Trevor's Birth Story

Trevor Lee Peterson

8 lbs 6 oz 20 inches

Born January 28, 2014 at 10:27 PM

After confirming that my water was broken, the midwives told me to call Bernhoven Hospital at 6:45 the next morning to get a time to come in for an induction. I called 6:45 on the dot and they told me that they were ready for me. I ran upstairs to tell Erik that it was time to go NOW! We rushed to get everything ready and left, nervous but excited. We were going to meet our son! Soon upon arrival, a nurse hooked me up to IVs and monitors for the baby's heart and my contractions. She didn't start pitocin yet and said we would monitor first. Turns out I had been having contractions but wasn't feeling them. She checked my cervix - 4 cm. 40% complete. Yes! We began pitocin and slowly I felt aches that were much like period cramps. They increased quickly and before I knew it, I was having to focus my energy into each spasm. Erik's hand became my only tool to get through them. I couldn't have relief though because my contractions were 1-2 minutes apart. Checked me again: 5 cm. That was it?! No. I kept on with no sign of relief in between contractions, until the midwife checked me at 5 cm again and I promptly asked for drugs. Maybe I moaned. Either way, I was rolled off with the nurse and Erik to get an epidural. It took FOREVER. With my contractions being so close, there was little time frame to stick a needle in my back, but we managed then I managed. I went from feeling like I was in a different universe, saying I would never have a kid again, to saying I would have another but only if an epidural was administered immediately. I was blissfully content. Not for long.

I HATED that I could feel nothing from my waist down. My legs couldn't move and I'm pretty sure if you'd stab one I wouldn't know. Let the TMI commence. I was pants and underwear-less under my blanket (no gowns here) and didn't have anything under my bottom, you know, to soak up all the blood and amniotic fluid that was leaking from me. I couldn't feel much, but I felt GROSS under those blankets. Could ya clean me up, people?! It gets worse. The lack of feeling meant a catheter (ok, cool) and an inability to stop farts. I have NEVER farted in front of Erik. We started dating in 2006. January 28, that all changed. I farted on the nurses when the turned me from side to side, when they checked my cervix, or really for any reason. I was mortified. Laughing it off made it worse because I would let out a stream of farts. Welp, if I'm going to have a fart fest in front of my husband, being in labor with his child is the best reason. But, it was the price to pay for no pain and TRUST ME, that wage is small. Things finally started to progress. 7 cm. 9 cm.

  Almost 10 cm. Why almost? There was a very small part of my cervix that wouldn't go away. Refused. We waited it out. Nothing.  We tried pushing. Go time!

 It was cut short. The nurse and midwife had the gynecologist come to check me but he wasn't impressed either. He said if I were to rupture that small part, I would bleed out, so he told us that c-section was our only option. I cried. I never thought that news would upset me like it did, but I was truly disappointed and thoroughly unprepared. I had hardly any time to think about it. We left Julia in the room to stand guard and we rolled me off to the OR, Erik following. I was given more lidocaine to numb my belly and started to violently shake like I were in a bath of ice. Some people react that way, but I hate it. I had no control over my legs nor my tremors. There were so many lights and people and I just kept shaking. I was ready to meet my son, but was nervous of everything that was to come. The anesthesiologist told me when the Incision was made and I told him that I did NOT want a play-by-play. I could feel the pressure and knew that there were hands inside of my belly. I had no pain, but the sensation was nauseating. Erik sat next to me, comforting me as my body shook. We waited what felt like forever. Why was this taking so long?! Well apparently (as we now know) I had a big baby and I'm a little girl. I didn't realize that made a difference with surgery, but it did, so we waited a seeming eternity before Erik said "OMG." "What?!" 

"He has a cone head!" (Like Erik did at birth) Seconds later, we heard the cries of our little boy as we welcomed him into this world. They swiftly took him to the table to my left and wiped him down, gave him an IV and weighed him. I sobbed. Erik cried. That was our baby! Erik cut the cord, they bundled him up and brought him to my face. He was perfect. Perfect. They had to take him away and told Erik to go with him. 

I'm glad he went because afterwards, my body wasn't having it. Apparently I had a fever, my blood pressure dropped and my uterus had ruptured causing me to lose 300 mL more blood than was usual (this part I didn't find out until recently). I was so nauseous and had to puke into a little cardboard thing next to my face. Not easy when you can't use your arms or move. The anesthesiologist comforted me the best he could while they took what felt like forever to sew me up. After some time to recover, I was rolled down to see my husband and new addition. When I arrived, Erik was holding Trevor was a big smile on his face. It was the most incredible feeling seeing my two boys there. He told me that Trevor was so strong and was rolling away from the nurses and kicking like crazy. That's my boy. We immediately tried to nurse, but had complications. I was told I had flat nipples which hindered a proper latch. They fed him formula and told me I would get a shield to out over my nipple so they baby could feed. We had to leave him for the night which saddened me, but I was ready for sleep so I could be ready for him the next day. We were told that Trevor would get antibiotics 3 times a day for 4 days because if my fever and the fact that my water had been broken over 12 hours prior to labor. It was purely precautionary, but I hated his bionic IV arm he had.

After some rest, they brought us to see our little boy and try nursing. I had some luck, but overall Trevor got really upset with the shield. I felt inadequate, but knew I'd keep trying. I came back later that day with the same results. Without my baby, I layed in the uncomfortable hospital bed with still no feeling in my lower half. I couldn't move much but I wanted so badly to leave. The next day we were able to have him in our room. Unfortunately, due to my immobility, I couldn't do much besides be a milk and cuddle machine. Nursing was still rough and I knew that Trevor wasn't getting what he needed (since I had a c-section, production was low). He screamed a lot and wouldn't sleep. I was so upset and felt that I was starving him and the nurses didn't care. Finally, after trial and error and my insistence, I pumped and fed Trevor what I could with a bottle and the rest was given to him in formula. He became much happier and started to sleep a bit better. I, however, was not sleeping. I had serious pain from my surgery and the pills weren't working. They gave me morphine. Nothing. Again. Nothing. Finally I asked if there was another way because the morphine had no effect on me. They brought me back to the OR and continue to give me medicine until pain was tolerable, then gave me a pump with a button to administer morphine to myself when I felt it was needed. It helped, but I was overall uncomfortable and needed to get away from needles, the language barrier and unanswered questions. They told me NOTHING about the surgery nor my recovery, so I was in the dark. The last day, my IVs were removed and I was able to get a shower. Then the best news, Trevor's blood work was back and he was good to go home. We were released January 31 and were finally parents all on our own.

Trevor consumes my every thought. He's incredible. He's the most amazing thing to ever grace our lives. We coo over him constantly, even when he's pooping. He's a great baby. He cried when he's hungry or when we are changing him. (Home boy hates to be naked.) Otherwise he gets milk drunk, gives us sweet gazes and snuggles. His snuggles are unlike anything, ever. Period. I like to just smell him and run my fingers across his chubby cheeks. I love to kiss them even more, as well his his fingers, toes, belly, etc. We are in love and there really isn't any way to describe it. You can't. You just have to experience it for yourself.

 I love you, Trevor Lee. I can't even imagine a life without you. Neither could Daddy. I look forward to each coming day. I especially look forward to healing so that I can do more, but you're sleeping a ton anyway! I think you're about to wake up from your nap because my boobs hurt (weird, right?) xoxo