The Birth Story: Daphne Adelle

On May 2nd 2010, our 12 year anniversary, Justin and I took a tour of the Tucson Medical Center. This was our back-up plan in case something went wrong. Well, the very next day, I went to my midwife appointment, only to be sent to the hospital. I was assessed and admitted that same day for mild pre-eclampsia. I spent the next 12 days on hospital bed rest trying to keep my blood pressure under control along with blood pressure medication. The only cure for pre-eclampsia is delivery of the baby, so we decided that once I hit 37 weeks, we would medically induce labor, which is considered full-term.

On May 14th, I was taken over to Labor and Deliver and given cervadil at 9:30 am with the intention of getting my cervix ready. At that point, I was 1-2 centimeters and 50% effaced. 12 hours later, I was 2-3 centimeters and still 50%, so they began pitocin at about 10:30 pm. It began at a low dose and was increased every ½ hour overnight. My contractions increased but the external monitors really were not picking them up. I knew they were happening though.

The next morning, I was checked again and my cervix was dilated to 3 cm and still 50% effaced and there was discussion of breaking my water to speed things up and inserting an internal monitor to see the intensity of my contractions because the external monitor was not picking them up. Of this next step, Justin and I were not fans, so we sent out the midwife and nurse and talked. As we talked about it, my water broke on its own—YEAH. It was 6:40 am on May 15th and about 10-15 minutes later the pitocin-induced contractions really started. Justin began timing them and coaching me through them. He did an awesome job coaching me through my labor—Bradley Method rocks, we would highly recommend it if you want to go un-medicated since I made it all the way through without narcotics or an epidural. For an hour and 15 minutes, it was just he and I, going through it together. First I was laying on my side laboring and then felt I really needed to stand and labor—the contractions were more manageable as I stood and did the mama rock, swaying my hips back and forth. We were taught all sorts of methods for laboring to keep me relaxed, but the one that worked to best was low moaning. The tried other techniques that I don’t even remember. Don’t get me wrong, it was intense, but Justin kept me going. Based on my reactions to the labor, he knew I was in transition and moving into second stage labor—one of the big indicators was me burping after every contraction. At this point, about 8:00 am, Justin called in the nurse (Deane) and midwife (Fran). I had to get back in bed so that I could be checked again—I was almost fully dilated. It was time to start pushing. The doula (Lauren) we hired also arrived right at that time. I said I had to push. I was in a side lying squat position with Justin on one side and Lauren on the other. For the next 40 minutes, I pushed my heart out. For my first time, this was a really quick labor and birth--about 2 hours of hard labor. It was an amazing feeling and I am so happy that I got to experience it.

On May 15th 2010, at 8:48 am, Daphne made her appearance into this world. Justin watched the whole thing, perhaps more than he wanted to see. She was immediately put on my chest for skin to skin contact. The umbilical cord was left connected until it stopped pulsing. Justin got to cut the cord. The placenta was easily delivered as Daphne lay on my chest. About an hour later, I gave her up to get weighed and measured: 6 pounds even and 18 inches born at 37 weeks and 1 day gestation. She has a shock of black wavy hair which may all fall out. She has a muscular little body. Her skin is pink and smooth. She looks like she cooked just the right amount of time. While I held here, I got a couple stitches—that was worse than pushing her out, more uncomfortable.

Then I got her back and she was struggling a bit. She was making little grunting noises which sounded cute, but was an indication that she still had some stuff in her lungs that needed to come out. She was born so fast, that she may not have gotten the compression and squeeze to push it all out. Little bits were coming out if I vigorously rubbed her back and got her to give a good cry, but it was not enough. So the pediatrician was called to assess her situation. Her color was not as good and she was a little less responsive, so they took her to the NICU for a better assessment. Justin went with her. I stayed in the room a while longer recovering and waiting for my blood pressure to get a little lower before I could be moved to the regular room—which is a private room because of my blood pressure. On my way to the room, I stopped at the NICU to see what her status was. This is a top 5 NICU unit in the country. Apparently, she has my veins because she is a hard stick just like her mommy. They had an IV in her and a little oxygen mask. They did an x-ray of her chest which showed some fluid in both sides and some under-development (she is three weeks early after all). Because of the fluid, it could develop into pneumonia so she in getting antibiotics. They have intubated her and have a little line going into her belly button for medicine and nourishment. I am trying to pump so that when she is ready, she can have my milk. The timeline they gave us was 2-7 days of her staying, but it all depends on her. Every few hours, they take a little bit away until she is breathing room air (20% oxygen). Once she has done that for 48 hours on her own, she can come home. While it sucks that little Daphne is in the NICU at the moment, I know she is being taken good care of and she will be with us soon and we can get started with living our lives together.

May 16th, we went and saw Daphne in the morning and she is doing better today. They have her oxygen down to 30%. They will just keep weaning her until the is self-sufficient.

May 17th, Daphne is ex-tubated and the belly line is out. She is breathing fine! Still has an IV. She is developing jaundice so she is under the light.

May 18th, billyrubin number is up so the lights are doubled. She is getting my breast milk.

May 19th, breathing on her own for two days—any lung issues are behind us. Billyrubin number is better, she is off the light to see how she does. She needs to have a bm. If we get a stable number at tomorrow’s check and a bm she can come home! We had a successful BF and got to hold her for over an hour. Justin and I both got kangaroo-care time! It was a good day.

May 20th, she is HOME! Now onto the rest of our lives.