Parker’s Birth Story
Let me start by telling you all about why I am here and why I’m working with Taylor… it’s all because of the sweet little girl we call Parker! So here It is!
At my 37 week appointment I was having symptoms of pre-eclampsia. So they sent me to the hospital to be monitored. FTM here and I didn’t know what “monitored” meant. And let me remind you that to this point I’ve done most of my pregnancy appointments alone due to COVID-19 restrictions that were in place. So I headed down to the hospital and got checked in to be monitored by myself.
I was at the hospital for 6 hours by myself while they put a monitor on my stomach, blood pressure cuff on my arm, and sat me in a bed for 4 1/2 hours. The nurse would come in and check to be sure I didn’t need anything, but I just sat there. I left to go ultrasound which took about 1 1/2 hours itself because of staffing and such. Everything checked out and I repeated all of this on Friday of that week. Same results.
Fast forward to 38 weeks and 3 days. I woke up at 4:30 AM because I was having headache, my husband checked my BP multiple times and in 45 minutes it just kept rising. I called the OB on call and she told me to come into the hospital.
Fast forward to coming into the hospital, alone, for more monitoring. About 5.5 hours later (1 PM Thursday 12/3) they decided to admit me to the hospital for an induction. The induction started with insertion of cytotec every 4 hours (I think.. mom brain and I can’t remember 🥴). My husband joined me at the hospital and we did a lot of snacking, walking, and waiting.
I didn’t not progress until Friday at 11 AM when my water broke on its own. I walked for about 20 minutes am then bounced and walked and then bounced. From this point on my concept of time was out the window. The contractions got faster and stronger and I didn’t have any inkling of what time it might be. I eventually dilated to a 4 and I was 10% effaced. I discussed with the nurses what might be the best way to progress and they said that an epidural may help. Because although I had a birth plan nor induction or limited progress was not on it. I got my epidural and not only did it completely halt my contractions, but the epidural only on my right side. I could completely feel everything on my left side.
After I perceived to be 4-5 hours (again I have no idea) of tossing and turning to her to reposition, I began to back labor. I back labored for approximately an hour and the my doctor said we needed to do a c-section because my labor was not progressing. I immediately began to cry. No one prepared me for a c-section. I didn’t know what to expect, let alone undergoing major surgery!
What would recovery be like? Did I have everything? What do I have to do as a patient?
Then I went into surgery and I was in and out of consciousness because I don’t do well with pain medication. I heard Parker cry for the first time and that’s when I knew she was here. They brought her over to see us and I said “hi baby” and immediately turned the other and threw up. From there I don’t remember much except pain in my abdominal region was them pushing. I do remember making a “whine/wimper” noise and one the nurses asking me if I was okay. Next I was in recovery and the nurse told me It was 3 AM!
That’s Parker’s birth story. She is my why!
I want to help other first time moms not have these questions about birth or recovery. I’ve had one birth, but through my birth I’ve heard from other moms and have learned things that some moms never mentioned. I wish I had someone to talk to or to help me through the different stages of pre-natal and post-natal care. Someone that I could go to for questions and they could show me what I should be doing. The things that books won’t tell you, because I’ve read A-LOT of books leading up to my daughter’s birth. NONE of them spilled the cold, hard tea!!!