All the Details

Hello, I am Katie's ghostwriter, here to give you the account of Melanie's birth and details about how she and Mommy are doing!

Katie was feeling under the weather with what she suspected as a sinus infection since Saturday, coughing and sneezing and had been commenting since Sunday that “the slightest thing makes me pee my pants!” More than the average pressure a pregnant woman feels, Katie was having great difficulty holding her bladder. She thought it was pee…now there’s some thought that maybe that was her water leaking since Sunday. At around 11:30 in the morning of 3/17, Katie noticed that this time the fluid was greenish in color. Katie drove straight to Labor of Love to get checked out.

Katie had been sick for the past few days leading up to this, running a fever, and the midwives suspected that Katie's water had been broken for over 3 days. Since her temperature was still elevated, it was also causing Melanie’s heartbeat to increase. For this reason (and because she’d had some spotting) it was decided to send Katie to the hospital. Although this was not at all what Katie had signed up for in the birthing plan, better safe than sorry—for both Mommy and baby.

Katie called Brian out of work to come pick her up at Labor of Love and a midwife agreed to act as Katie's doula until Mona arrived from Perry. When they arrived at the hospital, Katie was 2 cm dilated. Several hours of waiting did not change things so a pitocin drip was started to induce labor. Mona arrived and shared her birth coaching with the doula, Amy. Amy had Katie do some exercises on the big ball.

Because a baby should be delivered no more than 24 hours after the water breaks, the pitocin was increased. If things didn’t start moving though, a c-section loomed. Katie remained in good spirits, but her labor pains were at a 6 (dealing with terrible cold symptoms to boot). Katie wisely accepted the epidural at around 9:00 but even that was difficult—it took 2 tries to get it right! But the relief helped Katie to get some needed rest for the delivery ahead of her. It was not long after this that Katie transitioned and began pushing. At 12:29 Melanie was born. She weighed 8 lbs 3 oz. Other than a little fluid on her lungs, she presented as a healthy baby with a head full of brownish black hair! All the Pitts cried (Brian, Katie and Brian’s mom).

At first Katie was diagnosed with a respiratory infection. But later she was told she had pneumonia. She was also told that she might have to have a blood transfusion because the delivery had left her anemic. Katie managed to beef her blood supply up but her temperature continued to give her problems. For fear that she might pass on her illness to the baby, lab work was taken from Melanie. The results came back with a low white cell count so Katie was forced into a separation from Melanie and ordered to rest as much as possible, while receiving antibiotics. Melanie also had antibiotics via IV. Melanie was moved to the NICU to be monitored. Baby could continue to have (healthy) visitors as long as they sanitized first. Katie would need to be 24 hours fever-free to be with Melanie again.

When I spoke to Katie at noon today, she reported that Melanie is “all better” but Katie’s temp is still high (100.2). They’ve given Katie a breast pump so that she can start getting the supply going. Katie said she wasn’t pumping anything, but I told her this is normal. Not until the “breast fairy” visits you will you see any liquid---just colostrum. In the meantime Melanie is receiving formula.

So until Katie is fever-free for 48 hours, she must remain at the hospital. She is at University Community Hospital in Tampa. The hospital’s website has a web nursery but at last check Melanie hadn’t been entered yet. Katie needs to focus on resting to get better so please keep calls to a minimum and visits are discouraged (Katie doesn’t want to get anyone else sick). For us inquiring minds, she graciously put up pictures on this blog and has also checked in with Facebook. I will post what I find out! Katie sends her thanks for your thoughts, well wishes and prayers.