Ellie's Scare, Pain Meds and Epidural

So, at 6:30am this morning, I woke up to about 10 people in my room, moving around like crazy, and my nurse telling me "everything's okay; we got her heart rate back." Ummm..... What?

Apparently, Ellie flat-lined for several minutes. But they think she just rolled into her cord or something. However, it was a pretty big scare for all the staff.

I woke up to my doctor checking me and giving directions to a whole host of medical staff around him. Ellie had to have monitors placed on her shoulder and skull. It was not fun for either of us, since she's still an inside baby. :(

I was very, very scared, since I didn't know what was going on. Robert was sleeping on the couch next to me, so that's how he woke up, too. :( I had to have oxygen, I was shaking uncontrollably, and I didn't know what was happening. I'm so thankful for a knowledgeable medical staff, because as soon as everything was under control, the doctor and nurses explained what happened.

I ended up getting Fentenol (sp?) to keep baby and me from being in such distress. Then I moved rooms, because the blinds in my room were stuck in the "up" position, and we were on the east side of the hospital. Direct sunlight.

About an hour after I moved, we made the decision to get me an epidural, for several reasons:

1) I hadn't slept longer than about an hour in the past 24 hours.

2) I was getting weaker with every contraction.

3) The baby could not be in any more distress or I would automatically have to have a C-section.

4) If we want to proceed with a vaginal delivery, I HAVE to get rest.


I got the epidural. It's not what we wanted.... But we didn't plan on 16 hours I labor, either. So, based on the expert medical advice and the conviction that this is best, we're going with "plan B."

But you know what? It's God's "plan A."

I'm doing much better now, and I've slept for nearly 2 hours. Just chillin watching the Mariners game. :)