The Epic Saga of LulaMae Louise: Part One–Induction

Lula’s birth story from Shelley Scotka, our doula

This tale spans hours…days…which brought you to your Mom and Dad…a long story, but one that fits you perfectly. Here is the story of the days of your birth:

It was a full week past your due date, so based on recommendations from Dr. Weihs, your Mom and Dad arrived at Seton Medical Center on the evening of 10/25/10 to begin the eviction process. It was a little bumpy start, with difficult IVs and high fetal heart tones, but in the end the nurses placed the Cervidil and we waited for contractions to begin.

By 7am Kim was 1 cm and 60% effaced–it was time to start Pitocin to strengthen the contractions. Kim rated the current contractions at a “4″ on the pain scale–we talked about needing to “welcome” the Pitocin, as stronger contractions were needed to get a baby here.

Lakisha took over for Courtney (our overnight nurse)–she brought a good energy to the room, and a nice sense of humor. Mark took a few minutes to call/text family and friends–your fans–to give them an update. I think on that trip he also snuck some cold pizza in…the breakfast of champions!

I gave Kim a nice relaxing foot massage with jasmine oil–known for it’s effect on strengthening contractions…if nothing else, she got a nice foot massage! She noticed the contractions getting stronger for sure–needing to begin to focus and breathe through them now.

Over the course of the morning, we periodically noticed slight decelerations in your heart rate when your mom changed positions. They always resolved themselves, so we didn’t worry much. Around 8:30am, Kim noticed her water broke–there was some of your poop inside, which is normal for babies coming past their due date. The nurse did an exam and confirmed Kim was still about 1 cm.

After the water broke, Kim noticed a definite increase in the strength of the contractions. She was rating this pain as 6-7 now, and inquired about holding off on more Pitocin. It seemed her body had finally kicked into gear! Lakisha checked with Dr. Weihs and ok’d keeping it on “1″ for now and see where things headed.

I suggested that Kim get out of bed, as it became obvious the contractions were getting tougher. We got her settled in a rocking chair and she instantly said the contractions were more manageable. With every contraction, more amniotic fluid gushed out, so we went through a lot of towels! It was pretty poopy water, so not the prettiest sight…luckily Kim had a good sense of humor and was able to laugh (at least between contractions) for now.

Mark provided popsicles which Kim welcomed. We helped Kim stay relaxed with massage and encouraging words. The nursing students were on the unit that day, so we were able to say hi to Shelly Clarke as she introduced Brit, our student nurse for the day.

The later morning progressed with more slight decelerations which always resolved. Dr. Weihs came in at 11:30am to do an exam, and said Kim was now 1-2 cm and 80% thinned–good change. She was encouraging, but also reminded us we had a long way to go.

At noon, Mark went to update your fans again, and brought back messages of support from family. Kim’s Dad was still east of Dallas but was on his way. Kim’s sister sent her love. So many people eager to meet you!

Kim’s back was really bothering her, so I heated up the rice sock, and as I placed it on her back, Kim groaned–”good?”…yeah… The contractions were nearly one on top of the other. Kim wondered if it was time to back off on the Pitocin, but Dr. Weihs assured her this was necessary to make progress. Kim was beginning to feel overwhelmed and discouraged–Mark and I provided encouragement and support that she could keep going. We just needed to take one step at a time.

Kim felt tired later in the afternoon, so headed back to bed. Side lying provided the opportunity for rest but wasn’t her favorite labor position…we used the rice sock which helped greatly, and some peppermint oil to relieve the occasional nausea. Around 2pm, Kim reported she was feeling some pressure, something different “down there”. We hoped that meant a baby was coming down!

Dr. Weihs was in again around 2:30pm and did another exam…she was now a good 2 cm and 90% effaced, some progress for sure but not nearly as much as Kim was hoping for. The baby was still a little high, around -2 station, which concerned us a bit, but we kept our spirits up and provided lots of good words and energy to Kim. Dr. Weihs felt strongly that we needed to continue to increase the Pitocin to progress the labor. Kim was already feeling her contractions were an “8″ on the pain scale–not sure how much more she could handle. We discussed her options and she decided to try some IV medicine to just take the “edge” off and help her sleep. So at 3:15pm, Lakisha administered a dose of Fentanyl.

It took effect quickly, but it wasn’t enough for Kim. She was still needing to breathe through the contractions, and they were so close she couldn’t really get rest. Within 30 minutes, Kim requested the Pitocin be turned way down and she wanted an epidural…she was exhausted and unable to relax effectively anymore and was starting to think she was actually impeding her own progress.

On to Part Two–Epidural

See photos of Lula’s first days.

It’s A Girl

sleepy-lula

World, meet LulaMae Louise Tilley!

Born Wednesday, October 27th at 12:12am
7 lbs, 15oz
21 1/4 inches

Named for her great-grandmothers:
Lula Mae Lovin Bertmann, Mark’s mom’s mom
Helen Louise Cobb King, Kim’s dad’s mom

See photos of Lula’s first days.

Read the short birth story, or the epic saga, parts one, two, and three.

True Knot

On Monday, we checked into Seton Medical Center to get this show on the road. The plan: some meds to start dilation Monday evening, followed by full on induction first thing Tuesday morning, with a natural birth sometime on Tuesday. Clearly not the birth story I had hoped to have, but something I had accepted.

MT and I enjoyed a delicious dinner at Salvation Pizza before checking in. I cried for the full five minutes it took to drive over to Seton…anxiety about the drugs I was about to receive, bittersweet feelings about our last moments as just the two of us, overwhelming emotions in general about the massive change we were going through.

By 8pm, I was in my hospital bed with two nurses making their fourth attempt to put a saline lock in my arm. The first two left me with 2″ bruises that were black and blue weeks later; the fourth one finally worked.

The whole process shot up Shim’s heart rate to 175 bpm, where it stayed for at least three hours and caused enough concern that they ditched the original plan for Cytotec and switched us to the less scary Cervadil.

Monday, 10pm: Barely 1cm dilated, Cervadil administered

Overnight, I had regular contractions and was able to sleep a little. Shim’s heart rate continued to be a bit erratic so the nurses kept coming in to check on us, shifting my position, giving me oxygen, hooking up IV fluids. MT slept a few hours and I got in a few 30 minute naps before Shelley (our doula) and Dr. Weihs (our OB) arrived to get the party started.

Tuesday, 7am: 1cm, Pitocin drip started

Over the course of the day, my dosage of Pitocin was increased bit by bit and by the afternoon my contractions were strong and increasingly difficult to handle. My water broke early in the morning and there was meconium aplenty, so we were watching Shim very carefully as his/her heart rate continued to be erratic all day.

By 4pm, I asked for the epidural because I couldn’t handle it anymore. If I’d been 8cm dilated at that point, it would have been a different story because we’d have been so close to the finish. But at barely 3-4cm, I had more than halfway to go and was having unending contractions already.

Tuesday, 11:30pm: 6-7cm dilated, prepping for C-section

After about 24 hours of labor and constant concern over Shim’s erratic heart rate, we decided that a C-section was the way to go. I’ll leave more of the details for Shelley’s birth story (parts one, two, and three), as she captured everything that happened with a clear mind. I can’t imagine going through that without her; she was able to help me find as much physical comfort as possible while providing mental and emotional support for Mark as he watched me go through all of this.

Wednesday, 12:12am: Shim arrives!

After the long ordeal, Shim is finally here! We discovered a true knot in Shim’s umbilical cord, which means the cord itself was tied into a tight knot. More often you’ll see babies with the cord kinked up or wrapped around a limb, but the “true knot” is very rare. This was the cause of the erratic heart rate and also prevented Shim from arriving through the normal exit.

We’re so happy to have Shim with us, healthy and happy as can be. I’m also completely in awe of what my body was able to do, protecting that baby from dropping down and cutting off blood supply from the cord. It’s pretty amazing.

Surrender

Forty-one weeks.

We had a biophysical profile yesterday, which is an ultrasound with a long, super-detailed view of how baby is doing in the womb. Shim is doing fine – fully baked, practicing the breathing, a full head of hair swimming in plenty of fluid (the ultrasound tech called the hair ‘remarkable’).

My ‘unfavorable cervix’ however, is another story. Contractions – got ‘em. Thinning – done. But opening? No way.

I’m at the point where I don’t want to hear “the baby will come when the baby is ready” or “try spicy food/sex/evening primrose oil/acupuncture/massage/making plans/walking/loud music” or whatever else. I get that people are trying to be positive and helpful. But I have to make peace with the fact that this baby may not come on its own no matter what I do so that I can accept the medical intervention heading my way.

Monday night, we check in for our overnight stay for ‘cervical ripening’ and then Tuesday morning I get the IV drip of Pitocin. Certainly not what I had been hoping for, but at the end of that road is a baby in my arms and that is the whole point.

The Nearest Exit May Be Behind You

Our due date came and went without even a hint of action from Shim. They’ve set us up to expect this as typical as far as first babies go, but I think Shim may have decided to hold out for the full moon this weekend so he/she can be a Scorpio. I had that coming, I suppose (I’m a Scorpio).

I spent the last week in acupuncture every day, which normally would be an oasis of relaxation and calm. However, when you’re trying to spark labor you don’t get the relaxing type of treatments. The upside is that I’ve had at least one hour a day of practice with my coping techniques.

While I talk myself down from the ledge of anxiety over how big this baby is getting on the inside, I will tell you that there is a bit of dark pleasure I get every time I tell people when I’m due. Wild eyes, blind panic, hiding behind large objects to protect themselves from the baby that’s about to burst forth…I have been this person. But now that I know more about how slow the process can be, I will scratch that off my list of irrational fears.

Baby Shim, I know you are head down so it might be hard for you to see…but the nearest exit may be behind you.

Come Out Come Out Wherever You Are

We’re rolling into week 39 of Shim’s gestation and apparently I have created a very comfortable womb environment that he (or she) shows no interest in departing.

There’s a kimchi shortage in Korea, but it’s plentiful here in Austin and I devoured a bowl of kimchi fries at a local food trailer in hopes of sparking some birthing action. All I got was a good cleansing sweat. It turns out Shim loves spicy food.

Braxton and Hicks confirm on a regular basis that Shim’s butt is practically up my nose. From time to time, I get some good rolling waves of baby feet just below my right ribs. There was one day that I got a hand on my left side…so tiny.

The nail salon ladies are certain it’s a girl because I’m carrying so wide. Three months ago, they were certain it was a boy because I was carrying out front. I maxed out the front compartment a while back so now Shim is filling out the sides. I still feel like the baby is trying to come out my belly button.

At night I tell MT that I’m starting to get cramps and he doesn’t even look up from his book when he says, “Okay” with no excitement or surprise. I wonder how long it will take for him to accept that we’re really in labor when the time comes.

Meanwhile, the furry creatures are getting anxious. Zelda sleeps in the crib, Burns lives on the diaper changing table, Townes guards me at night, and Jack looks at me with disappointment and dismay.

Change is coming. We just don’t know when it will arrive.