Max's birth story

Starting my third trimester I began itching all over. I called my nurse in which she stated it was most likely just the third trimester 'woes'. My doctor followed up with me at my next appointment, but being in the morning, I actually felt a little better. She said that it was most likely my stretching skin but to take baby Benadryl if it gets severe enough. A few weeks passed and this itching became unbearable- so I bought the Benadryl. I took a swig right before bed and it did not help at all. My husband decided to accompany me to my next doctors visit jut to be sweet. I proceeded to tell the doctor I was still itching and I was having a hard time with it. He assumed it was the third trimester woes, but my husband pointed out a spot where I had broken skin from scratching so bad. The doctor was alarmed so he ran blood tests to investigate. A few days later, (37 weeks along) was the Ohio state game and we headed to a friends house to hang out. I started getting cramps so we headed home for me to rest. The cramps got worse so I took a bath. I then called the doctor and was told to wait an hour and come in. My cramps were so bad that I went I the hospital 5 minutes later (11:30 pm). The hospital could not admit me until a doctor checked me out since I was 3 weeks early, (I was dilated 3 cm at this time). After waiting 2 hours the doctor came and said I was going into labor and was now dilated to 7. My contractions were 30 seconds apart and were pretty severe that I was throwing up  and my water broke as they were moving me to another bed. I did not get my epidural until 5 am- I swear I was going to pass out, so I focused on just making it through the next contraction. After getting my epidural, (the epi tech was trying I talk and I got so mad since I had waited so long). We not told anyone we were at the hospital (with the exception of  a text to my mom asking what she was up to, at 1am- big clue). My father-in-law was the first to arrive (walked in while I was getting my epidural) who was not feeling well. My mom and dad followed shortly after and then my sister. My mother-in-law arrived right as little man arrived. The doctor came back saying the baby will be here within the hour. My husband, mom, and sis stayed in the delivery room with me. The doctor had to break my other water and said there was meconium inside. Also, with every contraction the umbilical cord tightened and stressed the baby out. The doctor called in a neonatal nurse and four other nurses. The baby was trying to come out, but was getting stuck in the birth canal. So she eventually did a suction on him. My husband got teary eyed and said he had 10 fingers and toes and that he looked Chinese. The doctor took our baby and cut the cord herself and rushed him to the specialists. He got an 8.7 Apgar, which is good. After a few hours after delivery I was informed that I had cholestasis (from the blood tests my doctor ran that week). My creatine levels were off the charts and had caused me to itch and inevitably go into labor early. There is no cure but delivery. I was very lucky as my doctor was goin to induce me that Monday because of these results as this condition is very dangerous for the baby. Luckily I delivered on my own at the right time, (any earlier would have been a worse situation). I no longer itch- but it could come back with my next pregnancy....which is all over my charts now.