Syrah Jolene Wood
November 13, 2008
11:22 AM
8 lbs 2.2 oz
19.3 inches
Her name: Throughout the pregnancy, Tony and I kept a list of the Top 10 names that we wanted to consider for our daughter; Syrah was added to that list 3 weeks before she arrived.
From that point on, we both knew that her name is Syrah. We didn't make it official until we met her, but as we looked at her beautiful face, she confirmed our choice.
Her middle name is very special. We wanted to have a name that tied to a "family name" but we didn't want to use an actual given name. It was while I was talking to my sister-in-love, that it dawned on me that both grandmothers had Jo in their name (Jo-Anne & Vicki-Jo). We knew that our daughter's middle name would be created in respect to these two special women.
Timeline of Delivery
11/7/08 - Contractions started. I was 80% thinned out but only a fingertip dilated. Syrah's heart rate was monitored as a follow-up from Thursday’s finder-binder. Her rate was high, but still within the 'OK' range.
11/10/08 - No change in dilation or baby's heart rate. Dr. Lanza would like me to go into labor naturally, but due to Syrah's heart rate, he will only allow me to wait 1 week past due date. An induction was scheduled for 9:00 PM on 11/13. He will then break my water the following morning. A follow up appointment was schedule for 9:30 AM on 11/12.
11/12/08 (all approximate times):
6:00 AM - Contractions got stronger and I thought my water broke. We went to the Birthing Center to be monitored (same thing that would have happened at the doctor's office later that day anyway). An ultrasound was performed to measure the amniotic fluid and it was determined that my water didn't break. It was also revealed that Syrah was about 8 lbs 7 oz. This came to a shock to all of us.
1:00 PM - We were released to go home. Dr. Lanza decided that since I was STILL a fingertip dilated (and still 80% thinned) that I didn't need to be induced over night. We were then scheduled to have my water broken on 11/14. Tony and I walked around the mall (as much as I could with the contractions) and then returned home. For the rest of the night, my contractions pretty much disappeared and/or came very infrequent.
10:00 PM - I lost my mucus plug and the contractions started within the hour. They were more intense, in my back and only 5 - 7 minutes apart.
11/13/08 (all approximate times):
1:00 AM - Contractions were to the point of debilitating my walking, breathing and talking. They were now constantly 2 minutes apart.
2:30 to 3:00 AM - I was admitted into the Birthing Center. They gave me one of the nicest and biggest birthing suites ... complete with jet tub (which I never got to use).
5:00 AM - The last 2 hours were extremely painful. Contractions were full on back labor! To help with the pain, I sat on a birthing ball while Tony massaged my lower back as the contraction intensified. I was able to continue to hold out until I was 3 inches dilated, but I couldn't go any further. I received an epidural that worked immediately. From this point on, it was blissfull.
Not only was I working through back labor, I needed a continuous IV. My body wasn't staying hydrated and by now, I was absorbing my 2nd or 3rd bag of fluids.
6:15 AM - Syrah's heart rate dropped to alarming levels. 3 extra nurses and 2 doctors rushed into our room. I was quickly propped up onto my knees and elbows (which is ridiculously hard to do when I couldn't move anything from the chest on down).
The problem was the age of my placenta; it was too old at this point. Syrah needed to be supported from the blood and oxygen stored in the placenta as my contractions intensified, but this wasn't happening. As a result, she was in distress during contractions. The doctors now had me breathing through an oxygen mask to help.
8:00 AM - Dr. Lanza arrives! It was a comfort to see him because I knew him and trusted any decisions that he would make. He explained that he was slightly concerned about Syrah, but her condition was better since I started to have the extra oxygen. He said that he wanted me to continue to dilated (with the help of patocin) and work towards a vaginal birth, but if Syrah's heart rate drops again, he would call for an emergency C-section. By now, I was on my 5th or 6th bag of fluids.
10:00 AM - I was now on my 8th bag of fluid. The nurse said that she has never seen someone need so much fluid and that the most that they normally need to give is 3-4 bags. Yeah me!
10:35 AM - Dr. Lanza said "lets have a birthday party!" Over the past 2 hours, Syrah wasn't dropping enough through the birthing canal and I wasn't dilating quick enough to support her. He said that he would let me go all day if needed to progress, but with her heart rate not staying stable, he felt that things could get worse for her if we waited longer.
Tony prepared himself while the nurses got me ready for my C-section.
11:00 AM - While laying with my arms stretched out in the OR, I could hear the nursers and the anesthesiologist preparing things all around me. I couldn't see a thing since they had a blue sterile guard up between me and my belly, but I could hear them asking for my charts, looking for tools and calling out numbers.
6:15 AM - Syrah's heart rate dropped to alarming levels. 3 extra nurses and 2 doctors rushed into our room. I was quickly propped up onto my knees and elbows (which is ridiculously hard to do when I couldn't move anything from the chest on down).
The problem was the age of my placenta; it was too old at this point. Syrah needed to be supported from the blood and oxygen stored in the placenta as my contractions intensified, but this wasn't happening. As a result, she was in distress during contractions. The doctors now had me breathing through an oxygen mask to help.
8:00 AM - Dr. Lanza arrives! It was a comfort to see him because I knew him and trusted any decisions that he would make. He explained that he was slightly concerned about Syrah, but her condition was better since I started to have the extra oxygen. He said that he wanted me to continue to dilated (with the help of patocin) and work towards a vaginal birth, but if Syrah's heart rate drops again, he would call for an emergency C-section. By now, I was on my 5th or 6th bag of fluids.
10:00 AM - I was now on my 8th bag of fluid. The nurse said that she has never seen someone need so much fluid and that the most that they normally need to give is 3-4 bags. Yeah me!
10:35 AM - Dr. Lanza said "lets have a birthday party!" Over the past 2 hours, Syrah wasn't dropping enough through the birthing canal and I wasn't dilating quick enough to support her. He said that he would let me go all day if needed to progress, but with her heart rate not staying stable, he felt that things could get worse for her if we waited longer.
Tony prepared himself while the nurses got me ready for my C-section.
11:00 AM - While laying with my arms stretched out in the OR, I could hear the nursers and the anesthesiologist preparing things all around me. I couldn't see a thing since they had a blue sterile guard up between me and my belly, but I could hear them asking for my charts, looking for tools and calling out numbers. Of all the previous times I have been in the OR, I was more nervous this time. This surgery didn't affect just for me; it was affected our daughter's life.
I remember laying there, getting nervous because I couldn't feel myself breath. The anesthetics numbs me from my collar bone on down and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't feel myself take a breath. I had to rely on the fact that I was still alive and breathing through an oxygen mask.
Tony sat right next to me. I remember looking at him with tears in my eyes and telling him that I was scared. As he brushed his hand on the inside of my palm and arm, I just looked at him. I started to wonder when Dr. Lanza was going to start the C-sections. The next thing I new, the nurse said that I would start to feel pressure and then ...
11:22 AM - The time of birth was called out and we saw our daughter's face for the first time as they held her over the blue barrier. As soon as I saw her, I started to cry. Words couldn't express that moment in time. I turned to Tony and said that we were now a family.
