Montana

Chapter 36

Andy's 37 Weeks and 1 Day... When Andy arrived at the hospital, it was six in the evening. She was checked in and was put on the monitor. About an hour later, Carina came in and checked her. When she checked Andy, she was 4cm dilated, and when she was in pre-term labor, she never went past 2cm. So Carina confirmed that Andy was in active labor. So Andy was transfused to L&D, and her nurse came in and introduced herself.

Conversation... Carina: Hey, Andy. I've heard that you've been having regular and painful contractions. Andy: Yes, all day. I was thinking it was nothing. Carina: Well, it isn't. According to the monitor you are having strong contractions every six to eight minutes. Also, when I checked you, you were 4cm dilated. However, just a couple of days ago, you were still 2cm. So, you guys probably leave without your daughter. Robert: This is amazing. Carina: I'm going to guess that she will probably be here by tomorrow at about noon, hopefully. Andy: Wow. Carina: Let the nurse know if you want an epidural. I know we've talked about that you do want one. So, Andy, I know that you want to labor naturally, but in the end, you will want the epidural. Is that still right? Andy: Yes. Carina: Okay. Until you're ready for the epidural, I can have the nurses help you labor naturally. You have a lot of options. Such as the bath, or shower, changing positions, the birthing ball, and moving around. Andy: Okay. Carina: You should know, when you get the epidural or if I start you on any medications, you will have to monitor the baby, but you don't need to be monitored if you're not connected to anything. Andy and Robert: Okay. Robert: Should we worried that she's only thirty-seven weeks? Carina: No. That's considered full term. When Andy was admitted to the hospital at thirty-two weeks, we made a goal for her to get to thirty-seven weeks, and she made it. So, your daughter is actually full term. Also, we expect people who were in preterm labor, to give birth between thirty-six to thirty-nine weeks. Robert: Okay. Thank you. Carina: I'll be back sometime in the middle of the night to check you. Andy: Okay. Thank you. (Carina leaves the room.) Robert: This is the best wedding present, I've ever gotten. Thank you. Andy: Me too. I'm glad that the people I was closest too, will get to meet our daughter. Before we got married, Lucas told me that tomorrow is Claire's birthday and the day she died, are you okay? Robert: Yes. I went and saw her this morning before I headed to the station to get ready. I believe that she sent you guys to me. So, I believe if our daughter's born on her birthday, it's for a reason. Andy: Okay. I have to call Maya and have her come up here. Since she's my second support person. Robert: Okay.: End of Conversation After that, Andy called Maya, and she came up there and joined them.

When Maya arrived, Andy was moving around, and her contraction was now five minutes apart. After she put down her stuff Maya and Robert took turns helping Andy thru contractions.

Andy's 37 Weeks and 2 Days... Carina came back and checked Andy, a little bit after one in the morning. By the time Carina came back, Andy had tried everything that Carina told her to that would help with the pain. So when Carina told her she was only 5cm dilated, Andy had enough and she asked for the epidural.

The epidural person came about two in the morning, and after Andy got her epidural, the nurse came back to check Andy. When she checks Andy she was now 6cm dilated. After that, Andy and Robert were able to get some rest, however, Maya was wide awake and really excited.

Every hour, the nurse would come in and check Andy. About seven in the morning, there was a shift change, so Andy got a new nurse, and she came in and introduced herself. Her name is Nurse Amy. While she was introducing herself, she decided to check Andy, and Andy was just a tad bit over 9cm dilated. So, Nurse Amy told Andy that she was now 9cm dilated and that she was going to go call Carina to let her know what's going on. When everyone in the room heard how far dilated she was, they were all shocked.

Since they arrived, they have forgotten about the team. So, the whole team doesn't have a clue that Andy's in labor. Not even Lucas.

Conversation... Andy: Does anyone know yet? Maya: Nope. Andy: Okay. Don't tell anyone quite yet. I want Mark to be the first one to hold her after y'all. Maya: Okay. Should I call him? Andy: I will after she's born. Maya: Okay. Andy: Maya, after she's born, call Vic and tell her she's in charge of telling everyone, and getting everyone here. Maya: Okay. Don't we have a shift today? Robert: Yes, we do. I have the shift off, and I made Jack captain since you're here with us. (After five minutes, Amy came back and talked to Andy.) Amy: So, since you're almost 10cm dilated, I called Carina, and she told me to get your room ready for delivery and for you to start pushing. Andy: Wow. Amy: Are you ready to start pushing? Andy: I guess. (Thru this whole process, Maya and Robert have been cheering Andy on.) Amy: Okay. (A couple of nurses come in and start preparing the room for delivery.) Amy: Okay. So, we are going to get ready to start pushing. Quick question, would you like me to turn down your epidural, but not all the way? You can choose how far. If needed we can turn it back up. If we do turn it down, it will take a couple of contractions for the epidural to wear off some. Andy: Okay. I guess we could try that. Amy: Okay. Let's start pushing. I'm going to place Robert at your head, a second nurse will hold a leg, and then if Maya wants she can hold your other leg if you guys want. Maya: Really? Andy: I guess. Amy: Okay. Let's start pushing. (After that, Andy starts pushing. She was pushing off and on for thirty minutes when Carina came in and took over. When Carina took over, they started pushing for real.)

Carina: Andy, you've made amazing progress. I can see the tip of her head. So, we are going to start pushing harder and more. Andy: Okay. (So Andy pushes three more times.) Maya: I can see her head. Andy, she has hair. Andy and Robert: Really? Carina: Yes. Andy gives me your hand. (Andy gives Carina her hand, and Andy feels her daughter's head.) Carina: Andy, that's your little girl. Push two times and her head will be out. (So Andy pushes two more times, and her head is out.) Carina: One more push, Andy. (Andy pushes one more time, and she comes out.) Maya: Andy, she's beautiful. Carina: Time of birth 9:17 in the morning. (Carina puts her on her chest, and she just starts crying. When Andy and Robert laid eyes on their daughter, they both started to cry.) Andy: She's here. Robert: Yes, she is. Carina: Robert, would you like to cut the cord? Robert: Of course. (Robert cuts the cord, and then they dry her off. Then Nurse Amy takes her over to the baby area. She weighs her, and measures her.) Amy: Andy, she weighs 7lb 9oz, and 19 inches long. (Amy brings her back to Andy.) Amy: Does she have a name? Andy: Yes, she does. Her name is Claire. (When Robert hears that, he starts to cry.) Andy: She feels and looks like a Claire. (When Andy says that, she looks over at Robert, and he's starting to cry.) Andy: Robert, what do you think? Robert: It's perfect. I love you both so much. Carina: Andy we're going to keep you here for a couple of hours to monitor you, and then you'll be transferred to the postpartum floor. Andy: Okay.: End of Conversation

While they are monitoring Andy, everyone holds Claire. Andy started off by feeding her, then Claire is handed to Robert. When Robert held his daughter for the first time, he started to cry. After a few minutes, Maya held Claire. When Maya first held Claire, she started to cry too. When Andy was watching them pass Claire around, all she could do was smile. When they were handing her around, Andy took pictures of Claire with Robert and Maya.

After an hour or so, Andy calls Mark and she has him come to the hospital. By now, she's been transferred to the postpartum floor. Phone Call... Mark: Hey, Andy. Andy: Hey. Could you please come up to the hospital? Mark: Yes, why? Andy: I had the baby. Mark: Really? I'm on the way. Andy: Okay. You can tell Elle and Chase if you want. Mark: Okay.: End of Conversation After that, the three of them all came to the hospital. Andy decided that Maya will call Vic after they see Mark, Elle, and Chase.