It has been a while since I have written an update but with the birth of our new little one I figured now was a perfect time. (forgive me for my run on sentences and grammatical errors)
I found out I was pregnant just after thanksgiving; my pregnancy started off with terrible migraines and then the vomiting and nausea came... I was hospitalized twice with dehydration and complications from throwing up so much and was soon diagnosed with Hyperemesis gravidarum. I continued to throw up throughout my entire pregnancy and barely managed to gain 25lbs. Everyday was a struggle, but with the help of my awesome husband and patient toddler we managed. Things started to get more complicated when some hardware in my spine started shifting (it shouldn't be able to move) and started causing some intense pain; I ended up having to switch from a midwife to an OB who could help manage my pain (and possible induce me when the time came). Just at about 38 weeks my new doctor started getting concerned because I hadn't shown since of growth for more than 3 weeks, so he ordered new test to check baby. She seemed to have stopped growing and they were concerned about her safety so they planned for an induction the next day.
We got to the hospital around 5 o'clock in the evening but weren't able to start the induction process until about 10:00 pm. I was lucky enough to have my mother in law available for Kora until my mom was able to fly in and take over. My doctor started me with a foley catheter which they place in your cervix to help dilate you. It caused some pretty intense pain and contractions every 6 min. At about 2:00am I called and woke up my best friend and "labor angel" Laura, and asked if she would come massage me during labor. She graciously obliged and just around 4:00am when the pain had just intensified she arrived. With hours of contractions and ever so helpful massage, around 8:00am they removed the foley and I was told they would start pitocin soon. My then nurse disappeared for hours, I was getting so antsy because I wasn't "aloud to eat". I had been up all night and was getting more and more hungry...Finally the new nurse showed up (she was a total snatch...) and after she started pitocin and hours with no real change I demanded to see the doctor to be checked or I was going to eat. She finally called the doctor in at about 4pm-ish, he came in checked me, and broke my water. At this point I was a 4 cm and had been on pitocin for about 4 hours with no change, but not even 5 min after my water was broken the contractions became super intense. I knew that she was moving down and coming fast...
side bar---I had interviewed a number of anesthesiologist before the induction to be sure they understood my back complications and would be able to perform an epidural when the time came.---
My back pain was so so intense....Robert likes to say I was definitely the loudest one in the unit that day....I kept telling the nurse to get the anesthesiologist in there fast, the baby was coming quick. This awkward looking old guy slowly walks in, he, of course, is not any of the people I had interviewed. The contractions at this point are literally on top of each other not even a minute apart. The nasty nurse starts telling me I have to sit down if I want my epidural and I about punched her, ---not only have I had a number of spinal surgeries which included similar procedures as an epidural but I had an epidural with Kora, I was quite familiar with the procedures... I then tell her to get me some sort of pain medication in my IV so I can sit through a contraction, the nurse has the gall to say no, the anesthesiologist retorts with a "get her the medication now..." After I am able to catch my breath I quickly ask him if he knows anything about my spine, etc...and he knows little to nothing about it... I quickly sit down and tell him to start. He slowly starts going over unimportant details like "I am going to touch your shoulder now...." and "its going to feel like a bee sting" and Robert and I both were like what the absolute heck is wrong with you just go already....it was almost like he was repeating the things to himself to calm himself or make himself comfortable (not entirely sure)... I have multiple contractions during this time but hold still long enough for him to get it in. I quickly can tell that its not in the correct spot and say so to the nurse...she completely ignores me and tells me to lay on my side to help it take effect. This of course doesn't work, the nasty nurse then puts in a catheter and is incredibly rough.... about 10 min later the contractions are back to full intensity in my back (I'd liken it to being smashed in the spine with a baseball bat while also being electrocuted add in the contractions, pelvic pain, and period like cramps it was so intense...). I get into the squatting position and I am screaming at the nurse to take the catheter out, I can feel her head moving down. I know the catheter is getting in the way and causing me more pain. She of course ignores me and tells me she wont take it out... I keep yelling at her that her head is there and she slowly walks over to check me...she then starts to panic because she realized I was indeed telling the truth. She removes the catheter, and frantically calls the other nurses and doctor to come in. He runs in just as I am starting to push and not long after Remi was here. I was able to "catch her" and put her on my chest she however wasn't crying. She was struggling to breathe and her oxygen levels were incredibly low. Robert helped move her to the warmer where they worked on her for a bit until her levels went up. After everything calmed down a bit we noticed that there was blood all over my back, the epidural clearly had not worked as I could feel everything and had complete mobility (I gave birth in a squatting position, and with a correctly placed epidural that usually isn't possible). I was also so incredibly swollen from all of the fluids and medications they were giving me, however recovery was fairly quick. I had no tearing and most of the pain I had after delivery was from my back.
 |
| comforting me during some intense contractions and helping me breathe through them |
 |
| comforting me during some intense contractions and helping me breathe through them |
 |
| comforting me during some intense contractions and helping me breathe through them |
 |
| Laura my best friend and "labor angel" comforting me during labor |
 |
| Robert helping me sit back right before he helped move her to the warmer |
 |
| Robert cutting the cord |
 |
| Remi Beau |
The birthing process was intense and I couldn't have done it without my awesome husband, and my best friend and "labor angel" Laura. Laura, who drove through the middle of the night to come massage me for hours and hours, was probably the sole reason I was able to get through the whole thing. I am and will be forever grateful for her presence at Remi's Delivery. She truly was my labor angel.
 |
| Laura my best friend and "labor angel" having a moment after Remi was out |
I will also never ever to anyone...recommend delivering at Harrison Hospital in Silverdale....
After such a rough pregnancy and delivery, with much consideration and countless discussions we have decided that Remi will (likely) be our last baby. We have been spending our days doing our best to soak up the last of our tiny baby days and trying to look forward to the future with two awesome little girls. This has been especially difficult for me, the finality of it all is quite overwhelming and incredibly hard to come to terms with. I debated on whether or not I would share such a private decision, one I may struggle with for a while, but the question "when will you have another?" is quite triggering, so we appreciate others being sensitive to this. Here are some more pictures of when Remi and Kora met for the first time.
 |
| Remi Beau |
 |
| Kora meeting Remi for the first time |
 |
| Kora holding Remi for the first time |
Kora absolutely adores Remi; she asks to hold her, touch her feet, and kiss her all the time. The transition has been a little hard on her, but she has been so kind to Remi. She sings her songs like old mcdonald when she cries, and likes to show her all of her toys. She always tries to ask her questions and desperately wants Remi to play with her. We feel so so blessed we have them both.
Also pictures were taken by my incredible Douala Mackenzie Kaney (I just did some basic editing)
