Labor and Delivery

I was originally scheduled to be induced on July 8th. Last Thursday we went in for my 38 week checkup. After my sonogram, my doctor told me that she was going to send me directly to labor and delivery because Kirsten didn't respond to her sonogram as expected and they had previously been concerned about her growth rate. We were shocked! So, we went directly from her office to the hospital where they set me up in labor and delivery. They started the induction around 3:30 pm. I was only 1 cm at that time.

At 6:00 pm my doctor came by to check my progress and break my water. I was only 2 cm by then. So, Dr. Cheree told me that it would be sometime the next morning before I delivered. After she broke my water the contractions became more intense. Since I knew I had a long night ahead of me I requested the epidural. After the epidural, things were pretty easy.

The nurse kept checking me through the night and I had only dilated 3 cm. It was not looking good for a vaginal delivery. Plus, I was getting tired. So, the next morning when they checked me I was 4 cm (after 17 hours of labor, mind you). At this point, we decided to have the cesarean section.

Things went really fast once that decision was made. The room was suddenly full of people and they gave Malcolm his surgical gear to put on. They then started prepping me for the operation. I will say that the operation was not bad at all. I was told I would feel tugging and pressure but I didn't feel a thing (Thank God). After what seemed like only 5 minutes, they were pulling Kirsten out and showing her to me. (I was able to watch them deliver her in a mirror and that was cool). She was delivered at 9:05 am.

Malcolm was great and he really kept me distracted during the surgery by talking to me during the procedure. The entire two days seemed surreal to me and I think I was still in shock that everything happened so fast. I will say that the staff at Woman's hospital were amazing and I had a wonderful labor and delivery experience.