On Friday, December 9th I went to meek weekly doctor visit. This was the start of week 40. During the appointment the doctor decided that she would induce me on Monday but not to write it in stone because she wasn't sure if the hospital could schedule me. She told me to go home and she would call me on Monday morning to let me know (I had the last appointment of the day on Friday and the scheduling office at the hospital was closed). So, I went back to work and told my boss I was starting my maternity leave. We went about our weekend and went to a Christmas party.
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| large and swollen me |
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| ugh, large and swollen me, again |
First thing Monday morning I received a phone call from the doctor telling my she had scheduled my induction at 7:00 p.m. that night. I couldn't eat anything after 12:00 noon so Keith and I jumped up and went to Chick-Fil-A. After breakfast we ran a few errands and then Keith took me to Fazzolli's where I ate so much pasta I thought I was going to be sick. I ate right up to 12:00. After lunch we went home, took a nap, Keith packed, and I took a shower and got ready. The next thing I knew it was 6:00 p.m. and we were walking out the door going to the hospital.
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| ready to go to the hospital |
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| off we go... |
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| ready to get this show on the road and meet my Sweet Baby Molly |
When they started me on pitocin at 7:00 pm I was already 1 cm dilated (and had been for about 3 weeks). I could see the contractions on the monitor but they weren't very strong nor were they coming very often. Keith was able to get some sleep but I was not. They wouldn't give me anything to help me sleep because (in their opinion) that also made the baby sleepy. They didn't want the baby to get sleepy...they wanted the baby to head out (no pun intended).
So, my doctor came in around 9:00 am on Dec. 13th and I was still at 1 cm. They increased my pitocin. She came back a few hours later to check on me and I was at 2 cm. They increased my pitocin. She came back again and I was still at 2 cm. She decided to break my water. I must say, that has got to be one of the strangest feelings ever. They also decided to insert an internal monitor onto Molly and that was slightly uncomfortable. After the water broke they also increased my pitocin. The nurse was watching my monitor and said "you must have a high threshold for pain because these contractions are huge and you aren't even making a face. Do you even feel them?" I laughed and told her that I did feel them. About 20 minutes later I was asking for the epidural.
In comes Doogie Howser and tells me he's training and would it be ok for him to administer the epidural. I looked at Keith and Keith told Doogie, "I'm all about people learning but I don't want you learning today on my wife." I laughed and told Doogie I wanted someone else. I received my epidural and things were great.
The doctor came back to check on me and I was at 5cm. Long story longer...I never got past 5 cm. After some discussion the doctor decided that I had to have a c-section because although she could feel Molly's head she felt that I could run the risk of hemorrhaging if I did not have a c-section. They gave me 30 minutes and I went through a wide range of emotions but finally came to peace with it.
They wheeled me to the OR and within a matter of minutes at 5:01 pm Sweet Baby Molly had arrived!After 22 hours of labor and a c-section she was here! I was very fortunate that as soon as Molly was born I was able to hold her! She was crying but as soon as I started singing the "Baby Molly" song (a song that I made up that Keith and I sang to her while I was pregnant) Molly stopped crying. It was such a special moment. Keith said "she knows our voices!" I looked at him and we both were crying.
Our first time holding her
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| My Sweet Baby Molly |
I remember while the nurses were cleaning Molly one of them said "she looks just like her mom!"
Looking back, I'm so glad I had a c-section. I remember telling Molly (while I was pregnant) "please be gentle to Mommy when you are born. Please don't hurt Mommy. Please don't tear Mommy." She listened to me and decided the best way for her to "not hurt mommy" was to try to come out sideways (which obviously doesn't work) which forced me to have a c-section. Molly was gentle to her mom and didn't tear her. My recovery has been so easy. I felt like myself within 7 days.
My parents came up from Memphis to the hospital the following day. It worked at great! They were able to spend the entire day with Molly and I!
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| My parents and their granddaughter |
God's plans are not always our plans but His plans are always better than ours!
