38 Weeks....and he's here!

Monday morning I asked Jeff to take a photo of me because my Mom was asking for one.  I uploaded it before we left for our doctors appointment and planned to write a blog post about 38 weeks once I got to the office.  BUT....I never made it to the office!

At my appointment my blood pressure was high.  The only other time that has ever happened was my very first appointment with the baby.  I was joking with Jeff about how funny it would be if my blood pressure was high my first appointment and last one.  The were very concerned about my blood pressure, but I really wasn't, I felt fine.  My doctor said they would retake it after she checked my cervix.  If it was still up she was sending me to the hospital for observation.

But none of that mattered because when she checked my cervix I was dilated to 6cm!  I never in a million years thought I could be dilated to a 6 and have no idea.  She said I had to go straight to the hospital.  I argued with her about going home and getting my bag and dropping off one of our cars (because we drove separate to the doctor), but it was a no go.  Not only did I have to go straight to the hospital, they made me sit in a wheel chair to go!  I felt really bad for the poor nurse that had to wheel me over there, she got her workout for the day.

Jeff ran home to get my bag, and a big thanks to Christine Cordier for going and picking him up and dropping him back off at the hospital!  Once he finally made it back to the hospital I was already checked in, got a room and was hooked up my iv's.  It definitely was not how I pictured going into labor and going to the hospital.

I was feeling contractions but they were not very strong so they started me on Pitocin to make my contractions stronger to dilate my cervix more.  I really wanted to do a natural birth with no epidural, but I wasn't against getting an epidural either.  After being in labor with strong contractions for 6 or more hours I was so tired that I decided to get an epidural  so I could get some rest before I started pushing.  Unfortunalty I was a special case and the anesthesiologist had to come back 3 times for it to take full effect.  By the time it kicked in I was dilated to 10 and it was time to start pushing!  So much for getting some rest!

Long story short (because I don't have time to write the long version) after pushing for 1 1/2 hours and then having to STOP pushing for 30 minutes (which was BRUTAL) and then pushing for another hour or so my doctor made the call that it was best if I had a C-Section.  Not what I wanted, but at that point I knew that something was wrong and I just wanted my baby out safe and sound.  It turns out that each time I pushed his heart rate dropped dangerously low, he was face up instead of face down and his cord was wrapped around his body.  I never dreamed I would have to have a c-section, but it doesn't really matter because all that matters now is that he is here, healthy and our family is just that much more complete :)

Maddox Jeffrey Lind born 5/16/2011 at 10:17pm.  7lbs 4oz 19 1/4 inches long