Birth Story
On August 17 our OB, Dr. Moeller made a successful attempt to avert (turn around) my baby since she was in a transverse position with her feet facing down. Unfortunately, she did not stay there for long; first she turned into a breech position, and during the following week she went back to her original transverse placement. Therefore we made the decision to make another aversion and induce me on Tuesday, August 24. I was 3 cm dilated at this point.
We arrived to the hospital at 7:15am. After setting me up in the room my doctor came in as well as the anesthesiologist. I told him that I wished to receive an epidural sometime during the day, and I also told him that at 17 years of age I had been diagnosed with a mild Spina Bifida, but I had received spinals in the past and they worked.
Next my doctor attempted to turn the baby. The first 2 attempts were unsuccessful and the anesthesiologist left to make arrangements for the C-section. Luckily, the third attempt was successful and baby turned head down.
At 9 am I was induced with 5mg of Prostin. In the next hour and a half I started feeling some non-painful contractions. It was a great feeling since I had never felt one before.
At 11:45 am my doctor broke my water, and she described it as a flood. This might have been a reason for baby to have enough room for turning so much. I was 4 cm dilated.
The anesthesiologist came in the room and informed us that he did some research and found out that I could not receive an epidural because of my Spina Bifida. I didn’t like the news, but we could not risk having a major problem. I was told that I could get some pain reliever in my IV that would last for a while, and later a spinal.
By 1 pm I was feeling more painful contractions but they were bearable. They were about 30 seconds long and 1.5 minutes apart. At 2 pm I was still 4 cm dilated.
At 2:15 pm we moved into the Spa Room where much more water leaked before I sat in the hot tub. It felt very nice since I was hurting more. I used the time between contractions to relax in the water and I sometimes fell asleep too. Soon I started having very painful contractions 3-4 in a row without a break. At this point we moved back to the room.
At 3:15 pm I got Statol (the pain reliever) in my IV. It made me very drowsy and sleepy. The contractions were very intense by now, but I didn’t feel too much pain.
At 4:05 pm I was 5 cm dilated.
At 4:25 pm I needed more Statol.
At 5:40 pm I was 7 cm dilated and 100% effaced.
At 6:00 pm I got my spinal, and by 7:25 pm I was 8 cm dilated.
At 8:05 pm I got patosin in my IV.
At 9:35 pm I was 9 cm dilated. The spinal had worn off by now.
At 10 pm I started pushing. Although baby’s head was facing down she never descended enough, she was “sunny side up” (face facing my front), and part of my cervix was still covering the head. I tried pushing on my back, then on my side (hoping that she turned her head). Although my pushes were great, we did not make a progress by 11:45 pm. Dr. Moeller opted for a C-section at this point.
At 11:59 pm we headed for the Operation Room. My first spinal did not take, so they had to repeat it. Although I was exhausted I was alert for the whole operation, including the stitches.
Nora Isabella Nyquist was born at 12:37 am on August 25, 2004. She weighed 8 lbs 3 oz, (3700 grams) and measured 20” (51 cm), received 8 and 9 Apgar scores, and was on the top of the chart for her gestational age.
My surgery ended at 1 am and I was able to breastfeed my daughter for the first time at 2 am.
Throughout the day Mark was giving me 150% support in every way. He held my hand, helped me breathe through the contractions, kept wiping my face, fed me with ice chips, and everything else I might have needed. He also taped the birth of Nora as well as her welcome to our world procedures (cleaning). I cannot thank enough to him for his great support.
Mark and I are the VERY happy parents of our miracle baby, Nora (or Nori or Norika).