Winona Jeannelise Sims arrived at 7pm on Monday, 01/13/2020; 8lb 11
Winona Jeannelise Sims arrived at 7pm on Monday, 01/13/2020; 8lb 11.5oz, 21.26in
Birthing story was traumatic. My (what I thought was “irrational”) fear throughout pregnancy was that I would die in childbirth.
And apparently I almost did.
My heart rate was over 200 for what they considered too long so they explained they wanted to “push” meds to slow down my heart which may stop my heart for a while while she was still in me. They tried two different meds and neither worked. But I was so scared and tripping on pain meds and husband/Sr wasn’t there yet and he didn’t know what was going on and I thought I’d die before he got there. Since the meds didn’t work, they wanted to paddle shock my heart to reset it. She was still in me. They said my heart rate decreased when I would bare down, so I asked them to check my cervix for pushing as last they checked I was at 5. But when they checked, I was fully just bag and baby. So they broke my bag and let me push. Sr got there just in time to see me push a couple times and she was out. A knot in her cord and meconium.
Then they wanted to monitor me and put me on a beta blocker in the ICU. First, I’d just be in there til my HR came down and stabilized. So I agreed, although I was very against it and wanted to refuse immediately, but my mom was scared and felt the drs knew best and I was medicated and should do as they say so I capitulated. I only got to see Winnie for about 30 seconds when they wheeled her out of delivery. After 4-5 hours in the ICU, around 12-1am, I asked about being released to postpartum since I had been stable and they found the meds dose but now they said I had to wait for the morning icu dr to release me. That wouldn’t be until another 7 hours around 8am, which I didn’t like, but didn’t fuss about. I couldn’t sleep. I was too excited and wanted to see Winnie and I was being BP’d every 30-60 minutes to ensure I stayed stable.
So of course doctors came and went... hours passed and I had been stable since before midnight. I kept getting the run around and then I was told I was being moved to telemetry where I still wouldn’t be able to be with the baby and I couldn’t get up to her and she might be able to visit me for a few minutes. It was just BS. The OB dr wouldn’t go against the ICU dr and I told them I am declining all cardiology and telemetry. I’ll accept and wanted postpartum services but if they want to release me rather than see us, then I’ll do that. I got a nurse to take me up to see Winnie and I got some skin to skin and feeding in around noon. After that I knew she was good. All the NICU nurses said she was just being watched there as I was in the icu. After a few more hours, the doctors were finally reachable and agreeable to allow us to postpartum around 6pm. About 11 hours after birth. I think.
But I was about to request the hospital administrator to discuss the run around, treatment, and lack of accessibility to the doctors etc. It took me initiating walking out AMA to get the ball rolling. And we were about to be discharged and we were making sure we could get Winnie when they capitulated and moved us instead. I was pretty calm for the most part because I didn’t want them to be able to use any of my anger against me. But it broke my heart seeing Sr broken by his hands being tied unable to help and getting the run around and going back and forth between Winnie and me wanting us to be together and all that.
We’re happy and healthy at home. 💝 and her new big brother is the perfect balance of disinterested and helpfully loving.
Comment
Add Comment
Let's Glow!
Achieve your health goals from period to parenting.
