Kailee's Birthday
October 28th we had an ultrasound appointment at Vanderbilt. At that ultrasound, they were able to tell us that our baby was a girl. I was ecstatic! FINALLY, we could call her by her name! I felt like a proud, new mom the rest of that day!
October 30th, I was sick. I had gotten an ear infection and started antibiotics. I had a hard time sleeping that Friday night. I got out of bed and went upstairs to watch tv. Brent came to check on me in the early morning hours. I went to the bathroom around 6am and was scared at what I saw. I went to wake Brent up and we decided to call labor and delivery at Vanderbilt. I explained my symptoms, and they recommended coming in to check me out.
We got there a little after 7:30am that Saturday morning. We took NOTHING. Neither of us had even showered, we just got dressed, got in the car and took off figuring we'd be back soon. They got me into a gown and the doctor came to check. At the point, she told us that my sac had broken and baby meconium was coming out. They had to induce labor. I began to cry. We weren't ready! Halloween was the last day of my second trimester! We hadn't lined up a photographer, we hadn't brought the camera or video camera, we hadn't begun her room! None of these things mattered, she was coming.
We listened to her heartbeat that morning for the last time. I didn't want to be monitored during labor. If something happened and she died during the birth, I did not want to know until after she was born. We had friends and family help us so much that day! We had everything we needed within hours. I was given medication to begin the induction process.
Around 1pm I began feeling contractions. They were enough to take my breath away. I waited until 2:15pm to ask for the epidural. I'm not sure why I waited so long. I told everyone it was because I wanted my mom there, but I don't think that's really why. I think I wanted to feel the contractions.... the physical pain was so much easier to deal with than what was to come.
It took 4 tries to get the epidural in. I didn't care much, though. I was hurting and the anesthesiologist had given me "I don't care" drugs. After the epidural was in, I had a strange reaction to it. I began to shake all over like I was freezing cold. I looked like I had Parkinson's! The doctor assured us some people had this reaction-- it was my body freaking out because it couldn't communicate with my legs. It passed within the hour and I rested comfortably with family and friends while continuing to dilate.
Pitocin was started around 5pm. I was fully dilated by 10pm. Family and friends high-tailed it out of there when it was time to push. Tons of doctors and medical personnel came into the room to help with the birth. Kailee was breech, but we were told she was going to be so small that it would be okay. The NICU person told us to expect a 2 pound baby. She explained how small she would be and what we might expect. Kailee ended up being 3 pounds 6 oz!!! She was much bigger than any of the doctors anticipated!
It took 5 pushes before Kailee was born. Brent watched the entire birth. He said her butt came out first and then her little legs and, finally, her shoulders and head. She never cried or made any sound at all. The doctor gave her to the NICU team. I remember how quiet it was in the room. I knew she had died. The NICU doctor came over and told us and then asked if we wanted to hold her.
I held my daughter in my arms for the first time. It causes very conflicting feelings to say hello at the same time you have to say goodbye. I was so proud of her! I still am proud of her. We saw how much she looked like Brent and how much she looked like me. We enjoyed introducing her to family and friends in the waiting room. It still amazes me how calm I was through the day. I was so in love with her when I saw her. We spend all night holding her and cuddling her and talking to her. That was the best day of my life AND the worst day of my life.
October 30th, I was sick. I had gotten an ear infection and started antibiotics. I had a hard time sleeping that Friday night. I got out of bed and went upstairs to watch tv. Brent came to check on me in the early morning hours. I went to the bathroom around 6am and was scared at what I saw. I went to wake Brent up and we decided to call labor and delivery at Vanderbilt. I explained my symptoms, and they recommended coming in to check me out.
We got there a little after 7:30am that Saturday morning. We took NOTHING. Neither of us had even showered, we just got dressed, got in the car and took off figuring we'd be back soon. They got me into a gown and the doctor came to check. At the point, she told us that my sac had broken and baby meconium was coming out. They had to induce labor. I began to cry. We weren't ready! Halloween was the last day of my second trimester! We hadn't lined up a photographer, we hadn't brought the camera or video camera, we hadn't begun her room! None of these things mattered, she was coming.
We listened to her heartbeat that morning for the last time. I didn't want to be monitored during labor. If something happened and she died during the birth, I did not want to know until after she was born. We had friends and family help us so much that day! We had everything we needed within hours. I was given medication to begin the induction process.
Around 1pm I began feeling contractions. They were enough to take my breath away. I waited until 2:15pm to ask for the epidural. I'm not sure why I waited so long. I told everyone it was because I wanted my mom there, but I don't think that's really why. I think I wanted to feel the contractions.... the physical pain was so much easier to deal with than what was to come.
It took 4 tries to get the epidural in. I didn't care much, though. I was hurting and the anesthesiologist had given me "I don't care" drugs. After the epidural was in, I had a strange reaction to it. I began to shake all over like I was freezing cold. I looked like I had Parkinson's! The doctor assured us some people had this reaction-- it was my body freaking out because it couldn't communicate with my legs. It passed within the hour and I rested comfortably with family and friends while continuing to dilate.
Pitocin was started around 5pm. I was fully dilated by 10pm. Family and friends high-tailed it out of there when it was time to push. Tons of doctors and medical personnel came into the room to help with the birth. Kailee was breech, but we were told she was going to be so small that it would be okay. The NICU person told us to expect a 2 pound baby. She explained how small she would be and what we might expect. Kailee ended up being 3 pounds 6 oz!!! She was much bigger than any of the doctors anticipated!
It took 5 pushes before Kailee was born. Brent watched the entire birth. He said her butt came out first and then her little legs and, finally, her shoulders and head. She never cried or made any sound at all. The doctor gave her to the NICU team. I remember how quiet it was in the room. I knew she had died. The NICU doctor came over and told us and then asked if we wanted to hold her.
I held my daughter in my arms for the first time. It causes very conflicting feelings to say hello at the same time you have to say goodbye. I was so proud of her! I still am proud of her. We saw how much she looked like Brent and how much she looked like me. We enjoyed introducing her to family and friends in the waiting room. It still amazes me how calm I was through the day. I was so in love with her when I saw her. We spend all night holding her and cuddling her and talking to her. That was the best day of my life AND the worst day of my life.