Charlotte Anne Phillips made her early, yet safe arrival at 5:52 am on Saturday, October 8, 2011. 33weeks and 5days. WOW!
She weighed in at 5lbs and 14 ozs and was 18 inches long. Could we imagine another 6 weeks? Big baby!
She is doing well, breathing on her own, starting to suckle at my breast and just BEAUTIFUL!
So what happened in the few days since my last post?
On Monday we sorted out all the gifts and returned the duplicates. We purchased the car seat and some other things we needed and some things we didn't but wanted for our little girl.
On Tuesday Charles washed and folded all her clothes and bedding. He continued to get some of her stuff ready.
Wednesday morning Charles woke and said to me "Pack your bags."-literally this was the first thing he said to me! I laughed and asked if he had had a dream. He said no but insisted I do it. That night after work I packed a bag for me, put most of Charlotte's clothes away and packed a bag for her.
On Thursday Charles was going to install the car seat but I left early to vote and to pick up my Nestle diaper bag and formula.
I worked Thursday 3-11pm in the housekeeping dept. As soon as I got there the staff were commenting how much I had popped and that there was no way I would make it another 6 weeks! I explained that I was measuring ahead by 3 weeks and probably would have her near the 1st of November. One gal kept asking me if I needed a lift to Labour and Delivery! I would just laugh. Little did I know...
When I got home I had a nice bowl of cereal and waited for Charles to get home. I had an appointment the next day with the Diabetes clinic due to my high sugars and my baby measuring ahead. As I sat waiting I felt a trickle. Then another. I thought it was weird and assumed I really had to pee and went to the bathroom. When I sat the "pee" came out on it's own. I thought it was strange. I went upstairs to head to bed. I made a comment to Charles that we may have to take a trip to OB triage as I thought I was "leaking". I sat again and more "pee" came out fairly easily, seemingly on its own. I had Charles get the baby book and I looked up what my "waters" would be like, had they broke. Colour, smell, etc. I couldn't really discern, as the book said "straw colour" which to me is yellow and looks like pee. However, upon checking the TP there was some Pink so I said we are going. We grabbed the bag I packed and switched it to a bigger bag and added Charles clothes. I grabbed a quick shower and called the neighbour to take the dog. And off we went...
As I walked from the car to the door, I felt my pants get wet. I got inside and the security guard asked if I needed a wheelchair and I said yes, but I need to "pee". I got into the bathroom, sat on the toilet and WHOOOOOOSSSSHHHH--my water REALLY broke. Thank goodness I was on the toilet!
We headed up to OB triage and I told them my water broke. "How do you know?" the one nurse asked. Really? REALLY? I explained what happened and she still didn't beleive me and tested me for amniotic fluid. Yup, my water broke. The nurse went through her routine. When I told her I was only 33weeks and 4 days, she went to check to see if the NICU (neo-natal intensive care unit) was open and mentioned that if it wasn't I would be "going for a ride." To where? London or Toronto or even Detroit. Luckily they had some beds. However, she also told me that even though my water had broke, they could try and keep me pregnant and stop labour as long as they gave me antibiotics and fluids. Strict bed rest. (I had read this in "what to expect" as well). When she checked my cervix, she said she couldn't really find it! Weird....
I was given a steroid shot to help strengthen baby's lungs and started on antibiotics. I was having some dull cramps in my back but no contractions. I was taken to a room and tried to get some sleep (impossible). At 7 am the cramps were more frequent and a little uncomfortable. I was given some Percocet which helped. At 9am I was taken for an ultrasound of my cervix. When I got back to my room I started having pains again--I really thought it was gas pains and was telling everyone I needed to fart!! Can you say DENIAL?
My OB came up soon after and told me that my cervix had completey effaced, meaning there was no going back! I was in labour and going to have a baby in the next 48 hours! They would monitor me and try and get me to labour until at least 2 am Saturday so they could give me a second steroid shot.
I was then taken to high risk labour and delivery. I was given Demerol and gravol for my "gas pains" aka back labour. I had my own nurse and was never left alone. I stayed busy texting and calling everyone with updates. They checked my blood sugar everyhour...my poor fingers!! Eventually I was so tired and kept snoozing. The demerol lasted about 4 hours and then I would be given more. I remember asking the nurse for something to eat and she laughed at me and said no. She said the sugar water I was hooked up to will soon satisfy me...and it did!
I was visited by the endocarnoligist who gave me a stern lecture on Diabetes and reminded me to lose weight after baby came. I said of course--I had already planned on it!
Then the NICU Doctor came and told us all about 33 week old babies and that she would be in the NICU at least 3 weeks and explained the things that could need attention or what things they worry about in preemies. However, he was very positive that she would be just fine. It was quite shocking too both Charles and I and I finally realized the severity of the situation.
Throughout the day and into the night my contractions would get intense but I managed to breath through them. I had quite a few visitors and phone calls but eventually was just to tired and kept falling asleep. I still had only demerol and gravol for pain. A few times I thought I was going to vomit. Let me tell you how hard it is to fly up into a sitting position to vomit while contracting.
My night nurse was also named Heather and was 20 weeks pregnant. She was really nice and fun! She got me a big bean bag ball to put between my legs so I could lie on my side. Around 9pm she checked me and said I was 6-7 cm's. She suggested I get the epidural, as I was entering active labour and the demerol would not cut it! So by 10:00pm I had my epidural. And I went back to sleep! I have to mention that during this time my Mom, and Charles parents waited and tried to find places to sleep while I laboured. Charles snoozed in the lounge chair in the room.
Around midnight my sugar reading was high. An hour later it was still high and I received an insulin shot. At 2 am I recieved a second dose of steriods. Then the nurse started oxytocin/pitocin to speed up labour as my water had been ruptured for more than 24 hours. My sugar was still high and I got more insulin. At 2:30 am the nurse checked me and said I was 8-9 (I think). My sugar was still high and the endocarnoligist ordered an IV drip of insulin. While my nurse went to get the IV drugs I felt a new pressure down below but did not say anything. When she returned with my insulin she had two other nurses there to help insert a new IV location, as I had real crappy veins. It took the other nurse, Shelley, two tries but she finally got it after a half hour! This is very normal for me and I am used to multiple pricks for bloodwork or IV's!
After the Insulin was flowing I asked my nurse to check me one more time. I told her that after the last check I felt pressure. She checked me and I was 10cm! It was 3:30 am. Very exciting. She sat me in an upright position and said we would wait and hour and let gravity work!
At 4:30 am I was wheeled into the c-section room to deliver. This was because it is attached to the NICU and that is where baby was going. I spent the next hour practicing pushing. The OB came in around 5:40 am and at 5:52 am Charlotte Anne entered the world. She was put on my chest but I was not allowed to touch her. Charles cut the cord and the NICU team whisked her away from me to check her vitals and make sure she was breathing properly. Before they did she had her eyes open and made a small sound and I knew she was fine.
She weighed 2668 grams (5 pounds and 14 ounces--big preemie). She was 46 cm's long (18 inches). She scored 9 and 9 on her APGAR tests and needed no breathing assistance. She was taken to the NICU and Charles was able to go be with her. I was taken to recovery and expected to be able to see her within an hour and back to my room shortly there after. However, my bleeding was pretty heavy and the nurses were concerned. The OB had to come back and take care of business. Luckily whatever the OB did worked and I was soon in a wheelchair being taken to see my precious little girl. It was kind of scary at first as she was hooked up to an IV, heart monitor and pulse/ox. So there were wires everywhere! It was hard to leave her in the NICU but I knew that was the best place for her.
The nurses and Dr's in the NICU and post-partum were excellent. I was allowed to stay an extra night so that I could visit baby whenever I wanted to. Throughout the weekend we had lots of visitors and well wishes. When we left on Monday it was very hard leaving our baby behind. Although it was exciting that she was here, I knew I was in for a long haul!
She spent 3 weeks in the NICU where she battled jaundice (like most babies) and learned to suck swallow and breath! Best of all she is quite healthy. She does have a small heart murmur but that should clear up soon--it would probably not been detected had we not been in the NICU. (I will post about our NICU experience soon.)
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