it's been 10 days since L&D ... seems like a long time ago (in terms of the amount of events and experiences that went through within that time), and yet it still feels like i am still in L&D (in terms of the aftermath that are still taking place right here and now).
Final hours of pregnancy:
March 26
- i continued having the same prodromal contractions earlier in the morning, but this time, they were more uncomfortable, and they even woke me up a few times while i was sleeping..
- 2pm: went to see my ob/gyn for the 39 weeks check up, and found out i was finally 3 cm dilated and 75% effaced. doctor suggested i did another round of blood work to rule out preeclampsia condition, so we did.
- 430pm: got some to-go food and came back home, while rodney was getting ready to spend the remaining day working from home.
- around 5pm - doctor called - told me one of my lab results came back with really out of range value. she sounded serious but calm, and requested us to head directly to L&D immediately.
- 630pm: checked in and settled down in the L&D room...rodney was too excited and trying to set up all the camera equipment etc.... while i am getting nervous about the fact that 'this is it, finally going through the real thing'....
- the nurses and doctors finally came and explain that i will be induced and since one of my lab results indicate the possibility of preeclampsia, they need to put me on magnesium sulfate in order to reduce the risk of seizures and other complications.
- induction started later that night - i think around 10pm or so...
March 27
-8am: my ob/gyn came over and check me - i only dilated 2 cm (from 3cm to 5cm) for the past 10 hrs... it's the end of her shift so it doesn't look like she will be the delivering doctor for us. she wished me well and then left for the day.
- 10am: miracle - i was all of a sudden dilated to 8cm within 2 hrs! nurses and doctors started prepping for the delivery tools, while rodney went to cafe to grab some last minute food before we all get 'too busy and tired'...
- unfortunately, the dilation stopped once again at 10am, and it stayed at 8cm for the rest of the afternoon.... meanwhile, i am getting dizzier and dizzier from the mag sulfate....
- at around 4-5pm, i was running out of patience and energy, and i asked for a c-section. doctors consulted with doctors and finally OK it. by then, my body and mind were very drained, tired, having hot spells, and feeling very disoriented but mentally was still able to comprehend with what was going on.
- at the operation room, i was too tired and dozed up to really feel scary about the operation....all i wanted was to just get the bb out and let me rest and move on with life. o, and i kept asking the nurse where rodney was coz i wanted to make sure he was here in case anything happened to me...
Birth of Kealan:
Kealan was born on March 27, 2008
Birth Weight: 8 pounds 5.9 oz (3795 gms)
Length: 20''
APGAR score: 9 @ 1min; 8 @ 5 min
- i didn't get a good look at Kealan the moments he was born as my vision was really blurred and was totally exhausted.... i did recall the nurse place him on my arm as they wheeled me back to my room. i was still conscious enough to ask a nurse to walk by my side (next to my bed) in case my arm was too weak and couldn't hold him.
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The next 2 days postpartum was very scary for me.....
I was continuing with the Mag Sulfate and the side effects continued to get worse....i couldn't lift my eye lid, dry mouth (to a point felt like choking), too tired and weak to focus (vision), kept asking for ice packs coz i felt soooo hot on my cheeks, felt very disoriented, slow/delayed speech, a sense of panicky, overall very disoriented, seeing disney images the moment i closed my eyes, shortness of breath.... you name it.... i remembered at one point, i was really scared to even fall asleep, for fear that once i fall asleep, i could never come out of it (coz my body and mind felt sooooo weak, out of control, and disoriented).... it didn't help with the fact that the nurses and doctors are on rotation all the time and seems like all they know about me is through reading my chart.... i became paranoid, continued to feel weak and disoriented at the same time.... meanwhile, i was still able to reflect upon how my clients must have been felt when they refuse to take their meds due to terrible side effects.
March 28 - Friday AM, I pleaded and begged the nurse and doctor to do something about my symptoms, and they finally took the Mag Sulfate off me earlier than planned. But I was told that there will be risk of possible seizures and coma in the next few days w/o Mag Sulfate..... that scared the hell out of me but i was told the chance is very slim as the days go, and they will continue to monitor me closely.
Rodney was there the entire time, so he must be as shocked as I (other than the physical experience of it). Evelyn came and spent the night with me on Friday, while letting Rodney go home and get some rest.... I was still not totally alert but was getting better hour by the hour. I managed to get some sleep that night, but still having the disney image the moment i closed my eyes.
March 29 (Sat): I've gotten better than the previous day, with better vision, and finally got to meet Kealan and took a good look at him for the first time. Still couldn't believe such a big creature has stayed inside of me for so long, and that he has features that resembled both Rodney and I!! I also started walking for the first time, and gosh, i then knew how weak i had been!!! Anyway, as the Mag Sulfate continues to drain out of my system, my alertness continues to improve, and all i cared at the point was to get out of the hospital. The doctors/nurses reassured me that I am making good progress (eg. all the urine output ratio, blood count etc), except that my blood pressure continues to remain in the borderline high range... they kept asking me to rest/sleep but how could i sleep when these medical staff keep coming in and out of my room every other hour around the clock?!
March 31: I am finally discharged and came home! Met my nanny, and she is my angel. Helped with all the BB care work, prep meals for me, and I finally slept through the night for the first time!!!
Currently (10 days postpartum):
- i started reaching out to friends, and letting people know I am doing better now, and continue to rest up
- My blood pressure has also managed to settle down, and I started to enjoy the brief interactions with Kealan
- glad that i am finally able to journal and process out what had happened ... i am no longer as scarred as i was a few days ago (honestly, i thought i was not going to make it through), and in exchange, a sense of hopefulness is building around me as days progress.
- i feel really blessed with all the support system i have around me....and i truly learnt to practice what i preached : ask for help and feel GOOD about receiving HELP from others :-)
Wow, that was an intense delivery. I'm happy that it has a happy ending, with a healthy baby boy and joyful parents.
Posted by: Izzy | 04/06/2008 at 01:15 PM