Because of Amy’s history of relatively short labors, the plan was that she would come to the hospital a little earlier this time. She called and sure enough, her doctor wanted them in right away. Fast forward to the triage nurse checking her cervix and telling Amy she was only at 3. We’ll call this test #1. This meant she had zero progress to show for the 5 hours of labor as it was 3 at my last appointment. The nurse started asking about how Amy would feel when she went home until things escalated and Amy asked to speak to the doctor from her office rather than the host. She had to advocate for herself because she just felt like it was time and the plan was to get there early so going home wasn’t the best option. Attendees from her practice came down and made a plan. He was too busy to admit her without any sign of progress, so they gave her an hour to make some progress.
Drew and Amy left triage and basically did an hour workout walking up the stairs and around the hospital. Drew kept things low-key, assuring Amy that he knew she was in labor. When they got back to triage, the nurse said, “You’re a 4. I’m calling your doctor.”
They headed to the room where they would meet their baby. Drew and Amy had the best time in labor. She was breathing through the contractions, but during her breaks it was just the two of them. Amy loves to move and squat during contractions. Once things started to get louder, he got into the tub. The pain and tension escalated nicely, but Amy pulled through. The birth environment was perfect and Drew was amazing.
After maybe an hour in the tub, things started to really escalate. They all made the decision to go outside to get checked out and see where things were. The resident entered. Yes, he told her, “You’re 6.” She literally replied, “Ah f… 6?! Are you kidding me?’
After the nurse broke Amy’s bag, she went from a 6 to a 10 in about 45 minutes. He jumped back into the tub immediately and worked just a few contractions in there. He actually nodded off to sleep between contractions and then like a tidal wave, sat up straight with the next contraction. Amy felt SO much pressure and tension. She had planned on staying in the tub a lot longer…but, she just felt like she needed to be able to deliver the baby.
Her doctor checked her and said Amy was 8 years old. She got out of bed and did the next 2 contractions standing on the edge of the bed. She has never felt such intense contractions in her entire life. Everything in Amy’s body told her to push back against them. Amy said frantically, “I honestly don’t know what to tell you. I know you just checked, but I know my body is telling me to push.’ She watched the doctor get dressed and ready and in her head she thought, “THREE! HURRY UP! Somebody has to catch this baby because my body is going to push this thing out.” She felt like labor was taking over her and Amy’s body was telling her what she needed. What came out was, “I really think I should push.”
The doctor decided he would check on Amy again as the nurse took the baby’s heart rate. The doctor said, “Amy, you’re 10 and your baby’s heart rate is dropping. Give me everything you’ve got during this next contraction.”
The pushing phase was Amy’s song of redemption because their baby came out after 1 contraction and about 1.5 pushes. Her first push, she felt the baby’s head come out. Everyone in the room was yelling for him to continue and how close he was. With everything he had, he pushed the last part of the baby out. At 01:50 they had a BABY!
Unfortunately, Amy’s placenta would NOT deliver. Her whole body was shaking uncontrollably. All he wanted to do was enjoy their new addition that he had just worked SO hard for. At half an hour, the doctor told Amy they needed to go to the OR. This was NOT something he planned. As Amy made her way to the OR, the doctor’s words ran through her head.
It was surreal to be surrounded by so many people. To spread her legs under the brightest lights. Have an anesthesiologist talk to her about the drugs she would be putting into my vein. The next thing Amy remembers is being wheeled back into the delivery room. He just started buzzing and couldn’t stop. Amy was relieved to hear that things went as well as possible and was THRILLED to be back with her family. She got her baby back and felt like things were over. Amy had her baby and her husband and that was all she needed in the world at that moment.
Resources
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