Quintin Beckim Dorn

Our little bundle of joy has FINALLY arrived!! Actually he's snuggled up on my chest asleep (with his mouth totally open) as I write this. I can't believe he's 14 days old. But at the same time, I can't really remember life before being Quintin's mommy. Anyways...here's the story. I've provided it in 3 levels to let you decide how much info you want. I will warn you that the most extensive story spares no details (unless I already forgot them). And, this is my first time writing one of these labor stories out so maybe I included too much...But, I will throw in pictures in between to break it up :)



Or if you don't care how he got here, here are his stats:

Quintin Beckim Dorn
Born 1:17 AM Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Weight: 7 lbs 12.9 oz
Length: 20 3/4 inches




Shortest story: Went into the hospital at noon on Monday October 18, 2010. Had the baby at 1:17 AM October 19, 2010.


Short Story: Went to the OB at 11 on Monday October 18, 2010. They were worried I was starting to have preclampsia so they wheeled me over and admitted me to the hospital. Started pitocin at 2:20 PM. Had my water broke at 6:15 PM. Started really hating life. Got my epidural in at 7:30 PM and started loving life again. By 10:30 I was fully dilated and thinned out. At 10:45 PM I started pushing. At 1:17 AM on Tuesday October 19th, Quintin was born. Steven cut the umbilical cord.


The Story:
On Friday Oct. 15, I went to my regularly scheduled OB visit. Except, I was with the nurse practitioner because my OB was out of town. Everything measured normal except I had a high level of protein in my urine. So, they made me go down to the lab and have some blood drawn and do another urine analysis. We went home and waited for the call. At about 5:30 we got called by the NP and told that I was starting to show signs of preclampsia. She gave me the list of warning signs and told me to take it easy for the weekend and come back on Monday morning. So, Monday morning came and I got dressed and headed to the OB again (well the NP actually because my OB is still out of town). This time I went by myself. We had had so many false alarms we figured this would pan out normal and so Steven went to class and I went to the doctor. Luckily, we did put the hospital bags in the car just in case the slight chance I was having the baby came true.


Well, I got to the doctor and the protein in my urine had gone up even more over the weekend. I had also gained a half pound and another cm to the top of my belly. So, I was at 40 cms and officially full term. The nurse practitioner came in again and announced she had discussed with the on-call OB and I would be getting induced that day. She checked me and I was at 3 cms, 75% effaced, and 0 station. She told me I had a few minutes to call whoever I needed too and then I would be getting wheeled over to the hospital. So, I called Steven first. He was just as shocked as me...he was at work and had to take a test in about an hour...oh and I had the car. So he hung up in a panic and I called my mom, dad, and Steven's parents. By then, my time was up and the nurse came to take me on a 'cadillac ride' (her words not mine) over to the hospital. I know it's just protocol but man did I feel dumb being wheeled through the floor across the main entrance of the clinic and the hospital and up to the birthing center.

Then, I was in my birthing room. Still no Steven. I was turned over to a great nurse who started all the admission stuff. I got asked some of the dumbest questions ever, but the nurse was hilarious and we made the best of it. She got my IV drip started and also drew some more blood. If you don't know, there are 3 signs of preclampsia: high protein in the urine, quick swelling of the hands, feet, and face, and high blood pressure. Well, since I was showing one of them, they had to monitor the other 2 pretty well. I was getting my blood pressure taken every 15 minutes...talk about irritating. So after about an hour of questions and answers with the nurse, the on call OB came in- Dr. Lays. I had never met her before but man she was great too! She had excellent bedside manner. She came in and told me what was happening and what I could expect. She actually gave me the choice to not be induced and come back every day to the lab to have more blood drawn, urine samples given, and blood pressure taken...So basically we could wait for something bad to happen or I could have my baby within 24 hours...like that was really a question. She also explained to me the risks of being induced and the epidural and we talked through how I wanted my labor to go. Seriously I felt so at ease with her that I knew it was an answered prayer. During this time, I also met the on-call resident, Dr. Mahji. She was also an answered prayer. We had already been to the birthing center 2x in the past 2 weeks. Once because baby wasn't moving and we needed to check he was ok (he was-he just didn't like the contractions either). The second time, we thought I was in labor--I wasn't. During both those visits there had been another resident doctor that I didn't love, so I was happy with Dr. Mahji. Anyways...at about 2:20 the nurse was finally done with everything and started the pitocin drip. Steven got there very shortly after this. *A BIG thanks to McKenzie for driving him. He basically just showed up at her door and asked her to take him to the hospital*. At 3, we got a new nurse who I can honestly say was one of the most obnoxious people I have ever met. She rubbed both Steven and I the wrong way. She kept telling me that my contractions weren't strong enough and I wasn't in enough pain...it still irritates me just thinking about her. She also called in the CNRA (the lady who gives out the epidurals) to talk to me (this lady was great and put me at ease also) But, this obnoxious nurse was sure to point out that I wasn't hurting enough to get an epidural yet. SERIOUSLY I could have killed her...Then, she kept moving me around in bed which wasn't helping anything either. Finally at about 6:15, Dr. Lays sent word that I needed my water broken. So, Dr. Mahji came and broke my water (which actually was one of the worst parts of the night) and put in a inter-uterine device catheter to monitor the contractions from the inside. Baby does not like to be monitored and I think they were tired of him kicking off our monitors. After my water was broken and I have this new contraction monitor on, this obnoxious nurse says "Wow you must really have a high pain tolerance, I think you've been in active labor for awhile" Ya...like I was trying to tell you, irritating. After, I was checked again and I was at a 4 and I was cleared to get my epidural at any time. My goal was to get to a 5 on my own and then have it.
At this point, things really started to pick up. I was gushing fluid and having TERRIBLE contractions. Steven was helping me breathe through them and I was miserable...oh and did I mention I also had back labor?! The only good part of this stage was that the nurses were overstaffed so my nurse had to go home. Bummer. BUT again, with an answered prayer, we got Haley, a FANTASTIC nurse who made it through the worst part of labor with me and Steven. She was supposed to stay on until 7 am so she would be the one to deliver with us. When Haley came into the room around 7:15, I told her I was ready for the epidural. By this point, I could hardly catch my breath in between contractions and I had promised Steven he was never getting another child out of me.


Finally, they had me sitting up ready for the epidural. Sitting up caused me to GUSH fluid like there was no tomorrow. So, I'm sitting on my bed, gushing fluid, having regular HARD contractions, back labor, crying (which made my nose run like crazy) all while trying to keep still and relaxed to get the epidural in. It took about 3 or 4 of the worst contractions of my life to get it in and get me laying back down. All the while Steven and Haley breathed through them and talked through them with me. I laid back down and the epidural wasn't working yet. Dr. Lays came in right at the end of this stage and introduced herself to Steven. She also had to check me. I was still feeling contractions and I was at a 6. So that means I went 2 cms in about 40 mins...That's fast. AND I made it to 6 on my own. No wonder I thought I was dying.
After this point, things were much more relaxed. The epidural kicked in and I was able to relax a bit. In fact, it was more of an anxious waiting excitement at this point. I was one of the lucky third of women who get an epidural and it works perfectly for them. I truly admire women who do it without pain medicine, but not me, not ever. At about 9:30 PM Steven decided to go get some food and go for a walk. While he was gone, Haley checked me and I was at 9+ and 95% effaced. She told me I was about ready to push. She also said she'd wait for Steve to get back before she checked me again and called me ready to push. Also, she said that they needed a nurse to go up to the 5th floor to babysit a patient who kept trying to get out of bed or take their lines out...and it was her turn :( Almost in tears I asked her what we had to do to keep her there. She told me there was a good chance the baby would be there before she had to leave at 11 anyways. Steven came back at about 10 and I told him the good news. He was shocked out of his mind. He text my mom right away and she requested to be put on speakerphone so she could listen while we pushed...Steven obliged and I found out later.


At 10:35 I got all set up to start pushing and Haley taught me the counting procedures and everything. By 10:45 it was game time. We started pushing and Haley immediately could see baby's head. Even Steven looked to see how much hair the baby had. At 11, my new nurse Karlina came in and took over the breathing and pushing coaching. Haley was able to waste time and stayed until almost 11:30. We kept thinking the baby was almost out but he kept going right back up after every push. Luckily, Karlina was equally awesome and she got us through the next 2 hours of pushing...that's right I pushed for 2 1/2 hours total. Dr. Lays and Dr. Mahji came in after about an hour and checked on me. Dr. Mahji stayed for about 30 minutes and helped as well. Finally at 1 AM I made a deal with Karlina. If the baby wasn't there by 1:45, she would let me order food and I would save it until the baby was born. You see I had expected to be home for lunch...so I hadn't eaten anything but a cup of jello and water since 10 AM...that is a LONG time for anyone to go without eating. AND the hospital room service closes from 2-5:30 AM every morning. I needed to make sure I had some food. She countered with an offer of "If he's not here by 1:30 you can order food". Turns out both were unnecessary. At 1:05, the nurse supervisor came in and suggested a different position to push in. I tried it and it got things really going. I think I had finally figured out which muscles to use. By 1:10, Karlina called in the crew. The doctors got gowned, took out the IUDC monitor and left it up to me to feel the contraction and push the baby out. It only took one more contraction. In the second set of counting to ten, I got to 6 and something felt weird but I was still pushing. Then I heard someone say, You can stop...I opened my eyes and lo and behold the most beautiful thing I've ever seen: Quintin. I saw Steven cut the umbilical cord and then they laid baby Quintin on my chest. I got to hold him for a minute before they took him to the warmer. He got to the warmer and gave the nurses a shower in his pee...they all laughed about his plumbing working. I got stitched up (level 2 tear which I guess is normal for a first time delivery and pushing for so long). Steven ordered me some food, and things started calming down. I got to hold my baby for awhile while we waited for the epidural to start wearing off and my food to come. Haley came down on her break to see him.

(Not the most flattering picture, but I think it shows all the emotions I was feeling)

Quintin is honest to goodness THE most beautiful thing I have ever seen. I've seen lots of babies, but none that were BRAND BRAND new. And none that were quite so handsome. The nurses all loved his hair, and so do we. I couldn't help but cry when I first saw him. I was exhausted and it had been a long day, but he was worth every single piece of it. I'm still amazed how blessed I am to have seven pounds of Heavenly Father's most beautiful creation to take care of.


He is such a well-mannered baby. We were able to come home from the hospital on Wednesday evening. We could have stayed until Thursday but I was ready for my own bed and not to have people coming in and out of my room at their discretion. Quintin is a good little nurser and an even better snuggler. My mom came for about 5 days after he was born and it was wonderful. She helped take care of me and took care of Quintin. She woke up with me at night to help carry him and change him and get him back to sleep. I cried a lot when she left.

Steven is such a great daddy. He comes home in between any classes that he can and helps however he can. Today, he held Q while I took a shower...it's the little things that mean the most.

All in all, we were so blessed in labor and delivery of our little guy. We had great nurses and although our original doctor was not around, we were blessed with a wonderful OB and resident to deliver as well. We still pray that our nurses and doctors get extra blessings for the great work they did for us. We were also blessed with great nurses during recovery. We were lucky to have friends come visit in the hospital and also to have my mom come stay with us. She heard the birth via the phone and was on the first flight out the next day to come visit. In fact, she had to fly to Minneapolis and drive the 4 1/2 hours to get to us. But, I'm sure after she snuggled Q all that work was worth it ;)


Life is good, Quintin is beautiful and we couldn't be happier :)

PS Congrats if you made it through this whole rambling mess ;)