I tried to write during and immediately after giving birth to my
girls. I focused on getting the facts straight and in the right order in my
baby haze but there was so much more that didn’t make it that I want to add to
what I wrote before I forgot the little details. I love you, Stella!
After a fabulous, drug induced sleep I spent the morning with my
family and Eric went to work. We know that if we spent it together we might
have gone crazy waiting for the call to come into the hospital. I was told to
call and check in at noon to see if I would be in soon and if I should eat. I
got a call from the hospital a few seconds after asking me to come in at
2:00pm! Woohoo! Eric and I headed out for a light lunch (my favorite sushi
place) and got ready to go. I put Addi down for her nap and we were on our way.
Maybe its the sedative from last night still in my system but I am one chill
Mama. (I know, thats what they all say until the pain starts). Even this
morning, my parents, Addi and I took a walk to get breakfast then brought Addi
to see Eric and chatted with my parents while she napped. It was relaxing.
Things were busy in the hospital so we had to wait about 2 hours to see my doc,
Dr. Shakr. Eric and I just sat around in the room talking, reading and being
excited about meeting our new little girl When we did see the doctor we talked
for about 2 minutes with him letting us know he was leaving soon and Dr. Champion
(who delivered Addi) would be in, he was starting my antibiotics and pitocin
and then he left. We were thrilled when we found out that Dr. Champion would be
the one delivering Stella. It was such a relief to have same person since he
was so wonderful at Addi’s birth and throughout my pregnancy. Good stuff.
All these things were set up by 4:30pm and I had my first major contraction (ouch) while on Skype with my parents and Addi! Now its a little after 5:00pm and my Mom will be here in about an hour to hang out. Since she had the change to be here and I may never do this again I thought it would be nice to have her here. Another supportive person to share in the special day, although she won't be in for "the big show" (pushing that baby out). Eric and I wanted to share that personal moment alone. So here I am, Eric in the cafeteria, contractions coming slowly but surely and I am going to order some dinner and try and rest up. I read (Americans in Paris by Dave McCullough) and played on the Ipad for a while so maybe I'll dim the lights and turn on some music. So surreal that I'll meet my daughter tonight! More to come...
All these things were set up by 4:30pm and I had my first major contraction (ouch) while on Skype with my parents and Addi! Now its a little after 5:00pm and my Mom will be here in about an hour to hang out. Since she had the change to be here and I may never do this again I thought it would be nice to have her here. Another supportive person to share in the special day, although she won't be in for "the big show" (pushing that baby out). Eric and I wanted to share that personal moment alone. So here I am, Eric in the cafeteria, contractions coming slowly but surely and I am going to order some dinner and try and rest up. I read (Americans in Paris by Dave McCullough) and played on the Ipad for a while so maybe I'll dim the lights and turn on some music. So surreal that I'll meet my daughter tonight! More to come...
So, where did I leave off?
I think I was just getting set up with the induction and starting labor. My Mom
got to the hospital and provided much needed comic relief. Not having been
through labor herself, she had lots of questions- “Why does her heart rate go down when you have
a contraction? Is that normal? Do you feel that contraction? Does it hurt? How
do they break your water?” She had us
laughing all night! I went from 3cm to 5cm with relative ease and Dr. Champion
broke my water. Not until after I had my epidural (I learned my lesson last
time)! That sped things along until 8cm when I got very uncomfortable but
obviously wasn't ready to push yet. My poor Mom didn’t know what to do with me being in that
state! I remember her saying “I feel like I
want to comfort you but I don’t think you
want me touching you right now!” Eric confirmed
that touching me in that state would indeed be a bad idea. I help on to the
side of the bed and breathed with my music super loud. Music choice? Worship
music and the Legally Blonde the musical soundtrack, haha!
They helped me with more
meds in my epidural and I got nice and comfy. Those drugs were amazing. This
was around midnight and we just needed to wait to be complete to push. My Mom
had arrived around 7:00pm so she, Eric and I spent the majority of the night
chatting. Everything thing was calm and exciting, I had gotten my
antibiotics and it was finally happening! So very different than with
Addi. No crying in pain or contractions piggy-backing each other. Around 1:00am
I was feeling a lot of pressure and no surprise, I was ready to push!
My Mom left and Dr. Champion came in and got ready (this surprised me since they usually just come in to catch the baby) but thank goodness he did. I pushed for less than 20 minutes when I heard him call a code. A few minutes before another doctor had come in but it didn't really concern me. From there, everything gets both vivid and fuzzy. The code was called and the room filled up with people. I remember a NICU nurse coming in and looking with a concerned look.Within those 30 seconds, two nurses and my doctor were on top of me while I was still pushing- pressing on my stomach. Stella's shoulder was stuck on my pubic bone. I was obviously in pain and panicking but it was over before I could really understand what was going on. Stella was born at 1:32am and went right to the NICU team. During the craziness, Eric had moved from the spot of delivery to my head and kept me sane in those early minutes of Stella's life.
She wasn't crying and although they were assuring me she was fine and no major damage had been done. I was in pain and waiting for the doctor to take care of everything down there. I was washed in relief when I heard her cry and they finally put her in my arms. All 9 pounds 2 ounces 21 inches of her! With a full head of black hair! She wasn't too interested in nursing although she did for a little while. My poor Mom finally came back in the room to meet Stella. She had heard everything and was obviously concerned for me and Stella. I am thankful she wasn’t there when Stella was stuck because I know how scary it would be for her. She got to hold her and took photos, I called my Dad and he came to meet Stella too. I remember him saying “Is it normal for babies to smile in the delivery room?”Stella was beaming in Poppy’s arms! It was beautiful.
My Mom left and Dr. Champion came in and got ready (this surprised me since they usually just come in to catch the baby) but thank goodness he did. I pushed for less than 20 minutes when I heard him call a code. A few minutes before another doctor had come in but it didn't really concern me. From there, everything gets both vivid and fuzzy. The code was called and the room filled up with people. I remember a NICU nurse coming in and looking with a concerned look.Within those 30 seconds, two nurses and my doctor were on top of me while I was still pushing- pressing on my stomach. Stella's shoulder was stuck on my pubic bone. I was obviously in pain and panicking but it was over before I could really understand what was going on. Stella was born at 1:32am and went right to the NICU team. During the craziness, Eric had moved from the spot of delivery to my head and kept me sane in those early minutes of Stella's life.
She wasn't crying and although they were assuring me she was fine and no major damage had been done. I was in pain and waiting for the doctor to take care of everything down there. I was washed in relief when I heard her cry and they finally put her in my arms. All 9 pounds 2 ounces 21 inches of her! With a full head of black hair! She wasn't too interested in nursing although she did for a little while. My poor Mom finally came back in the room to meet Stella. She had heard everything and was obviously concerned for me and Stella. I am thankful she wasn’t there when Stella was stuck because I know how scary it would be for her. She got to hold her and took photos, I called my Dad and he came to meet Stella too. I remember him saying “Is it normal for babies to smile in the delivery room?”Stella was beaming in Poppy’s arms! It was beautiful.
My parents left and Stella
and I snuggled skin to skin for a while and they made plans to go and clean her
up and get me into a recovery room. Stella headed to the nursery and I was
getting up to use the bathroom when I knew something was wrong. I made it in to
sit down but was dizzy and started crying in pain. Maybe I had hit my stitches
or was sore? Eric and the nurse were talking to me and trying to get out what
was wrong. I didn't know and they helped me back to bed. By that point I was
crying and yelling in pain. I had never felt pain like that before. I thought
my insides were being torn out. Again, the room filled up, I was given a bunch
of different narcotics and nothing was working. I just remember staring into
Eric’s eyes and begging him to help me and telling
him I wasn’t making it up.They finally gave me a
sedative to get me to calm down enough to turn on my side so they could replace
my epidural and give me some serious meds.
All of this seemed to take a long time but I can't be sure. They thought that I either had a hematoma (big blood blister or bruise) or I had fractured my pelvis. After I was sedated a bit (no where near pain free or comfortable), my doctor checked me and confirmed a hematoma. I needed surgery to take care of it! Lots and lots of meds, another IV (for a transfusion if needed) and a bunch of doctors later I kissed Eric goodbye and headed to the OR at 5:30am. All the drugs made it very fuzzy but I remember the compassion of my doctor and all the other doctors in the room. Even putting some of my favorite music (Dave Matthews) on and rubbing my head. I was as comfortable that I could be and when it was all over I went to recovery.
Sadly, it was not maternity recovery so I couldn't see or be with Stella until late that afternoon. This was the hardest part for me. My heart and body ached for my baby. I cried for her over and over. The nurses took pictures of my beautiful girl and brought them for me to stare at. I showed them to each person who came in and counted the minutes until I could see her and hold her again. In that time I was monitored, had a CAT scan and was drugged out of my mind. I wanted Eric to be with Stella so I was alone most of the time trying to get rest. It didn't really work but it was all worth it when my precious girl was back in my arms. Nothing made me happier than to be back with her. Addi and friends came to visit us and I finally started to feel better. Slowly, all of the lines have come out and my precious girl and I are getting to know each other. She is a fabulous eater and now knows my voice. She is so beautiful and I am totally in love with her! We have had lots of family and friends- including Addi visiting which has really helped and since everything has been well we are going home on time, sometime today!
Time to get fully recovered and back to real life. I still can't believe how crazy things were in the past 48 hours. My body tells me it happened but shoulder displasias and hematomas are both so rare its like lightening striking twice. My doc had never even seen a hematoma before! I am a bit nervous (petrified) about being Mommy to two even though I am operating at only about 10%. Thank God we have family around for a while and lots of help. Eric and I thank God for Stella's safe arrival and His provision for me. We are so blessed!
All of this seemed to take a long time but I can't be sure. They thought that I either had a hematoma (big blood blister or bruise) or I had fractured my pelvis. After I was sedated a bit (no where near pain free or comfortable), my doctor checked me and confirmed a hematoma. I needed surgery to take care of it! Lots and lots of meds, another IV (for a transfusion if needed) and a bunch of doctors later I kissed Eric goodbye and headed to the OR at 5:30am. All the drugs made it very fuzzy but I remember the compassion of my doctor and all the other doctors in the room. Even putting some of my favorite music (Dave Matthews) on and rubbing my head. I was as comfortable that I could be and when it was all over I went to recovery.
Sadly, it was not maternity recovery so I couldn't see or be with Stella until late that afternoon. This was the hardest part for me. My heart and body ached for my baby. I cried for her over and over. The nurses took pictures of my beautiful girl and brought them for me to stare at. I showed them to each person who came in and counted the minutes until I could see her and hold her again. In that time I was monitored, had a CAT scan and was drugged out of my mind. I wanted Eric to be with Stella so I was alone most of the time trying to get rest. It didn't really work but it was all worth it when my precious girl was back in my arms. Nothing made me happier than to be back with her. Addi and friends came to visit us and I finally started to feel better. Slowly, all of the lines have come out and my precious girl and I are getting to know each other. She is a fabulous eater and now knows my voice. She is so beautiful and I am totally in love with her! We have had lots of family and friends- including Addi visiting which has really helped and since everything has been well we are going home on time, sometime today!
Time to get fully recovered and back to real life. I still can't believe how crazy things were in the past 48 hours. My body tells me it happened but shoulder displasias and hematomas are both so rare its like lightening striking twice. My doc had never even seen a hematoma before! I am a bit nervous (petrified) about being Mommy to two even though I am operating at only about 10%. Thank God we have family around for a while and lots of help. Eric and I thank God for Stella's safe arrival and His provision for me. We are so blessed!
No comments:
Post a Comment