May 14, 2008

Due May 3, 2008

Friday, May 9 – Lisa has an ultrasound.  Everything looks good.  Later sees Dr. Sutton.  VE shows Lisa to be 70-80% effaced, -2 station and can be stretched to 3cm.  They judge baby to be 8 pounds, 11oz.  Doc happy with everything.  At her last VE (3 days earlier) Lisa was 2cm dilated and 50% effaced.  Making progress!!!!

Saturday, May 10 – Lisa calls to say she’s still “with child” (with a chuckle).  We had a good heart to heart regarding fear, anxiety and welcoming things to move forward.

Monday, May 12 – Ultrasound today indicates babe to likely be 9 pounds 11oz.

Tuesday, May 13 – Lisa sees Dr. Sutton again.  She said she was happy with ultrasound results.  She rimmed the cervix again while verifying Lisa to be a “good” 3cm and 80 % effaced.

Lisa has been using blue and black cohosh from Wild Rose College.  Saw Ciara’s brother to have acupuncture done.  He also gave her herbs.  Lisa is in great spirits and is hopeful babe will decide to come sooner than later.  Facing induction on Friday.  I lectured Baby Fernandez saying we need him/her to start making the journey.

10pm (May 13th) – I received a call from Pablo.  Things are happening – contractions are all over the place. 7-15 minutes apart.  Lasting 30-45secs to the peak.  Some very mild while others taking every ounce of her strength.

I recommend they eat, then rest.  If she is unable to rest, then get working with her labour.  Call me when/if you need ANYTHING!  Lisa is 41 weeks + 4 days.

Wednesday, May 14th , 7:15am – Pablo called to say they were at the hospital and Lisa is 7cm and has been admitted.  I leave the house at 7:30 and head to Rockyview.

8:05 -  I arrive to find Lisa just beginning to make the move from triage (Ward 61) to labour and delivery.  Pablo and I  collect her things and head to room # 6204.

8:20 – We had Lisa in the bathroom attempting to pee, but no such luck.  She’s feeling a little “pushy” at times.  When I hugged her she said “so sorry Rhonda, I smell”.  We chuckle and I tell her she smells just like a woman in labour.

Nurse Amanda is with us and is lovely.  She tells Lisa she is handling her pain beautifully.  She did a VE at 8:15 and said Lisa was 8-9 cm.

8:45 – We get the ok to begin pushing.  YAHOO!!   Lisa comments that the people here are “so nice”.  She hasn’t stopped smiling yet.

9:05 – Lisa moves up to a squat.  Major pressure in her bottom.  Babes heart rate has been great up to this point, but is dropping into the 70s during contractions.  Good news is that he recovers back to baseline quickly.  Lisa comments “I’m going to have some good hemorrhoids after this.”

Doctor Sutton has been called and is on her way.  They have Lisa on EFM at this point.

9:15 – Lisa is preferring the squat position.  Hard to relax between contractions.  Would like to begin hot oil compresses.  Pablo is complementing constantly on what a great job Lisa is doing.  “All or none” Lisa says.  “It’s just like chocolate…I want all or none”.

9:30 – Dr. Sutton arrives and introduces herself to all.

9:40 – Lisa’ bag of water ruptures.  Doc checks her to find an anterior lip.  We move Lisa to all fours and have her hold back on pushing for a while.  She is doing fabulously.  Doctor Sutton says she’s doing nicely and can push gently when she feels it necessary.

She is content with Lisa and baby and tells the nurse to do just intermittent monitoring.

Pablo is using amazing positive communications “Is it possible to move Lisa to a squat before we check her blood pressure?”  Nurse is very accommodating.

10:05 – Lisa is feeling tired and moves back to a squat (from a modified position).  She is very certain about what she likes.

Back to pushing effectively again.  Lab comes in to take blood again (round 2).  First time she was in there was too much going on and so she left to visit some other women.  Nurse begins to worry about baby again and wants to do a fetal scalp monitor.  Pablo gets her to postpone by asking “could we please wait a little longer before doing this?”  Nurse agrees but says that if it keeps dipping, we will need to reconsider.

10:25 – Lisa now on her side pushing.  Internal monitor is put on baby.  Pablo says “you’re amazing honey” and Lisa responds “ditto”.

10:40 – Moves back up to squatting bar (her favorite spot).  Dr. Sutton arrives to do a vaginal check.  Lip is completely gone and babe is moving well with contractions.  She want to get OB Donnely to come evaluate progress (since Lisa’s been pushing quite a while and babe is still pretty high)

11:10 – Off to attempt to pee.  No luck, so Lisa heads back to bed.  Nurse Amanda prepares to put in an IV  “in case there is a need for a c-sec” she says.

11:20 – OB evaluates and says baby is around 0 to –1 station still.  Recommending spinal in OR and a vaccum extraction.  Says c-section may become necessary as she believes baby is “stuck”.  Once alone, we dialogue about the situation and although it was not part of the plan, Lisa and Pablo realize it’s time to intervene and accept it with a + attitude.

11:40 – We are waiting on anesthetist and Lisa is beginning to become impatient.  She’s in a lot of discomfort and is being told “please try not to push”.  Yeh right, after she’s been pushing for almost 3 hours….this is tough to do (or NOT to do).  She begins crying a little during contractions.

12:00 – Dr. Sutton returns and says “Lisa, you are doing great!  The baby should be out by now with how hard you’ve been working.  You have given it your all and need to be very proud of yourself”.

12:05 - We get her using the Nitrous Oxide to help with the overwhelming need to push.

I ask Pablo how he is doing.  He says “ok…. a little stressed.” Lisa then looks at him with a sweet look and offers him the gas.  He declines and says “you are the most wonderful woman”.

12:20 – The Nitrous seems to be helping a lot.  It’s allowing Lisa to relax a little with contractions.  Between contractions Lisa is sooooo happy.  At one point she lifts the mask off her face and with a big smile says “you two were the BEST coaches ever”.  Pablo says “you are the best player ever”.

12:30 - We were expecting to be taken to the OR long ago and the waiting game is becoming hard for Lisa & Pablo.  We talk about the OR and what could possibly take place.  We decide that if Pablo has to go to SCU with babe that I will stay with Lisa.

Lisa is constantly apologizing saying “sorry” when she burps or begins a contraction.  Between one contraction she says “I’m much rather be canoeing or backpacking”.

I compliment them both on what an amazing job they’ve done.  Pablo has been a tremendous coach every step of the way.

12:45 – Dr. Sutton comes in saying she is sorry we have not been taken in yet.  Emergencies keep arising and the OR is taken over (as well as the anesthetist).  I request that the anesthetist come to us as it’s been far too long and it’s getting impossible not to push.  She says she’ll see what she can do.  She encourages Lisa to keep up the great job.

Nurse Danielle takes over for Amanda.

Pablo is taking Lisa away on a trip to Mexico.  He speaks of the sun, the waves the salty smell of the ocean.  Reminding her often “you’re going great honey”.

1:30 – We are still in limbo and starting to get supremely annoyed.  Lisa not happy at all and is crying often.  Pablo is becoming impatient and we are all wondering why Lisa is not getting her epidural/spinal. This in bordering on inhumane!!!  You don’t tell a woman she needs to have a block done for a valid reason and then not have it in her two hours later.

Nurse Cleo finds the IV is not flowing well and needs to re-do it.  Fairly unpleasant considering Lisa’s is pretty disheartened.  Despite the challenges, Lisa is doing a remarkable job!!

1:45 – Finally, D. Waserman arrives to do an epidural.  Gave Lisa some fentanyl through the IV.  Lisa sitting up, legs hanging over side of the bed facing Pablo.  When contractions hit it’s hard to stay still, but she manages.  Doc done epidural by 2pm.  They want to monitor Lisa’s BP every 2 minutes for 10minutes before heading to OR.  Have her on Oxygen duet o fentanyl given (to counter effect on baby).

2:15 – Lisa feeling numb and pretty happy now.  Pablo has left to go get gowned up.  Cleo checked but observation room was now a storage space and so it was unavailable.  The acting physician also saying she’d prefer I not watch or video procedure.  NICE!

2:45 – Ran into Pablo,  Dr. Sutton and beautiful baby boy Fernandez heading for a check in SC nursery.  Baby arrived via section…they didn’t even attempt vacuum extraction after all.  Occiput posterior (sunny side up) and not at all engaged (still at 0 station when they went in).  Lisa being repaired in OR.  I will go to recovery to be with her until Pablo comes back.

3pm – Lisa still not in recovery room.  While waiting I run into Dr. Sutton.  She said baby is doing great.  Apgars of 9 (at 1 min) and 9 (at 5 mins).  Pretty impressive!  She said he was even beginning to “root” for momma.  They’ll be together soon.  He weighed 8 pounds 14 ounces.  She was amazed at Lisa’s performance!

3:25 – I was invited in to see Lisa for a few moments (nobody is really supposed to be in recovery).  She was so very happy.  Tells me her boy will be named Nathan and that he weighed 8lb 14oz. Feeling good and waiting to see her boy.  After a short visit and the return of Pablo there was nothing more for me to do.  I told her I’d check in with her and Pablo the following day.  Hugs and kisses and congratulations, then off I go!

Thank you both for allowing me to share in your special day.  It was an honour!!