Last year on this day Ralph and I went to our regular scheduled appointment. I believe it was at 2:45. I also believe that I took a 'nap' most of the morning. By this point in my pregnancy I was tired, hot, large, uncomfortable.
Ralph and I were excited because we were going to have another ultrasound! Last week the midwife said the baby was big- and we needed to have an ultrasound to make a decision about what to do- induce or wait and see if baby was ready to come out at all- I was 0 dilated/ 0 effaced at that time. 000.
I was excited to see my baby so close to my due date- to see what he/ she really looked like! I just had no idea in my head what this little person could be like, and any glimpse I could get- I took.
We got to the doctor's office early- probably around 2:20. They are never in a hurry there and I could tell they were especially busy that day. There was a student nurse that had been in the office for the past couple of weeks. And since I had been going to the doc every week, I had gotten to know her. She recognized Ralph and I and said 'Oh- I was hoping not to see you again! I wanted you to have that baby!' Ugh. I felt like I would never have this baby. I felt like I would be pregnant forever. I felt like my body would never be the same- I would never be able to put pants on without sitting down, I would never be able to stand for more than 10 minutes at a time, I would never get rid of the invisible fur coat that I had on.
We waited. And waited. I saw a couple come out of the ultrasound room, and the couple sitting next to us go in. There was still a women sitting in the waiting area with us- I hoped to god she was not getting an ultrasound. Our appointment time passed and I was getting more impatient- everyone was leaving and the nurses were doing their closing cleaning. There is no other nightmare than being 9 months pregnant and sitting in an uncomfortable waiting room chair for more than 10 min. I kept seeing my Doctors nurse and the student nurse walk by and look at us and smile and then I heard them go behind the wall and whisper. I wanted to tell them to hurry the ultrasound lady up!
Finally, at about 3:45, the nurse called me back. They were going to do the doctors stuff first and then the ultrasound. We went to the room- had a hilarious discussion with the student nurse ( not web suitable). The Doc checked and I was not dilated at all. Such a heart sinking feeling. Will this baby ever come out? The doc sent Ralph and I into the ultrasound room. He was going to talk to the ultrasound tech when she was done and call me with any news.
I don't remember seeing my baby at all on the tiny screen. She put the mouse thing on my stomach and didn't even turn the screen so we could see. She moved it around all over and said that she had to go get the doctor- she hoped a doctor was still here. I had been trying not to be the emotional pregnant lady my whole pregnancy. I did not even look at Ralph. I remember thinking - if Ralph is calm than I have nothing to worry about. Finally I looked at him and asked what was going on. He had no idea either and I broke down! I could not image what was wrong! I had carried this baby for NINE long months with no problems. What could possible be wrong now, at 9 months and 3 weeks???? My mind was racing.
Doctor came in with the ultrasound tech. She said- I don't see any fluid. The Doc turned to us and said ‘looks like we are going to the hospital tonight!’ Tears were running down my face. Doc held my leg and looked me in the eye and assured me baby is fine. I could not believe that. The ultrasound tech did some more searching and they found some water. The doc was not amused. He said ' imagine that - she found some fluid'. I felt the same way. Why get me all upset?!
Doc left and said I would hear from him later.
The ultrasound tech continued to do a test to see if the baby was moving. She held the buzzer to my stomach many times and baby was not moving much at all. She asked what I had had to eat that day. I realized all I had before the appointment was a coke (and breakfast earlier). I was not expecting to be here all day!
At 4:45 it was over. We were walking out of the office and the main nurse stopped us. She said she talked to the doc and he said to go ahead and send me to the hospital. The baby was running out of room, and baby was not moving much during the stress test.
I was in shock. What? now? Am I ready. It is finally here- the day I will have my baby. I will meet him or her. I will know what it is like to have a child. I will have this responsibility for the rest of my life. It is today? I think I smiled. I might have laughed. I am pretty sure a tear came out of my eye. I looked at Ralph - scared and excited at the same time. This is it!
Somehow the papers were in my hand and we had our instructions. Wait until about 5:30 and then if I have not heard from the hospital saying they had a room- call them. I am not sure how I remembered this. I think Ralph actually did. I asked her what I could eat. She said you can eat - just not a big hamburger or anything too heavy. How did she know that is all I wanted?
We got in the car. OMG. I didn’t even call anyone yet. I had to call someone. I called my mom and told her the Baby is coming tonight. I told her the news. She kept asking questions and I could not explain fully because I was not even sure what had happened. I could tell she was a little apprehensive about inducing. I called Katherine. I called Heather. I texted. There was traffic. What if the hospital called while we were still in traffic? I still had not eaten anything. My mom said to eat scrambled eggs- not too heavy. I got home and called Katie. She had been induced with her second child and told me what to expect. I had not read up on induction. I cannot remember ever even thinking about it! I made my eggs- I could not even eat them. Ralph took a shower. I had showered right before my appointment- so I decided not to shower again (if I had to do it all over again- I would shower). I called the hospital at about 5:45- they had no rooms available and I was on her list to call when they became available.
Ralph went to bed around 10pm and I tried to follow him. I kept checking my phone to make sure it was on. The bags were packed in the car and I was just waiting. At 10:30 the phone finally rang! The nurse asked if I could be at the hospital around 11:45. Who was she kidding, we were there at 11:20.
We waiting a little for our room and walked it. I just could not believe this was it! My parents came to see us. The nurse asked me 1million questions (how do women with full on contractions answer these questions?). My favorite question, and favorite only because it took me by surprise, was when the nurse walked over and whispered in my ear something along the lines of ‘does your husband hit you’. They sure do cover all bases here. I remember wondering if I could tell everyone what she had asked.
Since I was being induced, the nursed had to do an ultrasound to make sure that I did indeed need to be induced. This was the most uncomfortable ultrasound I had ever had. Sylvie was in the right position to come out, which is a good thing for birth, but not for what the nurses needed. The nurse had to get a shot of the WHOLE baby from head to toe to show the doctors at the hospital that the baby was big and I needed to be induced. Who came up with this bright idea? If the baby is BIG- why in the world would you try to fit the whole baby in one shot? The nurse was poking and prodding me to no end. I thought she might push the baby out. I was having braxton hicks contractions the whole time and thought I might die right there- and this was only the beginning!
She finally had to call in a more senior nurse who did get the show in the end.
I was finally given Cervadil at 2am. They would start the pitocin around 8am. They said I should have a baby by lunchtime the next day!
