Once we arrived at the new South Health Campus, we were given a room in triage and my belly was hooked up to a fetal heart rate monitor and contraction toco discs. The heart rate monitor had trouble picking up baby's rates consistently enough to get a baseline reading. Mostly, because baby was very active and moving every few seconds. Contractions were also a few minutes apart but irregular. After nearly five hours on the tocos the OB, Dr. Kenny, finally got a good enough reading that I was allowed to leave and get some lunch. Phil and I went to the hospital marketplace together and I bought a pair of fuzzy slippers from the hospital gift shop on our way back up to the 7th floor.
We waited again in triage, as there were no rooms yet available for delivery. At 8pm the new OB, Dr. Zakarias sent us for an ultrasound to check on baby's positioning and fluid levels. All looked great. Then since we were not able to get cervadil (since we couldn't be admitted until we had a delivery room) we had an unmedicated option instead and the OB inserted a Foley Balloon to help dilate from 1cm, which I was currently, to 3/4cms. I also got an IV of fluids and was started on antibiotics. The nurses moved us around midnight to a room in an unused hallway of the maternity ward so that we could get some sleep in a quiet area.
I slept for what seemed a long time, only to wake and see it had only been an hour. It was 1am. I got up to go to the bathroom and the foley balloon had already done its job and had fallen out. I called the nurse and we were quickly moved to a delivery room. Room 11 at the very end of the hallway.
At 3am I was given a pitocin drip and the OB inserted a heart rate monitor directly into the top of baby's head and our water broke in a trickle. I was 3cms. Contractions began to get regular and stronger from here. Our back up doula, Heather, a arrived. We waited.
Our original doula, Tracey, arrived around 5am. The progress of dilation and waiting for baby's head to drop was slow moving. Contractions were regular and strong. Baby's heart rate still took small dips during contractions and I was given an Amniotic Infusion (tube to insert warmed water back into the uterus for cushioning) just as a precaution in case the cord was being squashed somewhere. It also helped to clear out the miconium from the fluids.
After 11 hours of unmedicated labour and numerous comments from nurses and doctors of how I was doing amazing at pain control, I was given the option of taking an epidural or being knocked out if a c-section was needed. Baby's heart rate was still dipping and they were beginning to worry that my uterus might get injured and hemorrhage if we laboured too long with the strong contractions. With an epi in place I was also prepped just in case we needed an emergency c-section. I finally could relax a little bit.
By 4pm that same day, I was about 5cms dilated and baby was beginning to drop. The OB on shift, Dr. Feyhe, said she would give us another hour and if we'd made no progress, would recommend a c-section. The game was on to get get baby to turn and drop. Our doula was instrumental in getting baby to turn using different positions. At 5pm the OB was called to a surgery and we had an extra hour to make progress.
The OB returned just after 6pm to check our progress and it was good news. There had been a change and baby had dropped a bit more and was in position for birth. I was now 6cms dilated. Good news!
Then the epidural wore off. The needle had pulled out of my back, just in time to feel a completely unmedicated drop of baby into my pelvis (no natural pain suppressors were in my system at his point either due to having had the epi). I felt baby move into the birth canal and felt the head and shoulders move with each contraction. The shoulders semes to get stuck on the right side of my pelvis as baby was being pushed down. It was incredible pain (the only way I can describe it) and all I had was my breathing to get me through it. Phil and our midwife Tracey were a big help. Baby was low and I felt like I needed to push. The anaesthesiologist was called and it suddenly seemed like hours passed waiting through contractions.
Shift change at 7pm and our fourth OB, Dr. Wilson, was just coming on, as what seemed like ten nurses ran around our room prepping for birth. The anaesthesiologist finally arrived after 45 minutes of amazing pain and tried to give me Fentanyl meds by syringe via the tube. He quickly discovered that the tube wasn't hooked to my back and then left to get his stuff to put it back in. Finally he returned and set everything back up as I sat on the edge of the bed, holding into Phil and I could feel baby's head, ready to push.
After a long day of craziness, the birth was a beautiful experience and I stopped to just be in the moment. I was told to push and then to wait when baby's head emerged. I held off on pushing and all I could think about was how wonderful this moment was. I pushed four times and felt the pressure release. I knew baby had been born. The shortest and best part of the entire day.
Phil looked at baby and then at me as the whole room went quiet, and he said "You were right. It's a boy!" The baby's cry was amazing music to my ears. Then the nurses got to work tending to baby in the panda warmer. As soon as they were done they brought him to me and put him on my chest for skin to skin cuddles.
He had an apgar score of 9. He weighed 9lbs 12 oz and measured 53.5cms/21.06" long. His head measured 39.5cms. A big healthy boy.
I was up and out of bed right away and even got to take a shower within hours of giving birth. Our first night was full of cluster feeding and nurses checking in on us. Phil slept on the window seat.
The next day, we named our son Tanner Felix (after my grandfather). We waited to have blood tests done and his minor tongue tie clipped. We spent just over 24 hours cuddling with him in the hospital before heading home, after midnight, in -30c weather.
Each moment I've spent with my new little guy I fall deeper in love with him. I'd worried before he was born, that I may not bond with him as I'd bonded with our twins, or that he'd somehow he'd take away from their lives. Now I understand what second time parents must feel when bringing home a new baby. You never share love, it truly only multiplies.
I am so very thankful that our littles have siblings, since I never did. While I am in no hurry, I get to watch the three of them grow up and bond to each other. I'm already amazed.
With the addition of the Littlest Smeltz, our family is now complete.
xoxoxo
