My pregnancy was very good. I didnt get morning sickness until my third month but it only lasted until my forth month. We had mixed feelings about finding out the sex of the baby but my husband broke down and decided that he must know. So, around Thanksgiving we found out that we were having a son. During my pregnancy, I gained about 30 pounds and all tests came out perfectly until the weekend of April 9, 1999. I had noticed that weekend that my baby wasnt moving as much as he normally did. I was worried but being a nurse myself I knew to count fetal movements and occasionally I would listen for fetal heartbeat. That monday, April 12th, I called the doctor to let them know what was happening. I was told to come into the office and have a non-stress test done. My husband and I arrived and I was hooked up to an external fetal heart monitor for about an hour. His heartbeat was kind of slow and he wasnt responding much to external stimulus. (ringing bell, ect.) The doctor ordered an ultrasound. Again, we saw his little body parts and fetal movements. The lady doing the ultrasound told us that my amniotic fluid was very low and his stomach was measuring 2 weeks less than that of his head. I was due April 25, 1999. At the time of this ultrasound I was 37 1/2 weeks...his stomach was measuring about 35 weeks. The doctor came in and informed us that I had IUGR. He explained that it wasnt life threatning, at this moment, but our baby would be better off in the outside world. I was scheduled for cervix ripening on April 14th at 7AM. We arrived at the hospital and I was hooked up to the external fetal monitor and we found out I was already having contractions on my own. Scattered contractions that were weak at the time. The doctors were trying to decide if they should give me the Cytoteck or not. After and hour of monitoring they decided to procede with the Cytoteck and I was sent home after 2 more hours of monitoring at about 12 noon. I was still having mild contractions and was dilated to 2cm. We ecided to go home and rest...the nurse had informed me that we would possibly come back that night in labor but if not, to arrive at the hospital at 7AM for induction with Pitocin.
When we arrived home, I started packing my bags and getting things ready...cleaning house...I was getting anxious. I noticed that my contractions were getting stronger and a lot closer together but ignored it thinking "No, it cant be time yet." My husband was taking a nap on the couch when I decided to start timing the contractions. I was shocked, my contractions were 2-3 mins apart but mild. I kept thinking "No, it cant be time yet." I finally wised up (being a nurse remember) and woke my husband up to help me time the contractions. Sure enough they were 2-3 mins apart. We headed back to the hospital (which is 30 mins away) at about 5:00PM. When we arrived, I was hooked up, once again, to the external fetal monitor and sure enough labor had started but I was still only dilated to 2 cm. At this time family started arriving. The doctor told me to walk around and I would be checked again in 1 hour. I walked and walked. My aunt, Sylvia, decided to join me on my walking adventure and we went down a small hallway looking in rooms when I felt this "pop" and then extreme pain.
I was scared. She helped me back to the front of the hospital where my husband was and he took me back to the nurses station. It was there that my water broke and I was admitted on the spot. I was moved into a Labor and Delivery room and was given an epidural. The pain was intense but the epidural took effect pretty well. After I was given the epidural the midwife checked me and I was already 8cm...to everyones suprise....I shouldnt have gotten the epidural because I was dilated so much but I was glad that they messed up and didnt check me until after the epidural was given...8-) I'm not sure I could have handled natural child birth. I visited with family for awhile and was checked again a little later...it was time to push! Finally! After only 45 mins of pushing, Kale arrived. He was of perfect size. I had not had IUGR after all. He was small weighing in at 6 pounds 6 ounces, 19 inches long. But, no problems. His apgar at birth was 9 and 5 mins later was a perfect 10.
His arrival was April 14, 1999 at 10:32PM...Happy Birthday to our gift my the Lord above.
Melinda and Randy,
Calhoun Georgia
