After a week's worth of prodromal (non-productive) labor, I went into true labor Sunday morning around 9am. I labored at home until 4 or 5 pm when we drove to the Birth Center. Allison was on call. I mostly labored in the tub or on my side on the bed. Everything hurt, and I kept throwing up, which made me extremely dehydrated. Eventually I labored to 9.7 centimeters dilated and completely effaced, but I had no energy to finish it out. Plus, Kathryn had her elbow jutted out, making it almost impossible to push. Because of these things, Allison made the call to transfer me to UNC. I was given IV fluids and an epidural to restore my energy and strength. I rested 3-4 hours and woke to have my water broken. At that time we discovered meconium (baby's first poop) in the fluid, so the NICU team was put on standby. I pushed about 30 minutes and Kathryn came out beautiful and perfect. She was breathing, but it was taking her a lot of effort. Her apgar scores were 8 and 9 anyway. The NICU team wheeled her over to let me see her and touch her, and then wheeled her off. We weren't sure at that time what was wrong, although there didn't seem to be too much hurrying or concern.
I received a few stitches and rested for a couple more hours before being moved to a maternity room. Then we were told that Kathryn both swallowed and breathed in some of her meconium. It is a very thick substance, and when she breathed it into her lungs and then continued to try to breathe, the pressure built up in the lung and burst two holes in her lung. These, we were told, would heal on their own over a few days. However, it made congenital pneumonia, or other infections, possible. She would have to have her blood studied for infection and undergo a week-long treatment of antibiotics.
That week is almost over. Tomorrow is Monday again and we are very much looking forward to taking Kathryn home, although we are also a little nervous to be all on our own. This week has been tumultuous. We had no plan at all to be away from home more than one night, much less seven nights and eight days. We didn't have a plan for anyone to bring in the mail/paper, water the garden, watch the house, take care of the dog, etc. We didn't know where we would stay or how we would afford so many meals and parking fees.
God has sustained us through this time. He has provided ways for us to find free meals or people to bring food to us. He provided a place to stay, away from the hospital (for short breathers away from all the hospital-ness, and a place for Jared to sleep)(that had a free shuttle to and from the hospital); plus a place to stay within the hospital (for me as I needed to be available in order to breastfeed Kathryn). We've received many Facebook messages, texts, calls, and some visits to sustain our spirits. Even though this is very far from what our original plan was, we know it was God's plan and He will continue to provide for us as we are now waiting on receiving the bill for all this care.
I believe I had as natural a birth as possible without endangering my baby or myself, and I am proud of and content with that. God knew that Kathryn would need extra care as soon as she came out, so He guided our experience to put us in one of America's very best children's hospitals. To labor that far without medical interventions was no small feat, and I couldn't have done it without Jared's help and support. He was so strong, positive and encouraging. I really felt that he had the situation under his control and that he was determined to see me through until the end. I am so thankful for him.
We are a little nervous to be all on our own, starting tomorrow, but excited to start a "normal" parents-of-a-newborn life. We love little Kathryn and look forward to watching her grow in all sorts of ways.
Day One
Happy Family
