Taimani's Birth Story

Taimani Emily Sierra Tuakoi

May 17, 2012 

5:41 PM

8 lbs 2.7 oz  

21 in

I had a post on my phone where I updated as these things happened and had the actual times, but have somehow managed to lose the post. I am pretty upset about it, but I will try my best to remember all that happened while it is still fresh in my memory.

I woke up at 4am and then called labor and delivery at the hospital to make sure of my induction time. Ate a bowl of cereal, made sure plans for the boys were ok, and left the house. We got to the hospital at 5:30. After waiting for 30 minutes and being weighed, I was finally taken to my room where I was hooked up to the monitors, asked a million questions related to my health, and had my IV put in.

Let me just add here that because I was never induced, I was so scared and nervous for EVERYTHING this time around—even for things that I had done before with the boys. My pulse was in the hundreds throughout the whole day due to my anxiety and nervousness. It was as if this was my first child and not the fourth.

We weren’t sure of my plan for induction except that my doc had ordered pitocin versus using a foley bulb, so we waited for the doc who was coming in to work at 7:30 am. Shortly after, I was checked and I was still 1cm dilated, thick, and high.

Because of this, it was decided that I get misoprostol (similar to cervadil) placed in my cervix instead of going for the pitocin right away. I had the misoprostol put in to help soften and dilate my cervix. Not too long after it was put in, my contractions became regular. They started coming every 5 minutes. I was checked again and was 3 cm dilate but still kinda thick and still high up. I kinda just stuck it out and dealt with contractions (which became a lot more painful) for a few hours. Because I was contracting regularly on my own and was making some progress, I didn’t even need pitocin at all which I was happy about.

Because I tested positive for Group B Strep, I had to have penicillin given to me through my IV. I was scared for this as well, because I have heard of it burning. It definitely did hurt, but slowly got better as time went by.

The nurse came in and said that my doctor was coming from a clinic he was at and would check me and break my water when he got here. He said if I planned on getting the epidural, I should do so now. So, that is what I did. I was SO scared for the epidural even though I had gotten it for all 3 boys. My pulse got up to the 130s because I was so scared. The nurse kept telling me to relax and breathe. I was scared for nothing because all I felt was a pinch or the first numbing needle. The anesthesiologist kept telling me things I might be feeling like pressure, pinching, and tingling and I felt NONE of that. Finally, that was over. It took quite a while for the epidural to work and then all of a sudden it stopped and I was feeling all of my very painful contractions. Another lady from anesthesia came in and hooked up a pump and had to push the button 3 times before I was finally comfortable and not feeling the contractions anymore. However, I had the shakes really bad! It sucked. My whole body was shaking and my teeth were chattering. It lasted for about an hour.

My doctor came in to see me around 2:30 and my cervix got checked again. I was 5cm and 50% effaced, but it was still pretty high up. The doc then broke my water. The fluid was clear. He told the nurses to check my cervix again at 4:30pm. I tried to sleep until that time came.

At 4:30, I was checked again. I was 10 cm, but we needed to wait for her to come down a little more. My nurse went to check on another patient and to let my doctor know I was complete. Another nurse came in and set up the delivery table and all the stuff for baby girl. I kept talking about having to fart and being scared I was going to poop while pushing. My husband and younger sister kept saying to relax and who cares (easy for them to say huh?).

My doc came in at 5:25 and got my legs propped up. He said he was at home making spaghetti for his son because his wife can’t cook, but he had to leave in the middle of it so he didn’t miss my baby’s birth. He said he had to explain to his wife how to finish it and we all were laughing. He kind of just looked down there and said that the pressure I was feeling was her coming down the birth canal. Then he got gloved up while telling me to bear down a little, he looked again, and said she was crowning. He told me to grab my legs and push. I did about 4 times and she was out. My sister was like “yay she’s light AND she has hair!” While my sister seemed to be concerned about that, I asked (as soon as her whole body was out “she’s a girl RIGHT?!” haha. My husband was just shocked that she was finally out. I couldn’t believe it either. It felt like she was in my tummy forever! She came out and cried a little, but she was very quiet compared to her brothers and still is. She only whines a little when it is time to eat. (Hopefully she stays this mellow!) Anyway, the delivery part was so quick! My doc was there for all of like 20 minutes and as he left he said, “maybe I’ll be back in time to finish my son’s spaghetti” lol.

Taimani is chunky and beautiful. Her eyes seemed a bit more slanted than her brothers’ did. She also has cute fat little lips. She breastfed right away and continued to do so until my husband went with her to the nursery. She weighed in at 8lbs 2.7oz and was 21 inches long. While breastfeeding I vomited and then vomited again right before I got wheeled up to my recovery room.

Shortly after getting settled into my room, my mom and the big brothers showed up, but Taimani was at the nursery. So my husband and sister took them to go look at her from the nursery window. We were hoping they would bring her back before visiting hours were up but she had just had a bath and need to be kept there to get warmed up. They were excited to see her though and Trenton and Titan wanted to see my belly and touch it to make sure she wasn’t in there anymore lol. Hopefully, they’ll get to see and hold her before I get discharged.

Due to the contracting of my uterus and the pain it caused, the nurse asked if I wanted Motrin. I said ok, but I needed to have something in my stomach in order for it to work. I ate two bites of a chicken sandwich but it all came back out, so the Motrin was put on hold.

Kili ended up going home last night to sleep with the boys. Thank goodness he did because they were screaming for us, and were calmed down once he got home. They all slept on our bed together and Titan would cry anytime Kili left our room. Poor thing! I miss them, but I need this time to bond with baby girl.

So overall everything went well aside from being scared and nervous for everything, having the shakes, and the vomiting. I am so grateful that my induction did not last long at all, that I didn’t need pitocin, and most of all that Taimani is healthy and beautiful. I’m also grateful that I am recovering so well.