He's Here!

The Baby is here!


I made it all the way to 39 weeks, even while experiencing contractions that totally felt like the real deal (and always went away an hour after starting) for almost 2 months.... 2 months of pre-pre-labor. Not the most comfortable thing to endure, but now that he's here, I really couldn't care less! :)

We went in yesterday morning at 9:15 to Barnes for my repeat c-section. Although calm, it's nerve racking once you are there. Lots of labs to give... lots of waiting around... lots of thinking too much into it.

I was taken back to my room about 9:30, changed into a gown and was introduced to my 2 nurses. One was a new nurse, learning the ropes. The other was a pregnant, very good nurse. They were both awesome... more than awesome. They helped keep my mind off things so much. My c-section was scheduled at 11:30, but I was told right away a few emergencies, one pretty bad, had bumped me back a bit, but they were hoping it wasn't too far past 11:30 that I'd get to go back.

The worst part of everything was the IV - I swear it always is! The new nurse tried, but blew my vein. It hurt, but hey, they have to learn somehow. The other nurse tried my other arm and got it right in, with just a pinch. Once that was started, they took some blood and hooked me up to some fluids.

My doctor popped her head in to let me know even though I was pushed back, I would be having a baby that afternoon. We also had to go over a potential allergy that I have to betadine and I had to get a new bracelet. After Tiny Dancer was born and I was home, I started getting a rash around the incision. A day later, it had spread from my thighs to my face and down my arms. It was awful - more than awful. Extremely painful and nothing I could do. It was gone within a week and I was told it was probably the PUPPS virus. When I had Little Monster, the day of my c-section, a rash started around my incision site. I let them know about what happened before and even though it spread around my belly, the meds they gave me helped the pain and it didn't spread anymore. It was gone by the time I went home. The only thing they could think of was a reaction to the betadine around my incision. So, no betadine this time in the hopes that will not happen again.

I met the anesthesiologist and some other doctors. They did a quick scan to check his head placement. Another emergency with some complications came up, so I was bumped again.

I was about to fall asleep for a nap when they came down to take me back at about 1:50pm. I walked down the hall and into the OR hall and right into the actual OR. It was freezing! They got me settled and went right to work on my anesthesia. This time, besides just a spinal block, I also got an epidural. Spinal blocks usually last around 2 hours, but since this was my 3rd c-section and I probably had a lot of scar tissue, plus I was getting a tubal ligation, they were afraid of the chance it might go past the 2 hours. The epidural was in place just to be sure. The guy that did it was also awesome. Pretty funny and very quick! They did make me take a medicine drink thing beforehand because of my acid reflux which was NOT funny - sick. I gag just thinking of it. It did help a lot though.

It felt like forever before my husband was back, but they had already started working. It took them quite a while to get to my uterus, but The Baby was born at 2:46pm! When I heard him cry, I cried, well without tears. By this point I hadn't had anything to eat or drink since midnight the night before and my mouth was sooo dry and apparently so were my tear ducts.

Dad got to go over to look at him and then they weighed him and measured him and allowed him to cut the cord - a first for him! Then they wrapped him up and let Dad hold him the rest of the time.

I ended up having one slight complication during the procedure. My bladder was right next to my uterus and also has some scar tissue that had kind of moved from my uterus to my bladder. The doctor nicked my bladder while cutting open my uterus. They filled my bladder up to check it and although it held, the doctor said it looked a little raw so I got some sutures there too. So, I've got a catheter in for 48 hours after delivery (blah!). That took them some extra time, so we were in there for a while. They were able to do the tubal ligation (always a risk that too much scar tissue means they can't get to them) and we were able to see the parts they cut out after.

They were able to get The Baby to me, skin to skin, as soon as I was out of the OR and in my room. We were also able to feed him. It took him some time to latch, but once he did, he did pretty good.

My blood pressure is super low while my pulse is a little high, so I was having some nauseousness and dizziness, which made it difficult to sit up and hold The Baby. Dad really had to help me out with that part.

But, it's 2:00am and I'm having a hard time sleeping, though both of my guys (my guys - love it) are asleep besides me. Barnes has double rooms and the last time we were here, as long as you didn't have to share your husband could stay in the other bed. Well, they changed that this time so that you never have to share but you still get the other bed. Which is great because Dad stays with me the whole time I'm here. He is awesome at helping out and getting up whenever I need him.

I was able to get up and walk a few steps to a chair and hold and feed The Baby. I'm still on a liquid diet only, so besides apple juice and orange juice, I've just had some chicken broth. Needless to say, the food commercials are driving me crazy! I can't wait to eat!

The Baby is absolutely amazing. He's a very chill baby and he's been nursing great once we get him latched. They think he may have a tongue tie, so we'll have the pediatricians take a look at him tomorrow. He has a ton of brown hair. He was 7 pounds and 4.2 ounces and he measured 20 1/8 inch. He's got skinny little legs. He surprisingly does not look that much like his sisters - he definitely takes after Daddy!

Well, that's it, my last birth story as long as that tubal ligation works. Even though this delivery was not horrible, it just reminded me of why we made that decision. This was my 8th pregnancy and 3rd c-section; I think my uterus has been through enough. Just soaking up every bit of this newborn stage with my baby now. :)