Epidurals & Complications with Normal Babies

If you decide you want an epidural, tell the doctor if Novocaine does not work on you. If you've ever had a cavity filled at the dentist you will know pretty quickly if it works, or if you're like me and it does nothing for pain. Before an epidural, they are supposed to give you a local anesthetic to numb the area before they put in a catheter to drip the medicine in your back. However, I felt the shot as well as the entire catheter going down m spine. They said they heard me scream from the waiting room. My son was under a lot of prenatal stress because of this, and a little bit after the epidural his heartbeat dropped down to 30 (120 is normal), three times. On the fourth they decided to take me in for a C-Section. This was the only truly painful part of my labor.
It's very rare that you're like me and intolerant to Novocaine, but since the thing they use to numb you is made of it, you should know going into it if it will work on you or not.

What to Expect for Premature Babies

I was fortunate enough to have a normal, healthy baby at 38 weeks, but my friend did have a premie. Here's what she said to expect if you do.

Being Prepared For A Preemie: 13 Things I Wish That I’d Known

At just 34 weeks, I welcomed Sadie Sara Grace weighing 4lbs. 5oz. After delivery, I held her for literally 2 seconds before they immediately took her to the NICU. For 12 hours, I had no idea what was going on with my daughter, just procedure after procedure. They wouldn’t let my husband see her until about 10 hours after I delivered her. Finally, he was able to hold her, but I still hadn’t seen her since giving birth. Come to find out, she had some severe complications, went into shock and had to revived for a few seconds after intubation. One of the many reasons I wasn’t able to hold her for 12 hours. 
After 4 very long weeks in the NICU, we finally welcomed Sadie home. With her little accessory — a heart monitor. However, we felt blessed she was able to be with us and fought through her journey. While I may be a pro when it comes to being a Mom – I was not a pro at handling a preemie. I remember how hard leaving the hospital was without my baby. It is something that I can’t even explain. Holding back the tears every time I had to leave her behind was heart breaking. Knowing I had a baby but she was not with us, at home, like a new baby should be.
Here is what I wish I would have known when it comes to preparing for a preemie, after the jump. 

- Don't Stress Over the Cords

It may be overwhelming to see cords, PICU lines, and a feeding tube - but, it is all helping your baby. Don't worry if everything alarms when you pick them up for the first times. It happens! 

- Have Faith, They Are In Good Hands

You have to remind yourself, the hospital is the best place for a preemie. If you have any concern ever, always talk to someone. Especially if you aren't happy with your care. And remember, call to check on your baby anytime when you can't be at their side. 

-  Research Your Hospital 

Make sure the hospital where you are delivering has a good NICU. Even if your baby is full term, this is still something you need to know to make sure your baby gets the best care. 

- Prepare the Nursery 

Make sure you do this ahead of time so if you go into labor way before your due date, you're prepared. 

- Preemie Baby Problems

Read about common preemie problems. Apena, Respiratory distress, Jaundice...things you may become familiar with over time.

- Don't Feel Guilty

When you have to leave the hospital, it's okay to cry. Don't feel guilty to not be at the bed side 24/7. You need your rest too!

- They May Have to Go Back

Be prepared. As preemies, they catch things easily and may have to return to the NICU. But remember, it's the best place for them. 

 

 -Make It or Break It Points

Your preemie will need to meet goals. From breathing on his own to being able to maintain body temperature out of the incubator. Your baby will have steps it needs to meet before discharge. Being able to bottle-fed and gaining weight steadily is a must. 

 

 - Be Prepared for Anything

For any emergency once the baby is home. Take an Infant CPR class before your baby comes home. This may even be required for those with apnea monitors. 

 

- Have a Plan

If you have other children, make sure you have a plan or schedule when it comes to visiting your baby in the NICU. Remember, your older children will remember when you aren't there. Don't feel guilty if you have to leave the baby. 

 

- Discharge Day

You will feel a mixture of worry and joy. Remember, your team of doctors will not send a preemie home until they know the baby is ready. 

 

- Finally Home

Once you are home, expect to keep a calm and quiet environment. Preemies are susceptible because their immune systems are still developing. Don't plan on running errands with them just yet! 

 

- They Will Be Okay

Sadie, now 1 year old, with no health issues at all!

 

What to Expect During Delivery

You will be wired up! 2 monitors on your belly (one for baby's heartbeat, one for your contractions), a blood pressure monitor, pulse monitor, and an IV. If you need induced, they'll start you on a medicine called Pitocin that makes contractions stronger. It's scary, but breathe and relax. If you choose to get an epidural, they will also give you a urinary catheter because you lose feeling from the waste down and won't be able to walk to the bathroom. That doesn't hurt at all.

Have you ever gotten Novocaine at the dentist? Did it work? Novocaine doesn't work on me, so if you're the same then TELL YOUR DOCTOR! The stuff they give you to numb your back before they put in the epidural is made of the same stuff as Novocaine, so if you're intolerant to the anesthetic you'll feel the catheter go into your back. That was the only truly painful thing about my labor. If you're ok with it, it's no big deal though, easy peasy :) I don't recommend looking up what happens when they put one in, because it looks worse than it feels.  It's not bad at all, especially if the numbing stuff works.

You'll have a lot of visitors, sometimes when you're in pain. Don't be afraid to (politely) ask for some time to yourself. Reassure them that you'd love them to visit as soon as you're comfortable.

If you have a C-section, it'll take about 45 minutes to get back to the operating room. You'll be too high to notice. Once you get back, they'll prep you and he/she'll be out in no time! The hardest part about a C-section is waiting to be stitched up. Again, you're too high to count time, but all I can tell you is it felt like an eternity. My boyfriend got to take the baby to the recovery room and I waited by myself for the doctors to finish. I only got to see a glimpse of my baby and it killed me to wait. They told me it would be about 45 minutes. Then you have to recover for an hour, but you can bring visitors if they're not too busy. Feel free to sleep now, you deserve it.

Stretch Marks Prevention

I heard you can prevent them using Castor Oil or baby oil, unfortunately I didn't hear about this until after I got them. Once you get them they don't go away so try. Cocoa butter didn't work for me or anyone else I know of. These things happen overnight, if you haven't been able to tell already, so start treating them now.

Will it Hurt?

For me, it didn't hurt that bad. It felt like bad period cramps. I was in labor 7 hours before they took me for the c-section and I only moaned/yelled once. Deep breathing will get you through it, and when the pain gets bad try rubbing up and down your thighs.
When it gets really bad, try standing with a birthing ball. Walking around made the pain go away and when I was standing with the ball I just imagined I was channeling all that pain through my hands into the ball.
The thing that helped the most was counting to 60 over and over again. It came down to 1-20 seconds I felt the contraction coming, 20-45 the pain was intense, then 45-60 was a cooling down period. I lost count a lot, but it helped distract me and get me through it. It also gave me a little predictability so I knew what to expect next.

I don't remember a lot from this stage of labor, but I remember the cool washcloth helped.

Spotting and Water Breaking

This is where is gets a little yucky. You might have a little bleeding toward the end of your pregnancy. This might be a little of what is called the mucus plug, it keeps the baby's fluid in your uterus. It will look a little like old period blood. It sheds a little bit until your water breaks.

Your water might come out clear, but mine was pink and red. This would be the full mucus plug coming out. You'll know when your water breaks, it's not a trickle. It's a gush. You'll feel like you peed your pants but didn't have control over it.

My biggest fear was my water breaking in public. I was sleeping and I woke up because I felt some water and ran to the bathroom. I wish you the same luck.

If you have Group B Strep, you need to call your doctor right away to let them know you've gone into labor. I would save the number in your cell phone. Even if contractions haven't started, they need to set you up before the baby hits the birth canal so they don't get it.

If you don't have Group B Strep, you can chill out until the contractions get bad. Grab something to eat (you can't eat in labor) and take a warm shower to relax before you go to the hospital.

Group B Strep & Testing for Gestational diabetes

At about 25 weeks they'll test you for diabetes of pregnancy. It's pretty common. If you have it, it's no big deal and the doctor will monitor you. Basically, you drink something that tastes like really sugary Hi-C and they'll draw your blood. They do a LOT of drawing blood in pregnancy. Find a good nurse that can draw well and stick with them.

A few weeks later they'll test you for Group B Strep. About 1/1,000 people get this, I was one of the lucky ones who got it. They test by swabbing your cervix with a Q-tip and they'll call you with results. It's quick and easy. If you do have it, they'll have to give you antibiotics when you go into labor so you don't pass it on to the baby. No big deal.