Well, it's Wednesday and we've been at the hospital for 48 hours and Junior is not budging. She likes this swimming pool and since the weather these days is quite balmy, she wants to stay there as long as she can!
As Jeff explained, last night we made a tactical retreat. Both of us got some really good rest so that we were ready to face a day of labor today. The doctor was more aggressive with the pitocin today and by noon I was at the highest dose - although I actually slept through almost all of the morning until lunch time (meaning that since I'm hooked up to the IV, I rarely woke up as they increased the dosage). I've actually napped on and off all day.
Unfortunately, even at the highest dose, I never got into a pattern with contractions. I would have a few that were fairly strong (at least strong enough to be noticeable - but nothing like Monday night and Tuesday), but mostly I never even felt any. And there has been no change in my cervix since Tuesday morning.
This morning the doctor suggested trying to break the amniotic membrane to really get this party started and after a bit of discussion, we decided to go ahead and do that. But then it turned out that my cervix is not ready for that - we tried twice today but could never get the instrument in the right place - so no membrane rupturing. Something to do with the angle of the cervix not matching the angle (or lack thereof) of the rupturing instrument.
So, once again, we found ourselves at an impasse and had to come to a decision this afternoon after 6+ hours of pitocin. At least today our decision making was a bit more coherent since we'd gotten some much needed rest. Our choices were:(1) try cervadil again tonight (what started my contractions on Monday night) with some pain relief to help me sleep and start again with the pitocin in the morning, or (2) go in for a c-section. We've talked from the beginning that we really don't want to have a c-section unless it was medically necessary. Although I'm getting tired of being here and don't want to go through this merry-go-round more than another day, I'm not ready to give in to the idea of a c-section yet. So I've stopped the pitocin for the evening and started again on the cervadil. It's possible I'm having some contractions right now, but I don't feel anything (thought I saw one pass by on the monitor a little while ago). I'll have some pain management medications this evening to help me get rest even if I am having painful contractions. And hopefully this will make my cervix more "favorable" and will help the pitocin do it's job of dilating the cervix tomorrow.
My parents arrived in Massachusetts today - they were expecting to meet a new baby, not see their daughter full-term pregnant! So I'm hoping that they don't spend the week they're here waiting to meet their granddaughter. I really hope Junior is born tomorrow not only for my sake (I'm getting bored of the scenery in this hospital room), but for Nana and Grampy's sake!
While they were here at the hospital, I was given permission to move about the hospital for a little while (with a nurse escort and me in a wheel chair - they are still concerned about the pre-eclampsia), so we went outside to the healing garden. The weather is unseasonably warm, so it was very nice to get some fresh air and enjoy the warmth outside for a few moments.
I'm going to go eat some alfredo pasta and maybe watch a movie to pass the time, then it's another early bed time for me. Hopefully by this time tomorrow I will be holding a healthy baby girl (or boy - if the ultrasound was not correct!). Until later...
As Jeff explained, last night we made a tactical retreat. Both of us got some really good rest so that we were ready to face a day of labor today. The doctor was more aggressive with the pitocin today and by noon I was at the highest dose - although I actually slept through almost all of the morning until lunch time (meaning that since I'm hooked up to the IV, I rarely woke up as they increased the dosage). I've actually napped on and off all day.
Unfortunately, even at the highest dose, I never got into a pattern with contractions. I would have a few that were fairly strong (at least strong enough to be noticeable - but nothing like Monday night and Tuesday), but mostly I never even felt any. And there has been no change in my cervix since Tuesday morning.
This morning the doctor suggested trying to break the amniotic membrane to really get this party started and after a bit of discussion, we decided to go ahead and do that. But then it turned out that my cervix is not ready for that - we tried twice today but could never get the instrument in the right place - so no membrane rupturing. Something to do with the angle of the cervix not matching the angle (or lack thereof) of the rupturing instrument.
So, once again, we found ourselves at an impasse and had to come to a decision this afternoon after 6+ hours of pitocin. At least today our decision making was a bit more coherent since we'd gotten some much needed rest. Our choices were:(1) try cervadil again tonight (what started my contractions on Monday night) with some pain relief to help me sleep and start again with the pitocin in the morning, or (2) go in for a c-section. We've talked from the beginning that we really don't want to have a c-section unless it was medically necessary. Although I'm getting tired of being here and don't want to go through this merry-go-round more than another day, I'm not ready to give in to the idea of a c-section yet. So I've stopped the pitocin for the evening and started again on the cervadil. It's possible I'm having some contractions right now, but I don't feel anything (thought I saw one pass by on the monitor a little while ago). I'll have some pain management medications this evening to help me get rest even if I am having painful contractions. And hopefully this will make my cervix more "favorable" and will help the pitocin do it's job of dilating the cervix tomorrow.
My parents arrived in Massachusetts today - they were expecting to meet a new baby, not see their daughter full-term pregnant! So I'm hoping that they don't spend the week they're here waiting to meet their granddaughter. I really hope Junior is born tomorrow not only for my sake (I'm getting bored of the scenery in this hospital room), but for Nana and Grampy's sake!
While they were here at the hospital, I was given permission to move about the hospital for a little while (with a nurse escort and me in a wheel chair - they are still concerned about the pre-eclampsia), so we went outside to the healing garden. The weather is unseasonably warm, so it was very nice to get some fresh air and enjoy the warmth outside for a few moments.
I'm going to go eat some alfredo pasta and maybe watch a movie to pass the time, then it's another early bed time for me. Hopefully by this time tomorrow I will be holding a healthy baby girl (or boy - if the ultrasound was not correct!). Until later...
Just to clarify, Junior, when mom says it was "unseasonably warm" today, what she means is that it has been record-breaking hot all over the midwest and now East all week. Temps were almost 80 degrees today - WAY warmer than usual for March.
ReplyDeleteThis may not matter much to you, but looking at the crazy heat wave has been one way to pass the time inside this lovely sterile air-conditioned box we've been living in while we've been waiting for you!
We're thinking of you, Shannon and Jeff. Good luck tomorrow!
ReplyDelete-Christie and Ty