It was an uneventful pregnancy until about mid-February when I went for my routine diabetes check. Pregnant women have this blood test at around 28 weeks to determine if they have developed gestational diabetes. My results from this test were a bit high, so I was sent for another, more thorough test. Finally I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes.
Having gestational diabetes meant that I had to pay close attention to what I was eating in order to control my blood sugars. My doctor arranged appointments for me to see a Nutritionist and a diabetes health nurse at the Victoria General Hospital. I was provided with pamphlets, brochures, and much information about gestational diabetes. We talked about what I was currently eating and how I could alter my diet. I was asked to write down everything that I ate each day. I was provided with a blood test kit and I was instructed on how to use it. I had to prick my finger 4 times a day (first thing in the morning, and after each meal) and record in a log book what my blood sugar reading was. I felt fine throughout this entire time.
Around March 11, I noticed that I seemed to be leaking a bit of fluid. It was a very small amount, but constant throughout the day and night. I made a special appointment and went to see my doctor (Dr. Oona Hayes) on Wednesday, March 16 during my lunchtime from work. Dr. Hayes took some samples and sent some away for testing. She also put some on a microscope slide and asked me to take it to the Hospital to have her partner, Dr. Patti Olsen look at it. Oona said that they may need me to spend the night. She phoned ahead to the hospital to let them know that I was coming.
I went to the labour and delivery unit with the slide and asked for Dr. Olsen. She was unavailable, but when I told them my name, they knew who I was and showed me to a room and asked me to put on a hospital gown. They wanted to do some tests on me. I was a bit surprised because no one had looked at the slide at that point, or for a long while after. They hooked me up to a baby monitor. It measures and records baby's heartrate, and my uterus to see if I am having contrations. All was fine. They took my blood and put an IV line into my arm. I phoned my work to tell them that I would not be back in for the rest of the week, and I phoned Dave to tell him what was happening. He came to see me right away.
Basically, I was leaking amniotic fluid and everyone was very concerned that baby and I might get an infection. I was given IV antibiotics just in case, and I was given steriod shots that are designed to strengthen the baby's lungs in case the baby was born early. I was 33 weeks along at this point. If I went into labour they were going to try to stop it until I got to 34 weeks. I still felt fine this entire time. After a few hours they took me via wheelchair (!) to another room. I couldn't beleive that all of this was happening when I just walked into the hospital on my own a few hours ago. Now they wouldn't let me walk on my own?
I was shown to a room in the antepartum ward. I shared it with a girl named Andrea S. I can't remember her last name. Her due date was one day after mine. She was flown down from up island because she was going into early labour, but they stopped it. She was very friendly, and it was nice to have her as a roommate.
There I stayed for days and days and days. Eventually I hated being in there and was annoyed because all I was doing there was waiting. I wasn't sure what I was waiting for. There was no change in my condition and I still felt fine. Eventually it was decided that they would induce me on Wednesday March 23, as that is when the baby would be 34 weeks along. The Doctors felt that the risk of infection was more of a concern than having the baby 6 weeks early.
To prepare me, they took me on a wheelchair tour of the Special Care Nursery. I saw many babies with wires attached, some with breathing apparatus, and some under lights. Many of them were in incubators. The room was filled with equipment and constant humming and beeping of monitors. I was told that from my ultrasound they could tell that my baby would be just over 5 lbs, so it helped to be able to compare what my baby would be like to the ones that were laying in the SCN.
Since I had the antibiotics already and there had been no change in my condition, I was allowed to go home on Monday the 21st. It was so great! Just to be outside after being in the hospital for 5 days was wonderful! I was given some prescription antibiotics and was told to come back on Tuesday for another ultrasound, and then on Wednesday I would be induced. I did not care that I had to come back the next day - I was just so thrilled to be out and going home!
That night, at 1:30am, I woke up because it felt like I had peed myself. I immediately knew what happened. My waters had broken! I went to the bathroom, and when I came back into the bedroom I turned on the light and told Dave to get up. At first he did not know what was going on and was upset with me for turning on the light and waking him up. I told him what happened and we packed some things and we went to the hospital. I could feel very small amounts of cramping in my tummy on the way there.
I was checked into labour and delivery ward into the room that I was in when I brought my slide in. They hooked me up to the baby monitor again and it showed that I was having some mild contractions. I was also given an IV again.
After I got settled, Dave went home at about 3:30 in order to get some rest. He would be back in the morning. I eventually got a bit of sleep, but not too much. The IV drip made me have to go to the bathroom every 30 minutes or so, and I was having some contractions that I could feel a bit more.
At 8:00 I was given some breakfast and was told to eat as much as I could because I would probably not get to eat again for some time. The decision was made to give me labour-inducing drugs at 10:30 just to get things moving along for me. It was assumed that things were not moving along because my contractions were not at regular intervals and because the contractions were not appearing to cause me any pain or real uncomfort. The doctors did not want to examine me because they were concerned about giving me an infection.
Dave came back at about 9:30. I was moved to a delivery room and was given the labour-inducing drug (oxytocin) at 10:30. Within a couple of minutes I could feel my contractions getting stronger. Dr. Hayes finally examined me and found that I was about 7-8cm dialated! They stopped giving me the oxytocin at that point because it was obvious that I did not need it. Dave was by my side the whole time. He was extremely helpful, giving me water, and wiping my face with a cool cloth. My contractions steadily got stronger, but they did not come at regular intervals. I asked for a dose of a drug at about 12:00. I can't remember the name of it, but it is quick-acting and only lasts for about 20-30 minutes. I did ask for more, but they said that they could not give it to me because the baby was coming! Finally at 1:32, on a beautiful sunny (but windy) day, Megan was born!
On to From birth to bringing Megan Home - 2 weeks in the Hospital Special Care Nursery