Shaeleigh's Birth Story

My husband and I were married on October 17, 1999 and we had discussed starting a family soon after. My sister-in-law recommended an OB/GYN and I made an appointment for a consult in early December. We discussed pregnancy and when he would want to see me when we got pregnant. Little did I know I was pregnant already!

We found out on December 23 that our family would be growing. What a great Christmas gift! We decided to spring the news on Christmas and I bought a package of newborn diapers, wrapped them for our parents, and gave them as a gift. Boy, was everyone surprised!

I had an almost perfect pregnancy (no morning sickness) until June when my glucose test came back positive indicating I had gestational diabetes. I then became a "high risk" pregnancy and met with an endocrinologist, a nutritionist, and a diabetes nurse in addition to my OB. I had to check my blood sugar four times a day by sticking my finger and recording the results. In July, my sugars were still elevated so I was started on insulin. I'm a nurse so I didn't have any trouble with the finger sticks, but I had a really hard time with the insulin. With GDM (gestational diabetes mellitis) I was followed very closely with ultrasounds, non-stress tests, and such. We were scheduled for induction on August 22, and I thought the day would never arrive.

By August 1, I was 50 percent effaced and one centimeter dilated. I thought we’d never make it to the induction date. Well, August 22 came and off to the hospital we went, after making a short stop to church for a quick blessing by our pastor. We arrived at the hospital, checked in, and waited. Our hospital does evening inductions and I had my room by 8 PM and the Pitocin was started at 9 PM. The contractions weren't too painful, just a mild cramping. At 11 PM, my doctor came in to break my water. I was still one centimeter and 75 percent effaced. Once they broke my water, it was the weirdest feeling, as if I was constantly peeing. The contractions then became much more painful and I was using every ounce of concentration to get through them. By 11:45 PM, I was begging for my epidural (I had already met with anesthesia and consented to it). My nurse refused to check me to see how far I was so I demanded to see my OB, who came right away and checked me. I was three centimeters! I had my epidural by 12:20 AM, and was much more comfortable until about 2 AM when contractions started coming every one to three minutes. I had the worst pain on my left side and we think it was the baby’s knee or foot pressing there.

When my nurse checked me the next time, I was five centimeters and she catheterized me to empty my bladder. I was still really uncomfortable; anesthesia came back four times in one hour to check on me. By 3 AM I was still in considerable pain and had also developed the shakes. The nurse checked me again because she thought I was going fast. You should have seen the look on her face when she couldn't find any cervix left. She had another nurse check just to be sure. Yep, I was at 10! My nurse found a mirror so that I could see what I was doing and by 3:30 AM, I was pushing. Ten minutes later she told me to stop because she didn't want to deliver the baby. My OB arrived shortly after that, watched me push with one contraction, and rushed to get ready.

I pushed about three more times and Shaeleigh Ann was born at 4:04 AM. She weighed seven pounds, five ounces, and was 19 inches long. I was really surprised with her weight; I thought she was going to be a lot bigger. My OB said that I had controlled my sugars very well.

Shaeleigh developed jaundice and had to spend a few extra days in the hospital under the lights. I stayed in a conference room so I could still nurse her. She came home on August 27, which was her due date! The gestational diabetes has resolved though I will have to be careful with future pregnancies. I'm not worried though. I did it once, I can do it again.