At 34 weeks I went to my regular pre-natal appointment feeling just off. I told the doctor this and that I had a few random contractions so he decided to check and make sure nothing was going on. I was dilated to 3 cm... which could be a big deal, but I could also go full term this way... very frustrating! The doctor advised that I should be on modified bed rest, not picking up anything over 5 pounds or raising my heart rate. Easier said than done, but I agreed.
Adam called in his mom to come help us (me) out a week later (35 weeks). I was having more and more days where contractions would pick up if I did any little thing. At first I was feeling like I was being babysat, but it truly was the best thing for us. Anita (and her friend) got SO much done that I just couldn't do by myself: the Christmas tree was put away, house was clean, dishes were done, meals were made, kids room was readied... they even went to Wal-Mart and bought diapers and blankets for our new "Little Man"... and not a day too soon!
35 weeks and 4 days. I was still in bed feeling some pretty rough contractions (about 2 minutes apart, lasting one minute, for 30 minutes), so I texted Anita "Can you come get Jo?" She was at WalMart so I ended up getting up and packing a hospital bag (at which point the contractions disappeared...go figure). I decided to call the doctor anyway and they asked me to come in an hour later just to be on the safe side. I got myself and Jo dressed and started cleaning up a little bit. They came home shortly after I started sorting some laundry... notice I said "started sorting". I couldn't finish. The contractions picked back up just in time for me to head to the doctor. Fun.
I'm very grateful that Anita and her friend were there so I could leave Jo at home with them while I went for what I was sure was going to be a waste of time. I showed up and waited half an hour (I was a work-in, so I wasn't upset about that) with zero contractions in the waiting room... needless to say I felt like an idiot for being there. When I finally saw the doctor he determined I was dilated to a "loose 4"... which means there were "changes"... Again, I could go into full blown labor any time or I could stay this way for the next 4 and a half weeks... who knew... but he asked me to go to labor and delivery for overnight observation and antibiotics just to be safe since I have a "history" of a fast labor. No problem. I called Adam and let him know where I would be, then called Anita as well.
I found my way over to L&D (I hadn't even determined where it was yet, since I thought I had 4.5 more weeks to go... shame on me) and was informed that they didn't have a bed available, so I was told to wait in the waiting room. More than that: I couldn't eat. I hadn't eaten since the night before and wasn't feeling well that morning, but now I was starving and was given ice chips. Yay. Add on the fact that I had to be in a waiting room full of nervous families and I was not thrilled. Aaaaannnnnnndddddddd cue contractions. Glorious.
They got a bed shortly (thank goodness) after...around 3 pm. I settled in for what I thought was going to be a long night. It was. Contractions picked up and were uncomfortable... but only to the point of being obnoxious. It's worse when you are just laying alone in a hospital bed with some ice chips. I hung out with some awful hospital television until 5 when Adam came to keep me company and sneak me some Oreos, fudge, and mashed potatoes (gotta love a man that will sneak you food!) Around shift change at 7 pm a new nurse came in and said that my doctor requested I be checked. Cool. I was still at 4... at least they *think* there was no change. Apparently it's subjective between each person checking you... but either way there was no DRASTIC change. I was, however, contracting pretty steadily, so the doctor decided to put me on a drug called Brethine on top of the antibiotics (Ampicillin, since I hadn't had a group B Strep test done yet) I was getting through the IV. Brethine is supposed to help stop contractions. It did a pretty good job. Adam left to go home and help with Jo/sleep, and I was able to get a little sleep (as much as possible in the uncomfortable labor bed) after he left since the Brethine had reduced contractions to a slight tightening in my stomach every few minutes.
35 weeks 5 days. Adam went to work the next morning (Friday). I was sure I was going to be sent home since the Brethine had reduced contractions pretty well. My doctor came in right at 7 am to check me and see what we got accomplished overnight. The nurse made a comment about how the Brethine had done it's job so I was running through where I wanted to go pick up breakfast on my way home (still starving). Not so fast.
Much to my surprise (and my doctor's and nurse's as well!), I was dilated to 7. Good thing he decided to keep me in the hospital! He broke my water and called for labs to be done so I could get pain meds if I so chose. This baby was determined to come early. At that point all we could do was pray the antibiotics would protect him from infection and pray that he was developed enough to breath on his own.
My cell phone was plugged in in the bathroom, and since they had already broken my water I wasn't going to get up and cause a mess... I waited for the lab tech who came to draw my labs to finish and nicely asked her if she could get my phone so I could tell my husband we were having a baby. She was nice enough to grab it for me.
"Hey, babe. Where are you?" "About to get on 65...why?" "You might want to turn around. I'm at 7. They broke my water" "On my way" Thank God he was still in town.
Of course contractions picked up. They didn't get bad until about 9:00. I called the nurse and told her there was "pressure"-for those of you who had medicated deliveries or have not had kids..."pressure" means you can feel the baby's head coming through your freaking pelvis. Every single contraction I could feel him get lower and lower. And that scared the crap out of me. The nurse, however, acted un-concerned. She said "Oh, you are still 8-9... it will be a little bit longer". I don't know what it was that made her check once more... maybe the face I made with the next contraction... or maybe I even said something to her... ***again, this is gross. Stop reading if this stuff grosses you out cuz it's about to get nasty***... whatever it was, she checked again and said "hang on, let me see if I can move this little lip of cervix out of the way so he can come on down." And she did just that. Hooked her finger under my cervix and moved it out of the way. OOOOWWWWWW. ow. As soon as she did that, I could feel him REALLY coming. She yelled out the door "I need help in here! We are moving! Somebody page Dr. Plessala and tell him to come on!" I barely heard Adam say "Do I follow you?"... lol poor guy... "Yes, come on dad"
Another nurse showed up and they wheeled me around a few corners to this terrifyingly white, sanitary, surgery looking room. I'm assuming it doubles as a c-section room when need-be. No sooner than they pushed me through the door than I felt that familiar "holy crap I'm gonna push" feeling. It wasn't that I needed to push... it was that my body just decided it was time to push and did so. I could NOT stop it. The nurse started hollering again "Someone CALL Dr. Plessala and tell him to RUN". Good luck.
Then she started this annoying "No no no no no no no no no" thing. She sounded like a motorcycle trying to start. or dying. or something. I wanted to kick her. And would have if I wasn't trying so hard to STOP pushing. That was the only thing I could think "stop pushing. You have to stop or you are going to tear." I was holding Adam's hand... he swears I wasn't squeezing too hard but I can't imagine I was gentle at that point. I didn't have an epidural. I was feeling EVERYTHING. The nurse then said "pant through it, just pant honey"...I tried that. I'm not sure what it was supposed to do, but it didn't stop the involuntary pushing. At this point there were 3 nurses: the 2 who wheeled me in and were running around like crazy people trying to get things ready, and a baby nurse trying to get a warmer/baby blankets ready. Too late. I'm pretty sure as he was coming out I dropped an F bomb. It didn't even register that he was coming out. It was just massive burning and pressure. Pressure your body automatically pushes through... cuz I couldn't stop it. I heard the nurse stop the "No no no no no no no" thing and say "OK, heads out... it's ok... little push"... as if I had any control over the strength of the pushes either.
It all happened just that fast. He was out, the cord was cut, and the baby nurse immediately took him to make sure he was ok. All I could see was his purple head, but I could hear him breathing/crying and that was a HUGE relief. I was still asking if he was OK. That was all I cared about. She told me his head was purple and bruised from coming down so fast, but that he was doing well. About that time the doctor came in the room. So glad you could join us! It wasn't his fault. He made sure everything was taken care of: delivered the placenta, told me I hadn't torn...and I'm sure other things but I wasn't paying attention. I wanted COLD water and I wanted to hold my baby. That's about it.
I vaguely remember him patting my leg and saying "You did great! When they called me I stopped mid sentence and told my patient 'I know exactly who this is, I have to go!' and ran. I even caught all the elevators... that never happens... I still didn't make it!" When I say delivery only took a few minutes I'm not exaggerating. It was FAST. If I had not been in the hospital, I would NOT have made it.
The "No no no no no no no" nurse said "Well, I haven't had to do that in a LONG time! I haven't delivered a baby in a while!"... then something to the effect of "I've been doing this for 27 years and let me tell you girl, YOU are amazing! THAT was amazing!"... I'm not sure exactly what that means... but I'll take it!
The nurses joked about what a monster he would have been if he had gone full term. He was just giving me a break by coming early! Whatever the reason for his early arrival, I'm SO grateful and thankful for his health. He does have a few of the signs of being an early baby: his blood sugar dropped pretty low the first night (due to his lack of "brown fat")... we did have to give him 15 cc of formula but I guess that's not the end of the world. He has been a super nurser since the start-just needed a little blood sugar boost :) He also has a heart murmur caused by two tiny holes in his heart that simply didn't have a chance to close just yet. The pediatrician assured me the holes will close soon and the murmur was already not as prominent by the second day in the hospital. Other than the blood sugar and heart murmur, he has very little fat on his body. He looks like he is swimming in newborn clothes but is too long for preemie clothes. He does need preemie diapers to fit his tiny waist, and his feet are smaller than the preemie socks we (my mom) got him. He has very little hair and is perfect in every single way :)
This delivery was MUCH easier on my body so I am not very sore at all. Though it was incredibly painful for a few brief minutes, it was definitely worth it to go without an epidural. Recovery was very fast and I was up walking around and showering very quickly after delivery.
We got to go home after 48 hours (normal discharge time). Carson has been fantastic the entire time. He is very calm and only cries when he is hungry or when we change his diaper. Kaelyn adores him. She pats his head and says "It's ok!" - it's adorable. She has also started to "help" with diaper changes and pat his back to burp him. Melt my heart. Daddy adores him as well. He sometimes doesn't want to give him back to me after I ask him to hold him <3
We are so thrilled to welcome Carson into our family. He is an adorable little man with the sweetest personality. I can't wait to watch him grow up! It's safe to say, I'm in love <3
Carson James Gaskin
7 pounds 1 ounce 20 inches
9:21 am February 1, 2013
Providence Hospital
Mobile, AL
Congratulations mama and family! He is one handsome guy.
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