Upon finding out we were
expecting, I had a tough decision to make. Since I had a c-section with Sadie,
I had to decide if I wanted to try for a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) or
to opt for a repeat c-section. I went back and forth for a good 8 months before
finally deciding that I was more comfortable with a repeat c-section. Yes, it
is major surgery, but I liked knowing there would be less variables and I could
have a little more control. (Can you say type A???) This turned out to be a
good decision because my blood pressure started to creep up around the 35-36
week mark. We knew going into it that this would be a possibility, as I had
severe pregnancy induced hypertension with Sadie.
We had originally scheduled a
repeat c-section for my EDD, which was 11-25. When the blood pressure started
rising we moved it to 11-18. This was not good as Adam was in the midst of a
crazy school schedule. We tried to move it to Friday the 20th, but
the Dr could not find anyone to operate with her. We wound up moving it to
Tuesday the 24th and agreed to keep a very close eye on my blood
pressure. The 16th the Dr went ahead and put me off work to keep me lying
around the house. Thursday my friend Dory came in to hang out for a couple days
before the baby would arrive. Well, my blood pressure started getting really
high on my readings at home and the Dr had said I needed to call her if it was
not going down. Friday morning the 20th I went in for them to check
it. I was 39 weeks and 2 days at this point, so already 9 days further than
when I delivered Sadie. The Dr decided that based on the reading we would be
moving the delivery to the following day, Saturday, November 21st.
It was a very surreal feeling being told that the next day I would be having a
baby. We knew all along that was a very real possibility, but hearing the words
made it that much more real. It took me right back to the moment when my Dr with Sadie
told us we would be having a baby later that day. My Dr told me to be at the
hospital at 7am and we would plan on going into the OR at 9:15. I left and
called Adam to let him know that the next day we would have a baby.
The rest of
Friday I had to lay low to keep my blood pressure from skyrocketing so Dory and
I watched movies until it was time to get Sadie from school. I had promised
Sadie that before her sister arrived we would go get a pedicure, so when Dory
and I picked her up from school we went straight to do that. She was so excited
that she would be meeting her sister the next day! That night I finished
packing our bags and went to bed around 10. I slept well, surprisingly. We got
up and got everything loaded in the car. It worked out so well that Dory wound
up being there still since she was able to watch Sadie while we had the baby.
Dory and Sadie followed to the hospital so they could see where to go and get
the stickers that would allow them in the room to visit me later on. I had
asked my photographer friend, Cally, to be there to photograph the birth. She
met us in the lobby and took some very sweet photos of Sadie hugging on my
belly and kissing me goodbye. I should have them from her in the next few days.
What sweet moments to have captured! We said bye to Dory and Sadie and headed
up to labor and delivery. EEK!
We got to labor and delivery
and I changed into my hospital gown. They then allowed Adam and Cally to come
in. They went through 50 million questions and started my I.V. The I.V. was
probably the worst part, as the first attempt did not take and she kept digging
around. It was awful. The other nurse came and got one started in my other arm.
I had a couple bags of fluid, which made me sooo cold! They gave me some
blankets and I tried to just relax. The Dr came in and said hello and we calmly
chatted. She has the most relaxed personality ever, which is nice when you are
about to be cut open! Soon after, the anesthesiologist came in to chat as well.
I was very hopeful that they would allow me to have my husband AND Cally in the
OR, but that was a no go. They did however agree to allow them to swap places
halfway through-yay! Cally set my camera up for a nurse and showed her how to
use it so that we could have some photos before they allowed her in. The photos
actually came out great!
Anyways, right around 9:15 they had me climb in a
wheelchair and we made our way to the OR. Let me tell you, it is the most
surreal feeling walking into a freezing cold operating room knowing you are
about to have surgery, let alone have a BABY! It really hit me that we were
having a baby when I walked in there and saw all the equipment to take care of
her. I told the CRNA that I wanted to change my mind and not do it! Ha! He was
very sweet and reassuring that all would be ok.
I got situated on the table
and the CRNA had me lean over a pillow into a nurse while he started my spinal
block. It did not hurt when I had it with Sadie, but this time it hurt for a
few seconds on the right side of my back, but went away pretty quickly. They
got me situated on the table and then the rest of the surgery team started
coming in. Luckily there is something in the spinal that relaxes you and warms
you up, because I began to feel a little calmer. Everyone got prepped and they
did a little test to make sure I was numb. I was, so they got started. It
seemed like it took FOREVER for them to get to the baby. I kept asking Adam if
they were close. Finally they said it was time and I would feel a lot of
pulling and pressure. Boy did I! It was intense. It was not long and she was
out! At 10:00am on the dot she was here! She cried right away, which is the
best feeling ever. The Dr lifted her up over the curtain for me to see and the
nurse captured some great photos of that moment! I feel like the image shows
that a c-section is just as beautiful as a natural birth. The smile on my face
is priceless.
They started getting Isla all cleaned up and Adam swapped places
with Cally. They brought Isla over to me to see and cuddle, but it is hard to
hold a baby when you are laying down flat, even with a nurse helping. I told
them to go ahead and take her out to my husband. Cally followed them out and I
am sure got some great photos of that time. The CRNA told me he was giving me
something in my IV to relax me and that it might make me sleepy. It did relax
me and I was a tad sleepy, but too excited to go to sleep. I talked to the Dr
while she put me back together. It was a very relaxed environment.
Once they finished stitching
me up, they wheeled me into the recovery room where I immediately got to do
skin to skin and start nursing Isla. This was SUCH a different experience from
Sadie, as I was not stable enough to be with her in recovery. Isla took to
nursing right away and it made being in the recovery room so great. I shook
quite a bit in recovery, but I don’t think nearly as much as with Sadie. The
spinal started to wear off so I asked for some pain meds. Whatever they gave me
did not work great, but I was ok since I had the distraction of a new baby! After
about an hour or so they cleared us to go to my room. We called Dory and told
her to head on up to the hospital with Sadie.
We got to the room, which was
so pretty and spa like for a hospital! Sadie and Dory arrived right after we
got settled. It was so sweet introducing Sadie to her new sister. She did not
want to hold her right away, but was certainly in awe. I think it was an hour
or so later that she asked to hold her. They hung out for a bit and then Dory
took Sadie home. Adam and I relaxed with Isla for an hour or two and then Adam
headed home to get Sadie ready to spend the night at her friend Molly’s house.
Isla and I enjoyed skin to skin for the rest of the day. It was the sweetest
time ever. Adam got Sadie situated at Molly’s house and then came back so he
could spend the first night with me. Isla and I stayed in the hospital for 3
nights. It was the best time, believe it or not. I never once turned the tv on.
I just enjoyed the peace and quiet. It was such special bonding time with my
baby. It was also very healing for me to have a better recovery this go round.
I finally was discharged
Tuesday and sent home on blood pressure medicine. It seemed like I would escape
the post partum hypertension this time, but it started going up while I was
still in the hospital. I was glad we caught it before going home, and am
confident that it will correct itself in time.
The time at home has been
tiring, but wonderful. We kindly asked for some time before we were ready for
visitors and I am thankful for that. It has been the most wonderful time to
bond and establish nursing privately. I can honestly say that this time has
been the best experience. We are so in love with sweet Isla and cannot imagine
our family without her.
