We got to the St Joe’s complex and didn’t see any signs for OB or Labor and Delivery, so Josh dropped me off at the ER. Nearly as soon as I walked in, they got me a wheelchair to sit in. They filled out all the paperwork for me, knowing I wasn’t in any position to do that, except for the pages I signed.
A nurse pushed me in the wheelchair all around the hospital to the Labor and Delivery Triage. I arrived there at 8:10 pm. I sat in the waiting room for just a minute, signed a few more things, then they got me into triage. They took my vitals and gave me a gown to change into. They hooked me up with monitors for the baby’s heart rate and contractions.
Because of COVID-19, Josh was not able to go inside until I was admitted. He texted me asking what was going on. I was in the middle of texting him back when I had a contraction. He figured it out and texted me to breath.
It’s important that your husband, or mom or whoever is with you has learned some breathing techniques. Josh watched a YouTube video right before we left for the hospital and it helped a ton. Not only does the breathing give you something to focus on, it helps you to not tense up which causes more pain.
Side note, I paid for an online birthing class and I did not find it useful whatsoever. It was so boring, my husband didn’t pay attention at all. She also gave bad advice. It ended up being a big waste of money. Birthing classes in person are the only recommendation I give for them.
I was in that triage room by myself for about an hour. The contractions were absolutely terrible. I was squirming around in so much pain. The nurse said that I was where a lot of women envied: 2 minutes between contractions. To me, they were starting to feel like by the time one ended, another started. And I wanted to have a break. My back hurt so much, I couldn’t sit back, but my belly hurt as well, I couldn’t lean forward. There was not any semi-comfortable position, hence all the squirming.
She checked my cervix, which was more painful than expected. I was 4 cm dilated, the cervix was thin and the baby was low, stage 1 or 2. She guessed I was going to be admitted, but had to get confirmation from the physician.
I waited just 5 minutes to find out for sure I was being admitted. Then it was another 20 minutes before someone came with a wheelchair to pick me up, at 9:10 pm to take me to the labor and delivery room. All during this time, I had contractions every 2 minutes. But really it just felt like an ongoing contraction.
Here I am when I finally got to the L&D room.
Who else gave birth at a big hospital and was in triage for longer than desired? Or whose birth was so quick they skipped triage? Tell me your experiences in the comments below.
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