As I try to write about my labor, I can’t help but be pissed about the whole situation. But if I write in a pissed off mood – I’ll just make it out as if the nurses were incompetent. They really weren’t, they were great at their jobs. BUT – I felt that AS a patient, I was ignored. They really didn’t believe I was in labor.

9/14 was Chinese Mood Festival Day – a day where families gather together in celebration to recognize the change of seasons.

That morning I woke up at 4:50 am (I have a projection clock so I always know the time). I was feeling a lot of pressure in my tummy (that’s the best I can describe it). It was completely different from contractions from my first labor. I waited, the sensation passed, then it came back again about 4-5 minutes later and then again.

Just like that, I was having regular contractions and they were progressing in pain fairly quickly. I woke up my husband and told him it was time to go to the hospital I’ve been told many times before by many doctors and nurses that based on my first labor, I should go to the hospital right away for my subsequent labors.

We arrived at the hospital at about 5:30 am. We had to go through ER and then up to LDR on the 2^nd floor. I walked into labor and delivery with a smile on my face and I tell the nurses “I think it’s time”. I can’t really blame them for not believing me I guess. Not many women labor with a smile on their face. One nurse even admitted to me afterwards that she hadn’t believed me. I should have been more melodramatic, holding my tummy and screaming all the way in – then they probably would have believed me.

7 am was also shift change – just my luck. I’m pretty sure that had something to do with why they couldn’t get a hold of the anesthesiologist or why he didn’t show up until a little after 7.

As the anesthesiologist is trying to give me an epidural shot and I’m lying on my side trying not to move too much – my contractions accelerate. I feel as if my contractions are constant and I’m not getting a break anymore. I feel a lot of pressure down there and I tell the nurses that the baby is coming. And this really made me upset – my nurse chuckled and said “that’s not your baby.” Another nurse was better and asked when was the last time I was checked – which was when I had come in and had been 4 cm. So they decide it might be a good idea to check me again – I was fully dilated and baby was definitely coming.

They call the OB, but not in time. The nurse ended delivering my baby at 7:28 am, right after I got one shot of epidural in.  The OB made it in time to deliver my placenta.

I loved the SOFT program at this hospital. Pretty much from when my baby was delivered, he was skin to skin with me for the next 3-4 hours. I loved it. They did all the shots and assessments with him right on me.

I really don’t mind that the epidural didn’t come in time. I really don’t mind that the OB didn’t make it to deliver my baby, even though I switched hospitals and everything just to be closer to home. And it was a big switch took, because I was leaving not only a wonderful OB, but my preceptor and a whole labor and delivery team that I had rotated 6 weeks with.

What is really frustrating is that I felt like I did everything right on my part. I even told the nurses repeatedly that I would be a fast labor when I had arrived. So it really hurts me that I felt like I was completely ignored as a patient. I’m sure plenty of people feel this way all the time. I guess in the end I’m just grateful my son came out healthy and well.