Birth Story

Madelyn at 5 weeks old.

Okay. Here it is. Madelyn's Birth Story! It all started on a plan trip up to Sacramento. It was Troy's birthday and we were heading up there for his Grandma Edith's funeral. She had passed away a week earlier. On the plane trip up there, I got a headache. The next day, I still had the headache and tried everything I could to get rid of it. Never the less, my head was still throbbing. I had remembered that my midwife told me if I got a headache that wouldn't go away, I needed to see a doctor right away. So, after 30 hours of this headache, I decided I would go to the doctor, specifically, Labor and Delivery. Troy and I headed to a hospital in Roseville, just east of Sacramento. I was checked in and they started doing a bunch of tests for toxemia. The results were not looking good. My liver enzymes were high, my blood pressure was high, and my blood platelets were low. That was pretty much the equation of toxemia. The OB/GYN was talking of inducing me. WHAT?!?!! I couldn't have a baby 450 miles from home! Troy and I were worried. I was glad that there were a few other doctors there who insisted that they watch me overnight and re-take all the tests. They also gave me several very strong pain meds via IV to take my headache away. By the morning, all the tests came back normal but my liver enzymes. They let me go on the condition that I would go back to L & D if the headache came back. Phew! Close call! Troy and I decided to high-tale it out of Sacramento ASAP. We took the first flight we could get back home. The day after we flew back home, the headache came back. Like I promise, I went back to L & D...but this time, it was in Riverside. That was WAY more comforting! This time around, I did some more tests. I convinced them to send me home the next night, before the test results came in. My liver enzymes had elevated once more, but my blood pressure was normal. I just wanted to stay at home with my little boy! He wasn't liking all these nights away from his mommy! The doctors sent me home knowing that I had an appointment with my OB/GYN the next day. I woke up that morning with a headache again, but decided to try and get rid and it and wait for the appointment with my doctor. It was 4:30 by the time I saw her, and I have to let you know that I felt like CRUD. Pure CRUD. I had the headache still, but my muscles ached, and I just felt week. Well, you know, like crud. The doctor noticed that I looked like crud as well. She said she wouldn't let me go home without stopping by L & D. I knew the routine by now. I got more lab tests done and within a couple hours, I was diagnosed with HELLP Syndrome...if you don't know what that is, read about it here. The doctor said we would have to induce. She also turned off the lights and the tv, and allowed me no visitors to avoid stimulation (which could have caused me to go into seizure). By 9:00 that night, I was hooked up to Plutocin and the process began. Twelve hours later, Madelyn's heart rate was going down every time I had a contraction. The doctor noticed I was dilated to 10, and asked me to push. Every time I pushed, Madelyn's heart rate nearly stopped. The doctor decided really quickly to get her our via cesarean-section. Hearing her heart rate nearly stop was extremely scary for me. I admit, I started to cry. They wheeled me into the operating room, and within a few minutes, they had Madelyn out of me. It was incredibly fast! Madelyn was born on August 26th at 9:38 a.m.
After the birth, I was put on Magnesium Sulfate, which has got to be the WORST drug you could possibly take. I am convinced of that! I was put on this drug for 24 hours to prevent me from going into seizure. That was worth it, of course, but the numerous side effects were absolutely horrible! I am glad that is over with! And, I have a beautiful baby girl to show for it! :)