Gabriel Zeniff Griffee
Our story ended up being much longer than we anticipated...but well worth the wait!
We headed to the hospital at 7:30 and after they got me all set up they started the pitocin at 9:30 am. Things started off very slow...very slow. The contractions were regular but I barely felt a thing...so they upped the pit to full strength to get things moving. Well the contractions got stronger and stronger but with absolutely no progress. The contractions kept getting stronger and stronger but I sat at a 4+ nearly the entire day. Finally around 6:30 pm I had them give me an epidural. Which gave me a little relief and rest for a while. Still no progress though. That is very strange for me because I am usually 5 centimeters to birth in 20 minutes.
After I got the epidural and was a little more aware we noticed our little man's heart rate kept dropping during each contraction. It would always come back up though so they monitored a while longer with internal monitors for his heart rate and contraction strength. The doctor said the contractions were strong enough that the baby should have easily dropped and been born by then. He then explained to us the risks of continuing this way.
That's when our little world flipped upside down. The doctor let us know we could wait a while longer and see if he drops down but he thought the cord was likely around the baby's neck and it wouldn't do any good. He also told us if we kept waiting and his heart rate kept dropping down below 60 it might not come back up. This left us with the option to do a C-section. I was instantly scared. I hadn't told Michael but I hadn't hardly slept the two nights before we went in. I just couldn't get past the feeling that something was going to go wrong. I prayed and prayed but I knew there was something. I know God has a plan and I know we will be able to handle anything he throws our way but that doesn't make the premonition any less scary.
After I mentioned this to Michael, while we were trying to decide what to do, he said he had been having the same feeling. It was reassuring and petrifying at the same time. We prayed about it and decided a C-section (and quickly) was the best option. After a blessing from my wonderful husband and lots of tears and worry we headed to the operating room. As soon as we made the decision to do the C-section we both knew it was right and everything would be okay. Our prayers were now focused on the health of our little boy.
There is nothing in the world like hearing the first cry from your baby, but I have to say this time was a new kind of feeling. I'm so grateful to have a faith filled, loving family to support me and my husband and I don't know where we'd be with out them. We are thankful to all of you who prayed for us and we love you.
Our story ended up being much longer than we anticipated...but well worth the wait!
We headed to the hospital at 7:30 and after they got me all set up they started the pitocin at 9:30 am. Things started off very slow...very slow. The contractions were regular but I barely felt a thing...so they upped the pit to full strength to get things moving. Well the contractions got stronger and stronger but with absolutely no progress. The contractions kept getting stronger and stronger but I sat at a 4+ nearly the entire day. Finally around 6:30 pm I had them give me an epidural. Which gave me a little relief and rest for a while. Still no progress though. That is very strange for me because I am usually 5 centimeters to birth in 20 minutes.
After I got the epidural and was a little more aware we noticed our little man's heart rate kept dropping during each contraction. It would always come back up though so they monitored a while longer with internal monitors for his heart rate and contraction strength. The doctor said the contractions were strong enough that the baby should have easily dropped and been born by then. He then explained to us the risks of continuing this way.
That's when our little world flipped upside down. The doctor let us know we could wait a while longer and see if he drops down but he thought the cord was likely around the baby's neck and it wouldn't do any good. He also told us if we kept waiting and his heart rate kept dropping down below 60 it might not come back up. This left us with the option to do a C-section. I was instantly scared. I hadn't told Michael but I hadn't hardly slept the two nights before we went in. I just couldn't get past the feeling that something was going to go wrong. I prayed and prayed but I knew there was something. I know God has a plan and I know we will be able to handle anything he throws our way but that doesn't make the premonition any less scary.
After I mentioned this to Michael, while we were trying to decide what to do, he said he had been having the same feeling. It was reassuring and petrifying at the same time. We prayed about it and decided a C-section (and quickly) was the best option. After a blessing from my wonderful husband and lots of tears and worry we headed to the operating room. As soon as we made the decision to do the C-section we both knew it was right and everything would be okay. Our prayers were now focused on the health of our little boy.
There is nothing in the world like hearing the first cry from your baby, but I have to say this time was a new kind of feeling. I'm so grateful to have a faith filled, loving family to support me and my husband and I don't know where we'd be with out them. We are thankful to all of you who prayed for us and we love you.
