Okay, here's the rest of the story...
Caroline had the cord wrapped around her neck, and my epidural didn't really take for the pushing part. It was great for the contractions, but no effect whatsoever when I had to push. ( I had the opposite problem with Lucy-- it didn't work for contractions, but was good for the pushing.) Let me just say that anyone who would choose a natural childbirth, is a much stronger woman than I! So while I was in a lot of pain, the pushing part went quickly, because I had to get her out and get the cord off of her neck. She was fine, but gave us a good scare...
A few hours after birth, I started getting a headache, but didn't think much about it, because honestly, what doesn't hurt after you give birth? After we came home it continued to get worse-- as in I couldn't sit or stand up without being in excruciating pain. The only things I could do were lay flat and struggle through feeding Caroline before having to lay back down. I have never felt a headache that bad before, but I imagine it must be like a migraine (that never goes away). I finally had to go back to the hospital yesterday, and they decided I had a "spinal headache" from my epidural. This basically means that a tiny little hole got poked when they did my epidural, and every time I stood up, all of the fluid surrounding my brain would leak back down through that little hole. If this already grosses you out, you may want to quit reading now...
The solution is to get another epidural put in, but instead of injecting me with lovely drugs, they draw my blood (a whole different ordeal-- I apparently have no veins...), and then they inject that blood back into the epidural space to form a patch over the little hole. It worked, but now my back is very sore... Getting an epidural full of drugs to block your contractions is quite a different experience from just having to bend over and let someone poke around in your back. Did I mention I am really frightened of needles?
Anyways, this is the long story of why I have taken so long to update my blog about our sweet new addition. I am so grateful that I can finally enjoy our family!!!!
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9 comments:
Oh Jenny, that sounds absolutely horrible!!! Modern medicine at work :). I am glad you are doing better.
Oh, we are so glad to hear you are okay! I am so sorry you had to go through that!
I'm so sorry!! I can understand the natural labor part. Holly was born an hour after getting to the hospital. I was dilated to 8 when we got there...fun..fun.
My friend Lacy had the same thing. A spinal headache. They did the whole blood patch. Apparently she has scholeosis(SP??) and her epidural didn't take.
So much craziness!! I'm glad your ok. Caroline is beautiful.
Oh Goodness.... I am so sorry that you went through all that! So glad that she is here safe and sound and glad that you are doing well now too!
I am so glad you are better! Caroline is beautiful! Hope things are going smoothly at home now. Can't wait to see y'all!
I hate that you had to go through all of that pain! My cousin had the same thing when she had her third. I don't know if that will keep me from having an epidural with my next one. My sister went natural with both of hers (11 pounds and 9 1/2), of course she said she wouldn't recommend it. Both times they weren't able to give her meds for various reasons. Glad you are feeling better!
Ouch! I'm so sorry to hear you had to go through that. Glad you are doing better.
Hugs!!!
Yikes. That sounds awful. I am so glad that you are better now. Caroline is so adorable. She is a very pretty baby.
Ack! Ack! MG had a bad spinal tap that had to be patched later. BAD TIMES for all involved! I am so sorry you had to endure all that after giving birth, no less!
Caroline is GORGEOUS. Glad we got to see you yesterday :)
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