33w1d: SURPRISE!!!!!

Savannah Elizabeth is here!!!! I have a good excuse for my absence. What a whirlwind! My water broke on Sunday 8/17 at 32w6d. I woke up used the bathroom, and when I was standing up I felt a huge SPLOOSH...there was no mistaking that it was my water breaking. Luckily I was in the bathroom!!! I was FREAKING out, but MH was calm and got my clothes and got me into the car.

I finally got up to L&D where I had a mini-breakdown about how early she was and oddly enough not having a chance to brush my teeth. They got me right on the monitors, and when I heard her beautiful heartbeat I calmed down. I met with the Dr. who wanted to stop my contractions and give me steroid shots to mature her lungs. They work after 48 hours, so the goal was to stop labor for at least 48 hours.

This was the longest 48 hours of my life!!! After it was determined that I didn't have an infection I was given a shot of terbutaline to stop my contractions. This worked for awhile, but after about four hours my contractions were back and becoming more regular so it was time for the big guns: magnesium sulfate, affectionately known as mag. The mag is like having liquid fire going straight into your veins. You literally feel like you are on fire from the inside out. At this point I also got a catheter, and was on strict bedrest and no food or water. I slept a little, but was still worried and HOT!!!! Overnight my contractions really picked up and I had to have two shots of terbutaline which worked thankfully! Monday was incredibly slow. I couldn't concentrate to read or even watch TV, I literally just lay there and listened to Savannah's heartbeat on the monitor. Monday night was tough. I had a mean nurse who made me cry because I couldn't tell the difference between her moving and contractions.

FINALLY, 10:00 Tuesday morning came...the magic 48 hour mark!!! At this point they turn off the mag, and it becomes just wait and see, either your will go into labor or your body will get the message and wait a little longer. They let me eat that morning, and it looked like the contractions had stopped.

Then around 4:00 PM I started having intense pain in my lower back, but wasn't registering any contractions so the nurses kind of just ignored me until it got so bad I was crying...then they had a resident check me and I was dilated 3cm. Everything happened so fast after that. The OR was open so they rushed me in before the next scheduled c-section. The spinal block was terrible; the Dr. couldn't get in, I was crying hysterically, but finally on the third try it worked! It was bizarre being awake while you knew they were cutting you open.

At 6:48 Miss Savannah was born!!!!! I can't explain what it was like to hear her cry for the first time. It was like my heart cracked open. I cried and cried. The nurse brought her over for just long enough to get a quick picture...she was beautiful and perfect. Savannah weighed 5lbs 1oz and was 19 inches long. i don't remember much after that. I know I went to see her in the NICU while I was still on the gurney, and I guess I somehow got up to my room.

Savannah spent two LONG weeks in the NICU. She only need the CPAP to help her breathe for a few hours. After that she just needed to learn how to eat and maintain her body temperature.

The last seven weeks have bee magical! We are so, so, so lucky to have our real, live baby. I will post more updates and pictures soon!!!