Nico's Delivery: First 48

    Hello wonderful people,

    Going into labor was one of my greatest fears. I read so many stories about women that don’t make it due to complications. The fact that I had to do it without my husband made it even scarier for me. For a little backstory, my husband enlisted in the Air Force while I was 6 months pregnant. I endured my last trimester alone and raised our son alone for his first 5 months of life. This was a difficult and painful experience and I want to share my story to let others that will go through this know that it gets better.

 

            Throughout my pregnancy, I had gestational diabetes, so I had a very strict diet. I was so hard on myself that I didn’t even eat cake at my own baby shower. Absurd?--I know! I made sure to do everything that I could to ensure I had a healthy baby. When he left, I felt ok. I was working to keep myself busy, so it really didn’t hit me just yet. Then, one day I was driving to work sitting at a stoplight. That’s when a huge truck rear-ended me. I was so scared and did not know what to do. I was so in shock that I didn’t even exchange information with the guy and he drove off. I drove myself to the hospital and found out that I was having contractions. I was only 8 months pregnant at the time so they would not let me leave if I did not stop contracting. I was so scared and then it hit me. I wish I was able to call him, and I wish he was able to be there. Unfortunately, he could not be there. I just had to be strong for myself and my baby. I eventually stopped contracting and they let me go home. Right after the hospital, I went to the police station to report the hit and run. They eventually found the driver and I felt so relieved. From that point on I was in and out of the hospital due to contractions, some visits I stayed overnight and some I stayed for days. All I can remember is just praying for safe delivery if Nico decided to come early. I would write his Dad letters and couldn’t bring myself to mention everything that was going on. I didn’t want him to want to come home, and I wanted him to give training his full attention, so I pretended that everything was ok even though I was so lonely and scared.

 

            Surprisingly, after all of that, Nico managed to stay in my womb past his due date and I had to be induced. His dad was just transitioning to a new training base and it was perfect timing. He couldn’t be there physically, but he was able to be there on video chat. I went to be induced at 8PM on 09.28.2018. I was hooked up to at least 5 different fluids, penicillin, insulin, and Pitocin to name a few. My body was so tired and swollen, but I was determined to see it through to the end. Hours were going by and they eventually came in to tell me that Nico was faced the wrong way so I would have to get a c-section. I fought so hard for that not to happen. I was in so much pain, but I got up, turned on some music, and wiggled until I couldn’t anymore. I was facing backward on my knees so that gravity would help bring him down more. It worked! I was finally fully dilated, but he was still facing the wrong way. They still let me push him out. I pushed for about 35 minutes and he was born on 09.29.2018 at 9lbs 1 oz at 4:41pm. 

    I didn’t even get to hold him because my body went into immediate shock. My body would not stop shaking, I thought my worst fear was coming to fruition. I could hear his dad on the phone asking the doctors why I was shaking, and I wanted to cry because I wish he was there to comfort me in person. Turns out my blood pressure was extremely high. They hooked me up to, yet another fluid, and I was bedridden for 24 hours where I couldn’t eat or move. After the first night in the hospital, my mom had to leave for work to a job she had just started. I didn’t know who else I could call to spend the night with us, I was so scared to be alone with Nico. I didn’t know what to do. That night by myself I cried, and I cried. Nico cried all night long, so I stayed up holding him in my arms the entire night. I cried because I wanted his dad to be there. I called him on the phone, but he was asleep because he had training in the morning. I don’t think I ever felt as hopeless as I did that night. I didn’t even know how to swaddle Nico back into his blanket, I felt so much pain. I didn’t even take any of the pills they prescribed me, even my pain pills for my 4th-degree tear. All because I didn’t want to fall asleep. I wanted to be alert for him, so I sat there in my pain and cried. The amount of fear I felt those two nights seemed unbearable at the time, but as a Mom, you have no other option, but to be there and get ready if you aren't already ready. The first 48 hours was a whirlwind and it was nothing I expected it to be, but it still didn’t prepare me for what was to come. We will have to delve into that another time. 

 

Until next time,

 

Erica