Meet Owen John Partlow!!!

On Monday morning, March 28th Blair and I went in to see Dr. Martin to find out if my pre-eclampsia symptoms were getting worse.  She had told me on Friday to bring my hospital bag just in case, so we were prepared.  Blair took my 38 week pictures right before we left:

When we got to Dr. Martin's office, she discovered that my platelet levels were still going down and I also had a few other pre-eclampsia symptoms.  She decided that it was time to induce, so off to the hospital we went! 

Blair and I arrived at Baylor around 9:30, and were quickly checked in and shown to our delivery room.  My nurse explained to me that I would be given a medicine called Cervadil that would soften my cervix and would take about 12 hours.  Then I would be given pitocin, and would likely have a baby some time on Tuesday.  Wait, what?!?  I thought I was having a baby today!  I had no idea that being induced would take so long!  I was given the Cervadil at 11 and we were on our way!

Around 1:30 Dr. Martin came to check on me and gave me some bad news.  The hospital hadn't found as many pre-eclampsia symptoms as she had and they wanted to send me home.  Dr. Martin believed that my pre-eclampsia was more serious and said that she was fighting to keep me in the hospital.  I was really upset, I did NOT want to go home until I had my baby!  The hospital started doing blood work every few hours to see if my platelet levels were still dropping.

Gala came to visit us for a few hours, and then Kristen arrived at 3:30 to keep us company.  I was feeling pretty good at this point, I hadn't had very many contractions yet.  The nurse checked on me and I was dilated to a 2 and was about 70% effaced. 

My nurse came in around 4:30 and said that my platelet levels were still dropping, they had started in the 80's and were now in the 70's.  Normal is around 200.  The hospital had decided that I could stay, hooray!  I was so relieved.  The thought of going home and being back on bed rest had been so disappointing, and I had my heart set on meeting my baby!


Yay, we get to stay!!!


I started feeling stronger contractions around 5pm.  At this point my pain level was around a 4 or a 5, not too bad.  I was VERY hungry, I had eaten breakfast at 6am and was not allowed to eat once I was given the Cervadil.  We continued to wait and my blood was still being drawn every few hours.  My contractions started coming every few minutes, but I started feeling them in my back as well.  Dr. Martin stopped by and said that the baby was most likely facing backwards, which was putting pressure on my back nerves every time I had a contraction.  She advised that I ask for an epidural whenever I felt I was ready to have one.

By 7pm my pain had intensified to a 7, so I asked for the epidural.  Unfortunately, because my platelet levels were still going down, they were hesitant to give me one.  If your levels get below 50 you can't have one, and I was in the 60's.  My nurse instead gave me a pain killer through my IV that made me feel drunk, the room was spinning and all I wanted to do was go to sleep.  It also made me sick to my stomach.  The pain killer got rid of the abdominal pain from the contractions, but I could still feel the back pain which was very intense. 



Hey, labor hurts!

 I was given another dose of the pain killer at 9, but by 11pm I was in so much pain I was begging for either an epidural or a c-section.  The anesthesiologist came in at 11:30, they had decided that with my platelet level at 55, it was now or never and he was allowing me to get the epidural.  I was so relieved, my pain level had increased to a 9 or a 10.  The back pain was almost unbearable, but once I got the epidural I was an entirely new person!  I was given pitocin around 12:30 and Blair, Kristen, and I settled in to get some sleep.

Kristen and Blair slept like sardines on this pull-out couch!

At around 2am I was taken off of the pitocin because the baby's heart rate was dropping when I had contractions.  It was a little scary because several doctors and nurses rushed into my room and put me on oxygen and were reading the monitors.  But it was also reassuring that they were watching me and my baby so closely. 

At 7:30 on Tuesday morning I was put back on pitocin and my water was broken.  I was still only dilated to a 2 and was 80% effaced.  There was no going back now, we were having a baby that day! 

Dr. Martin came in to check on me and predicted that I would deliver around 5 or 6pm.  She also had a little bit of bad news, my pre-eclampsia symptoms had worsened and I was now considered severe.  I had to be hooked up to a magnesium drip...she explained that I would be given a large dose in the span of 20 minutes to get it into my system, and then have a slower dosage throughout the day.  She also said that it would make me feel like I had the flu.  Oh goody!  The mag drip did make me feel awful, it made me sick to my stomach and felt exactly like the flu.  I spent most of the morning sleeping.

My nurse checked me around 1pm, and I was dilated to a 7.  Things were starting to happen!  Dr. Martin came back at 3 and said it was time to start pushing!  At this point all I wanted to do was sleep and I wasn't sure where I would find the strength to push, but I was taken off of the mag drip for delivery and soon started to feel better.  Let the pushing begin!!!

Dr. Martin said that the baby was still facing backwards, so we tried pushing on my back, and on either side to get him to roll around.  But he wouldn't budge!  I pushed for 2 1/2 hours, the most exciting part was when Blair said he could see the baby's head.  I was actually making progress, I was doing it!  Because the baby was turned around, we had to use forceps to get his head out, he was stuck under my pelvic bone.  With two final pushes, he was out!  Owen John Partlow had arrived!!!  It was a huge relief to see him come out, but I barely got a glimpse of him because he had to go straight to the warmer and be examined by the NICU team (standard procedure when forceps are used).  I also had a very significant tear, it took Dr. Martin about 30 minutes to stitch me up.  Luckily Kristen was an excellent photographer and captured Owen's first few minutes.  Blair got to put on his first diaper and then I got to hold him.  It was wonderful.

Details:
- Owen was born at 5:34 pm on March 29, 2011
- 7lb 1oz
- 20 3/4 inches

Our sweet, beautiful baby boy is such a blessing.  I can't believe I am the mother of such an adorable child, and I am so thankful that God blessed us with a healthy, happy baby.  Owen, I love you so much!!!