Meet Cooper Lincoln (really long w/ pics)
ETA - this was written at 6am, but life intervened and I was just now able to post! I am still in the hospital and maybe will get out tomorrow.
Well.... 6 days late and proud of it, Cooper Lincoln ha made his way into this world!
As you guys know I had contractions starting on Monday (6/15) that started around 3:30pm. These contractions lasted throughout the night and by 6:30am I was tired of them -- even though they were only 6-8 minutes apart.
The doc told me to go to L&D and, although I was still only 1cm dialated, they decided to keep me.
9am - the doc and I discussed our "plan" and I gave him the okay to break my water. We decided we'd re-visit the idea of Pitocin later if I wasn't progressing.
The contractions DID get stronger with the water breaking. Interesting here - I thought there'd be more "water" than there was. Maybe it was because I was six days overdue? Or maybe because I watch too much TV! I did get to wear the fancy "Victoria Secret" stretchy underpants with the x-large pads.
I could walk around 30 minutes of every hour but had to be hooked up to monitors for the other 30 minutes.
The nurse let me eat -- I had a granola bar, some peanuts and later a few bites of a sandwich. I didn't want to throw-up, but I cannot stand being "hungry". I also drank some juice and water.
The baby's heart beat was great during this time.
1:30pm - Doc came in and said my contractions were STRONG and no need for Pitocin. I had "back labor" and, while the contractions hurt, they weren't as bad as I pictured. Still -- I took the offer of the epidural since I had hoped to sleep for a couple of hours before "pushing" since I hadn't slept at all the night before!
2pm - Wow! Who knew epidurals were so complicated. The anethesiologist spent 10 minutes talking to me about the risks, etc and how I would still feel "pressure" when it came time to birth the baby, but I shouldn't feel pain, etc etc. It took him another 10 to get me all wiped down and the epi in. At first I did NOT like the feeling of the epi. It not only made my legs feel heavy but I had trouble catching my breath (maybe mental?) since I had no numbness / tingling, etc. It did bring my blood pressure down- and I am prone to low blood pressure anyway since losing weight.
I soon realized why people get an epidural. I no longer felt the contractions! I mean not at all... since my labor was in my back I didn't even feel a "tightening" feeling. If I hadn't had the monitor there I wouldn't have known.
2:30ish - The baby's heartbeat was dipping. At first there seemed no pattern. They had me lay on my right side, then my left. (It's hard to roll over when the lower part of your body is numb!)
The baby's heart beat - which should have been above 120 bpm was dipping down into the 60's when I had a contraction and then slowly going up -- but hovering around 110. He would periodically get above 120, but not consistantly.
They upped my IV fluids thinking I was dehydrated. It didn't work.
The doc was monitoring me from his office and he drove over.
4pm - They gave me an "Amnio-Infustion" where they put more liquid into my uterus via a catheter. The theory being that maybe the baby was pressing against his cord during contractions, etc and the extra fluid would either "move" the cord away or provide a cushioning.
5:30 pm - Contractions were still causing his heartbeat to dip - although it DID get better and stayed higher than it was. Since the heartbeat dipping was happening DURING the contractions it wasn't as concerning as it happening before or after. Still Doc didn't like the way it looked.
He checked me and I was 10cm diliated !! He said "time to push". He told me when I was having contractions and I put my chin to my chest and "pushed like I was the most constipated I've ever been".
Really I was so numb I wasn't sure I was pushing. But everyone said I was doing well -- the said the baby moved into the birth canal.
He had the neo-natal doctor come into the room (in case the baby was born sick, etc - although that wasn't said to me!). He also had about 4 nurses in the room - and got the vacuum machine.
I pushed in 3 series -- push for 10 seconds, breath, push again, breath, push again done.
The doctor looked at the montior and said "he's heart beat is still dipping - he's not out of the woods yet". He looked at me as if making a decision --- he had already set things in motion to get the OR set up just in case we needed a c-section although he never mentioned those words to me.
I told him to do what he had to do.....
I heard a "snip, snip, snip" sound but figured I should wait to ask what that sound was since the doctor seemed busy down there.
On the last series he started the vacuum pump and in less than 25 minutes from when I was fully dialated out "popped" the baby !!!!!!!! 5:51pm !!
I honestly felt every little pressure even. I sorta felt when he slid down the birth canal on the 2nd series of pushes, but not much.
5:51pm - they rushed Cooper over to the "work" area. When I finally hear his little cries (strong cries really) I cried myself. I heard them say he had good coloring and tone. I could see his arms waving around and his feet kicking. 7lbs 1oz and 20.5 inches long.
They gave him oxygen -- but assured me that was standard protocol in a baby whose heartbeat dipped and they were just being cautious. The neo-natalogist did the APGAR scoring and he was an 8/9 !! (on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the best).
I guess at some point I delivered my afterbirth, but I was busy watching Cooper.
Turns out the doctor had to do an episiotomy on me -- a 4th degree one !!!!!! He also did use the vaccum to assist -- both things he doesn't normally do.
He said that was the most "exciting" birth he's had in quite a while.
Overall for me the birth was "simple" in the fact that from the time I started the "work" of pushing it was less than 25 minutes -- and really those three series of pushes didn't even last that long. Some of that 25 minutes was the doc watching the monitors and planning .
I regret Cooper had to have his heartbeat dip like that! They cannot find a real reason. No cord was wrapped around his neck or even seemed "close" to him like he was laying on it. The placenta looked healthy and good -- not pulling away or thinning.
I also regret the doctor had to do the 4th degree episotomy -- that means I was cut through the muscle into my rectum. BOY DOES IT HURT TODAY! I am sitting on an icepack ! The nurse said the first time I have a bowel movement it will *really* hurt. They will give me a stool softener as well....
This has gotten really really long. (sorry)
Here are some pictures! The hospital has a professional photographer that comes takes pictures.... These were on his "proof" website.
Cindy
Well.... 6 days late and proud of it, Cooper Lincoln ha made his way into this world!
As you guys know I had contractions starting on Monday (6/15) that started around 3:30pm. These contractions lasted throughout the night and by 6:30am I was tired of them -- even though they were only 6-8 minutes apart.
The doc told me to go to L&D and, although I was still only 1cm dialated, they decided to keep me.
9am - the doc and I discussed our "plan" and I gave him the okay to break my water. We decided we'd re-visit the idea of Pitocin later if I wasn't progressing.
The contractions DID get stronger with the water breaking. Interesting here - I thought there'd be more "water" than there was. Maybe it was because I was six days overdue? Or maybe because I watch too much TV! I did get to wear the fancy "Victoria Secret" stretchy underpants with the x-large pads.
I could walk around 30 minutes of every hour but had to be hooked up to monitors for the other 30 minutes.
The nurse let me eat -- I had a granola bar, some peanuts and later a few bites of a sandwich. I didn't want to throw-up, but I cannot stand being "hungry". I also drank some juice and water.
The baby's heart beat was great during this time.
1:30pm - Doc came in and said my contractions were STRONG and no need for Pitocin. I had "back labor" and, while the contractions hurt, they weren't as bad as I pictured. Still -- I took the offer of the epidural since I had hoped to sleep for a couple of hours before "pushing" since I hadn't slept at all the night before!
2pm - Wow! Who knew epidurals were so complicated. The anethesiologist spent 10 minutes talking to me about the risks, etc and how I would still feel "pressure" when it came time to birth the baby, but I shouldn't feel pain, etc etc. It took him another 10 to get me all wiped down and the epi in. At first I did NOT like the feeling of the epi. It not only made my legs feel heavy but I had trouble catching my breath (maybe mental?) since I had no numbness / tingling, etc. It did bring my blood pressure down- and I am prone to low blood pressure anyway since losing weight.
I soon realized why people get an epidural. I no longer felt the contractions! I mean not at all... since my labor was in my back I didn't even feel a "tightening" feeling. If I hadn't had the monitor there I wouldn't have known.
2:30ish - The baby's heartbeat was dipping. At first there seemed no pattern. They had me lay on my right side, then my left. (It's hard to roll over when the lower part of your body is numb!)
The baby's heart beat - which should have been above 120 bpm was dipping down into the 60's when I had a contraction and then slowly going up -- but hovering around 110. He would periodically get above 120, but not consistantly.
They upped my IV fluids thinking I was dehydrated. It didn't work.
The doc was monitoring me from his office and he drove over.
4pm - They gave me an "Amnio-Infustion" where they put more liquid into my uterus via a catheter. The theory being that maybe the baby was pressing against his cord during contractions, etc and the extra fluid would either "move" the cord away or provide a cushioning.
5:30 pm - Contractions were still causing his heartbeat to dip - although it DID get better and stayed higher than it was. Since the heartbeat dipping was happening DURING the contractions it wasn't as concerning as it happening before or after. Still Doc didn't like the way it looked.
He checked me and I was 10cm diliated !! He said "time to push". He told me when I was having contractions and I put my chin to my chest and "pushed like I was the most constipated I've ever been".
Really I was so numb I wasn't sure I was pushing. But everyone said I was doing well -- the said the baby moved into the birth canal.
He had the neo-natal doctor come into the room (in case the baby was born sick, etc - although that wasn't said to me!). He also had about 4 nurses in the room - and got the vacuum machine.
I pushed in 3 series -- push for 10 seconds, breath, push again, breath, push again done.
The doctor looked at the montior and said "he's heart beat is still dipping - he's not out of the woods yet". He looked at me as if making a decision --- he had already set things in motion to get the OR set up just in case we needed a c-section although he never mentioned those words to me.
I told him to do what he had to do.....
I heard a "snip, snip, snip" sound but figured I should wait to ask what that sound was since the doctor seemed busy down there.
On the last series he started the vacuum pump and in less than 25 minutes from when I was fully dialated out "popped" the baby !!!!!!!! 5:51pm !!
I honestly felt every little pressure even. I sorta felt when he slid down the birth canal on the 2nd series of pushes, but not much.
5:51pm - they rushed Cooper over to the "work" area. When I finally hear his little cries (strong cries really) I cried myself. I heard them say he had good coloring and tone. I could see his arms waving around and his feet kicking. 7lbs 1oz and 20.5 inches long.
They gave him oxygen -- but assured me that was standard protocol in a baby whose heartbeat dipped and they were just being cautious. The neo-natalogist did the APGAR scoring and he was an 8/9 !! (on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the best).
I guess at some point I delivered my afterbirth, but I was busy watching Cooper.
Turns out the doctor had to do an episiotomy on me -- a 4th degree one !!!!!! He also did use the vaccum to assist -- both things he doesn't normally do.
He said that was the most "exciting" birth he's had in quite a while.
Overall for me the birth was "simple" in the fact that from the time I started the "work" of pushing it was less than 25 minutes -- and really those three series of pushes didn't even last that long. Some of that 25 minutes was the doc watching the monitors and planning .
I regret Cooper had to have his heartbeat dip like that! They cannot find a real reason. No cord was wrapped around his neck or even seemed "close" to him like he was laying on it. The placenta looked healthy and good -- not pulling away or thinning.
I also regret the doctor had to do the 4th degree episotomy -- that means I was cut through the muscle into my rectum. BOY DOES IT HURT TODAY! I am sitting on an icepack ! The nurse said the first time I have a bowel movement it will *really* hurt. They will give me a stool softener as well....
This has gotten really really long. (sorry)
Here are some pictures! The hospital has a professional photographer that comes takes pictures.... These were on his "proof" website.
Cindy
Surgery on 4/25/05 , Dr. Alverdy in Chicago. God Bless the DS !!!
Highest Weight = 412lbs, Surgery Weight = 359lbs, Current Weight = 155lbs (5'7" tall)http://www.picturetrail.com/gid8138761
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Chelle
OMG is he ever gorgeous! I think you had a great photographer!!! The one at my hospital did OK, but nothing cute like that. Thanks for sharing your story, I love them!! And I am sorry you had to be cut so badly, but Cooper is so worth it!!
Laurie
Laurie
Mom to: Nicholas 11/1/95, Justin 6/7/97, Gabrielle (Gabi) 9/21/07
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