Thread: Ryan's Birth Story

I woke up around 6:50am on Monday, December 19th with contractions. Right away I just knew this was it. DH was getting my step-son up for school and was getting ready to head to work. I told him that he needed to take him to school and then get back home because this was it! I hopped in the shower and got myself ready while he was gone. I called my Mom and told her we were headed to the hospital. Once he got home we finished grabbing things and off to the hospital we went. The contractions were about 5 mins apart and lasted around 40 seconds or so. They were getting more painful with each one.

We arrived at L&D and they hooked me up to be monitored to see if I was truly in labor. They checked me which was extremely painful because my cervix tilts and it's hard to find. After much poking and searching they determined I was 2cm dilated. They continued to monitor me and the contractions stayed between 4-5 minutes apart but the intensity was becoming more than I could handle. Thankfully my Mom was there because Brynna was getting really afraid when a contraction would hit. It upset her to see Mommy hurting so bad. DH let my Mom stay with me and he took Brynna for breakfast and to explore while we waited for some news. An hour and a half or two hours later they came to check me again and I was at 3cm. I had made progress so I was admitted. By this time the contractions were in full force and I was in agony.

I finally got to my room and we got settled in. They asked if I was ready for an epidural and I told them yes. About an hour later my favorite person in the world (at the time) arrived and my epidural was administered. This was at 1pm so I made it through 6 hours of contractions and I was proud of myself for that. Shortly after the epidural they came in to break my water and they discovered Ryan had a bowel movement. They explained this meant the NICU team would be present for the birth. Now it was just a waiting game to finish dilating. Thankfully once the epidural kicked in I was feeling better so Brynna got to come and be with me in the room. We watched TV and chatted. Other family members arrived and I was glad for their distraction. The hospital called my doctor to let him know that I was in labor and after the office closed he came right over so he could deliver the baby.

They checked me around 6pm and I was complete but Ryan hadn't descended. We decided to wait another hour to give my contractions time to help push him down instead of me pushing for a long amount of time (like I did with Brynna) and exhausting myself. Around 7pm we started to push even though he hadn't come down much. I pushed for over an hour with no results. Pitocin was started sometime during the beginning of pushing to help make the contractions stronger so maybe I could push him out. At 8pm the doctor started talking about using the vacuum or me opting for a c-section since I was making no progess pushing him down and I had started to swell internally. In the middle of this conversation is when things took a turn for the worse.

I looked at my Mom and Billy and started to discuss with him what we wanted to do. It was then that everybody came running in the room and the doctor started yelling to hurry up and get me unplugged because we had to get to the OR immediately. I was so shocked because I didn't know what was going on. Then I heard the doctor tell them that Ryan's heart rate had dropped to 50 so we had to get him out now. I fell apart. I started crying out of fear that something horrible was going to happen to my son. They get me unhooked from everything and rush me down the hallway to the OR. They get everything set up and get Ryan out. It was 8 mins from the time we hit the OR until Ryan was born. DH came in after they had already delivered him. Given the urgency I wasn't as numb as I probably should have been closer to my chest so I could feel some pain and not just the pressure. While it didn't take them long to do it getting Ryan out was horrible. After they pulled him out the anesthesiologist told them to stop so he could add more numbing medicine to the epidural. Once more numb they continued. Since things happened the way they did I just caught a glimpse of Ryan as the doctor pulled him over the curtain and then handed him to the NICU staff to be examined. Bill could see him as they worked but I couldn't. It took them a good 20 minutes to check him over and then they finally let Bill hold him so I could see him. Our baby boy was just fine. We had him for 2 minutes and then they took him to the nursery. I sent Bill with him and they finished up with me. For some reason they wouldn't let me have him while in recovery so I had to wait until I got to my room so it was almost 2am before I got to hold and nurse my sweet boy.

Ryan Andrew was born on December 19, 2011 at 8:25pm. He weighed 8lbs 5ozs and was 20.5 inches long. He is my idea of perfect and looks just like his Daddy.

Aww jessicah thanks for sharing!! Sorry you ended up with a csection. Your ryans birth story sounds really similar to my labour and I can so relate to the sheer panic that befalls you when the heart rate drops. It's the worst feeling in the world!! Congrats again on your sweet boy!! So glad he's here safe and sound!

Jessicah - I'm sorry that it got so scary while you were in labor but I am so thankful that you and Ryan are ok. I can't imagine how I would have reacted to all of that.

Did you ever find out why they wouldn't let you see him? Some of the hospitals here are like that - they observe the baby for 3-4 hours before the mom can see them. Others never let the baby leave your side.

I've been waiting for you to write this! I'm so sorry you ended up with a c-section, but I'm so glad that everything worked out and your sweet baby boy was just perfect!! Congrats again to you and your family!!

Thank you for sharing!! I'm so sorry you had such a scary experience and that it ended in a c-section. I can't imagine how frightening that would be. I'm so glad everything turned out okay though!! Congratulations again

I'm so glad this story ends so happy. I can't wait for some more pics!

wow, how scary Jessicah! I got a little teary reading the part about when Ryan's hr dropped and you were so scared something was going to happen to him. I'm sooo glad everything turned out ok and you and your sweet baby boy are doing great!

Wow, talk about a surprise! I'm so glad everyone is doing ok. WTTW Ryan! Can't wait for pics

Thanks for sharing the birth story- that would have been scary- but sounds like they were pretty quick to get him out! Hope your having a good recovery.