Daniel's birth story

Hi ladies, here is Daniel's birth story!  I took forever to get it down, but I hope thats ok.  :)

Daniel Michael was induced on March 2nd, 2009 in an overnight hospital stay (with cytotek and the pitocin the next morning)..  After 16 hours of induced labor, the last 8 of which were with epidural anesthetic and an almost 2 hour pushing stage, Daniel was born at 12:41 am, March 4th.
The pitocin drip was started at 8:30am on March 3rd, and the OB came to break my waters at 9:30am.  The gallon of pale liquid was really warm and vernix swirled around in it.  The OB and nurse that were there were happy with the clarity of it, and I was just disgusted and kind of embarrassed with having this mess dripping out of me.
I was dilated to 2 cm I think when they  broke the waters.
I labored for 8 hours without any medication, doing fine until the pitocin drip was turned up to full blast.  Shortly after that, I started to cry and beg for medicine.  I had hit my brick wall.  Up until that  point, I had managed the contractions with bouncing on a labor ball, slow dancing with Ben, pacing, walking, etc.  When the anesthesiologist came in, he looked at me and the pain I was in and said that he thought it may be too late.
I was able to receive the epidural, and then after a half hour or so, I calmed down to where I felt like napping.  I sent Ben and my MIL away (she was there for Ben's moral support), and rested.  They went to MIL's house to eat supper.  While they were gone, I went from a 4cm to a 7 1/2 cm, in a couple hour's time.  I called Ben to let him know, and he was pretty surprised.  I was also 80% effaced.  They came back, and we hung out until about 10pm, when I started pushing.  I pushed for about an hour, then asked for my epidural to be topped up.  That was a huge mistake!!!  I couldn't feel hardly anything, and wished I had not asked for more medicine.  Daniel tolerated most of labor well and also the pushing, until about that hour into it.  I tried many different positions, but he was still not engaging down into my pelvis past my pubic bone.  Everything was ready for him, but he was not wanting to come.  After pushing (and I pushed well, my OB said) for another 45minutes with Daniel sitting at a -1 station and a fluctuating heart rate, my OB was telling me he needed to be born safely, and I agreed (especially after seeing my husband's concerned face whenever Daniel's heart rate dipped too low after the contractions).
I was taken to the OR and prepped for surgery.  It seemed to take a million years for Ben to come into the room with his paper outfit on.
While I was being prepped for the cesarean section, the anesthesiologist topped up my epidural.  He then asked me if I could feel him poking me at different places on my belly with a pin.  He asked about pressure verses pain or temperature.  I told him when he poked the middle that I felt a tiny stab like a bee sting.  He proceeded to my left side, and I really felt it then, even that the pin was cool feeling.  He went to the right side of my belly, and I felt the pressure he had said was what they wanted.  I let him know that I was comfy there.  He topped up the epidural at two different points during this test, and then I also received a local anesthetic right under the skin on the left side.  My left leg slid off the table and I had to tell the surgeons to rescue it, because they were examining my belly still.  :)  During all this, Ben was with me, holding my hand.
All of a sudden, I smell burning flesh.  I am being cut into and cauterized at the same time, to get past the skin layer.  I am told there are 5 layers they have to cut through to get to my baby.  I am fine while the first 4 layers are being separated.  I can feel lots of pressure while they separate my abs, and lots of tugging.  When the OB got to the uterus and started cutting, I started panicking and crying, because I could feel the pain of her cutting into me.  I am not kidding.  I was yelling and crying very hard, and Ben was distressed, but he didn't let me know it.  He let me squeeze his fingers as hard as I needed.  The anesthesiologist asked me if I was feeling pressure, and I said "No, it hurts!!!"  He offered to put me under, and I declined.  I told him I would just deal with it.  I wanted to greet Daniel and try to nurse him right away when he was born.
When I was done being cut into, my OB worked on pulling Daniel out, with the help of two nurses, one pushing him back into my abdomen (undoing all of my hard work during labor) and one pushing him down out of my ribs.  When the OB pulled his head out, he made a little baby noise.  No crying or loud racket, but just a quiet observer entering the world.  I cried though, looking at Ben.  I asked him what color his hair was, and Ben said "red. (as in blood red)"  :P    When they got him out all the way, he made another little baby noise.
I don't remember at which point Ben brought Daniel to me, but when I did see him, I thought he was very good looking.  He had a bad cone head from all the pushing I had done, but he was with me.  He did not look like I thought he would, but better.  :)
Daniel was weighted at 8lb and 10oz, 22 1/2 inches long, and a head circumference of 14 1/4 inches.  He was classified as large for gestational age (which was 40 weeks and 4 days).  To be LGA, a baby must be in the 97% or higher for those three measurements (as far as I understood it).  He was off the chart for length.  :)  His APGARS were 8, 9 and 9.  My OB said that she was expecting a 7lb baby to come out of me and asked me where I had been hiding him.  I was and am proud of my big baby!  The C-section was not my favorite to say the least, but I was warned I would probley end up with one, due to my small measurements.  Daniel would have gotten stuck on the way out is what I was told.   I am happy he is here safe.  :)

[hkenny]

kati, sounds like it wasnt much fun. but so glad to hear your healthy baby boy has made it safe and sound!! Congrats! cant wait to see picttures!

[ArmyPrincess819]

Congrats to you. I had a similiar experience and my son was born October 22, 2001. Best wishes to you and your baby and your dh. Enjoy every moment of motherhood it truly is the most beautiful experience you could ever have.....I hope you have a nice and easy recovery!

AP

[Tiffa130]

Congratulations =D

[Keeks]

OMG! Your my hero hun!.....I cant imagine what you went through but im so glad you and Daniel made it out okay!!.....I am like almost in tears reading this - imaging the pain...omg....Honestly that was my BIGGEST fear about a c-section was feeling it!.....You are insanely brave hun & Daniel should be SO proud to have a mommy who did all that for him!.....I love your positive attitude even after everything!!.....Hes adorable btw :) I have checked out your pics on FB but havent had a chance to reply!......Again hun im sooo happy for you & Ben! :).....Thanks for sharing your story!

[pooket825]

I am in tears reading this congrats to katebud I know it has been a long struggle but I am happy that daniel had made it out safely and I am happy the parents are doing ok have a nice safe recovery, can't wait to see pictures of the little guy welcome to the world daniel

[Jamie21]

wow girl!! COngrats! After hearing this I am even more terrified of a csection:S. I am so happy your are all well.

[katebud]

Thank you Ladies!  :)  it's been very busy since he was born.  I hope to be more active when we settle into a routine.