MADISON’S BIRTH STORY: One Hell of a Roller Coaster

Quick note from me, Jules: One of my favorite things to do is to read birth stories. Especially when I was just weeks away from giving birth myself. I poured over story after story, soaking in every detail. I find them exhilarating, emotional, and stressful, but most of all, magical. The miracle of life, amiright?! Anyway, one of my best friends was kind enough to share the story of her second baby’s birth (I basically stalked her until she sent it to me haha). 🙂 Alicia was my human google when I was pregnant and I continue to text her daily with questions and concerns–like, “Have either of your kids ever had really strong smelling pee?!!” I’m so lucky to have her, and she is seriously kicking ASS at this whole motherhood thing. So without further ado, here’s her story!

If Madison’s entrance into this world is any indication of her future, we are in for one hell of a ride. There is no better way to describe Maddie’s first few days here on this earth other than a complete emotional rollercoaster. And not the boring, old, wooden ones. I’m talking Kingda Ka shit.

“I’ll push this thing out by noon.”

This was my second baby and I really felt like I had a handle on this labor stuff. I had an amazing (and dare I say, easy?) birth experience with my son, Cameron. I went into labor Saturday morning & by 7:00 that night we were all snuggling up watching Penn State win the Big Ten Championship (yes we had to pay extra to get it broadcast in the hospital room and yes I know that’s ridiculous. Except for those of you who know my husband, then this isn’t shocking at all).

So since Cam’s labor was such a positive, enjoyable experience, I had the bar set pretty darn high this second time around. Part of me thought I was going to have another quick and simple birth. The other part of me thought there was no chance I could get so lucky again. When I started contractions eating breakfast on Thursday morning, July 5th, I thought to myself -all that worrying for nothing! This is glorious. I’ll push this thing out by noon & we’ll have an extended 4th of July weekend with family & friends. I was already thinking about what red, white & blue outfits I could throw together for him or her. Does this all sound too good to be true? Yup, pretty much.

I called my parents (“hey guys, I hope you’re not busy, probably going to have baby!”) & they quickly hopped into the car & came to watch Cameron. We spent the entire morning trying to find the happy medium between going to the hospital too early (and risk being sent home) and waiting too long. I was especially nervous since they say the second one comes so much faster. After about 6 hours of laboring at home and bargaining with my unborn baby, I finally decided that we needed to get in the car & go to the hospital. So many women told me “oh don’t worry! You’ll totally know when it’s time to go to the hospital!” And though I was so indecisive & spent all day cursing those people, turns out they were totally right! This overwhelming feeling came over me and there was suddenly no more back and forth. I knew it was time to go and I knew this baby was coming today.

“My husband and I salivated over the thought of a salty, jalapeño watermelon margarita.”

I was only 3 cm dilated when I got to the hospital but was progressing fairly quickly. They admitted me into the labor & delivery room and asked if I wanted an epidural. “Don’t be a hero” my nurse smiled and whispered to me as I simultaneous nodded my head yes. Because, um duh. 

Across the street from the hospital & directly out my room window was a Mexican restaurant. HOW RUDE, right? My husband and I salivated over the thought of a salty, jalapeño watermelon margarita. It felt a little torturous actually but then I reminded myself that I’ve gone 9 months without a marg so I suppose I could make it a few more hours. I settled for a half melted raspberry water ice instead. Womp Womp.

So by 4:00 pm or so my epidural was in & now I was ready to eat my ice, watch Southern Charm & wait for the doctor to tell me it was go time! I did that for about 15 minutes until we realized something wasn’t quite right. I was feeling an intense pain on my lower abdomen on my right side. The nurse (who was a complete angel by the way) started to check my numbness with a block of ice. Well, I felt that freezing cold ice pack all the way up my right leg & stomach and we realized that my epidural wasn’t working properly…and on my right side it wasn’t working at all.

We administered the highest dose, shifted my body every which way & waited it out but my contractions were getting stronger by the minute and I was struggling. My nurse went on a wild goose chase through the hospital to find the anesthesiologist. Contractions continued to get stronger and I was panicking a bit so then sent my husband out on a wild goose chase to find my nurse. It felt like eternity but looking back it was probably about 10 minutes until they both returned.

At this point I was told we were looking at two scenarios 1) repositioning the epidural and crossing my fingers it works this time or 2) completely replacing it. That meant waiting for an available anesthesiologist and being stuck in the spine with a giant (and I mean GIANT) needle..again. Positive thoughts were hard to come by at this point, as I laid on my right side clutching the bed posts so hard I thought I might actually pull it off its hinges. I remember wondering if I would be responsible for paying for it if it broke and these beds can NOT be cheap. Then I thought how messed up it would be for them to charge a mother right after giving birth. How dare them?! Spoiler: I did not break the hospital bed nor was I responsible for any damages.

“I’m supposed to be watching tv and making my husband brush my hair and get me ice chips!”

So now I’m feeling defeated and frustrated-not to mention still in an absurd amount of pain on my one side. I’m supposed to be watching tv and making my husband brush my hair and get me ice chips! Why is this happening & why isn’t it like last time!? I was miserable, in so much pain and also getting extremely antsy to meet my baby. I was laboring for over 12 hours at this point. Unfortunately Señor Salsa did not allow margaritas “to go” but you bet I asked.

Thankfully shifting the epidural worked. It was quick, painless & within 20 minutes I was starting to get numb on that right side. So I finally felt comfortable & at ease for the first time all day. I thought, okay NOW I can definitely relax a bit & soak up my last few hours of being a needy pregnant wife. Remote in one hand, water ice in the other.

Andy Cohen was quickly cut off by my doctor coming in to check on my progress. She said my contractions have slowed, which meant I probably was not dilating & they’ll have to give me some pitocin to get things moving again. My heart immediately sank. I really wanted to do this all on my own, follow my baby’s lead & bring her here without any additional intervention to speed up the process. I felt absolutely devastated in that moment. I remember mouthing to my husband “this isn’t good” and fighting back tears. I looked at the clock and it was already 9:15. I took a few deep breaths and laid back as the doctor checked my situation.

“Okay, wow! I feel the baby’s head. Are you ready to have a baby?” IM SORRY, WHAT?? Her face looked as shocked as mine. I wasn’t kidding about this roller coaster of emotions stuff. Now we’re on the can’t-breath, feel-like- you-might-pass-out part of roller coaster. Literally in the same minute I felt defeated & exhausted, my heart started racing & energy surged through my body. More nurses came rushing in, lights dropped down from the ceiling & the doctor put on her “it’s baby time” mask.

Madison Anne entered the world about 3 minutes after the doctor walked into my room and told me my labor had slowed.

I had one “practice push” and one “real push” and she was here. Yup, two pushes & I was holding my baby. Drake said it best, my friends….0-100 REAL quick.

“We just brought our happy, healthy, sweet baby girl through our doors and minutes later she was being transported to the hospital on a stretcher.”

I wish I could say that’s where the excitement ended with Madison, but little did we know it had just begun. Because she was born SO fast she didn’t get all the newborn “gunk” squeezed out of her (which would have happened during a birth with more than 10 seconds of pushing). Without us even realizing, she ultimately swallowed a good amount of my amniotic fluid into her tiny body.

We were discharged from the hospital after 2 perfect days. We then spent a total of 40 minutes at home with her & big brother Cam before having to rush her via ambulance to the hospital again. 

She was unable to spit up the fluids and had a few major choking incidents at home where she wasn’t able to breath, turned blue and needed intervention. Watching my helpless, tiny baby choke and trying desperately to clear her airways was the most terrified and panicked Ive ever been. Amidst the panic, my momma instincts kicked in immediately and I somehow knew what to do. I shouted for my husband to call 911, grabbed the medical bulb we had brought home from the hospital and started sucking anything I could out of her mouth. Then paused, flipped her over and struck her back until she eventually started crying & breathing again.

We just brought our happy, healthy, sweet baby girl through our doors and minutes later she was being transported to the hospital on a stretcher. (And yes if you’re wondering, a two day old baby strapped on a stretcher might be one of the most heartbreaking sights of all time). 

Ah yes, we were still riding this damn emotional roller coaster. This coaster had terrifying loops & I felt like I wasn’t even wearing a seatbelt. It was going too fast & I couldn’t get off even though I desperately wanted to. I just had to close my eyes, hold back tears & pray it would slow down soon.

These choking “episodes” continued for days and we spent 3 days at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. They were hands down the absolute worst three days of my entire life.

After a ton of specialty visits and tests, it was determined that swallowing the fluid, combined with acid reflux & mild laryngomalacia, created the perfect storm for little Madison. Many doctors were referring to her situation as BRUE- Brief Resolved Unexplained Event. As she grew stronger & her little body started to function a bit better we realized she was able to work through these “episodes” on her own. As I write this, she’s a perfectly happy, healthy & strong 5 month old.

“Sometimes you just need to buckle up & finish the ride.”

Maddie has taught me a lot during her first moments and her first few months here with us. She has kept me on my toes (and aged me about 10 years) since the morning of July 5th. I have no doubt she’ll continue to do so for the rest of my life. And I’m good with that. Above all, she has reminded me that things change & sometimes faster than you can ever expect.

Roller coasters can be really terrifying. They can make you puke. They can jostle you around and they can scare the shit out of you. But sometimes you just need to buckle up & finish the ride… because just like life’s craziness, it doesn’t last forever.