I go to my checkup as usual. At this point I am 36 weeks, 4 days pregnant. I've had a pretty good pregnancy, but at this point I am so uncomfortable and swollen. At my appointment my doctor, Dr. Sauter, was concerned about my blood pressure. The protein in my urine was also a little high so he was concerned that I might have preeclampsia. Being pregnant for the first time and the naive girl that I am, I asked my doctor what happens if I do have preeclampsia. He said, "Then you'll deliver tomorrow." I begin freaking out in my mind, I'm not ready at all! My diaper bag that I had ordered hadn't even came yet and I wasn't finished washing and cleaning everything! My doctor told me he was going to send me to the hospital for more testing because they can get the results back faster there. I left his office, called Bryant to come home from work, and tried to get a hold of my mom. (I couldn't... freaking out more at this point.) I called Robyn crying because I might be having a baby tomorrow and have nothing ready, no hospital bag packed, etc. She calmed me down and reassured me everything would be okay. I met Bryant at home, packed a bag, and we headed to the hospital not knowing if we would be having a baby the next day or not. Obviously all of the testing came back good, because I didn't have a baby on August 11.
August 17, 2016
One week later and I was back at the doctor's office for my checkup. This time my blood pressure was even higher than last week. There was no question now that my doctor wanted to induce me. I thought this might be a possibility so I wasn't too shocked. He called the hospital to see when they wanted me to come in. He was thinking that night or the next morning. They told me to come in right then! I left the office, called Bryant again to come home from work, and got a hold of mom so she could drive down. We were going to have a baby!!
One last bump pic! 37 weeks, 4 days.
12:00 p.m.: I got all checked into the hospital. They checked to see if I was dilated at all and at this point I was 1 cm dilated, 50% effaced.
1:00 p.m.: They started me on Cervidil, a medicine that is supposed to soften my cervix. This could potentially dilate me some more, it could not. Now it's a waiting game for the next 12 hours.
1:00 p.m.-1:00 a.m.: Sit, be bored, eat some, drink some, watch movies and the Olympics. I started getting some mild contractions, but nothing worse than cramps I haven't experienced before. During this time Bryant's brother Brandon and our nephew Reggie stopped by and Brandon helped Bryant give me a blessing. My cousin Allison and her husband Mike also stopped by. It was nice to have some visitors and break up the time a little bit.
August 18, 2016
1:00 a.m.: Cervidil comes out, still only dilated to a 1. They called my doctor to see if he wanted to start me on another cervix softener or just start Pitocin. Sure enough, he said just to start Pitocin.
1:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.: I don't remember much during this time, just the contractions getting gradually stronger. They checked to see if I dilated more and sure enough, I was still only at a 1-2 cm. At 11:00 they broke my water and it was awful.
11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. : Contractions are consistent and painful. They won't give me an epidural until I am dilated to 3 - 4 cm so I'm basically dying this whole entire time. They did give me a different pain medicine, but it only lasted about an hour or so. Once it wore off, contractions started coming every minute or so. I don't remember what time they checked me again, but I wanted an epidural so bad so I had them check me again and sure enough, I was still only a 1 - 2 cm. At this point I had been in the hospital over 24 hours, and not progressing at all. I was in so much pain and so discouraged because I wasn't progressing. I thought I was never going to have him! Bryant and I talked about it and I just couldn't imagine waiting another 8-12 hours to see if my body was going to progress anymore and not have anything happen. We talked with the nurses and doctor and decided to have a c-section. The c-section was scheduled for 7:30 that night which meant I could get an epidural! I don't know why actually getting an epidural has a bad rap because compared to getting my water broken and the contractions, the epidural was a piece of cake. Finally some relief!
4:00 p.m. - 6:45 p.m. : I was finally able to relax and get some sleep . I don't think I got that much though because I was so anxious, excited, and nervous to finally see the end in sight! My mom was also getting closer and closer so I was excited to see her.
6:45 p.m.: My mom made it! Bryant went down to get her and show her to my room. They walk in as I'm brushing my teeth, but it wasn't just my mom. My dad came too! I was soooo surprised, I immediately started crying like a baby. I was so happy to have them both there.
So surprised and happy!
6:45 - 7:30 p.m. : Last minute preparation for surgery and then they wheeled me down to the OR. When I got there I was able to move by myself from my bed to the operating table. I think this surprised my doctor so he had the anesthesiologist give me more medicine. I don't know if they had started surgery or what was really going on on the other side of the blue cover, but I could still feel some. At first it felt like 4 pinches/bee stings and then I could feel a little bit of slicing. (TMI, eek, sorry!) I said something to them again how I can still feel something. The anesthesiologist put a mask on my face and the next thing I know is I'm being wheeled somewhere. I feel like a small ant in a giant spinning room.
• • • • • • • •
I realized that I am out of surgery, but sooooo out of it. I couldn't open my eyes at all and just kept asking about the baby. I'm pretty sure I asked at least 10 times how he was and how the surgery was. When I was somewhat able to open my eyes (everything was still so confusing and blurry) but this was the first thing I saw:
My boys! I have a son!
Grayson Alan Johansson, born August 18, 2016 at 7:54 p.m. 7 lbs, 5 oz.
My labor and delivery wasn't at all what I had imagined or expected, but I am happy to have had a safe delivery and a healthy baby. The next day when my doctor came in he told me he thinks I was dreaming during surgery. Guess I was making noises and stuff. Hahah, so embarrassing! Thank you all for your prayers, texts, well wishes, and congratulations. I'm so blessed to be Grayson's mom and to be an eternal family with him and Bryant. Bryant was my rock during all of it, I couldn't have done it without him.
