you! You due date was on a Saturday, July 16th. The day came and went with no signs of pending labor! I was antsy but had in my mind that you might take your time entering this world and worse case scenario I would be induced on July 26th. That evening I did develop a minor headache but didn't think much of it! However when I woke up the next morning the headache was worse and I felt "off". However I was 9 months pregnant and it was really hot out, I wasn't expecting to feel great! However, at one of my prenatal visits the midwife had mentioned that if I ever felt "off" that I should consider pre-eclampsia. So I went into work and had the nurses take my blood pressure. It was 140 over something. And repeat values were in the 170's! These were all high for me as I usually run in the 90's to 100's systolic. So I called triage and then told me to come in. My blood pressure did come down while I was there and my urine spot check (looking for protein) was negative. So they sent me home and told me to stay home from work and they had me do a 24 urine collection. I had a rough night as my headache was really effecting my ability to sleep! Your dad even made a middle of the night run to McDonalds for a fountain diet coke as I thought maybe caffeine would help! It didn't...The following day my headache continued to persist despite Tylenol. Fortunately your Grandma Lynne had come home from the cabin the previous night and spent the whole day with me. I pretty much laid around. The physician assistant in me told me not to worry about the continued headache as I didn't want to be the "annoying patient with a headache". I knew I had an appointment the next day and thought I could wait it out. However, by the time your dad got home from work I was a mess. He made me call triage again, and I immediately started crying on the phone and your dad had to talk to them! Never the less they told me to come back in. So your dad and I left, thinking we would be back after getting some medication for the headache. However my blood pressure was still up in triage (160's). My urine spot check was still not impressive and my 24 urine was not back yet. However they diagnosed me with at least "gestational hypertension" and since you were term they thought it was time for you to make your entry into this world. However due to the risk of pre-eclampsia and need for IV medications my care would have to be transferred to the OB team. I was sad about this because I really like the midwives but understood the reasoning. They wouldn't even let me walk to L and D due to concerns for a seizure. This was scary for me! The OB team came by and broke the news that my 24 hours urine came back indicating I had severe pre-eclampsia....which meant I would have be put on a magnesium drip to prevent seizures. This was probably around 8pm at night. When they started the magnesium my whole body felt like it was on fire. If there had been a bath tube full of ice I would have torn off my IV and blood pressure cuff and jumped in. I also got nauseous and threw up. Fortunately this resolved and I settled in. They started the induction by putting a cytotec suppository into my cervix to ripen it as I was not dilated at all. They waited probably at least 4 hours and then checked me again. I was not much more dilated, but I guess my cervix looked more "favorable". They then put a foley catheter into my cervix to stimulate it to dilate. This took at least another 4 hours. Fortunately it was effective in dilating me to 5 centimeters!!! Yeah. Dad and I were able to sleep a fair amount during this initial process and I wasn't in much pain. However I could feel the effects of the magnesium drip. They then decided it was time to start the pitocin drip. I decided to get an epidural at this point as I had been told that the contractions can be pretty intense with pitocin. The epidural placement went well overall, but I did drop my blood pressure a little and therefore got nauseous and threw up again. However it worked well but did not make my legs feel totally numb. I am not sure how long I was on this but I was pretty comfortable and did not feel much for contractions. Eventually I was ready to push!!! I was scared but excited! For some reason I thought I would be able to push you out really quick...but I was wrong. Between being really tired from lack of sleep and the the icky feeling I had being on the magnesium drip I was not at my best physically or emotionally! It was really hard to figure out how to push right!! I didn't make much progress and they were worried that I would tire out. So they made me stop pushing and just let the contractions push you down more. This was hard because I could feel the contractions and a lot of pain and pressure in my pelvis, as the epidural was not effective in this area. Dr. Heise then came in and was concerned that I was "going to tire out". Your Auntie Aoni did not thing this was the best thing to say to me in my magnesium drip state but your dad thought it put a little fire in me. Regardless it did make me concerned that I wouldn't be able to get you out and would need a C-section. I pushed really hard and during the pushes gave it all I had. However between pushes I would get a little emotional and sleepy. I kept looking at Soni and the residents for reassurance that I was making progress and hoping they would give me reassurance that I was getting close. Your dad was amazing and did not leave my side the whole time except to put new ice in the wash cloth he kept on my forehead. He counted down every contraction and then reminded me to breath between contractions. I don't think I could have done it with out him! Your Auntie Soni was also amazing. Your Grandma Lynne was also there and was wonderful. After over an hour and a half of pushing you were ready to come into this world. Your Auntie Soni noticed that you had a bowel movement while you were still in me, which meant you were at risk of aspirating stool into your lungs when you took your first breath. This meant that you couldn't come straight to my chest and that the pediatric team would need to be there when you were born. I wasn't nervous about this as I trusted the team. They made me stop pushing to wait for the pediatric team to get in the room and I WAS NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT, as the pressure was sooo intense and I wanted you out. I think at one point I yelled "can't someone else do it!!" It felt like forever, but finally they were in the room and I gave two final pushes and you were out. I cried in absolute relief that you were out. Auntie Soni followed you with the peds team, but your daddy would not leave my side! You behaved and did not breath until they had suctioned you. You apgar scores were 8 and 9. You were soo alert right after your were born and beautiful right away. You didn't even look like you had just been squeezed through my pelvis. They finally brought you to me and you were perfect. I was a little out of it because of the magnesium drip and kept falling asleep. You nursed right away and I was so proud of you! Daddy then took you and did skin to skin and it was precious. Grandpa then came in and held you and you looked right into his eyes. It was precious. He was immediately enamored with you! As were Grandma Lynne and Auntie Soni. You chirped like a bird after your were born, hence the nickname Mayabird was born. Although the labor was not ideal, I would do it over again 100 times as it was worth it to get you! And the most important thing is that your did great and had absolutely no problems.

Today I took you into work! You were a good girl. You met Dr. Zietlow, many of the secretaries (including Nancy and Karma) and my co-workers Michael, Sarah and Annie! Everyone who saw you mentioned how beautiful you are.

Grandma and Grandpa are coming over tonight to babysit you as daddy and I are going out to dinner to celebrate our 3rd wedding anniversary. We definitely have a lot to celebrate!!!