On Tuesday, July 7, 2010, I went to the doctor for a blood pressure check. I checked it at home and it seemed high but I wasn’t sure how accurate the machine was so I decided to leave work for a few minutes and swing by my doctor’s office but I never returned to the office. My doctor admitted me to Russell Medical Center to get more blood pressure checks, then I had to get blood work done and spend the night.
The next day, on Wednesday, the results of my blood test and urine tests led to an abrupt transfer via ambulance to University Hospital (UAB). I believe the doctor’s exact words were, I’ve got good news and bad news. I, of course, was thinking the bad news was that I was going to have to spend another restless night at the hospital. Nope, the doc said “the good news is that you look fine. The bad news is that you’re very sick”. That’s always nice to hear. He told me that it looks like I have pre-eclampsia (HELLP Syndrome).
What is the HELLP syndrome? The answer is in the MedicineNet Medical Dictionary. The entry there reads:
HELLP syndrome: A syndrome featuring a combination of "H" for hemolysis (breakage of red blood cells), "EL" for elevated liver enzymes, and "LP" for low platelet count (an essential blood clotting element).
The HELLP syndrome is a recognized complication of preeclampsia and eclampsia (toxemia) of pregnancy, occuring in 25% of these pregnancies.
The only treatment would be to deliver the baby. Therefore, they’d probably take the baby at UAB that day. Talk about shock. Randy and I both looked about as dumbfounded as one can look. Anyway, once I got to UAB, I went straight to labor and delivery for more tests to be run. Once those tests were back, it was decided the best thing for me was to get the baby out. Everything happened so quickly. But I do remember, plain as day, the anesthesiologist telling me that due to my platelet count being so low (should be about 260,000 and mine were like 46,000) I could not get an epidural due to the possibility of hitting a blood vessel that would cause paralysis. And I couldn’t get a c-section unless it was an emergency because it would be considered elective and insurance wouldn’t pay for the $45,000 procedure but It was also risky as i could bleed to death too since my blood platelet count was so low. Again, I was mentally prepared for an epidural or a c-section but those plans failed and my only option was…dare I say it….a NATURAL birth. That was NEVER in my plans. I have a low tolerance for pain and the good Lord gave doctors enough knowledge to create pain relievers so….who am I to argue? I’m not one to show emotion in front of people so I silently freaked out. Although I’m sure Randy could tell I was freaking out. They started my pitocin (labor inducer) around 3:00pm. I was already 1cm dilated and it didn’t take too long to get to 4cm. But my body stopped at 4cm for about 3 hours. Didn’t think I’d ever get past 4cm. Lots of quick short prayers went up during that time. My mom and Randy were the only ones with me at this time. I could see in my mom’s face that she was glad that she was able to at least get a saddle block when she had kids. Once I got passed 4cm, everything went pretty quickly….at least that’s what the nurses told me. I begged to differ! I believe the worst part was 8-9 cm because my body wanted to push but it wasn’t time. I asked the nurse how I was suppose to not push when everything was telling me to push. She said to breathe and relax. HA! RELAX?!?! Good thing she wasn’t within arms reach! Finally, I got to push. I had 3 contractions with 3 pushes each so that gave me a total of 9 pushes. Riley finally made his debut at 10:31pm after about 7 hours of labor. He was 6lbs, 6oz and 22in long.
Thursday, July 8….you didn’t think my story ended at the delivery did you? I actually got up to go to the bathroom around 1am Thursday before being moved to the recovery room. I remember making it to the TV and hanging on and I think I got the word “faint” out before I actually went out. I woke up sitting on the toilet looking at the nurses and Randy. I believe Randy was asking me who he was, etc. And of course anybody who has passed out knows that the last sense to come back is the ability to talk. Vision and hearing would be first. So I could see and hear but I couldn’t respond. And even the seeing and hearing wasn’t so great. Eventually I came to my senses and with the help of nurses, went to the bathroom and then was moved to a recovery room at about 3am. Then I had nurses in there checking blood pressures, etc every hour. So no sleep for the weary. As the day progressed, my “condition” didn’t allow me to keep Riley in the room with me….i just felt I was too weak and light headed to deal with my baby so Randy went and got the baby from the nursery while family was there but then took him back when they left. Thursday night after everyone was gone, I went to potty again and didn’t make it. Randy said I made it to the toilet but fell off of it when I passed out. When I came to, once again starring at Randy and the nurses, Randy said I got smart with the nurse because she kept asking me if I knew where I was at. Apparently I told her that I had already told her I was at the hospital. Almost like quit asking me these stupid questions and let me just come back to my senses. And just to elaborate, I was semi-dressed each time I passed out. I was wearing the wonderful hospital gown and the very sexy underwear and diaper that accompanied baby deliveries. Once I came to my senses Randy would leave the bathroom and the nurse would help me “go”. Every pee break after that was aided by nurses and a special wheelchair to move me from my bed to the toilet. And of course I had visits from the nurses every few hours checking me so again, no sleep.
Friday, July 9 was much better than the previous nights, although Randy was very much strict on me getting out of bed. It took him forever to let me go to the bathroom without being aided by a nurse. And even then I couldn’t lock the door….even when I was well enough to take a shower. But I can’t complain. Randy did an awesome job taking care of me. And he has now “seen” me at my worst…..so if he sticks around after all that then I KNOW I’ve got a good man! Also, they took out almost all of my IV's, etc and the swelling in my face and hands started decreasing. Thank goodness! I looked worse the days following Riley's delivery than i did right after having him.
Saturday, July 10 came and went. Nothing major. But we were a little annoyed because we were so worn out and ready to go home and the doctor took forever to discharge me. Once I was officially discharged, I was informed that they wanted to keep Riley for further observation. They said he was fine but wanted to keep him under a light for a little while longer because although he was 6 pounds he was still a preemie since he was 5 weeks early. They moved him to a critical care nursery where they monitored him the entire time he was there. I learned a lot in the short time I was there. But when It came down to it, I just couldn’t spend another night in the hospital. This room had a chair and love seat and bathroom but was only big enough for me. I was so emotional at the time that Randy and I both thought it best for me to go home and get some rest. Not to mention my still overly swollen feet and my “tear of honor” that was trying to heal. The nurse was reassuring and even gave me a phone number to call any time to get info on Riley.
Luckily on Sunday, July 11, around lunch time, they discharged Riley. So we went to UAB and picked him up. I was so relieved to pick up my little man. The entire birthing process was not how I imagined it but the outcome was the same. I had my wonderful husband and my beautiful new baby at home with me on Sunday evening. Finally, we felt like a complete family.
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