My Birth Story

Evan Wesley Cole forever changed our lives when he was born on Tuesday, December 20, 2011.

Always felt like I would have a c section.

When my due date came and went on December 12, 2011, Dr. Hall decided to schedule an induction for December 20, 2011.  I was 41 weeks and sweet Evan needed to be evicted.  Bill and I arrived at Lakeside Women's Hospital at 8:00 p.m. on Monday, December 19, 2011 to begin the induction process. At that time I was 1 cm dilated and 20% effaced, the same as I had been since 36 weeks.  After completing the admittance paperwork,  cervadil was started at 9:30 p.m.  Surprisingly, the cervadil did not cause cramps or any pain.  The night nurse, Crystal, offered me ambien to sleep but I declined hoping that I would be able to sleep naturally and not be drowsy for the big day on Tuesday.  Fortunately, I was able to sleep from 11:45 to 4:45, with the exception of being awoken by an an overnight delivery that took place at 2:00 a.m. on Tuesday morning in the room next door.  I was awoken by the sound of excitement and shouting "9 lbs and 20 inches".  I thought for sure the family would calm down shortly after, but when 3:00 a.m. rolled around and at least 15 people were still celebrating in the hall, Bill and I decided that it was time to ask the nurse to move the crowds to the lobby so that we could sleep.  She did and Bill and I were able to sleep soundly for the rest of the night.

At 4:45 the nurse woke me up so that I could take a shower and prepare for the day.  I was so appreciative for that because I was even able to put on make up before starting pitocin and being restricted to the bed.    Pitocin was started at 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday.  At that time I was still 1 cm, but 80% effaced, so I was hopeful that the cervidil had done its job.   The nurse shift changed at 7:00, and I my new nurse was Jody and her son's name was Evan.  Yes, I am telling the truth.  Crazy, right! This is particularly special to me because my mom's nurse when she delivered me was also named Jodi.  Fate or what?

At 8:30 I was still 1 cm at and 80% effaced and Dr. Hall was able to break my bag of waters hoping that it would help the contractions get started.  From that point, I was constantly leaking fluid and whenever asked how I was feeling, I always joked "I'm peeing on myself, how are you feeling?".

After my water broke, I began to feel light cramping in my back. It was nothing that I could not tolerate and I had actually felt menstrual cramps that were much more painful.  However, I heard that back labor was the absolute worst thing that could happen during labor and I was not interested in experiencing that.  My doctor does not have any restrictions as to when you can receive an epidural, so I decided to ask for one before the pain from contractions began to hurt, especially in my back since you are required to keep your back completely still while the epidural is inserted.  At 9:42, Dr. Howard, the best anesthesiologist in the world, came in to give the epidural.  Dr. Howard carries all his equipment in a 5 drawer, steel Craftman's tool case that rolls.  When he knocked on the door and I asked who it was, my mom said "the guy with the craftsman tools," to which I relied, "well he has the wrong room! I don't need to be drilled on."  Dr. Howard had a way of calmly explaining everything while at the same time not making you feel like he know more than you or that you should just accept what he says and not ask any questions.  You almost feel as if you have known him for years.

While the epidural was being inserted, I leaned against Jody, the nurse.   It was the first time I had leaned at a 90 degree angle since having my water broken.  Hello Niagra Falls.  I was gushing everywhere, even down the bed, on the floor and onto Jody's shoe.  Let me tell you it was really hard to keep very still while I was having the biggest wet my pants experience in my life.

The epidural took effect almost immediately and from that point, I didn't feel much at all.  To my surprise, the epidural did not cause severe heaviness in my legs that I was expecting.  In fact, looking back I cannot really tell you what it felt like, just that I didn't feel any pain.  At this point, I knew that I would safely be able to say that despite being pregnant and having a child, I have no idea what a contraction actually feels like. I think I like it that way!

From that point, things moved relatively slowly.  The nurse would increase the dosage of pitocin approximately every 20 minutes to hopefully increase the intensity of the contractions to increase dilation of my cervix.;  By 11:30, I was 1.5 cm and still 80% effaced.  That meant that I had in 5 1/2 hours, I had only dilated a 1/2 a centimeter.  The nurse decided to continue to increase my pitocin and told me not to get discouraged.  However, every time she would increase the pitocin drip to 18 (the max is 30), I would have back to back contractions, and Evan's heart rate would drop and continue to stay low after the contraction had passed.  As explained to me by Dr. Hall, my OBGYN, while a drop in heart rate is normal during intense contractions, and can actually indicate that things are progressing and it is almost push time, it is not normal and potentially dangerous for the baby's heart rate to drop after a contraction as this usually indicates that the baby is not recovering and receiving adequate oxygen in between contractions.  Thus, I was placed on oxygen at 1:15 in the hopes that this would help Evan.  The nurse also turned the pitocin off twice to give baby Evan a rest.

At this time, I began to wonder whether a vaginal delivery would be an option for me.  Although the medical staff had not mentioned a c-section, I wondered how Evan was going to handle active labor since I was technically still in "latent labor" which is not as intense or painful as active labor.  I began texting my aunt Michelle and sister-in-law Amber to figure out whether there was any chance Evan could tolerate later contractions when these earlier ones seemed to be painful for him.  At that point, I knew, like I had always known, that we would probably end up having a c-section. I was completely OK with this. Bill, on the other hand, was nervous and protective of me.   Like any husband, the thought of his wife undergoing surgery is something he would rather avoid.

 At 2:15, Dr. Hall checked me and I was only 3 cm dilated and Evan still did not seem to tolerate the contractions very well.  It was then that she confirmed what I had been thinking, I should consider a c-section.
The conversation went something like this:

Dr. Hall - Well, we do not like how Evan is responding to the pitocin.  There is chance that we could stop the pitocin for a while, give Evan a break, and then try again in the hopes that he can tolerate the contractions.  However, I must be honest, you are only 3 centimeters and have a long way to go. I do not want you to rush you into a c-section but want to be honest about what is happening here.

Jodi - Bill what do you think?

Bill - I just want a healthy baby and healthy wife.  I just want you to tell us what you recommend.

Jodi - Well, maybe it is because I have no experience with either one, but I have absolutely no preference.  I honestly was not looking forward to a vaginal delivery anyway.

Dr. Hall - Well, at this point you have a long way to go with no promises.  A c-section is major surgery and you shouldn't rush into it, but I think it is the best option for you.

Bill - OK, lets do it.  (I later found out that Bill had asked Dr. Hall a litany of questions outside my presence about the safety of c-section, the recovery restrictions, etc.  I guess he didn't want me to know how nervous he was).

The only emotions I felt I that point was relieve.  I no longer had to sit and watch a monitor with my baby's heart rate dropping and trying to convince myself and everyone else in the room that it was normal.  I guess I felt like I would take the extra burdens of recovery any day over having to experience vaginal delivery and especially over having to push Evan to the limits of what he could tolerate.  My first motherly sacrifice I guess.

After waiting for the photographer to arrive, Evan Wesley Cole was born via c-section at 3:32 p.m. The c-section was so simple, quick and painless.  Seriously, in what seemed like seconds, it was over.  In actuality, I think it was approximately five minutes after Dr. Hall began the surgery and about twenty minutes after I was rolled into the operating room.

I know that many people were praying for Bill, Evan and I both leading up to and during the induction, labor and delivery.  I know those prayers were answered because the calmness of the hospital was unmistakable.  Despite this being my first labor, I remained calm and excited throughout the entire process. The nursing staff and doctors were the best and I am so grateful that they were there to take care of us. Recovery has also been relatively painless and I love being a mom.  I could not have imagined things to go more smoothly.