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Chase Edward's Birth

2/16/98 10:01 a.m.

At my 37 week appointment my doctor told me that my urine tested a little high this time and I was really swelled up. I was very uncomfortable so I asked if I could be induced a little early. He said he didn't see why not because I was far enough along that it would be o.k. We made plans to induce on Monday, February 16, 1998. My doctor told me that it was o.k. to leave town for the weekend because I was only dilated to one and 50% effaced. So...we left town on Sunday morning and ate breakfast, lunch and dinner out. Got home around 4:30 p.m. and then went to the movies. Got home around 10:00 p.m. and I took a shower. My back had been hurting the entire time we were at the movies (Titanic) but I didn't think anything of it. All I was thinking about was everything I still had to do - like pack my bag. At 10:45 p.m. my water broke. I wasn't quite sure at first if that was what it was so I just kind of stood in the kitchen and it kept flowing, so I knew it was my water. I "ran" upstairs and told my husband what happened and he's like "what do we do now". We weren't ready for this. I didn't have the numbers for the doctor or the hospital, but somehow managed to get it. The hospital had me come right in. We live 45 minutes away from the hospital and made it there in 20 minutes flat. I was still not dilated any more than one and was about 60% effaced without any contractions. Since my water had broken, I was put to bed and not allowed to get up again which broke my spirits since I wanted to use the jacuzzi, shower, etc. for my labor. My doctor ordered cervadil suppositories to get the contractions and started. At 2:00 a.m. they started the cervadil. He ordered them to administer pitocin at 7:00 a.m. Well, my contractions started immediately with the cervadil but I still was not dilating like they wanted me to. At 3:00 a.m. I got my first shot of nubain. It made me so sleepy but didn't take away any pain. Getting that was my first mistake. The nurse kept asking over and over if I wanted an epidural to take the pain away but I refused. I wanted to do everything as natural as possible. At 6:00 a.m. I was dilated to 4 and was begging for an epidural. The contractions were really hard and really fast at this point, so they got the epidural in pretty quick. That really helped the labor process for me because I could get some rest. I was very sick and throwing up this entire time so getting some sleep in between that was welcome. At 7:00 they started the pit and I assume everything went quickly from there since I couldn't feel anything. My nurse woke me up and told me that I was at 9 and needed to get ready to start pushing. I pushed for two hours. I was tired. The baby just wasn't making any progress. His head would show and then go back in. My doctor at this point said that since I was so tired he was going to do an episiotomy and use the vacum. I said that was o.k. with me. I felt at this point that I had been through so much I just wanted it over. I wasn't in pain, just tired. I had to be catherized three times during labor, had an internal monitor put on the baby, and not allowed to move. After he did the episiotomy, he used the vaum for about 20 minutes. The baby was stuck under my pelvic bone and didn't want to budge. Chase Edward finally arrived screaming his head off at 10:01 a.m. weighing in at 7 lbs 14 oz and 20 inches. His apgars were 9 and 9. He is now 9 weeks old and doing great. His presence in this world has made a big difference for me. I love him more than life itself. We enjoy him so much; I never imagined I would ever feel this way about someone else. I say now that I truly know what being in love is.

If you have any questions or would like to ask me any questions about Chase or myself, please email me at: akoker1@ohiou.edu