Birth Story, part 1

On Sunday the 28th (my due date), I was very concerned about whether or not I was leaking amniotic fluid. It had actually been going on for a few days. I would notice it when I changed positions, like from lying to standing or sitting to standing. I brushed it off for the first few days, but when it kept happening, I couldn't shake the feeling that something might be going on. Finally, around 10:30 on Sunday night, I told Mr. ABC123 that I really thought we should go to the hospital just to be checked. If I WAS leaking, the baby could be exposed to infection. I felt sure they would check me and send me back home, but I thought that at least I'd be able to sleep in peace that night.

We got to the hospital around 11 and told them what our concern was, but we couldn't be seen until almost 12. I was thinking, "Okay, give me the little paper, let's do the test, and then I'll go home and wait this out." They finally brought me into a room and had me change into a hospital gown. Then, they hooked me up to the monitors. I remember thinking, "Are they clear on the reason that I'm here? They just need to see if the little paper turns blue. Let's just do this!"

The nicest nurse came in, checked me, and pronounced that my water hadn't broken--no real surprise there, but at least I knew for sure. Then she said, "We'd just like to monitor you a little while longer." Um...okay. So, I laid there in the bed for almost an hour, chatting with the hubs and watching the TV. Then, the nurse came back in.

"We'd like to monitor you a little while longer. Let me show you what's going on. I'm a little concerned about something I'm seeing on the monitor. Everything is probably okay, we're just going to keep you and make sure." Then she showed me the baby's heartbeat line and my heartbeat line, and how for almost the whole time, the baby's heartbeat was strong and regular. Then, she showed me how all of a sudden, the baby's heartbeat shot waaaay up and got very irregular. That lasted for a few seconds, then it returned to normal. I asked her if the baby was okay, and she said yes, that the baby's heartbeat had returned to normal. She said that she talked to the doctor that was on-call from my OB's office that night and he wanted to keep me for observation until MY doctor came on at 6 am, and then he would make a decision. "I have a feeling that because you're 40 weeks and the baby is ready to come out, he's going to induce you. I don't think he's going to take a chance, especially with the heartbeat like that. Try to get a little rest--you may have a long day ahead of you!"

Riiiiiiight.

The ONE delivery method I wanted to avoid (induction)--and I'm getting one because there might be something wrong with my baby's heart? No problem. I'll sleep like a log.

The nurse came back around 4:30 am and had me sign admission papers "just in case" (she said they'd just keep them on file in case the doctor did send me home), and hooked me up to the IV. I asked her if the baby's heartbeat was still okay, and she said it had been perfect for hours, except for that one wierd instance. That did make me feel a bit better.

She called my doctor at 6 and he said he would come in and see me at 8 am, but to go ahead and officially admit me. She did an internal exam and said that I was 100% effaced and 1.5 cm dilated on my own, and at -2 station. My doctor finally arrived at 8 and she brought him up to speed on what had been going on. He chatted with my husband and I and basically said, "This is your choice, but if it were my wife in this situation, I would induce. The baby's full term and ready to come." I decided pretty quickly to go ahead with the induction. I just couldn't go home with a clear conscience, knowing something had been going on with my baby's heartbeat.

They gave me a "ripening agent" (not Cervadil, but I can't remember what it was), that was supposed to soften my cervix and get me ready for productive contractions. They said it would take about two hours to take effect, and then they'd start the Pitocin drip. My doctor said that it could be an all-day thing and even go into Tuesday, but he would come and check me that afternoon to see how I was progressing and if necessary, he would give me Cervadil overnight to help with progress.

At 10:30, they checked me and I had progressed to 3 cm. I was having regular contractions on my own, but they weren't bothering me at all. They started the Pitocin drip, and then things got moving.