Like a train wreck...

I think it is about time I update about our little bundle! it has almost been 2 months since Maci was born but I wanted to get her birth story written down some where so I wouldn't forget most of it. Miss Maci Kay was born on July 19,2011 at 11:22PM weighing in at 6lbs 13oz and 20 in long.

It was a battle getting here her. It all started on July 18th when I went in to my ob check up. I had been on bed rest for a whole week and was going crazy and feeling like crap. I went in and my blood pressure was still high at 155/100. My ob and I decided that the best thing to do was to induce that night. I went straight to the hospital from my appointment. This time going to the hospital was different. I was ready for her to be here and ready to start feeling better. Jake and i said a quick prayer in the car and we were off. I was so excited thinking that I was going to have a little baby by the next day.

I was admitted into the hospital at 4 o clock. They started me at 5:30 that night. Everything was going really well. We were playing cards and just hanging out waiting for the action to start. I am still thinking that I will have this little thing on the 18th. By 9:00 that night I was moving right along 70%effaced and dilated to a 4. They started me on pit and I knew I was going to be moving along a lot quicker. they Checked me at 11 that night and I was still at a 4 nothing had changed. I decided to request for an epidural around midnight. If I didn't have to be uncomfortable why should I be? The anaesthesiologist was in surgery and I would have to wait. While I was waiting they administered a drug to take the edge off. It was the best thing ever. I was crying, laughing and giggling all at the same time. It was beautiful. About 2 AM the anaesthesiologist came in and got me all situated to get the epidural.

1st attempt...fail

2nd attempt....fail

3rd attempt...fail

4th attempt....fail

5th attempt....you guessed it. fail

6th and final attempt...fail

The anaesthesiologist was not able to thread the catheter into my back 6 times. I had no idea what was going on. All I could see was Jake's face and I knew something wasn't right. It took him 45 mins and after all that he couldn't make it happen. When he left he explained to me that he had given me 2 wet taps and that I would have to think and prepare for other ways to control pain during labor. When he and all the nurses left I just cried. I had no idea what a wet tap was or how I was going to give birth without pain management. Luckily the nurse came back in and gave me more of the drug she had before so that I could sleep.

The next morning I woke up to my doc and another anaesthesiologist. My doctor explained to me that a wet tap is when the needle/catheter punctures the dura which holds the spinal fluid and then it leaks out causing a severe headache. Luckily I had two wet taps. She went on to explain that I would need to get a blood_patch which would clot and cover the holes where my spinal fluid was leaking out. Unfortunately I would have to get another epidural to perform the blood patch so she figured we would just do another one...so easy right? I was an absolute mess by then and had Jake hold me while they did it. To my extreme surprise it was so easy. He was finished in about 2 mins and it was nothing like before. I was so grateful I would be able to have an epidural. They laid me back down and my blood pressure tanked. 50/30. I remember thinking I felt so weird then I just threw up everywhere and said I don't feel so good and they looked at my BP and went running to get some medication to help me get it back up. After that We were good for a while and family came to visit.

By the afternoon on the 19th I hadn't changed at all. I was only about a 5 and not looking like I was going any where. by the evening my contractions where pretty bad. Luckily they couldn't turn my epidural up all the way because of the wet taps. They tried giving me what they called more potent"cocktails" to see if that would help at all. I still felt all my contractions on my right side. My nurse came in to my room at 1030 that night. I was exhausted, crying and hurting. She told me my doc wanted to turn of the pit for 2 hours then turn it back on to see if my body would progress just by itself. It is not what a laboring pregnant lady wants to hear at 35 hours of labor. I was sobbing and my mom said can't you just do a csection this situation is not getting any better. The nurse went and got my doc so we could talk about it. I told her I just wanted to be done and wanted my little baby here safe and not put her through anything else. I wasn't moving along and I couldn't go another few hours. She told me that she didn't understand why I wasn't progressing. My contractions where strong and should be moving me right along but she wanted to check me while I had a contraction. When she did she said I was at a 10 when I contracted. That my cervix was caught and not moving out of the way. So she messaged it a little out of the way and said give me 1 hour, if she isn't here then we will do a csection. I said okay one hour not thinking it would happen. They left Jake and I in the room with the lights out. As soon as the door shut I felt pressure and was thinking I was ready to push. So Jake ran out and got the doc she came in and looked and said Little girl finally dropped into place where she needed to be and just a few more minutes and we will start pushing. I couldn't believe it. I started pushing at 11 PM. I was so actually happy as weird as this is going to sound that I could feel my contractions so that I knew when to push. 22 mins of pushing and repeating ow ow ow ow ow......little girl made her debut at 6lbs and 13 oz, looking just like her dad. The delivery part was the coolest thing I have ever been apart of. To see Jake's face as he saw her was absolutely priceless. It was so beautiful.

They took her to clean her up and to stitch me up. My family and J's family came in and checked her out. It was pretty awesome and everyone was so glad it was finally over and she was here safe and sound.

After everybody left the nurse was working on my uterus to get it to contract, so that I would stop bleeding. Then I looked over and Jake who was snuggling our cute little bundle on the couch and my blood pressure tanked again that's the last thing I remember from that night.

I woke up the next morning with no idea what the heck happened. Then the nurse explained that they couldn't get my uterus to contract because it was worn out from the 36 hours of labor and that I might need a blood transfusion. I am thinking what in the world is going on and why won't this end? They came in and gave me a blood patch to help with the headaches and took me to post partum to recover. I finally got to hold Maci on the way down to the recovery floor. When I got there they wanted me to get up and go to the restroom. I was able to take care of business but as soon as I stood up I passed out and the nurse caught me thankfully. He called my OB to see about a blood transfusion. They started my blood transfusion that afternoon and I felt immediately better. I still had a headache but they said I probably would for a few weeks.

We finally were able to go home on Thursday the 21st. Little girl had a clean bill of health and I was stable enough to head home. We got all packed up headed that way. I wanted to make a quick detour even though I wasn't suppose to and my head was pounding, to see my grandpa who was fighting a valiant fight against cancer. I wouldn't take back the visit for anything. I didn't know but my mom was able to snap a few pictures of him, Maci and my grandma Rita. The photos mean more to me then you could ever imagine. My grandpa passed away that Saturday on the 23rd.

Recovery was tough. I was flat on my back I couldn't even sit up to feed my baby. The only thing I could do was drink a crazy amount of caffeine to be able to even just go to the bathroom. I still had a splitting headache and was only getting worse. My left foot was numb from the calf down because I either tweaked it during delivery or the epidural nicked a nerve. My aunt showed up the following Monday and said I got another blood patch set up for you. You aren't getting any better and you can't take care of yourself or your baby. I was petrified I did not want to go for another epidural stick. I was already at 7 for the week. Then I talked to Jake and he thought it would be a good idea even if it would help a little and that if it did I would be able to go to my grandpa's funeral that Saturday. That's what made me realize that I needed to do this. I went in and got the blood patch and felt better as soon as they sat me up. I couldn't believe the night and day difference. It still took a few days to be able to sit up without a headache but I could actually function. I could sit up to feed my baby, I could finally hold my baby.

I am so grateful for my family support, all the dinners that were brought, the phone calls, the daily texts. Everyone that came and hung out in my bed. I am especially grateful for Jake. He was amazing through the whole ordeal. I can not put into words how much I love him. He is an amazing dad. I can't imagine how he felt through the whole thing and when things kept getting worse he just stayed by my side and got me through it. He took care of Maci when I couldn't and did such an amazing job.

my foot is still pretty numb but I can deal with that. I feel better then I have in weeks. I look down at my beautiful baby in her bouncer chair smiling away while she is sleeping and I realize I would do it all over again in a heart beat to have her here safe and sound. I can't believe how fast we fell head over heals in love with her.