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Andrew Ryker's Birth

My son, Ryker Andrew, was born on February 12, 1996 after 10 hours of induced labor that ended in a C-section.

I was 41 weeks into my first pregnancy. My OB's wife had had a baby the week before, so I was "waiting" for my doctor to be back in the office. I wasn't having this baby without him! He had been home with his wife and new daughter when I'd gone in for my 40 week check-up, so he called me the following day. We set the coming Monday as the induction date. No turning back now!

Since the hospital and doctor were in another town, we went down the day before, and stayed with my sister that night. At 6 a.m., we reported to the hospital, where they started Pitocin. I was very nervous and eager, and kept asking when I would feel contractions! My doctor came in about an hour later, and decided to put an internal monitor on the baby. He also broke my water, a very strange sensation! We were going along fine for about the next 3 hours; then the contractions became very painful. I had only back labor; not a twinge did I feel in my abdomen. At my exam the week before, I had only been 1-2cm dilated, and about 50% effaced.

As time went on, not much changed. I was dilating very slowly, and the baby was not descending. His station in the early afternoon was only about a -2. The day wore on, and my Mom and labor nurse were the only ones who could help me; my poor husband was overwhelmed at the pain I was experiencing, and I didn't really want him to touch me. At some point, my nurse and doctor had decided to internally monitor my contractions also, so I was hooked up to that. Then everyone understood why I was in so much pain. Since it was pure back labor, the belly band wasn't really picking anything up. Once the internal was in place, the numbers started jumping as high as 116. I agreed to Stadol, and had 3 doses. Only the first really did anything for me.

I had to stay in bed, except for when my nurse got me up to go to the bathroom. Leaning back on the toilet felt really good during contractions. Eventually, I was standing and then sitting during contractions. My Mom, nurse and hubby took turns applying counterpressure to my back during contractions. At about 5 p.m., I was begging my nurse to turn the Pitocin off. The pain was just horrid, and when she examined me, I was only 5cm, as I had been at around 2 p.m., and the baby was still not engaged or dropping. She said she had to wait for the doctor, but my next 2 contractions were so painful I screamed and brought every OB nurse running! She turned it off then!

My doctor showed up, and I begged for a C-section. He agreed, and explained it to us. My hubby was in tears because he was scared, and though I was also afraid, I mostly just wanted the baby out. I knew I couldn't make it through more labor, and they were saying uterine rupture was possible. The anesthesiologist took a look at me, and said an epidural wasn't an option, because I'm overweight. I didn't want a needle in my back anyway! I had a catheter inserted (OUCH!), drank some awful anti-nausea stuff, and away I went. My labor nurse was off, but the student nurse who had been observing my labor was allowed into the OR with me, and was holding my hand when I went to sleep.

It was really cool because she had prayed with my Mom and the rest of us in the LDR as I was being prepped for surgery. That was very important to us. In the OR, I had my arms and feet strapped down, my belly scrubbed with iodine or something, and an oxygen mask on. My doctor said not to worry, the anesthesiologist tipped my head back, I was given a shot of something and said, "It's making me feel warm and tingly", told that was normal, and I was out.

I woke up in the recovery room, where the student nurse and recovery nurse were tending me. I knew the recovery nurse from high school, and engaged her in woozy conversation. I had really bad chills and shaking, so they wrapped me in a warm blanket, then my Mom and hubby came in to me, and showed me a picture of our boy. I was crying and laughing and shivering all the way up to my room.

I hardly slept that night, even though I was exhausted. They brought our son in to feed at about midnight, and I kept him until 2, when they finally came back so I could get some rest. I stayed in the hospital all week, and couldn't have asked for better treatment. My last day was free because I'd been discharged, but Ryker hadn't, because of jaundice. He's a very healthy boy; was 8# 8oz.and 23" long at birth. Now, almost 3 months later, he's over 14# and about 25-26" long. Even though labor was awful, I'd do it all over again for many reasons: 1) My OB and nurses were the BEST and 2) We have the most beautiful boy that ever was!

Steven and Tami Pelles