Ally's All Day Affair

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Ally's All Day Affair
In all the excitement, Ally was unable to sleep at all the night before her induction, despite instructions from her obstetrician and her close friend, a labor/delivery nurse, who would serve as her secondary support person. Ally and her husband John never did get to sleep that Thursday night, and showed up early at the hospital because they were so anxious to get their day started. Below are excerpts from Ally's journal description of the day she and John went from being a couple to parents.

5:00 - Because we were so early, the hospital didn't know what to do with us. We watched television, but there's not much on at that time of day. Besides we couldn't concentrate anyway. We are about to have a baby! We've been waiting so long. It's finally our big day! The fact that we're a few weeks early is a little scary, but everyone at the hospital says baby munchkin will be better off outside my body considering my fluctuating blood pressure. I will be, too. Besides, I'm not great at waiting.

6:00 - My parents have arrived and brought John a breakfast sandwich, which makes me quite jealous. My wonderful friend Cath (a neighbor and ob nurse) arrived. I still cannot believe I'll have my own "baby birthing pro" by my side. And she gave up her day off to come in to work - for me, John, and the munchkin. Cath announced that until the star of the show arrives, no one is to eat in front of the star's mother. I could have kissed her, because that sandwich smelled wonderful and I am potentially looking at the rest of the day with no food. Nothing since dinner last night, and I am really feeling it.

7:00 - My scheduled arrival time has come and gone, but my induction has not yet started. We're getting antsy. So much for arriving early.

7:20 - The charge nurse did an internal check for dilation; I'm three centimeters dilated and the induction hasn't even started. I'm excited by that news, but no one else seems impressed. I learned in my childbirth class that you can dilate a centimeter an hour, so I'm hopeful for a baby in time for a late lunch.

I just tried to persuade my nurses that because I plan to deliver without pain medication, I don't need an I.V. I don't know how I they'll get the pitocin into me without it, maybe a shot.

They say I need that I.V., so here we go.

After some poking, the I.V. is in. I'm getting fluids and pitocin intravenously and am on my way...labor pains will soon follow, Cath promises.

Doc, Babyman as John calls him, was here and said he's got another patient being induced down the hall. Big day for him. He's scheduled to be at the hospital until after dinner tonight. His partner comes in then, but "no worries" he said.

8:00 - Mild twinges in my uterus, like very mild menstrual cramps. Not too uncomfortable, but getting anxious. My father went home. The nurse placed an external monitor on my belly. It's attached to a big elastic band which wraps around me. It records the contractions. Sometimes it says I'm having one and I don't even feel it.

9:00 - Mom and Cath are keeping me busy inventing silly nicknames for the baby. John's reading a baby name book. He wants me to change my mind about the name. Too modern he says. Still twingy, but the twinges are coming very far apart. Can't really time them. I've had periods worse than this.

10:00 - We're watching television and playing cards, trying not to listen to the woman screaming down the hall. Mom says she screamed a lot delivering me. I vow that I will not scream, not even once, because I don't want my baby to hear me in distress.

11:00 - Because I am feeling the contractions only mildly, they are going to increase the pitocin. And break my water. Yuck.

11:30 - The water breaking was not too bad, mostly pressure. The device Doc used looked like a crochet hook. Lots of fluid leaking out onto a pad beneath me.

12:30 - Contractions coming much stronger now. Mom, John and Cath are going to take turn going down to the cafeteria for lunch.

1:30 - Constantly being monitored. I'm hooked up to some pretty interesting machines that monitor my vital signs and my baby's vitals, as well.

2:30 - Contractions are coming stronger and more frequently now. Down time in between is fine, though. John has been very quiet. Not like him at all.

3:30 - I am tired and a little frustrated. I really thought that that centimeter an hour thing would work out. I know that some women go twenty four hours with first babies, but I've got pitocin coursing through my body. I thought this would be faster. I am five centimeters dilated and 50% effaced. That one an hour thing better get moving because I want to eat dinner tonight. I'm looking forward to the candle light dinner they deliver. .

5:00 - Nurse asked if I want pain medication. No! I couldn't say much more than that as I was having a very intense contraction. John told her I'll ask if I want it. He then asked me if it hurts as much as the time I broke my arm. I pretty much felt like breaking his arm at that point! What kind of a question is that? Thank goodness for the time between contractions. That's when I can breathe. And think. They're talking about internal monitors, that sounds uncomfortable. They say it's not, but a wire going into me?

6:00 - We're using Lamaze breathing. Both Cath and John breathing with me. Looking at last sonogram picture as my focus. I'm still hooked up to the monitors which keeps me focused. I think I'm done writing for now. Mom said she'd take over

6:30 - Ally's doctor came in and said that the baby's heart rate has dropped a few times. Ally's so tired. Her doctor assured her that everything was fine. My brave girl. She's not great with pain, but she's a trooper today.

7:30 - Ally's crying. John has become very animated, doing imitations of Ally's friends, of the nursing staff, of their childbirth class teacher, even of me. Hopefully, it'll work. She looks so tired. I wish there were something I could do for her.

8:00 - I'm out in the hall. After last internal, the doctor said he might need to do a C section. Allison is not progressing and is running a fever. She consented to receive an epidural. Hopefully, she'll be able to relax and progress now.

9:30 - Ally slept for an hour. Apparently, the sleep did more than energize her. She's eight centimeters dilated and 75% effaced. She's cracking jokes again and says that she can feel the contractions, but they don't hurt.

11:10 - Ally said she felt like pushing with the last contraction, so the nurse is breaking down the bed to get ready for the next stage. We're waiting for a doctor to give approval to push. I guess she could just start pushing anyway. Ally's doctor has gone home and his partner has come on duty. She just delivered a baby in the next room. Hearing the baby cry on its way to the nursery was so exciting. The other woman induced this morning had her baby at 6 pm. I hope that Ally didn't hear the nurses say that.

11:30 - Cath and John are positioned at Ally's feet and she's ready to push. Ten centimeters and 100%. Ally's still running a fever, and she's now taking antibiotics for that. Her blood pressure is consistent, however, which has been my concern.

12:30 - Doctor said baby's heart rate is dropping again, ordered C section operating room be readied. Advised Ally to push with all she's got.

1:13 - Ally's baby is here!!! 6 lbs. 1 oz. Beautiful little girl!!! No name yet, because John and Ally haven't decided yet. We're calling her Munchkin, Ally's childhood nickname, for now.

After a lot of pushing, with John always at her side, Allison delivered Munchkin into the world with a little help from a vacuum suction and then a pair of forceps. She's had a lot of stitches, but you'd never know it by how happy she looks. Even with the forceps, Ally was silent and determined and delivered her own little girl with such quiet determination.

Ally's baby had mild respiratory issues, that required some monitoring, but nothing out of the ordinary. Ally's blood pressure returned to normal just hours after baby Munchkin was delivered. Anna went home with John and Ally - the name the couple settled on.

And, they're planning to try to give Anna a baby brother or sister in the near future. When asked to describe the day Anna was born, Ally describes it as "the best day of her life."