For those that know me well, you know how long winded I get, so sit back and get ready to read a VERY long story with a VERY happy ending.

Monday, August 8, 2005

I was told to call the hospital at 5am to see if I would be induced. We got up and got dressed, but when we called, they told us to call back at 7am. By 7, I had Chris call because I was afraid of the answer and was still upset at not being given the OK at 5am. When he called, the charge nurse told him that 6 women had come in the night before, so they didn't have a room for me. She was very apologetic about it, but kind enough to call the dr to find out if he wanted to induce later in the day or if he wanted to wait until another day. Less than 30 minutes later, she called back and said, "Do you want to be induced at 9?" I said, "YES!" So we headed to there at 9am! We got a room in the new wing, which seemed to be the most important thing for Chris (LOL) and we were excited. Everyone was so incredibly awesome and nice.

My nurse was Jennifer (one of 12 Jennifer's in L&D). She got me on the monitors and VERY gently got my IV started. I was still dialated to 2cm and almost fully effaced. Before the pitocin was even started, I was having contractions on my own which really pumped me up :) Around 10am, she started the pitocin. Once all of the paper work was complete, Jennifer and I started talking about different laboring positions and exactly what I had in mind for this birth. Unlike with Cale's birth, I was given free mobility and was even allowed bathroom breaks. I labored for awhile in the bed but noticed during one of my bathrooms trips how much LESS painful the contractions were while standing.

Jennifer checked me around 11:30am and I was still at 2cm and she informed me that the dr had planned on coming in before lunch to break my water. That freaked us out because of the immense pain with my water being broken with Cale. She told me that I had the right to refuse him if I wanted. We told her to tell him to wait and he agreed. I remained standing and laboring, rocking back and forth and breathing. I was so excited with how well I was doing and how in control I felt about the whole process. Jennifer checked me again and PROGRESSION!! 100% effaced and now 4cm dialated. Pruitt was still pretty high so I got back on my feet and continued to change positions. I was surprising myself at how well composed I was. We all knew to expect a "bigger" baby and I was determined to avoid a c-section. Jennifer knew my wishes and was a God send at helping me maneuver and move so that Pruitt was in the perfect position.

Around 12:45pm, they needed to do some monitoring of Pruitt so I had to lay down, but he kept on moving (this was the norm for him throughout the pregnancy when it came time to find his heartbeat). At 1pm, they still hadn't found his heartbeat and the dr showed up. However, he did give me a bit of good news, Pruitt had dropped, but now since he'd dropped, they wanted to put the scalp electrode on which requires them to break my water. I started to panic (surprise!) and asked for Chris. . .who was NOWHERE TO BE FOUND!! The dr broke my water, which was clear, and the electrode was placed on his head. Amazingly, with the water breaking, I wasn't experiencing the same pain as with Cale and was VERY happy. I was thrilled to get up again and Jennifer had me moving and changing positions. Mom, Dad & Chris came back in the room in their own panic thinking I would be hysterical, but they were pleasantly surprised to see me smiling and laboring calmly. Everything was still good and I was beside myself :) I had been given the ok for the epidural as soon as I was ready, but I wasn't ready yet. I was really trying to labor as long as possible before getting the epi in hopes to secure a vaginal delivery.

Around 1:40pm, the electrode came off of Pruitt's head. Jennifer needed to put it back on again so Mom, Dad & Chris hid behind the curtain and talked. But when Jennifer went to put the electrode on, she pushed Pruitt up and the rest of my water broke and with it. . .immense PAIN. I tried to stay calm and breathe, but the contractions were too intense. I lost it and looked up to see Chris standing there looking helpless. I immediately started shaking from the pain and Jennifer apologized and told me that she knew how bad I was hurting. Finally, after 10 minutes of trying to get the electrode re-applied, she managed to do it and Chris sat me up (I had made that wish clear before labor ~ I did NOT want to labor lying down again). He knew that my goal was to stand up again, but I couldn't manage yet. Just sitting up helped the pain, but the contractions were still so intense and I hadn't recovered yet so Chris ok'd Jennifer to call in the epi man. The hospital I was at is lucky enough to have a 24/7 anesthesiologist just for the L&D floor. Within 3 minutes, he was in my room. I kept thinking to myself that I wasn't ready for the epi yet, but I was told that he had 2 c-sections back to back and would be gone for almost 2 hours so it was now or wait and see. I'm glad that Chris ok'd it ;)

Although the contractions were incredibly painful, they weren't piggybacking so I felt the entire epi process. Man oh man, that wasn't comfortable either. But let me tell you, the anesth. was absolutely incredible! He thoroughly explained everything to us as he went and stopped during contractions. They even let Chris stay with me so he had one hand and Jennifer had the other. It seemed like forever before it kicked in, but once it did, I was calm again. I could also still move my legs which thrilled and surprised everyone, including me! So, at exactly 2pm, my epi was in and things were looking good again.

Around 3pm Jennifer checked me and I was now at a 5, but Pruitt's head hadn't dropped anymore. We all sat around and talked, but the weird thing was how I could feel the contractions as tightening and pressure, but zero pain. The anesth. checked on me frequently and told me that he didn't want me to hurt and that he'd be there immediately if I started to feel pain again.

Around 5pm, the dr showed back up and said I was at a 6!! I told him that I'd try not to make this an all night event and he said that he honestly believed that I'd deliver before bedtime. We were so excited and pumped at this point. But, while he was checking me, the electrode came off AGAIN. They put the third one on and Jennifer asked if Cale had been born with hair. I said yes and she smiled and said, "Well, Mr. Pruitt has hair too!" Everyone thought that was cool and, of course, it brought tears to MY eyes. Around 6pm, the dr came back and said I was almost a 7 and Pruitt had dropped a bit more, but had turned and was facing my hip. I knew that I needed to rotate and I knew exactly how to rotate (spinningbabies.com is a GREAT and informative site! LOL THANKS KRISTY!) so I flipped. I had remembered hearing the dr and the anesth. talking about doing a c-section at 6:30pm and the dr said he'd be back after that. When he left, Jennifer was watching the monitors but not saying much and at 6:20pm, the dr showed up decked out in his scrubs and ready for his c-section. He had wanted to check in on me and mentioned that he had seen Pruitt's heartbeat dip. I knew that it was normal and ok for that to happen. . .to a point, but he said that they were lasting longer than they should. He wanted to continue to watch and then he explained that he was a bit concerned but that we were still on track. As he walked towards the door (it's now exactly 6:30pm), I saw him look at Jennifer. I'd seen that look before between my dad and Grandpa's ICU nurse and my heart stopped. This is when the flurry started. Jennifer had sent the entire family, minus Chris, to the waiting room so they were oblivious to what was going on. The dr started shouting orders to Jennifer and another nurse. I kept hearing, "Roll her now! ROLL HER!" and then they were putting oxygen on me and I heard him get on the phone. He said, "Is the spinal in yet? IS IT IN? I NEED THE OR!" That's when I looked at Chris and saw the fear and confusion. He had no clue what was happening. So I lifted the mask and turned over my shoulder and yelled, "SOMEONE TALK TO ME!!" The dr came over immediately, grabbed my hand and said, "I know you don't want a c-section, but the baby's heartrate has dropped and it's not come up. We need to get him out NOW." I nodded and told him ok, to do what was best. He nodded and took off and I lost it. I had started to feel intense pain down in my cervix that the epi wasn't touching and Jennifer stopped the pitocin and gave me a shot of terbutaline (she didn't even need to tell me what it was. . .I know what that is). She kept reassuring us that everything was fine. My dad happened to have come down the hall while this was happening - he wanted to meet the dr. :) He was standing outside of the door when he heard the orders to clear the OR and he said he heard the dr say loud and clear, "I'm on the way with Nard." As they wheeled me out, he grabbed my hand and said, "It'll be alright. He's doing what needs to be done!" and ran next to my bed. All I could say over and over was, "They're taking him" and I was hysterical. The woman that was scheduled for 6:30pm was wheeled out and left in the hallway (I did see her and it cracked us up). The dr was cool enough to stop right in front of the waiting room so I could see my family and I remember seeing dad, mom, Carly and Charlotte. My sister, Carly was as hysterical and freaked out as I was. Dad and Carly kissed me and told me that they loved me and then I heard Cale. Oh, the heartbreaking sound of my child, I could tell he knew things weren't right and he called for me, and I couldn't do a thing. I knew that I couldn't see him because my emotions would flow to him and he needed to be calm. Chris told me later that he yelled for him too and said, "Hugs and kisses please!" and Chris comforted him. The entire time I was still having the contractions that I was feeling and by now I was beyond hysterical. I was in pain and scared to death. I couldn't calm down. . .the whole thing seemed surreal to me. They got me on the table and started getting me prepped. As they did, we found out that Pruitt's heartrate had finally come back up, but it kept dropping. They'd also taken Chris and gotten him suited up and the dr went out to our family and updated them. He even stayed as my family said a prayer for us. When I saw Chris again, I remember losing it all over again and saying, "I'm so scared Bubba. I'm scared. Pleaes don't let them take him from me, I want him with me. I want him with me!!" Poor Chris, he was terrified and I knew he felt totally helpless. The anesth. kept telling me that I needed to calm down and I honestly tried, but I just couldn't. I have never felt pure fear like that in my life. Part of me just wanted to be out for the entire process, but I knew I'd regret that. It also crossed my mind to just have the dr do a hysterectomy because I knew I didn't want to go through that again, but once again, an irrational thought on my part. Once I was totally numb, the dr started and the entire time he told me how well I was doing. Between sobs, I kept reminding Chris to get the camera ready - amazing that I still knew what was going on in my hysteric state of mind. I remember all of the pressure and jolting as they wrestled to get Pruitt out. In order to get his head out, Chris told me that this small woman had literally laid her entire body on my belly and POP, there was his head. The room went quiet and Chris stood up (and the anesth. told him that would NOT be a picture I'd want) and then someone exclaimed, "OH MY GOSH! That's the BIGGEST head I've ever seen!!!" Then the dr said, "We have a cord around the neck!" That explains EVERYTHING!! And all of a sudden, I could breathe again! The dr had pulled Pruitt out, but in order to suction him, he had to put him down SOMEWHERE so he plopped him on my belly and knocked the air out of me :) And then, the sound every mother loves to hear. . .Pruitt screamed his fool head off. That was the turn on switch to sobs of joy and love and the turn off switch for the panic. It was over. Chris and I were beside ourselves and then the dr said, "PIPER!! YOU DIDN'T HAVE A BABY! YOU HAD A TODDLER!!" He cut the cord and brought Pruitt around for Chris and I to see and all I could do was cry because Chris was in my way :) Chris took pics and finally moved and there he was. He didn't seem as big as everyone kept saying, but who was I to judge at that point? Everyone started guessing weights and I heard 12lbs, 10lbs, 11 1/2lbs and I remember thinking, they're just messing with me! Then I heard them say, "21 1/2 inches long" and Chris and I both cried and said, "Just like Cale!!" and then I heard "and Oh my gosh! 9 pounds 15.3 ounces!" I kept saying, "What? Huh? What?!?" and Chris repeated it for me as he laughed through tears. Then, the last thing I remember was trying to have Chris find out his apgar scores. He had no clue what I was saying, but luckily a nurse heard me and came over and told me they were 8 & 9. Then I heard myself ask about stitches and the dr told me they were internal dissovable stitches, I'd have nothing that would need to be removed. . .then calm. At this point, Chris looked over from Pruitt and I was out. He asked the anesth. if I was supposed to be asleep and he told Chris, "I'm so sorry, but I gave her something to calm her down. She was just too hysterical and her heartrate and blood pressure had skyrocketed." I'm thankful that he kept me aware and awake as Pruitt was born and VERY thankful that he knocked me out too!! The next thing that I remember was the dr explaining to me how they were moving me from the table back to my bed and I opened my eyes as I heard the nurse say, "Piper, here's your baby." All I could do was cry and kiss him. Then they rolled me out and I knew that I needed to gather myself before seeing everyone. It took every bit of energy left in me to stay awake and calm as they wheeled me out and stopped me in front of the family. I called to Cale immediately and remember seeing him standing to my left with the HUGEST smile on his face. I told him, "Look Lover!! It's Pruitt! He's here!" And then I looked at everyone and said, "He's 21 1/2 inches just like Cale and, are you ready? NINE POUNDS FIFTEEN OUNCES!" Everyone gasped and cried and I was just on cloud nine. And finally, we were off to my room.

The nurse had talked to Chris and understood my wishes to keep Pruitt with me. Back in the room, the nurse explained what would go on and that it would take about an hour to finish getting him cleaned up. She told Chris to encourage me to nap and they promised me that they wouldn't let anyone in. An hour later I woke up feeling great and they brought Pruitt to me. We were going to try nursing and I'll be a monkey's uncle if he didn't nurse successfully the first time. I was absolutely the happiest person on earth (the drugs helped too!). After we were done, I asked Chris to bring Cale in. A few minutes later he came in with Cale. He immediately asked where the baby was and Chris took him over to see Pruitt. That child glowed. He radiated excitement, love and pride. I was so happy and so excited, it was what I had hoped would happen and it was just the best moment. Mom and dad came in and were all over me making sure I was good and that's when Cale asked to hold Pruitt. Chris hesitated but I said "Nope!! Let him!" We got pics and video of Cale just smiling and looking at his hands and toes and patting him and kissing him. I cried the entire time. I was just so happy!! We had the rest of the family that was left at the hospital come in and see Pruitt and everyone was so relieved that it was over.

We ended up staying in the hospital for 5 days and I'm glad I did. We are successfully nursing and Pruitt is thriving. Cale has been absolutely awesome with him which makes it so much easier.

I'm so glad that everything turned out well. It was the scariest thing that I've ever been through, but so worth it in the end.

Pruitt Oliver Brian Nard
August 8, 2005 7:00pm CST
9lbs 15.3oz 21 1/2"