Birth Story

My last check-up with my doctor, Susan Horvath, was on 12/27/2012, and I was 50% effaced and 1 cm dilated (not good). I was scheduled for a non-stress test on 01/03/2012 and another check-up on 01/04/2012. Our doctor talked about possibly inducing me the first week of January. She also explained she would be on leave until the 4th of January (oh great).

Our due date of 12/31/2011 came and went. I thought the bun in the oven was done cooking, but there was no signs of any real contractions, only Braxton Hicks contractions. I had been keeping track of their duration in anticipation of the real contractions to begin. Ken, Jeremiah, Helen, and my folks can attest to the fact I was truly miserable and ready for the pregnancy to be over. It was getting increasingly difficult to sleep comfortably and I could hardly breathe, let alone talk, due to my lungs being so compressed for space. Prior to the birth of the baby, most days were spent vegging in front of the television, keeping track of the baby's movements, worrying, and waiting, and waiting, and waiting. I think I must have watched about every episode of Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares, Wife Swap, Say Yes to the Dress, Amazing Wedding Cakes, America's Supernanny, and Toddlers & Tiaras. Wow, I am truly disgusted at the fact I watched that much junk.

On New Years Day (01/01/2012) the baby was moving good and in the evening the baby was keeping me up all night kicking and moving like crazy. The next day, 01/02/2012, I started to get concerned, and told Ken the baby wasn't moving as much as usual. We made a phone call to St. Mark's Labor and Delivery for decreased movement and they told us to come in. We were prepared to stay the long haul at the hospital if need be; the labor bag, postpartum bag, and baby car seat were already in the FJ.

We had visited the triage section of Labor and Delivery one time prior for decreased movement so we knew the drill. After checking in, I was hooked up to the monitors, which provide a real time reading of the baby's heart rate and any contractions.

The baby's heart rate was good; what a relief. The on-call doctor, Camille Stevenson, requested that an ultrasound be done to determine the fluid levels around the baby. Because of the holiday and limited staff, the ultrasound was done in the main section of the hospital. Thank goodness for wheelchairs, I don't think I could of made the long walk to the ultrasound room.

The ultrasound technician explained the fluid level was around 1.6-cm, REALLY LOW (typical levels should be around 8 or 9-cm). We heading back to the Labor and Delivery triage section of the hospital. Moments later the nurse came back into the room and asked me, "How about we have a baby today?" to which I replied, "Ok, lets do this."

I was moved into one of the labor and delivery suites, was again hooked-up to the monitors, requested some cherry flavored ice-chips, was checked for any progress (80% effaced and 1 cm dilated), and the nurse explained the induction process. Ken called up my folks and they said they would be there soon. A few minutes later the nurse returned and explained the monitors showed a drop in the baby's heart rate with the onset of a Braxton Hicks contraction; she then proceeded to explain the possibility of a c-section. Moments later, Dr. Stevenson arrived and she explained her concerns regarding having a vaginal delivery. 1. Drugs to soften the cervix could cause contractions, which may or may not be stopped once introduced, 2. the baby's heart rate was already affected by the Braxton Hicks contractions, and 3. a vaginal delivery may take up to 20 or more hours. Basically, we selected an elective c-section before it became an emergency.

Ken had not eaten much during the day and was going to get a Subway sandwich before the surgery. I seem to remember getting after him, telling him not to leave me, and saying we had packed a boat-load of snacks for him in the labor bag. (Some partners pass out in the operating room.) With a shift change about to occur the doctor was eager to get this c-section going and explained we would be in the operating room in about 15 minutes! Needless to say, Ken didn't get his sandwich. My parents arrived just in time to see us off.

This c-section is the first surgery I have ever had and I was terrified inside, no tears, but I had the shakes. Ken wasn't there for the spinal block... I was wishing he was there... and I don't remember it hurting as bad as everyone says it should. The anesthesiologist was playing "Paint It Black" by the Rolling Stones. Not having any feeling in my legs was the strangest sensation; my body felt like it belonged to someone else. Ken finally made it into the room, I was so glad he was there. The doctor asked if I was feeling anything, to which I replied I could feel them pushing or pulling my legs around. Ken explained they were pinching me with some giant forceps, YOWSERS!!!! The doctor explained the worse of the c-section would be about 30 to 60 seconds of heavy pressure where I wouldn't be able to breath as they pushed to get the baby out. I kept telling Ken to keep on talking to me as they worked; both Ken and I can't remember the dialog. Finally the doctor told Ken he could look over the curtain to see the baby. Ken said he had some tunnel vision going on as he looked over the curtain as they pulled the baby out. The doctor announced, "It's a boy!" The best sound in the world was his cry, which we had been waiting for, for so long. It brought us to tears and I told Ken to go over to him.

Gabriel Roland Sykes was born at 6:47 p.m. at 7 lbs 12 oz and 20 inches long with a full head of brown hair. He was extremely wrinkly, his nails were long, and he didn't have much vernix on him (the white waxy coating). The doctor explained there was some calcification of the placenta (aging). The doctor cut the umbilical cord long so Ken could trim it.

They sewed me up, which took about another 30 minutes. I was freezing cold and shaking uncontrollably after the surgery so they placed a hot air vest on me. After wheeling me back into the room, I finally was able to hold Gabe, such bliss.