Delivery of an Angel

What an adventure it has been to the arrival of our sweet little angel baby. I have had contractions with this pregnancy since early on. We chalk it up to an irritable uterus and I just dealt with it. They were mostly uncomfortable and liveable. I have been followed greatly by my OB and a specialist’s office since Maylee measured somewhat small, as well as her lacking a left kidney. I actually had an extensive appointment on Tuesday where they checked me and Maylee over and all seemed well. She had been growing, the placenta looked great, fluid was great, no progression from contractions, and we went home. The doc there was a little concerned with contractions and scheduled a non stress test for Friday, as well as another ultrasound. …….needless to say we never made it to that appointment!

32 weeks 4 days - 2 days before Maylee was born

Tuesday night I had a couple more contractions that verged a little past uncomfortable, but nothing too concerning. Wednesday morning went well. Shell and I took the kids to the park, let them play in the baby pool at home and got lunch going. I had a couple contractions, but still nothing that raised too much concern. We got ready for therapy for Drew and Shell headed home. It was then I realized I was having quite a few contractions. I gave Shell a call to give her a heads up that I may need to head to the doctor’s office. Therapy came and I was feeling pain. I muddled through rocking Carter and getting him down for a nap. I remember sitting earnestly praying that he would fall asleep quickly because it was so hard to sit and hold him through the contractions.

The doc office had me lay down to relax, drink water, and count contractions. They said to call if I had more than six in a hour…I knew there was a problem when I had eight in a half an hour. We made it through therapy and I was ready to call the doc. Other concerns arose after a trip to the bathroom and I was a bit panicked. I called Shell and she headed over. Bry headed home from work to come and get me to the hospital….all the while Carter was napping (thank goodness) and I tried to stay calm for my very sensitive Drew who was very concerned about the whole situation.

The contractions were hurting, but didn’t last very long in duration. I got checked into triage and they started monitoring things. We talked about things to slow the process, but once they checked me and realized I was verging on 3 cm already after no progression the day before they knew the doc had to be called. They did a shot call Terbutaline to slow the process, but that only worked for about 20 minutes. It was time to consider magnesium to slow things enough to get steroids into me to strengthen baby’s lungs. We were hesitant to do the magnesium, but decided we needed to do anything to help. I was scared – we weren’t ready – we wanted Maylee to be safe – but it was scary. But let me tell you – those steroid shots HURT! Holy cow!!!!!! I have never been stuck with so many needles before. Mind you, it was all worth it and the nurses were great, but wow – there were a lot of pokes. I still have bruises on my arm from the two Terbutaline shots.

The magnesium slowed things down, but boy did it take a toll on me. I felt like I had been hit by a train. It was so exhausting that all I could do was lay. I didn’t even have the energy to tell Bry when I had a contraction. I just had to lay there and breath slowly through them – at least it kept me relaxed, right? I could hardly get my eyes open to focus on anyone talking to me. It worked through the night slowing contractions down from 7-8 an hour to 2-3 an hour.

By morning I was feeling them a bit more. It seemed like they were getting stronger and a bit longer. I remember telling Bryan and the nurse that I didn’t want to do this anymore. I was exhausted feeling the way I did and just muddling through contraction after contraction was not the most pleasant experience. I really felt horrible. After a while there was some concern with the placenta so the doctor was called. He checked me out and it looked like I was progressed to at least a 4 and they decided it would be safest to get Maylee here sooner than later. I had gotten both shots of steroids, but it hadn’t been the 48 hours they had hoped. Time went by quickly and I was still quite out of it. Within 5-10 minutes of being off the magnesium I was feeling much better. The staff at the hospital was amazing. I got a spinal block and they got me all prepped for surgery. She was here within minutes.

They did have to give me some medication to help with nausea in case I had to go under general anesthesia….that did not last long. The strangest feeling is trying to throw up without any feeling in my stomach muscles. My poor husband was trying to see Maylee be born while holding a container while I attempted to lose the medicine they had just given me. I am sure it was all quite a sight to see.

Amazingly enough Maylee was crying right after birth! Her lungs must have had just enough steroid to make her able to cry…or she already was ready all on her own. She weighed in at a huge 3 lbs 11 oz and 15.75 inches long. The nurse got her wrapped up and brought her over to me. I was able to hold our little angel for about two minutes before they whisked her off to the NICU. She did not need any extra oxygen which is a miracle. She even scored a 9/9 on the Apgar scale which is amazing!

They wrapped up surgery and I sat and waited in recovery. Bry was so sweet to go and take pictures and video of our little princess and bring them back to me so I could see her. I was not able to go and visit her until I could get to the NICU. I managed to see her for a couple minutes that night, but did not last too long. The whole ordeal and medication really took a toll on me.

Looking back at it all, it is still hard to put into words what the whole experience was really like. I had so many emotions, but have found that as I had faith I was brought peace and I knew we could get through it. I know we were watched over and Maylee continues to be surrounded by angels. What a precious spirit she is and I am so humbled to be her mommy.

This has been such a great time for pondering and realizing how blessed I am in my life. I am so grateful for an amazing husband who I love with all my heart. I cannot imagine my life without our two little boys. The strength they give me and the love I have for them is indescribable. I can’t wait to bring our little Maylee home and to enjoy being a family all together. I am so blessed and have so much to be grateful for.