Baby W's Birth Story - Part 2

Finally, 12/20/12 arrived.  I don’t think I slept at all the night before.  I took one final pregnant picture in front of the Christmas tree and kissed Addie goodbye.  I don’t think A and I talked much on the way to the hospital – I was so nervous, tired, anxious, all sorts of emotional.  We checked into the maternity ward as we had been instructed.  The woman at the front desk looked at us a little confused.  “Who is your doctor?  What time were you supposed to be here?”  Turns out someone had really messed up and DID NOT SCHEDULE the c section?!?  A and I were instructed to sit in the lobby while things were sorted out.  I was a mess.  I couldn’t imagine going through all this again.  I was already nervous, we had made all arrangements, we’d gotten up incredibly early, and I had mentally prepared myself as much as possible.  I needed to have baby W THIS morning.  After that hiccup, a nurse came out and told us things were ok and we should follow her to a room to prepare for surgery.  Crisis averted.

In the room, a couple monitors were placed on me.  I was surprised to find out I was having very regular contractions and took it as a sign that Baby W was ready to make his debut.  There was one final ultrasound to confirm that Baby W was still breech (he was).  I think I told everyone – nurses, doctors, anesthesiologist how nervous I was and they all assured me that both baby and I would be fine.  I was in good hands.

As I prepared for surgery I had to drink some nasty concoction to settle my stomach (it was gross).  A put on his scrubs.  An IV was inserted (I was told it would be the most painful part of the day).  Finally, I was told it was time to enter the OR.  A couldn’t be with me as the epidural was administered.  That was one of the scariest and most painful parts of the day.  The anesthesiologist kept telling me to stick my back out and push back while a nurse held my shoulders and he inserted the needle.  How does one stick their back out?!?  Soon enough, it was over.  The nurse holding me also happened to have the same name we planned on calling baby W – I took that as another good sign.  The curtain was raised, A joined me, I felt super awkward being naked on an operating table, and I couldn’t feel my legs… fun times.

The surgery began.  I kept telling the anesthesiologist that I felt nauseous and he would continually increase whatever medicine I was on to make me feel better.  That happened several times.  Eventually the anesthesiologist exclaimed “I can see his butt!”.  A and I heard baby W before we could see him.  He was screaming and I remember smiling and nervously laughing, hoping that meant he was ok.  A few seconds later, the OB brought him over.  A and I both cried.  I said, “He’s so cute.  He’s perfect.”  A tried to hug me, but he ended up rubbing my head and messing up my hair. ;)  Not his fault – I was basically tied to the operating table.  I asked how much he weighed and the doctor told me they didn’t know yet.  Baby W was checked out, measured, and wrapped in a blanket.  He weighed 8 lbs 9 oz and was 20.5 inches long.  He was brought over to me and I got to talk to him and love on him for a couple minutes.  He was, without a doubt, the most beautiful baby I’d ever seen.  A and baby W went to the recovery room while I was stitched up.  That only took a few minutes.  The anesthesiologist asked me if I wanted something to take the edge off.  I wasn’t really sure what that meant and I stupidly said sure.  Whatever it was made me really sleepy.  Soon enough, I was in the recovery room and got to hold and feed baby W right away.  The nurse repeatedly asked how I was doing and I repeatedly told her I was so tired.  I wish I hadn’t gotten that extra medication.  She told me to sleep, but there was absolutely no way I was going to miss out on baby W’s first minutes of life.  While in the recovery room, W’s foot prints were stamped and he got his first bath.  When I could move my legs, it was time to head to my hospital room.  I remember having to move from the operating bed to the hospital bed and that was extremely difficult right after surgery.  I also remember the nurse pushing really hard on my stomach (uterus?) and that was painful.

After we got into the hospital room, A went to find Grandma G and Grandma W who had been anxiously waiting to meet baby W.  Watching them meet him and hold him melted my heart. J  Meanwhile, I was instructed to eat ice chips while the anesthesia wore off.  All was going well…. Until nausea hit me full force.  I started vomiting and was given Zofran.  It helped and I started feeling better.  Eventually, Grandpa W and Uncle M stopped by to meet W.  I’m pretty sure I looked like death after the vomiting episode. J  It was also fun watching them meet baby W.  W is named after both of his grandpas. J That night, I was afraid to eat much because I didn’t want to vomit.  Sidenote: I hate puking.  Not that anyone likes it, but I will do everything in my power not to puke.  I had not gotten sick at all during pregnancy.  How ironic that I did minutes after Baby W was born.

The next few days and nights in the hospital were pretty calm.  I loved being with my boys and I had minimal pain.  Even the nurses seemed impressed that I was walking around the night of delivery and declining pain medication.  I credit my recovery to my awesome OB.  Baby W roomed with us except for a couple hours each night when A and I would catch up on much needed sleep.  W didn’t sleep well in his bassinet and preferred to be held.  That was fine by me, but I knew I needed some sleep.  The second night in the hospital, I was ravenous.  After hardly eating anything the day prior due to nausea, I suddenly couldn’t get enough.  I ate my entire dinner including sides, had additional snacks, and sent A out for a Chicago style hotdog. J  More friends stopped by to meet W and I loved that they were excited to meet him.  W became jaundiced and was losing a lot of weight (1 pound), but we were allowed to leave the hospital as scheduled on 12/23.  Just in time for Christmas.

My OB had instructed me to take it easy and not leave the house, which meant no Christmas celebrations.  But we had many visitors and had lots of fun Face Timing with family.

During the first couple weeks, we had to visit the pediatrician frequently for weight checks and blood draws.  Eventually W figured out nursing and his bilirubin levels stabilized.  In my opinion, there were way way too many blood draws.  I think they should have stopped after the bilirubin levels began to decrease and W’s color was returning to normal.  One of my biggest regrets is not putting a stop to the numerous blood draws. 

My recovery was easy for the most part.  Getting out of bed in the night was the most difficult – I missed the hospital bed rails.  But even that wasn’t terrible.  Looking back, c section recovery wasn’t bad at all.  I think I had an easier time than friends who gave birth naturally.  If I had to have another c section, I’d be completely fine with that.  Dare I say, I might even prefer it!

 
W’s birth was perfect and I wouldn’t change a thing.  One of the best days of my life.  J

 

 

Baby W's Birth Story - Part 1

I have a feeling this is going to be a long one so I think I’ll break it up into 2 posts.

I had a great pregnancy.  Sure I had some aches and pains, some sleepless nights, swelling, but for the most part, I felt great.  People are SO nice to a pregnant lady – doors were held for me, strangers would come over and ask about the baby, even my OB told me I was “all baby”, which made me feel so much better about my weight gain.  I felt wonderful (truth be told, I actually miss being pregnant).

 

During the final month, I started measuring big.  For my entire pregnancy, I measured exactly on track.  When I started measuring big, I got concerned.  There’s a condition called polyhydramnios, which basically means there is too much amniotic fluid.  It can cause complications and be a sign of birth defects.  I was really scared something could be wrong with baby W, but told myself that everything had been fine until that point.  If there were complications or birth defects, they should have been detected sooner.  My OB ordered an ultrasound to check fluid and the position of the baby and assured me that everything would be fine.

The ultrasound took place about 2 weeks prior to my due date.  A was with me and I was really nervous.  The ultrasound tech moved the probe across my belly.  At the top of my belly, she paused and said there’s his head.  Immediate red flag.  Baby W was breech, as in head up, bottom down.  I knew immediately that meant c section.  It was highly unlikely that he would turn this late in the game.  On the positive side, he was healthy and his position was the reason I was suddenly measuring big.  I now joke that he’s smart and only wanted to be right side up. J

I was extremely upset.  I knew a c section meant a longer hospital stay, a more difficult recovery.  It was not at all what I envisioned.  There would be no water breaking, no labor, no last minute packing of hospital bags, and no excited calls to friends and family.  And I was terrified of surgery and potential complications.

At the OB appointment following the ultrasound, I was on the verge of tears.  The OB tried to comfort me and told me she thought baby W was pretty big and this might be a blessing in disguise.  I wouldn’t have to go through hours of labor only to eventually wind up with a c section.  That made me feel better.  She also discussed potential birth dates with me.  She had to consult with the OR, but the possibilities were 12/19, 12/20, or 12/21.  She asked what my preference would be.  I said 12/21 for no good reason.  I liked the idea of a 12/21/12 birthdate.

The doctor’s office called two days later to schedule the c section and discuss the preparations.  I couldn’t even answer and let the call go to voicemail.  I was still so upset and scared about having to go through a c section.  I went to lunch with coworkers and they tried to cheer me up.  I also received a couple sweet emails from friends.  Lunch and hearing from friends made me feel better and I mustered enough courage to return the phone call from the doctor’s office.  The c section was scheduled for 12/20 with my favorite doctor.  I was to be at the hospital at 6 am.  I realized that 12/21 was the day the world was rumored to end so it probably wasn’t the best choice for a birthday in retrospect. J

It was so strange having a scheduled birthdate.  Until this point, I had been analyzing every little sign, wondering when baby W would make his appearance.  I knew I could still go into labor prior to that date, but baby W was showing no signs of coming early.  I was still nervous and my doctor assured me he had performed thousands of c sections and been in practice for years so I was in good hands.  I didn’t even tell many people about the scheduled c section.  After it was all over, a few people questioned why I hadn’t told them – I was just so nervous about the whole thing and it was hard for me to accept.  Hopefully they understand.

A pointed out that everything about baby W’s existence had been planned –choosing when to start IVF and deciding on a transfer date.  It only seemed fitting to have a scheduled delivery date.

As the date approached, I was still very nervous, but I was also getting more and more excited to meet baby.  I tried to focus on the positive aspects of a c section.  I could make necessary arrangements ahead of time – mainly making sure Addie dog had a place to stay while we were in the hospital.  If all went well, we’d be home in time for Christmas (A had previously predicted that baby W would arrive on Christmas, my due date was 12/26).  Baby W would have a perfectly shaped head – ha!  I’d have to stay in the hospital a little longer, but that meant extra help from the wonderful nurses.  I would also be on short term disability longer, which meant a couple extra pay checks from the insurance company.  I wouldn’t endure hours upon hours of labor pain and pushing.