Chapter 2: Another Baby Adventure

  It all started last August when Sarah and Lyndsey's prayers were answered with the news that Sarah was pregnant.  Although the majority of the pregnancy was uneventful, the ending was intense.
  Two weeks ago, during a routine OB visit, Sarah's blood pressure was unusually high (144/100).  The kids were sick, and she was tired from interrupted sleep and perhaps might have been fighting it off.  There wasn't protein in her urine.  The next regularly scheduled visit showed her pressure was reasonable; however, there was a trace of protein in her urine (another symptom of preeclampsia).  A few days later, her blood pressure had risen again, and Sarah was not feeling right.
  Sarah's doctors admitted her to Wentworth Douglas Hospital in Dover on Thursday to determine if she indeed had preeclampsia or if it was something else causing the high blood pressure.  Before coming to a full diagnosis, it was determined that it was time to get the baby out.  Since Dover will not induce a mother that previously had a c-section, they wanted to transfer her to Dartmouth Hitchcock in Hanover, NH.
  After a two-hour ambulance ride, Sarah was admitted to Dartmouth.  We originally thought that they would start inducing on Friday morning, but the doctors at Dartmouth had the staffing and thought the sooner the better.  So, Bob drove up Thursday night with Sarah's mom.  They arrived at 1:30am.

  Then the "fun" began.

• 2:15am - The doctors broke Sarah's water.
• 2:30am - 3cm dilated. Steady laboring started (steady contractions)
• 5:30am - Sarah went to labor in Jacuzzi tub.  (Bob feel asleep on stool beside tub)
• 6:30am - Sarah had now been up for 24hrs (was very hungry, weak, and tired, emotionally and physically)
• 8:10am - 8cm
• 8:55am - "I want to push"
• 9:10am - Elyana Jean Levasseur is born!

         7lbs 5oz and 20 inches (3-inch feet, long fingers and toes (nails too))

  Then the reason there was no updates...

• 11:00am - Sarah is still bleeding from birth.  She decides to get up and try to sit on toilet.
• 12:35pm - Sarah passes out on toilet.  Nurses get her back into the bed.
• 12:40pm - Doctors reach in and pull out large clots.
• 1:40pm - Bleeding still not stopping, so they wheel Sarah into OR for spinal and more "manual" blood clot evacuation.
• 2:30pm - Kids came to visit.  (Sarah stays in bed due to spinal.)
• 3:00pm - Sarah's is checked by nurse and clots still coming out.
• 4:00pm - Kids and Sarah's mom leave with Dawn (some-what hurriedly as Sarah was fading)
• 4:01pm -
• Six doctors and nurses hovered over Sarah's bed as she is shivering uncontrollably.  
• Blood pressure drops to 72/49.
• Sarah goes on oxygen and fights to not pass out again.
• Sarah has another "manual" cleaning out.
• Sarah starts blood transfusions...2 pints.
• Doctors start talking about how to get the lower uterus to contract so that the bleeding will stop as well as potential causes.
• 5:30pm - Sarah's mom didn't leave and is now in room as doctors discuss next steps if the bleeding doesn't stop (possible hysterectomy - removal of uterus).
• 5:35pm - Final ultrasound reveals little cavity where c-section incision was made, might be the location of the bleeding.  Doctors discuss next step procedures with Sarah.
• 7:30pm - No sign of bleeding.
• 12:30am - Sarah is cleared to eat (toast and juice).  It has been 14 hours since she has been allowed to eat or drink.

  What a day!  We are really sorry about the lack of communication, but think you can understand why.  It wasn't that we didn't want to share what was going on, but rather the status kept changing.  We reported many times that mother and baby were doing great, then 30 minutes later Momma wasn't doing so well.  Elyana thus far has been unfazed by all the hubbub going on around her.
  I am happy to report that Sarah is doing well today.  She has been out of bed a bit and moving around on her own.  Next ... taking a much deserved and needed shower (been a few days).