August 26, 2009...Steve was so very tired and decided to go to bed early (10:00pm). This isn't like him as I had usually been in bed before him this month, but I had this BURST of energy so I had set beds up, cleaned and sat down to scrapbook. At 11:00pm (I know, cuz CSI had just finished)...I was trying to figure out some girl thank you cards and was like "crap, I'm peeing my pants". I waddled with my knees together to the bathroom and thought...weird! When I finished there, I figured I would call my bff Sarah (who is a premmie nurse) and talk to her about it (thank goodness for her - she got called many, MANY times!!!). As I was walking to get to the phone, I felt some more liquid leak. I had always envisioned that if my water broke it would be a great big gush - it wasn't...just a steady leak. I got on the phone with Sarah who was very excitedly telling me that I should probably head to the hospital. By then it was 11:30 - so off I went to the bedroom wondering how I would tell my very tired husband that he was about to become even more tired :). Steve's response to the "we should head to the hospital" was "are you serious". We took our time getting ready and arrived at the Lloyd hospital at 1:00am on the 27th. By the time that we had arrived my membranes had fully ruptured but still no contractions. A nurse did an exam and said that I was 3 centimetres dilated. We were in for a long night. Steve went to a lounge to sleep and I climbed into their bed for some napping as well.
August 27, 2009
My first real contraction hit at 4:47. I remember thinking...thank goodness that I know I'm not brave enough to be dealing with this without an epidural. Dr. DuPloee arrived at 9:00 and determined that I wasn't in active labour and placed me on a drip. By noon I was very ready for the epidural so amazing Dr. Cavanagh become my knight :). By 5:00 I was fully dilated and was wheeled into the delivery room by 5:15. The epidural worked so well, that I couldn't feel a thing...nor could I move my legs, so Steve had to left and transfer me to the other bed. Steve also got very good at telling me when to push (I couldn't feel anything) because our nurse was very distracted working on other things. By 6:00 I could feel everything! I pushed hard until 8:00 when I was toast and in wayyyy to much pain. They finally decided to call Dr. DuPloee at that time, who came in and took one look and called the specialist Dr. Abe (I'm shortening his name because I can't spell it). Dr. Abe came in and said that the baby was "stuck" and I could have a c-section or forceps. We went with forceps assistant and Ezra was born at 9:05pm. I was exhausted and just wanted to sleep.
As I look back at that, Steve and I made a few mistakes....we should have asked for pain medication as soon as the epidural wore off. We should have asked for the doctor to be called way sooner. And we should have opted for the c-section. I had no desire to have my new son with me...I hurt to much. So the nurses kept Ezra with them at the desk while I tried my best to "recover".
August 29 - we were discharged and sent home.
Brief summary of the medical horror that we went through starts now:
I ended up getting massive infection and my stitching all came open. Dr. Abe informed me that the best option for me would be to have surgery to restitch the wounds (NOTE: THIS IS NOT THE BEST OPTION). I went into the surgery believing that I would come out fine. Instead, I came out worse. After three hospital stays, morphine drips for pain management, and multiple weeks on antibiotics due to always having infection, I was sent to Edmonton to a specialist up there because Dr. Abe had stated that "there wasn't anything wrong with me, he's the best, and that he had spent enough time on me and was done dealing with me". Thank goodness for a family physician who know that this wasn't right.
September 19 - I was wheeled into the OR at the Grey Nun's hospital and met Dr. Brown (who is becoming my knight as well!). I asked him to pretend that I was his daughter and to fix me. When I woke back up, I felt considerably better. We were informed that the first surgery in Lloyd should never have happened. Infection had been stitched into me (so I would have always had infection), my skin and muscles had been pulled so tight (so I would have always been in pain - thus probably resulting in me always being on pain med), and sexual intercourse would not have been possible. They had undone the stitching and gluing, and left the wounds open to heal on their own. I was informed at that time, that I would have another 6 weeks min recover.
November 16 - we had a follow up appointment in Edmonton with Dr Brown. Who after examination, informed Steve and I that a third surgery is required. There is so much scar tissue that they need to do more repairs so that Steve and I can even try for more children. We have also been informed that if we are able to conceive that delivery has to be by c-section. We went home with very heavy hearts. We are currently awaiting a phone call to tell us when the next surgery will happen.
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Many of you knew that I had complications afterwards. We have prayed many, many, times over my health; we have great assurance and trust in the two specialists in Edmonton that are now looking after me (Dr. Brown will also be our future physician for deliveries).
We are blessed with a healthy son though! That is a precious gift! Thank you for your many thoughts and prayers for us!
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