There was no other option but to get the c-section and after staying there practically all day, I wasn't about to argue. It took another hour before they rolled me out of the room. But before that...all hell was breaking loose.
I realized that I was no longer experiencing the blessing of the epidural. My body was trying to push this baby out every contraction I got and the contractions themselves were atrocious. They came every couple of seconds and had me squirming on the bed trying to calm myself. I asked for more pain relievers and they promptly attempted to reach the anesthesiologist again but to no avail. Soon, the doctor came in, noticed me in immense pain, and realized the nurse had forgotten to turn off the contraction medicine and, instead, had turned off the connection to the epidural medication.
After hearing that, I was so upset and the nurse looked down at me apologetically. At that point, there was nothing they could do about it but turn off the medication. Still, for the next hour, I felt nothing but pain and I did nothing but squirm and groan. I couldn't get comfortable and I ended up trying to grab on to things just for some kind of relief. Then a nurse had the audacity to try and take another sample of blood while I was in pain.
Anger and pain caused me to yell at her as I twisted and turned away, trying to stop her from taking blood while I shook from contractions. She was persistent anyway and I ended up snatching my hand back to hint even more that she was making a mistake.
Eventually, another nurse gave it a go and waited for a lull in my contractions to take my blood. She worked swiftly enough for me to accept her treatment and then she left. Slowly...ever so slowly, the contraction medicine was wearing off and the contractions began to weaken in strength. By the time they rolled me out into the hall on the bed, I couldn't wait for it all to be over.
Entering the C-Section room was pretty scary at first. It was well lit and filled with doctors.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Mayu's Birth: Before They Gave Up
The anesthesiologist came in; A plump white man with glasses. He spoke heartily and told me to sit up while he gave me the epidural. Now, to do this, they stick their stupid nail into the area they want to put the shot in...and they do it hard. Combined with the pressure in my lower abdomen, it was driving me nuts. Afterward, he stuck the tube in and blah de blah...whatever they do for epidurals.
It feels uncomfortable and weird. Like he says, it feels like a pinch...a long drawn out pinch. After a while, the epidural started taking effect and I felt a little better. The thing was, he hadn't placed it in the right spot causing there to be pain in some parts of my stomach and not others. I ended up alarming the nurses and demanding more. Quickly, they gave me more and I finally had enough to fall asleep.
Before this point, I hadn't slept in two days. I was severely tired and doze in and out as the medicine took effect. At one point, I remember my mother, father, and two siblings in the room comforting me. I smiled at them dizzily before turning over and sleeping.
My grandma ended up asking if Quinton could come and see me and I almost smacked her right then and there. Still, I was much too medicated to fight anything or anyone so he ended up coming and sitting in a corner awkwardly. When the nurses came in to check how dilated I was again, I forced him out, now awake enough to make my own decisions. The doctors were worried because I stayed dilated at 8cms and wouldn't go any further. My doctor told them to take me off the contraction medicine and informed me that I'd have to have a c-section.
I though "C-SECTION!?....ok....Sign me up." I was much too tired and several hours had already passed.
It feels uncomfortable and weird. Like he says, it feels like a pinch...a long drawn out pinch. After a while, the epidural started taking effect and I felt a little better. The thing was, he hadn't placed it in the right spot causing there to be pain in some parts of my stomach and not others. I ended up alarming the nurses and demanding more. Quickly, they gave me more and I finally had enough to fall asleep.
Before this point, I hadn't slept in two days. I was severely tired and doze in and out as the medicine took effect. At one point, I remember my mother, father, and two siblings in the room comforting me. I smiled at them dizzily before turning over and sleeping.
My grandma ended up asking if Quinton could come and see me and I almost smacked her right then and there. Still, I was much too medicated to fight anything or anyone so he ended up coming and sitting in a corner awkwardly. When the nurses came in to check how dilated I was again, I forced him out, now awake enough to make my own decisions. The doctors were worried because I stayed dilated at 8cms and wouldn't go any further. My doctor told them to take me off the contraction medicine and informed me that I'd have to have a c-section.
I though "C-SECTION!?....ok....Sign me up." I was much too tired and several hours had already passed.
Mayu's Birth: Before The Epidural
The bed had a few things on it that I'd never seen on those tv shows showing women giving birth. There was this long, wide, cushiony pad with cords coming from it and something else. As I went to the bed, the nurse put the pad around my back and on top of my belly. She told me it was to check for the baby's movements. The other thing she wrapped around was something checking my contractions.
So far, so good.
After asking me a bajillion questions, she told me I'd been having contractions every 2-3 minutes. Really? I hadn't felt them at all. The doctor came in shortly afterward to check on me and was surprised to see me smiling and so cheerful. "Good! It's so rare to see happy people here!" He said, and I laughed because...I honestly didn't expect myself to be there smiling. Like I said, I expected to be in severe pain the entire time. The kind of pain that makes you stand up, shout profanities, and throw lamps at people (like my mom...).
A nurse came in to check how dilated I was. Apparently, I was 5cms and it'd only be a few hours before it was go time. They hooked me up to this medicine that increased my contractions and I smiled as they waited.
After an hour, my contractions (thanks to the meds) were getting harder. To deal with the pressure and pain, I'd shut my eyes and clamp my teeth together silently until it went away. The process would have gone a lot better if my aunt wasn't freaking out about it.
"Tiffany? How are you feeling? What are you doing? Are you ok?" She'd ask repeatedly. It made me want to jump off that bed and punch her in the face. I knew she was concerned but I'd explained to her earlier that I needed to be quiet and concentrate to minimize the pain. Of course, she didn't listen and kept with her questions just as I entered another contraction.
Tons of blood were taken (which I didn't mind since I'm not afraid of needles or blood). Although I've never had trouble with veins in my left arm, they were sticking to using my right arm. I was a little upset as they continuously jabbed at my poor poor veins, trying to find one to draw blood from. Eventually, they were able to find one and abuse it.
From that moment on, every single time they checked to see if I was dilated, I had a massive contraction. Honestly, contractions aren't nearly as bad as people let on...until they break your water.
Suddenly, the contractions take a vicious turn. It doesn't feel like a regular cramp like I've been told. It feels more like massive pressure and a very sharp, powerful, ping in your stomach. One that lasts for a good 30seconds before relief comes. Of course, the medication to increase contractions didn't help either.
I agreed to an epidural the moment they made it available. It had always been my plan to get one, after all. Besides, my contractions were killing me.
So far, so good.
After asking me a bajillion questions, she told me I'd been having contractions every 2-3 minutes. Really? I hadn't felt them at all. The doctor came in shortly afterward to check on me and was surprised to see me smiling and so cheerful. "Good! It's so rare to see happy people here!" He said, and I laughed because...I honestly didn't expect myself to be there smiling. Like I said, I expected to be in severe pain the entire time. The kind of pain that makes you stand up, shout profanities, and throw lamps at people (like my mom...).
A nurse came in to check how dilated I was. Apparently, I was 5cms and it'd only be a few hours before it was go time. They hooked me up to this medicine that increased my contractions and I smiled as they waited.
After an hour, my contractions (thanks to the meds) were getting harder. To deal with the pressure and pain, I'd shut my eyes and clamp my teeth together silently until it went away. The process would have gone a lot better if my aunt wasn't freaking out about it.
"Tiffany? How are you feeling? What are you doing? Are you ok?" She'd ask repeatedly. It made me want to jump off that bed and punch her in the face. I knew she was concerned but I'd explained to her earlier that I needed to be quiet and concentrate to minimize the pain. Of course, she didn't listen and kept with her questions just as I entered another contraction.
Tons of blood were taken (which I didn't mind since I'm not afraid of needles or blood). Although I've never had trouble with veins in my left arm, they were sticking to using my right arm. I was a little upset as they continuously jabbed at my poor poor veins, trying to find one to draw blood from. Eventually, they were able to find one and abuse it.
From that moment on, every single time they checked to see if I was dilated, I had a massive contraction. Honestly, contractions aren't nearly as bad as people let on...until they break your water.
Suddenly, the contractions take a vicious turn. It doesn't feel like a regular cramp like I've been told. It feels more like massive pressure and a very sharp, powerful, ping in your stomach. One that lasts for a good 30seconds before relief comes. Of course, the medication to increase contractions didn't help either.
I agreed to an epidural the moment they made it available. It had always been my plan to get one, after all. Besides, my contractions were killing me.
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