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October 28, 2002
2 ½ Months Later…
There is something wrong…
When I looked at the clock it said 2:46am. My stomach felt wet and cold. I turned on the light in the bedroom and found my hands almost completely covered in blood. I looked down and saw the scratches on my stomach and all the pieces slowing started to come together. This couldn’t be normal, could it? I woke up Mike and we headed into the ER. When I explained to the nurse that I was itchy, she sloughed me off as another annoying pregnant woman. So I showed her the evidence. She nearly gasped when she saw my stomach. Finally my complaints seemed warranted. I had a burning itch in my feet, hands and stomach that no matter how hard I scratched I could not get rid of. My doctor finally diagnosed me with Obstetric Cholestasis and informed me the only cure was delivery. We all knew that there was no possibility of that at 6 ½ months, so now it was up to me. How much could I handle? How much sleep did I REALLY need? I guess I was about to find out.
Nothing was more important to me than delivering a healthy baby girl, so I stuck it out as long as possible. Some days I would spend crying and others I would wonder what the big deal was. Sleep was unknown to me. Mike was very supportive and learned to adjust to my moods. The one plus of having OC was the numerous ultrasounds I received. I loved to see my sweet little girl on the screen.
2 ½ Weeks Later
The thought of that huge needle going into my stomach made me sick, but the possibility that I might actually get to deliver my baby made it all worth it. The ultrasound took longer than I thought it would. It seemed like he was searching and searching for something. Finally he announced that the placenta had spread across the top of my stomach and there was no safe place to insert the needle. Once again I felt hopeless and scared. Through my tears I listened to the doctor explain that it still wasn’t safe to induce. He offered a steroid shot as condolence and I was wheeled back upstairs to the Baby Wing. The Baby Wing was the worst possible place an expectant mother could be. Not only did it increase that burning desire to meet your child, but it also added to the fear of the unknown.
36 Weeks, 5 Days
The excitement was unbearable. Mike was so excited to see our baby and I was so excited to end the pain. The burning in my stomach was at it’s worst today. Lying in the hospital bed awaiting the arrival of the doctor I felt on fire. My feet burned and my hands itched. My stomach was sore from scratching and every time the baby moved it hurt. The end was near. The doctor inserted the magic gel and the contractions began instantly. I could hear the nurses talking in the hall. They were worried. One of them questioned the reality of my condition and Mike heard her. He firmly closed the door and smiled at me. I knew everything would be ok.
I couldn’t believe the power of the contractions. My back hurt now, which was almost a relief. I moved from the shower to the bed and finally asked for relief. The past 10 hours seemed to have flown by. When I heard the doctor say, “2 still” I couldn’t believe it. How was that possible? 10 hours I had struggled through for 2 lousy centimeters. Now inches, I would have been happy with inches, but centimeters? I didn’t even feel the needle enter my back, only the contraction in my stomach. Then, almost instantly the pain was gone. For the first time in months I couldn’t feel my stomach…but hello cervix! An hour later I had to push. I didn’t want to push, or think it was a good idea…I HAD to push. The nurses decided that some “practices pushes” would be a good idea, but were on the phone instantly when they discovered just how little practice I needed. The doctor came running in about 5 minutes later. He decided there was no time for scrubs. He asked for gloves and told me to stop pushing as our little one came out face first, but I laughed and kept on going. I should have stopped. Mike’s face told me the degree of tear I had endured. But then, she was here. I felt our bodies part and I closed my eyes. I could hear Mike’s quite cries. Then I heard the doctor laugh. I opened my eyes to see what could possibly be funny at that moment. He held up my beautiful, perfect, healthy, 6-pound baby and announced, “It’s a boy!”
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