In late 1998 (at 17 years old) I found out I was pregnant for the first time. Despite wanting the babies sex to be a surprise my grandfather convinced me to find out by saying he needed to know if he could start buying “frilly pink girly things.” Go figure (after Grandpas comment) at 25 weeks pregnant, just 3 days after my 18^th birthday, I found out I was expecting a daughter. I decided to name my daughter Victoria Michael, after my best friend since 2^nd grade & after my father and little brother. People were very surprised by the combination of names.

During the course of my pregnancy I was given 2 different due dates. The 1^st was based on my LMP and the 2^nd was due to the size of Victoria in-utero. I started having complications in Late April and early May at around 34-35 weeks. I was diagnosed with PIH and toxemia/preeclampsia. I was put on partial bed rest and ordered not to work, but encouraged to still maintain some physical activity. I was made to have a NST preformed once a week until I gave birth.

On Monday May 17^th, at 37+1 weeks I was scheduled for a mandatory NST and was found to be having extreme issues with my blood pressure. I was immediately admitted for induction via a Oxytocin (Pitocin) IV drip. I showed contractions on the monitors all day and fetal activity was fine, but in no way was I in “labor“. I could not feel the contractions, nor was my cervix progressing after multiple exams throughout the day. I was sent home Monday in the late afternoon and told to rest all day Tuesday. On Wednesday (37+3) I was ordered to have another NST and after horrible results was induced again in the same manner as Monday. No changes. I again rested on Thursday and was back on Friday (37+5) for another mandatory NST. I was AGAIN induced in the same manner as Monday & Wednesday, but still no changes.

I guess my mom was told on Friday afternoon that if my daughter was not born by Monday that my doctor fully intended on doing a c-section, as he felt I was going downhill, and although the baby was currently seeming ok that things were unpredictable and he wasn’t willing to risk things if nothing happened over the weekend. (I found out my doc had “suggested” a c-section and had no intentions on having one, so I decided to do everything I could to not have one.) Friday evening I started walking like crazy and had the spiciest meal ever. Plus somewhere along the way I tried Castor oil and a Fleets enema, but those didn’t do what I wanted them to do.

Saturday (37+6) I was “babysitting” my little brother and while driving to get lunch my water broke. (I described the feeling as peeing my pants, without knowing I needed to pee.) I stayed at home watching movies with my brother until my parents got home later that afternoon. (My relationship with my daughters father was rocky and due to stress the doc had “banned” me from seeing him.) I went to the hospital around 5:30pm and was immediately admitted when the dip-stick test confirmed that my water had actually ruptured. Unfortunately I was hooked up to a pitocin drip immediately to “speed things along”. Luckily I was still allowed to walk the halls. Once my contractions actually began, I was in a horrible amount of pain and turned into an evil monster. I chose to go into the large birthing tub as an alternative to any medicine, but oddly was never even offered an epidural. During the 3 hour wait to get into the tub I was given 1 or 2 shots of Demerol, which only made me sleep. The birthing tub was amazing! Warm and relaxing. I was allowed a double “session” in the birthing tub and after the 2^nd hour had gotten to 9cm. I was taken back to my labor and delivery room to hopefully get to 10cm soon and begin pushing. I began pushing at around 0530am on May 23^rd (38 wks) and after assistance via suction and a small episiotomy, I finally gave birth to Victoria at 0725am.

Victoria weighed 9lbs 10oz and had a full head of nearly black hair. The placenta was huge and the doctor who delivered her said that there was not any placental deterioration, and that the baby could have “been in there” at least another month. HA! After hearing multiple comments I was informed I was probably near 42-43 weeks when I actually gave birth, not 38 as suspected.