I'm very late in getting my birth story here, but I want to write it all out so I don't forget anything. Sadie and I are doing well. I can't believe she is a month old already!
The days leading up to Sadie's birth were filled with emotion. The end of my pregnancy was such a bittersweet time. I was so excited to meet her, but yet I was mourning the loss of my belly. I never thought I would be pregnant. I am so thankful and grateful I got to experience having her grow inside me. I went to the pool on the Saturday before her birth, and I cried when I left because it may be the last time I ever wore my maternity swim suit, and also because I knew it would be a long time before I would go to the pool alone again. My grandma came and picked up Shorty up the next day. I cried again. I felt guilty because I knew my little furry baby's life was going to change forever. That dog got me through one of the darkest times of my life and will always be my first "baby." I was also thinking about how it has been me and DH for 9 years. That was all about to change.
My c-section was scheduled for 12 pm on Monday, July 23. We had to be at the hospital at 10 am. I was extremely uncomfortable because I had a raging yeast infection so that kept my nerves at bay. We arrived at the hospital about 5 minutes late. My MIL and SIL were already there, and the nurse that checked me in was a parent of a former student. Small world. We had to answer many questions and sign lots of paperwork before they took me back. I changed into my gown, got my IV, and they put the monitor on. They took my fingerprints. It was so surreal to put my fingerprint where it said "mother." DH sat with me while doctors came in and out and asked me tons of questions. The senior anesthesiologist turned out to be an old Cub Scout buddy of DH's. He explained that a first year resident would be doing my spinal. Awesome. Lots of family came in and out while we waited to go to the OR. My mom, stepdad, brother, grandma, cousin, MIL, SIL, and two close friends from school were all there. My FIL, nephew, brother, and SIL came later.
Finally the nurse came to put my catheter in and take me back. My yeast infection had me all swollen and the nurse had a rough time getting it in. It was extremely painful- so much so that once I got to the OR I didn't care about the spinal because I knew I wouldn't feel the catheter anymore! One of the nurses held my body forward as the two anesthesiologists talked the resident through my spinal. It went well and they started checking me for numbness. At that point DH came in with his spacesuit (lol). He held my hand as they began the procedure. It was so strange laying there and not being able to see what was going on, but feeling the pressure of them touching me. The attending anesthesiologist started talking me through everything. She told me when they broke my water and then she said "there's her head!" As soon as she said that I heard Sadie cry and felt immense pressure. I looked at DH and said "she's crying" and immediately burst into tears. The next several minutes were a blur as they pulled Sadie out, weighed her, and cleaned her. DH cut the rest of her cord and they brought her to me. I don't remember much of that.
They took Sadie to the nursery, and DH went with her while they stitched me up. Turns out I had a huge fibroid at the top of my uterus. My OB couldn't get my uterus out to stitch it up, which she said has never happened to her. Awesome. So she had to stitch me up by feel. She said if I have another c/s (if I'm lucky enough!) she definitely wants the other OB to be there to help her stitch me. Hopefully she was about to put everything back in its place. During all of this I had really bad shoulder pain so they gave me morphine, which made me even more out of it.
I don't remember being wheeled into recovery, but the next thing I knew DH was there with Sadie and two nurses were helping me breastfeed. She did well. Then DH said he hadn't told anyone her name so ALL the visitors came into my room and we told them that her name was Sadie. I remember her being passed around and then eating lots of Jello and pudding because I was starving! I also remember thinking my legs were attached to someone else's body because the nurse would move them and I couldn't feel a thing. It was so weird.
The next few days were painful for me- I was so sore from the c/s and also had nipple pain from breastfeeding. Despite all that, I really enjoyed being in the hospital with DH and with Sadie. I cried when we got home because many of the "firsts" were already over, but I know there are many more to come. I am so lucky to be a mom. I still can't believe it.
I'll leave you with some pictures taken after her birth, and also her one month pics.
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| Leaving for the hospital |
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| I don't know why this keeps posting sideways! |
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| Just pulled out! |
