As a side note, we had our c-section date and hospital check-in time set since the day after my first appointment at 8 weeks. I don't know how they are able to schedule that far in advance, but it stayed the same the whole pregnancy.
Check in was simple and quick. Even though there was nothing to be done, it was hard not to feel disappointed that we weren't there for induction. Especially since I started in a regular labor and delivery room while we waited.
They hooked me up to the monitor and asked me if I had been having any contractions. I had only ever had one and it woke me up when it happened. That was actually really cool! I had never had that experience. But that was it. However, as I was laying in bed, I thought I felt my stomach tighten. It wasn't painful though. The nurse looked at the screen and said, "Well that was one!" (Insert another heartbreaking sigh. I had been dilated to a 1 at my 38 week check. I was a 1 when I went in to be induced at 41 weeks with Pierscen. So the fact that I had made progress, even just a tiny bit and I was in fact having contractions made me really REALLY wish they had given me a chance. Moving on...)
Next came the worst part of all. Okay not quite, but it was awful.
The catheter.
They put it in well before the surgery with no anesthesia. Thankfully I had been warned by other c-section moms here that this would be the case, but it did not stop me begging for it to be otherwise. The nurses said it's just how the OR likes it to happen.
Excuse me?! This is out of covenience to the OR staff?!
Yes. Yes it is. No other reason.
Let me just tell you... it is awful. Not only does it hurt, but then it feels like you have to pee. Constantly. Which of course doesn't matter because you ARE peeing, but the sensation is horrible. I felt like I had a UTI. I got super nauseous and shaky. The nurses wondered if it was just from nerves, but I wasn't nervous about the surgery. Like at all. I was just sick. They brought me some anti-nausea stuff, but as luck would have it, it made me more nauseous.
Seriously guys. This is probably one of the dumbest medical practices I have yet to encounter. There was no medical reason. It is done that way because the OR doesn't want to deal with it. Granted, I understand that the spinal block only lasts for so long so they don't want to waste time, but it takes maybe 30 seconds. Trust me, it would be worth the delay.
Around 6:30 it was time to head to the OR. We waited around in the prep area watching the various staff come and go while I continued to shake and feel like vomiting. I made sure that Ryan had his phone in his pocket and urged him to take a picture regardless of whether we were supposed to or not. At last it was go time. They wheeled me in, and told Ryan that they would come get him right before they started. They got the spinal started and gave me more anti-nausea stuff, but I knew more than likely it would only get worse. When I was in labor with Pierscen and even through the c-section, I was super sick. I threw up several times, including right after than precious moment when they told me I was a mom. Haha. Since I was expecting it, I did my best to just relax and take deep breaths, telling myself over and over that I was going to be okay. Soon Ryan was ushered in the surgery began.
Ryan smiled reassuringly and held my hand. "They're almost done," he said. Shortly thereafter I heard the most beautiful sound in the world - a baby's cry. Pierscen did not cry at all and that terrified me. Since I couldn't see what was going on, that cry was my only way of gauging things. Even though he was totally fine - just curiously looking around at the world - it still freaked me out. So to hear Devry cry, not scream, but cry, it made my heart swell and I started crying.
"She's still a girl," Ryan informed me. Even though we had had a good ultrasound, there's always that "what if" part of things. Phew!
Moments later a beautiful bundle was brought around the corner and placed in the crook of my arm. MY ARM! I GOT TO HOLD MY BABY!!! It was still awkward - not super cuddly, but I got to hold her. That's all that matters. It lasted a very short time before they wanted to whisk her off with Ryan to go to the nursery and get her all cleaned up and weighed. I kissed her and said my goodbyes.
No picture. Can you believe it? It didn't even cross my mind. Say whaaaattt? After all that anger and Facebook venting? Yup. I didn't even think about it. Of course I wish I had that picture. I really, really do. But my baby was here. She was healthy and crying. I didn't vomit when the told me I was a mom. Everything was good.
I closed my eyes, took lots of deep breaths, and waited until I was done being sewn back together.
I hung out in recovery for a while eating ice chips - bless you ice chips! - staring at my dead legs and trying to get them to move. Eventually a lactation specialist brought in my angel baby and I finally really got to hold her, skin to skin. My very first thought when she handed her to me was, "Holy cow - she looks like me!" I can't even say what it was really, especially because everyone says she looks just like Pierscen (albeit feminine) and Pierscen looks just like Ryan. I didn't see it at first, but now I can say they are undeniably siblings, though I really think she just looks like Devry. :)
She ate really well for her first go and I prized holding her and feeling her against me. As mentioned in my previous post, part of the c-section robbery is not being able to hold your baby right after birth. The separation and waiting game stinks big time with a c-section, so this time - even if it's more clinical at this point, is still precious and wonderful. I think I spent about 45 minutes with her before the bundled her up and took her back to the nursery. I had to wait until the feeling came back to my legs and I could wiggle my toes before I was allowed to go up to my room.
Along the way we passed the nursery where they paused so I could wave at Ryan through the window.
I hung out in the room while Ryan sent me pictures and updates. So without further ado:
Devry Anesa, 6 lbs 0.7 oz, 20 inches long
I have had the name Devry (Dev-ree) picked out for 10 years. I had a coworker named Devry and I thought the name was beautiful. And so was she. She was kind, thoughtful, smart, etc. So when Ryan and I got married I ran the name past him and he really liked it so that was that. Her middle name was much harder. I wanted something from my side of the family. I could have gone with Diana, but I personally don't love alliterations. I spent a bunch of time going through my family history charts, but nothing jumped out at me. I really wanted something Danish, so I jumped online and looked up Danish girl names. I narrowed it down to two possibilities and let the boys choose. They both liked Anesa, which was my favorite too. So there you have it. :)
She was so tiny! Perfect, amazing little angel.
Already full of personality...
I mean look at that. He's got his arms wrapped around her, pressed cheek to cheek. Love!
Here's my mom and Devry. Can I just say a million times over how grateful I am that she was able to come?! She was literally a life saver.
We took the picture below because all the pictures we had sent out to family she was wearing the beanie. She had a good amount of hair!
Her eyes are incredible. They are huge and expressive. I like to call them Disney princess eyes because all of the princesses in the last while have these ginormous eyes. I love it!
As the day wore on, my shoulders began to tense up really bad. As a connoisseur in all things shoulder tension related, I can say it was unlike anything I had ever experienced. I tried to relax. I tried to rub them. My mom even brought me my bean neck wrap and we tried that. Nothing. It got worse and worse until the tension turned to horrific head pain. I became extremely nauseous and vomited again and again. Even after I was cleared to eat, I ordered a bunch of things I thought would be easy on my stomach. Didn't help. It just kept coming up. Later that evening when my mom and P were back for another visit, I was walking around the room nice and slow (nothing like getting up and walking around after having your gut sliced open) and the headache grew so intense I burst into tears and sobbed and sobbed.
My sweet, sweet, amazing little boy grew alarmed and climbed up onto the bed with me and wrapped his arms around my head, pressing his cheek against mine and said, "I'm here. I'm here." If I wasn't already crying, that would have done it. He is seriously so thoughtful and kind. Major melt my heart moment.
After witnessing my level of pain and nausea, the nurse asked a few questions like whether it got better when I laid down or not. It definitely did. She said it sounded like I had a spinal headache from the anesthesia block and said she would contact anesthesia.
I think it was around 10 pm that the anesthiologist on call came to see me. (Not the one who did the block, Dr. F .) He said it definitely sounded like a spinal headache but that before doing a blood patch maybe they would try some conservative methods (like tons of Mtn Dew) and see how I was doing in the morning. I didn't really know what to say, so I said okay. Not long after, an anesthesiologist in our ward, Dr. B, came to see me. He had heard about my situation and came up immediately. He said he had had a spinal headache before and that there was no way he was going to let me wait until morning. The only question was whether he was going to do it, or if my original doc wanted to do it. He called my doc who said he would be back in to do the blood patch.
I was so grateful for Dr. B for stepping in and making sure I got the help I needed. By all means he didn't have to. A short while later Dr. F came in to do the patch. Everyone was a little baffled by the fact that I ended up with the headache in the first place because spinal headaches are much less common on blocks then they are with epidurals and he had already used the smallest needle possible. (The headache is cause when the puncture doesn't close all the way and an air bubble gets trapped in the spinal chord space.) They fix it by drawing blood from your arm and pumping it into your back where the black or epidural was. The blood coagulates and forms a bandaid and POOF! The pain goes away. And guess what?
IT WORKED! Hallelujah! I have never experienced pain like that before. Or such relief. Modern medicine is amazing folks.
Ryan stayed the night that first night, which was really invaluable in helping get Devry from her bassinet. C-section recoveries are a beast guys. And he also changed a billion diapers. This girl was an amazing pooper. Holy cow. The whole tar stage was ovre really fast because she pooped so much! Haha.
The next morning, Ryan had my mom take him to work so she could have the car and I ordered real food. I think I would eat this every day... Omelet, potatoes, fresh fruit, and Mtn Dew. Even though they did the blood patch they said to keep chugging the Mtn Dew. Good thing I like the stuff. :)
That night I told Ryan to sleep at home. No sense in both of us losing sleep. The nurses all encouraged me to keep her in my room at night for bonding, which I totally agree - but expecting a c-section mom to handle things on her own is a little rough. One nurse told me almost secretively, like she would get in trouble for saying it or something, that if I didn't have anyone staying with me that I could send her to the nursery. I was very grateful for her kindness but ended up keeping her with me anyway. :) It actually wasn't too bad. It was really hard and painful, but we survived. And goodness, who wouldn't want to cuddle this sweet baby as much as possible?
Aren't those eyes amazing?!
I adore these pictures of my boys and their precious girl. These two are going to take such good care of her.
She was technically big enough for the car seat, but she was still so tiny that we tucked a few blankets on the side to help keep her steady.
Dodger was thrilled to meet her. He did everything he could to try and get in a few kisses. He was the same way with Pierscen.
Home sweet home. There is no better place to be! Especially when you have help and can take a nap worry free. ;)
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