Birth Story of Allison Kori

Allison Kori
7lbs. 10 oz.

We knew you were going to be a girl from the ultrasound. I didn't ask, but then I didn't have too! You must have wanted to know as you were in "textbook" position. I was excited to have another girl. How perfect our family would be 2 girls and 2 boys. I had a really rough pregnancy with you starting with food poisoning. Daddy had just switched companies and we had new insurance. I was seen in the E.R. four times before they would give me an appointment with a dr. Finally the nurse that had taken care of me 3 times called and made and appointment for me to see a perinatologist. With his care, we made it through some really rough days. I was so sick, that I was the first mom on his pilot program to have a labor and delivery nurse call me at the same time everyday. It made being sick easier to handle and no more trips to the E.R.

When I went into labor with you the labor and delivery were closed due to a nurses strike. I was sent to a hospital with birthing suites. It was wonderful. I never was moved out of the room!

On Saturday the contraction came 20 minutes apart. I could feel your head hitting my pubic bone and not descending. On Sunday the contractions were 10 minutes apart and I had to really focus to get through them. You still weren't moving off the pubic bone so I wanted to wait it out as long as I could. The advice nurse suggested I might have to have a c-section and was determined to stick it out as long as I could.

Finally on Monday night the contractions were about 5 minutes apart and I was in a lot of pain, so we went to the hospital at 7p.m. I was dilated to just 2 cm! How depressing for a 4th delivery. After an hour of walking I was dilated to 3 cm and the dr. on call wanted me to stay. After my last delivery was so fast and not so much pain, she said it could go fast as soon as you turned. By midnight I was dilated to 7 and stalled. I got an epidural and they broke my water. By 2 a.m. they gave me pitocin.

At 4 a.m. I was still only dilated to 7 c.m. I told my nurse I was ready to go home. She wasn't coming! The nurse went to check with the dr. who was delivering another baby. She came back and said she was prepping me for a c-section. The anethesiologist was called back. At 4:30 a.m. the dr came in and check my cervix. It was dilated to 10! Your head was low enough I could push and no c-section would be needed! You were born at 4:35 A.M. Your apgar scores were 8 and 8. I was sore. I had asked for a girl in the 7 lb. range. That's what I got!

You were 7lbs. 10 oz. Just perfect! You were covered with a white coating that looked like solid Crisco shortening! You were tested to be between 35 and 37 weeks gestation. You didn't latch on to breastfeeding very well. I was bleeding heavily and not only had to have a shot of medication, but had to have the pitocin for 12 hours. I wasn't allowed out of bed either. I was so relieved when I could finally get up and not have pee in the bedpan! The hospital stay was wonderful! I couldn't believe how nice it was after having the babies. This hospital was the best! I was treated like royalty! The new law was in effect and I stayed over 48 hours with you in the room! You had a heart murmur, and with the difficultly nursing, it was nice to stay and just worry about getting you to eat. Never once did anyone mention giving you water or formula. The lactation consultant came several times a day to help. I was still bleeding heavily but the clots were small so we went home. On the way we swung by Costco and had your pictures developed in one hour. I was very sore for days after coming home. When you were 3 days old I was sore enough that went to see our chiropractor. You were his youngest patient. They always see the moms that had rough deliveries after about a week, but your head had hit my sciatic nerve and the soreness was still unbearable at times. Not even the vicodin helps nerves!