We were heading to a friend's birthday party. Kay's blood pressure had been quite high for the last two readings but it was nothing new. A quick stop at the hospital, a quick non-stress test to see that all was well and then party time!
StormyD had other plans...
StormyD had other plans...
February 10, 2014
9:25am Kay is induced with Cervidil. Having been admitted the day before under not-so-subtle treat of emergency c-section, Kay and I were pleased to have made it through the night! The concern was now for Kay's health as her body had begun the cascade that could lead to Eclampsia or the HELLP Syndrome.
10:30am Jen illegally brings Kay Starbucks.
7:30pm Our awesome doula, Eldyka visits us at the hospital to do an acupuncture treatment. After 10 hours of back cramping, this was welcome.
11:15pm Kay's water breaks! While we are cuddling!! Kay gets some rest and I put up a somewhat stream-of-consciousness post about rats.
February 11, 2014
1:00am We are finally moved into Labour and Delivery. Kay is 3cm dilated!!
We are welcomed by a nurse (whom I'll call Clytaemnestra) who starts hooking Kay up to IVs for Oxytocin (to continue induction) and Magnesium Sulphate. We go all empowered our-doctor-and-doula-have-educated-us-well self-advocacy on her and ask to speak to the doctor on call. We are cool with the oxy but don't see that things have escalated enough to warrant this MagSulphate stuff. The doctor disagrees; as far as he is concerned, Kay has advanced pre-eclampsia and does not want her to have a seizure. Jeepers! We don't want her to have a seizure either!!
He is very patient with our questions and agrees to give us time to think about it. Clytaemnestra starts the oxy drip. I spend the next 4 hours researching the effects of Magnesium Sulphate.
3:00am Kay informs Clytae that there seems to be something dripping from her IV. Clytae assures her that tube doesn't need to be hooked up anyway.
5:45am It is revealed that, in apparent retaliation, Clytae had decided to induce the floor instead!! A libation perhaps?! Who knows?!
8:10am Our own doc shows up and applauds our self-advocacy. Go empowered mammas-to-be! No MagSulphate required! Which means Kay can be an active member of the process and not have her mind completely dulled. We start the oxy for reals this time.
11:45am Active labour begins. This is the most intense thing I have ever been a part of. Seeing your partner in that much wild pain is...intense (the only world I can think of). I was filled with pride, fear, helplessness and love all at once. I did my best to regale Kay with tales of unfortunate events during my trips to the Inca Trail but I am not entirely sure that's what she wanted. Our doula was absolutely invaluable. Get one!
4:00pm After all this work and more waters being broken, you'd think we'd be ready for the little dude to fall on out of there! Unfortunately, Kay was only 4cm dilated. A single centimetre in 15 hours! On top of all of this, StormyD's heart rate seems to be dipping with each contraction. He always recovers but at one point it was at 20 (from 135)!
5:30pm Time for the big guns and a c-section is ordered. Kay asks that if it is going to be another 2 hours before that happens can they check again to see if there is anymore dilation then. We are assured that there is no way it is going to take 2 more hours...
7:30pm (2 hours later!) No change in dilation. In the meantime, Kay has thoroughly quizzed the medical student that will be sitting in on the procedure and Eldyka and I are scrubbed in. We also chose some of Eldyka's goddess cards to learn that PachaMama and BabaYaga were looking over us.
9:25am Kay is induced with Cervidil. Having been admitted the day before under not-so-subtle treat of emergency c-section, Kay and I were pleased to have made it through the night! The concern was now for Kay's health as her body had begun the cascade that could lead to Eclampsia or the HELLP Syndrome.
10:30am Jen illegally brings Kay Starbucks.
7:30pm Our awesome doula, Eldyka visits us at the hospital to do an acupuncture treatment. After 10 hours of back cramping, this was welcome.
11:15pm Kay's water breaks! While we are cuddling!! Kay gets some rest and I put up a somewhat stream-of-consciousness post about rats.
February 11, 2014
1:00am We are finally moved into Labour and Delivery. Kay is 3cm dilated!!
We are welcomed by a nurse (whom I'll call Clytaemnestra) who starts hooking Kay up to IVs for Oxytocin (to continue induction) and Magnesium Sulphate. We go all empowered our-doctor-and-doula-have-educated-us-well self-advocacy on her and ask to speak to the doctor on call. We are cool with the oxy but don't see that things have escalated enough to warrant this MagSulphate stuff. The doctor disagrees; as far as he is concerned, Kay has advanced pre-eclampsia and does not want her to have a seizure. Jeepers! We don't want her to have a seizure either!!
He is very patient with our questions and agrees to give us time to think about it. Clytaemnestra starts the oxy drip. I spend the next 4 hours researching the effects of Magnesium Sulphate.
3:00am Kay informs Clytae that there seems to be something dripping from her IV. Clytae assures her that tube doesn't need to be hooked up anyway.
5:45am It is revealed that, in apparent retaliation, Clytae had decided to induce the floor instead!! A libation perhaps?! Who knows?!
8:10am Our own doc shows up and applauds our self-advocacy. Go empowered mammas-to-be! No MagSulphate required! Which means Kay can be an active member of the process and not have her mind completely dulled. We start the oxy for reals this time.
11:45am Active labour begins. This is the most intense thing I have ever been a part of. Seeing your partner in that much wild pain is...intense (the only world I can think of). I was filled with pride, fear, helplessness and love all at once. I did my best to regale Kay with tales of unfortunate events during my trips to the Inca Trail but I am not entirely sure that's what she wanted. Our doula was absolutely invaluable. Get one!
4:00pm After all this work and more waters being broken, you'd think we'd be ready for the little dude to fall on out of there! Unfortunately, Kay was only 4cm dilated. A single centimetre in 15 hours! On top of all of this, StormyD's heart rate seems to be dipping with each contraction. He always recovers but at one point it was at 20 (from 135)!
5:30pm Time for the big guns and a c-section is ordered. Kay asks that if it is going to be another 2 hours before that happens can they check again to see if there is anymore dilation then. We are assured that there is no way it is going to take 2 more hours...
7:30pm (2 hours later!) No change in dilation. In the meantime, Kay has thoroughly quizzed the medical student that will be sitting in on the procedure and Eldyka and I are scrubbed in. We also chose some of Eldyka's goddess cards to learn that PachaMama and BabaYaga were looking over us.
8:05pm I am waiting outside the OR while they prep Kay. Of course, Kay is metabolizing the drugs in her own super power way so we need to wait a little longer while they up the dose. I think I hyperventilate a little in my mask because my memories of heading into the room are akin to descriptions of alien abductions: everything is white with diffuse lighting and groups of gowned beings with equipment just sort of out of focus. Kay is stretched out (Easter-style) on the table with a huge, vertical sheet blocking the view of whatever is going on below her neck. I am ushered onto my stool and grab her hand.
8:11pm We hear a little cry and then "He is really blue."
8:11pm We hear a little cry and then "He is really blue."
Our little blue dude was absolutely beautiful. I got to bring him over to Kay in the OR and the wonderful nurses took pictures of us. It was amazing!
And then we got to cuddle.
This was followed by 16 days in the NICU and then an epic adventure to move our new family across the country for my dream job of working with the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada in Toronto. Carrick turns 3 months today (!!!) and the adventure continues everyday.
Happy Mother's Day, everyone!!
This was followed by 16 days in the NICU and then an epic adventure to move our new family across the country for my dream job of working with the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada in Toronto. Carrick turns 3 months today (!!!) and the adventure continues everyday.
Happy Mother's Day, everyone!!
Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.
~Helen Keller (not Sappho but equally as kick-ass)
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