Liam Kade - A Birth Story

On Friday, May 13th, 2010, I took a pregnancy test and saw two pink lines. Jeff and I weren't actively trying to get pregnant, but welcomed the thought of another baby whenever it happened. Coincidentally, May 13th was the same day we found out we were expecting Lilah, two years earlier.

After we got the positive pregnancy test, I looked at my 15 month old daughter drinking her milk and watching Sesame St. and had a moment of panic. I cried and hyperventilated a little. I wasn't ready for her to not be the 'baby' anymore. She was such a fussy baby in those first few months and I wasn't sure I was ready for all that work and a toddler. Jeff reminded me that she would be much older by the time this baby arrived and I was able to relax and enjoy the moment.

In August we were finally able to schedule the much anticipated gender ultrasound. I was betting on a boy, but I think everyone else thought it would be a girl because Jeff's brother had four daughters before his first son was born. The technician was having a hard time getting the baby to cooperate, but after some prodding and poking he announced that we were having a baby boy. Of course everyone was excited for us, and started talking about having the 'perfect' family.

At my next doctor's appointment I was told that the baby was showing an abnormality with his kidneys. He said they were enlarged, but it was very common in male babies and it would probably be normal by the time he was born. I was sent for a follow up ultrasound, and since it showed no change, we had to be seen by a Specialist in Reno. It was a stressful situation, compounded by the fact that I had been diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes. I was incredibly overwhelmed. My pregnancy with Lilah was text book perfect and I assumed that this pregnancy would be just the same. I only told close family about the baby's kidneys and my Diabetes. I felt like these problems were my fault and I didn't want others judging me.

On January 6th, two weeks before my due date, we had another appointment with the Specialist in Reno. We found out that the baby's kidneys were better, but not 100%. The doctor also noticed that his abdomen was measuring small for his gestational age, and they recommended an induction by 39 weeks.

The following day I had an appointment with my regular OB. He agreed with the Specialist and scheduled an induction for Wednesday, January 11th. I was promptly taken off of work and sent home to rest. I went into full nesting mode. Grocery shopping, cleaning, organizing, all the while trying to wrap my head around the fact that a new baby would be in our home in a matter of days.

The day before my scheduled induction I had to go to the hospital for one last ultrasound and non-stress test. I had had three other sessions in the last two weeks. Since the baby was measuring small, they wanted to make sure he was still doing okay. The ultrasound technician was a very bubbly young blonde who promptly announced that my baby was transverse. He was lying sidways, with his back facing the exit. When she found out I was scheduled for an induction the next day, she promptly called my doctor and scheduled me for one last ultrasound, just hours before I was supposed to surrender myself to the hospital.

The doctor called me at home and discussed the possibilities of a c-section if the baby didn't turn in time, or trying to turn him manually, which posed risks as well.

By this time, my stress levels were through the roof. I couldn't believe that this was happening. When I found out we were expecting this baby, I dreamily thought of having a labor similar to Lilah's. Slowly transitioning from one stage to another, until finally, the baby was here. I felt like all of that was being taken away from me and I was doomed for surgery.

At 4:00 p.m., 4 hours before I was scheduled to be at the hospital for my induction, I had one final ultrasound and non stress test. The same bubbily, blonde technician happily announced that the baby had turned on his own! I was so relieved.

Later, we dropped Lilah and her suitcase off with Grandma Honea. I said my goodbye's knowing it wasn't going to be just me and my girl anymore. I was both excited and worried about this transition, but I knew that we would find our groove and Lilah would soon have a best friend who just happened to be her little brother.

I made Jeff take me to Mazatlan Grill for what I jokingly referred to as my last meal. I know it wasn't exactly on the Gestational Diabetes diet, but I figured that the baby only had a few more hours left inutero, so it wasn't that big of a deal.

We drove to the hospital, bags and pillows in hand where we were recieved with warm smiles and exictement. I will say that Banner has the best OB nurses. They have each seen hundreds of babies delivered, but they still treat you and your experience like it's special.

I was quickly given a hospital gown and had an IV started. The plan was to start the induction at 9:00p.m., with Cervadil and a sleeping pill. The doctor would come in the following morning and break my water and I would have the baby sometime that afternoon. Unfortunately, my body had other plans.

The doctor came in very early in the morning to check my progress, but my cervix had done nothing since I'd been given the medicine. I was only 1 centemeter dilated, and he needed me to be at least 3 to break my water. The decision was made to give me another Cervadil and the doctor would check on me later in the day.

The Cervadil made me crampy, but I wasn't having what I would call contractions. They were located in one area, and just felt like pressure. The nurses were checking on me rather frequently and we later found out that the baby wasn't tolerating the contraction's the way they wanted. They had me eat a snack and gave me some fluid to hydrate me and he started doing much better.

Around 4:00 p.m., the doctor came to check me. I was in a lot of pain at that point, but it still didn't feel like a regular contraction. The worst part was that I was hooked up to all the monitors and they needed me in one position so they could get a read on how the baby was doing. When the doctor checked me, Jeff and I were both disappointed to be told that there was no change in my cervix and I was still stuck at 1. The nurses had warned me about failed inducitons and I thought they would send me home. The doctor suggested not giving me any more medicine and letting me eat a regular dinner, and getting rest and he would try again first thing in the morning. Jeff and I agreed, and Jeff left to get me some dinner. He even smuggled me in some cookies. I think he could tell I was starting to get upset over all that was happening.

We spent a restless night in the hospital, and even heard another baby being born. Very early in the morning, the doctor came and placed another Cervidil near my cervix. He left and I began again with my 'non contraction' contractions.

Around 12:30 that afternoon the doctor came to check my progress. I was at a three. Finally! He broke my water and that was a painful and surprisingly embarrassing experience. I never felt my water break with my last delivery, and it felt like I was wetting the bed and I had zero control over it.

The started the Pitocen and we were in full swing. I asked for my epidural, since I was told the epidural man would be working in a surgery and wouldn't be available until later. He was a friendly guy and soon I was leaning against Jeff while he was sticking a huge needle in my back. I had a contraction while he was working on me and my water went everywhere. On the bed, on floor, possibly on Jeff's shoes. It was hard not to move, but the doctor kept warning me over and over again to stay still. I felt the medicine go down my back, but I knew something was wrong because I only felt it travel down one leg. I told the doctor and he had me lay on one side, hoping gravity would help move the medicine to where it needed to be.

An hour later, the medicine still wasn't blocking the pain on one side. It almost felt worse since the pain was localized to my right side. The anesthesiologist came to check on me and brought a different guy to attempt a second epidural. Before this, my nurse checked my cervix and I was still at a 3.

Once again I was propped up, leaning into Jeff as they replaced my epidural. I think it was around 3:00p.m. at this point and the contractions were getting stronger and stronger. Again, I only felt the medicine travel down one leg. The guy was stumped and again had me lay on my side to encourage the medicine to work with gravity. It didn't work and by this time I was having one contraction on top of another. The medicine eventually stopped working all together and I could feel everything. I wasn't prepared for the amount of pain I was in. Poor Jeff was trying to encourage me, and I told him to shut up. It's not a moment I'm proud of and I could tell I made him angry, but I was just trying desperately to find a 'happy place'. I kept thinking I was only 3 centimeters and there was no way I was going to make it through transition and pushing if it hurt this bad so soon into labor.

The nurse offered to call for another epidural, but I felt like it was pointless and I wasn't confident I would be able to stay still through the procedure. They put me on oxygen and I held both of Jeff's hands and kept eye contact with him through each contraction. I vaguely remember an episode of How I Met Your Mother playing on the t.v.

Around 4:00p.m. I announced to my nurse that I had had enough. I was done. I was physically exhausted and ready to throw in the towel. I think Jeff thought I was asking for a c-section, but I wanted to ask them to turn off the pitocen and give me a chance to contract on my own. I thought the reason I was in so much pain was because of the medicine they were giving me.

As the nurse walked away to call the doctor I told her I could feel pressure. She checked me and I was at 10 centimeters. Hearing that gave me renewed energy because I knew the end was near. She asked me not to push if I could, and ran to call the doctor. So, I panted, and panted, trying hard not to push, and maybe sneaking in a small push here and there just to alleviate the urge to push.

They asked me to move so I was straight on the bed, but I felt like I couldn't manage. At that point the doctor walked in, gowned up and said I was fine where I was. I was given the go ahead to push.....and it felt AMAZING. All the pain was gone. I pushed once, twice, three times and suddenly he was here. They placed him on my belly and I fell in love instantly.

Liam Kade came into this world at 4:21p.m., weighing 7lbs 8oz., hardly the malnourished baby we were expecting.

He was and still is perfect. Our transition from one to two children has had some bumps, but I think we have done very well. Lilah loves her little brother and it's my hope they'll always be close.

While this pregnancy was stressful and full of worry, I'm grateful we have a healthy baby boy and would do it all over again just to have him here.