Sunday started out in early afternoon for me considering I was catching up on some much needed sleep due to the amazing Baby Shower the day before. I was having contractions on and off all of that day. But nothing concerning. I did have an insane need to clean that day - I just had the sense that I didn't have much time before Lady Sophie would arrive. So I cleaned the kitchen, tidied the living room, finished some projects and was getting ready to go to bed finally when I started noticing that the contractions were staying consistent.
Pre-Labor
Monday, roughly about midnight, I started timing the constractions that had become consistent in spacing. I was right, the contractions were at 5 minutes apart for several hours. I woke up Joshua at roughly 3:30AM considering I was going to try to take a bath to see if the warm water would slow them down (you know - testing to see if it really was the real thing or not) and Dana was already up. (I let her stay up even though it was super early cause I had a feeling we would be leaving the house early that day anyways). Despite the bath, the contractions remained at 5 minutes apart. Joshua called into work as soon as he could and we headed to the Hospital to get checked out.
I was put on the monitors at roughly 6AM. I heard from no one for the next 3 hours. So I was beginning to wonder what was going to happen that day exactly. Finally at 9AM, Dr Lai came in and did a "check" and said I was only at 2cm and was 0% effaced. I was definitely NOT in active labor. I was disappointed. I really thought that this was it. :( Dr proceeded to check the monitoring and discovered that at a couple points during contractions, baby's heartrate completely fell off the monitor. This concerned her. She consulted the Head Dr on the floor who came in and did an ultrasound to see what could be causing this.... Sophie looked perfect on the ultrasound. Everything looked great. However, Dr Morris was NOT convinced that there wasn't a complication. So it was decided that I would be admitted and a CST (Contraction Stress Test) would be done.
Contraction Stress Test
A Contraction Stress Test (CST) is started by giving the mother a very small dosage of Pitocin to kickstart contractions in order to see how baby reacts to the stress of "Labor Contractions." If baby wasn't ready for birth - the contractions would soon end and I would be sent home. If Labor was indeed kickstarted during the testing process, nobody was worried about it.... :) At roughly 10:30AM, the CST was started. I would say roughly 30 minutes later, I had a massive contraction which sent Sophie's heartrate PLUMETTING.... she quite obviously did NOT pass the test. Dr Morris rushed into the room, instantly put me on oxygen and started discussing what our possible courses of action were at this point. None of my options were "going home." Option A: was to do C-Section and avoid putting any more stress on Baby (who clearly could not withstand the stress of labor). Option B: was to Induce Labor and be open to the huge possibility of Emergency C-Section. I was not sure about either option considering both included the term C-Section... however, Option B was what I chose cause I strongly felt that we should at least give her a chance....
Active Labor
Transition and Delivery
Nubane is an IV Pain Med that supposedly takes the edge off the pain of the contractions and makes you sleepy in between them. Apparantly the "makes you sleepy" part is very true (by experience). It also makes you very loopy and loose recollection of everything. :( I still felt every aspect of pain from all of the contractions. Crying did NOT cease during contractions, but promptly upon the contraction ceasing, I would fall asleep. Apparantly Dr Brooks checked me at 11PM and at that point my water was broken. Now according to narration (by Dr and Hubby), that is when I freaked out! I was in sooo much pain. I was told to push and apparantly I did. But once I started pushing apparantly I wouldn't stop - not even for a break. The pain was unbearable - I was so lost, had no idea where I was or what I was doing. I did not even recognize my own husband. It was a horrible helpless feeling in the torrent of immense pain. While I was pushing, the pressure on my tailbone was so much that I honestly thought that my tailbone was at the very least going to fracture. :( hence my need to get the pushing over with and this pressure GONE!!! plus I was so very hungry. Birth
11:16PM - April 16th, 2012 - Sophie Zdena-Lynn Emmot was born. From what I hear - they delayed clamping and cutting the umbilical cord for like a couple minutes (not quite was I was expecting) but glad they did for a little while. Dr placed Sophie on my tummy promptly but wouldn't allow "latching" due to how the Nubane affected me (he was afraid it would affect Sophie the same way). Josh got to cut the cord and I fell asleep. When Sophie's checks were all done and I was allowed to hold her, I couldn't even hold my own baby. :( I was so out of it, she kept rolling over. I couldn't even hold her. :( I felt so disassociated from the birth, from my baby. I am so sad.... I remember exactly how I felt and what I did when Dana and Joey were born. But I do not know what happened with Sophie. and I want to cry every time I think of that. :( so... when the Nubane finally wore off about 8AM - I got to enjoy time with my new Princess. :) 
