Jonathan Miller, Jr. (Part 2)

I certainly didn't volunteer for it, but I learned a good lesson throughout the pregnancy. The decisions that people make concerning birth and parenting thereafter are personal ones that they chose based on their individual situations. So any differing opinions held by others are best left unspoken. (Unless the child is endangered of course... Which, I might add, is rarely the case.) :) Our situation was a rather unique one, I guess, and our choices may have seemed unconventional to some, but it worked for our family, and that's all that mattered to me.

So you already know about the part of the story where we became pregnant unexpectedly and then had to move to Albany when I was 8 months along. So problem #1 with this scenario was that I love my Athens doctor Tom Goggin. We've learned that there are many wonderful physicians in Albany, but it's difficult to form a bond with a new OB in a matter of weeks. Can I get an amen, moms?

Problem #2 was that Jon was starting his residency on July 2. I was due on July 6. Our families are also 3 1/2 hours north of Albany which is overcomeable, but inconvenient nonetheless.

So... The plan was to pray that Baby Jonathan (although no one knew his name at this point) would come early on his own, because ideally I wanted a totally natural labor. I fully believed that the Lord could do this, but if He didn't, then we had decided to drive to Athens to induce. We were hoping to deliver in Athens either way. If my water broke in Albany we were gonna drive to Athens! I know; we are some crazy kids. I'll admit I did question whether or not induction was ok, because I didn't want to ask God for something and then go and do it anyway if He said "no." So I prayed about that too, and He gave me a peace about it, so that became our plan.

I was able to finish my first rotation without any problems. The staff at the home infusion pharmacy where I was doing my rotation was mostly women, and they all got a kick out of analyzing the daily evolution of my pregnant waddle. One thoughtful nurse even offered to strip my membranes to make me go into labor. (Thanks, Mandy! ;))

We picked a weekend that fell between finishing my rotation and Jon starting the residency and planned to head to Athens for the Big Day. I had a doctor's appointment Thursday afternoon, and I was already 2 cm dilated and "very effaced" as Dr. Goggin said. Even though I knew this didn't necessarily mean labor was imminent, I was encouraged that at least my body was getting ready, so the induction wouldn't be a horrible idea. My prayers that my baby and my body would be ready seemed to be getting answered!

As it turns out, our friends Mark and Emily were getting married that weekend, so we went to the wedding, Jon looking so handsome and intelligent with his new Pharm.D., and I, in all my sweaty pregnant glory. We were hoping I could dance my way into labor, but the not-so-subtle hints to my uterus failed to make their point. So I just looked very silly and conspicuous for a few hours. Oh, well!

Before the wedding. Photo by Betsy Chambers

My induction was scheduled to begin Sunday night, so we spent the rest of the weekend catching up with people and getting ready. We were supposed to get to the hospital at 6pm Sunday evening, but my thoughtful husband called ahead of time and there were no rooms available! So we waited until we heard from the nurse again and finally headed over to Athens Regional a little before 8pm.

Right before we left for the hospital! Photo by Dad

It's kind of weird going into the hospital very pregnant, but not in labor, knowing that you're going to have a baby sometime in the next day or so! We unpacked our stuff (they'd probably never seen so many snacks) and I changed into my labor clothes. I've since discovered that you can buy cute little gowns that are as convenient as the hospital gowns, but not so "air conditioned" in the back and come in all sorts of adorable fabrics! (duly noted for Baby Alligood #2)

Here, I am modeling the not-cute hospital gown. Design by Athens Regional Medical Center

The nurse hooked me up to the fetal monitor and I could see the baby's heart rate as well as a nifty graph of my contractions (I was already having them but couldn't feel it!). She also hooked me up to some IV fluids (lactated ringers to be specific for my Pharm.Dawgs) and penicillin - I'd never had an IV before! (And for those of you wondering, no, I did not pass out.) The nurse came back in around 9pm and checked my cervix and placed the Cervadil. I was still only 2 cm dilated (3 days later), so I was a little discouraged that I hadn't progressed, but the nurses all seemed optimistic about me having a quick labor (that didn't really happen, but it was a nice thought!)

I decided not to use a picture of my actual suppository. You're welcome.

Cervadil is typically placed the night before to begin dilating the cervix (hence the name), and Pitocin is started in the morning. Some women, however, can begin having strong contractions from the Cervadil alone. So of course, I could hardly sleep while waiting for "real" contractions to start. They started getting noticeable around 12:30am, and I woke Jon up from his uber-comfy couch-bed thing. I think I was mostly a little bored watching the contraction graph by myself and wanted some company. So we started practicing some of the labor techniques from our class (the bouncy ball, middle-school dancing, etc.). I didn't realize that not all the L&D rooms at Regional have a tub to labor in, so I was kind of disappointed that mine didn't.

Around 3:30am, I was having to focus a bit more with each contraction, so I called the nurse to come remove the Cervadil. Dr. Goggin had told me to do so when the contractions started getting stronger. When she removed it, some of my mucous plug came out with it, and the rest came out while I was bouncing on the labor ball a little bit later. Making progress! I kept having pretty regular contractions for a few more hours, and Mom came to hang out at the hospital. Dad came by eventually too, and brought Jon a Chick-fil-A biscuit. I was NPO (i.e. being intentionally starved by the hospital staff), unfortunately, so I just chomped obnoxiously on my ice chips.

The contractions weren't getting any more intense and eventually waned by 7am or so. The nurse came in and started the Pitocin and told me Dr. Goggin would come by in a little bit to break my water. In hindsight, I wish that I had asked them to try breaking my water to speed labor up before beginning Pitocin, but oh well. Dr. Goggin came in a little after 8am and broke my water, which was not the most pleasant experience of my life. It was uncomfortable and the warm fluid gushing out feels weird and gross so I don't think I got out of the bed again after that.

After my water was broken things started to get a bit more intense! Part 3, coming soon! (I promise there will not be 18 installments.)