Thursday, March 20, 2008
Birth Story
We got the word on Wednesday that the doctor wanted to perform the c-section early due to some things on the bio physical profile. The fluid levels dropped and she didn’t seem to grow any. With my blood pressure medication they did not want to risk it so…. early it was.
After a very long day trying to move the world to allow my husband to be home for the birth of his daughter nothing was working. We would get everything lined up and the same thing at his work would get in the way. Everyone in his command tried to make it work. It just didn’t work out.
Thursday night we all spent it together as a family having a ‘last meal’ of sorts. The last meal together for about 7 months. It is a tradition we have. Spent the night just talking and holding hands. With the anxiety of what all was happening the next day I think I slept an hour.
My mom and my oldest son (he was there on vacation) got here about 2 am. We left for the hospital at about 3:15 am. I got there and checked in a bit early. The only reason was so my husband could be there for one part of the process. He stayed through my entire check in. We then said our “see you soons” NEVER goodbye just see you soon. We hugged, kissed and I did my best not to cry uncontrollably. With our see you soon’s said he left with my mom so she could take him to the ship. He was set to leave at the exact time I was going to have our daughter. My mom was going home after dropping dh off so she could get the kids to school and be there for them.
After he left the nurses I was going to have that day came in. Both of them had been crying. Turns out our story made it around the ward and many of the nurses were crying. Fighting back tears of my own I asked that someone please call and let my husband know when our daughter was born
I was eventually wheeled back to the OR. The anesthesiologist listened when I told him I have a slight curvature of my spine so the placement of the spinal went quickly. They laid me back and the numbness started to creep up. That is still a strange feeling. After all the prep they started the procedure. It was at that time that I looked to my right and started to cry because my husband was not there to hold my hand. The man who is my rock was not there to share in this most amazing thing in our lives. I wanted nothing more than for him to be there with me. To be there to welcome our daughter into the world.
I did what I do the best though I made the best of it. Talking to the anesthesiologist, my doctor the nurses seeing what they were doing and making jokes. It gets lonely behind that blue drape by yourself! The doctor was doing his thing and at this point I didn’t know what was going on then I heard a cry!!! I didn’t even know the baby was out!! I heard some more crys and a lot of hustling around. The doctor prior to going in asked me what I thought the baby would weigh. I said about 9 pounds. He said “Gina I do not think the baby is 9 pounds” The first words out of my mouth? Is she BIGGER?!?!?! Haha He said no he thought she was smaller. The nurse peeked her head around the drape and said “so do you want to know if you really had a girl?” I smiled and said “yes please!!” she laughed and said “congratulations Mom it is a girl!” I sat there while they poked around in me and watching the clock. Time was dragging by. FINALLY the pediatrician brought my daughter to see me. She was just so precious so perfect and looked so tiny. I started to cry again. They took her off to the nursery to be weighed and all.
The nurse got on the phone and got my husband on the line and was able to tell him he has a daughter. ;) By that time they had the weight and all too. So he got to hear the weight first! I overheard it and I was shocked. 7 pounds 2 ounces. The only time I have seen my other children that small was via ultrasound! LOL
Then things started to get a bit tricky. They had a hard time getting me to contract and stop bleeding. Time kept ticking my BP dropped a bit and I started to get the shakes. Then just as quickly as it started things got under control and I bounced back easily. The doc then moved on to tying my tubes that went well and without a hitch.
After everything I got wheeled back to my room where I was to recover. I got settled in and they brought my daughter to me in about 10 minutes
I looked at her and I was in complete awe. I looked over every inch of her and stared at her in utter amazement. I put her to my breast and we gave nursing our first try. Things did not go well. Instead of sucking and keeping the nipple in her mouth she would thrust it out with her tongue so she had things backwards. The nurse called the lactation consultant. I kept trying with Gretchen figuring she would get it soon (hoping she would anyway). About an hour later we got our first good latch and feeding. From that moment on she latched like a CHAMP and had no issues. The lactation consultant made it to me in about 2 hours and by that time I didn’t need her. She observed a latch and said it looked great and if I needed her to call her anytime.
I got a call from my husband a bit later. You have no idea how great it was to hear from him. It was via satellite phone so the delay was horrendous BUT I didn’t care I was talking to him. He asked all about our daughter, including her name. I had two names just in case our first name choice didn’t fit. So he learned her name all of her stats and he checked on me of course. I told him about 9 million times I loved him and to stay safe.
After that first day (Friday) I was released from the hospital that Saturday. I had to agree to rest and not over do it but I felt better recovering at home.
My mothers stay here was a disaster. Not sure why I expect different though. But My MIL is here and she s a gift from heaven! I didn’t know it was possible to love the woman more, but I do.
I got my staples out today. The incision is healing perfectly. I didn’t even get steri strips put on just the staples out and told to keep the incision area clean and dry and I should be great
After a very long day trying to move the world to allow my husband to be home for the birth of his daughter nothing was working. We would get everything lined up and the same thing at his work would get in the way. Everyone in his command tried to make it work. It just didn’t work out.
Thursday night we all spent it together as a family having a ‘last meal’ of sorts. The last meal together for about 7 months. It is a tradition we have. Spent the night just talking and holding hands. With the anxiety of what all was happening the next day I think I slept an hour.
My mom and my oldest son (he was there on vacation) got here about 2 am. We left for the hospital at about 3:15 am. I got there and checked in a bit early. The only reason was so my husband could be there for one part of the process. He stayed through my entire check in. We then said our “see you soons” NEVER goodbye just see you soon. We hugged, kissed and I did my best not to cry uncontrollably. With our see you soon’s said he left with my mom so she could take him to the ship. He was set to leave at the exact time I was going to have our daughter. My mom was going home after dropping dh off so she could get the kids to school and be there for them.
After he left the nurses I was going to have that day came in. Both of them had been crying. Turns out our story made it around the ward and many of the nurses were crying. Fighting back tears of my own I asked that someone please call and let my husband know when our daughter was born
I was eventually wheeled back to the OR. The anesthesiologist listened when I told him I have a slight curvature of my spine so the placement of the spinal went quickly. They laid me back and the numbness started to creep up. That is still a strange feeling. After all the prep they started the procedure. It was at that time that I looked to my right and started to cry because my husband was not there to hold my hand. The man who is my rock was not there to share in this most amazing thing in our lives. I wanted nothing more than for him to be there with me. To be there to welcome our daughter into the world.
I did what I do the best though I made the best of it. Talking to the anesthesiologist, my doctor the nurses seeing what they were doing and making jokes. It gets lonely behind that blue drape by yourself! The doctor was doing his thing and at this point I didn’t know what was going on then I heard a cry!!! I didn’t even know the baby was out!! I heard some more crys and a lot of hustling around. The doctor prior to going in asked me what I thought the baby would weigh. I said about 9 pounds. He said “Gina I do not think the baby is 9 pounds” The first words out of my mouth? Is she BIGGER?!?!?! Haha He said no he thought she was smaller. The nurse peeked her head around the drape and said “so do you want to know if you really had a girl?” I smiled and said “yes please!!” she laughed and said “congratulations Mom it is a girl!” I sat there while they poked around in me and watching the clock. Time was dragging by. FINALLY the pediatrician brought my daughter to see me. She was just so precious so perfect and looked so tiny. I started to cry again. They took her off to the nursery to be weighed and all.
The nurse got on the phone and got my husband on the line and was able to tell him he has a daughter. ;) By that time they had the weight and all too. So he got to hear the weight first! I overheard it and I was shocked. 7 pounds 2 ounces. The only time I have seen my other children that small was via ultrasound! LOL
Then things started to get a bit tricky. They had a hard time getting me to contract and stop bleeding. Time kept ticking my BP dropped a bit and I started to get the shakes. Then just as quickly as it started things got under control and I bounced back easily. The doc then moved on to tying my tubes that went well and without a hitch.
After everything I got wheeled back to my room where I was to recover. I got settled in and they brought my daughter to me in about 10 minutes
I looked at her and I was in complete awe. I looked over every inch of her and stared at her in utter amazement. I put her to my breast and we gave nursing our first try. Things did not go well. Instead of sucking and keeping the nipple in her mouth she would thrust it out with her tongue so she had things backwards. The nurse called the lactation consultant. I kept trying with Gretchen figuring she would get it soon (hoping she would anyway). About an hour later we got our first good latch and feeding. From that moment on she latched like a CHAMP and had no issues. The lactation consultant made it to me in about 2 hours and by that time I didn’t need her. She observed a latch and said it looked great and if I needed her to call her anytime.
I got a call from my husband a bit later. You have no idea how great it was to hear from him. It was via satellite phone so the delay was horrendous BUT I didn’t care I was talking to him. He asked all about our daughter, including her name. I had two names just in case our first name choice didn’t fit. So he learned her name all of her stats and he checked on me of course. I told him about 9 million times I loved him and to stay safe.
After that first day (Friday) I was released from the hospital that Saturday. I had to agree to rest and not over do it but I felt better recovering at home.
My mothers stay here was a disaster. Not sure why I expect different though. But My MIL is here and she s a gift from heaven! I didn’t know it was possible to love the woman more, but I do.
I got my staples out today. The incision is healing perfectly. I didn’t even get steri strips put on just the staples out and told to keep the incision area clean and dry and I should be great
# posted by Gina @ 3:34 PM 
