My OB scheduled us to come in at 7:15 a.m. on Monday, August 15th, the day after our due date. I didn't have much time to really think about the fact we were going to have a c-section rather than the vaginal birth I had been planning on all along. Being Type-A though, a planned c-section did have some perks. I was able to get a manicure and pedicure just the day before (which some very nice woman at the salon paid for...so sweet!). I was also able to take a nice hot shower and put on a full face of makeup before heading to the hospital. I've heard that some doctors tell you not to wear any makeup or nail polish. Mine did not and I prefer to ask for forgiveness rather than permission 😉.
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| Last pregnant picture before heading to the hospital! |
Before we knew I was having a c-section, we imagined rushing to the hospital in the middle of the night while I was in intense labor, or maybe having my water break in the dollar spot at Target. This experience, however, felt more like showing up for a dinner reservation. "Um, hi, we're here to have a baby. Table for 2...3?"
We got into a room to get prepped right away. The first IV they tried did not work, so they had to switch hands. That made me a little nervous but the nurses helped to alleviate my fears. Hunter kept asking me obsessively, "Are you okay?" "Is everything alright?" I guess he could tell I was nervous, and I know he was too. Finally, one of the nurses looked at him and said, "Let me give you a piece of advice... stop asking her if she's okay. She's not okay, she's about to have a baby cut out of her. She's terrified." 😆 It was pretty hilarious and helped both of us take a deep breath and relax as much as we could.
The next hour or so consisted of a lot of sitting around and waiting, and explaining my newly complex medical history to the nurses. By 9:30 we were in the operating room. This is where the panic set in. I guess I hadn't really thought much about it, but I didn't realize that I would be in an operating room rather than a normal delivery room. It was freezing cold, sterile (a good thing for an operating room!) and very bright. Hunter wasn't allowed in for the first few minutes which I hated, but we were lucky enough to have really sweet nurses. I kept waiting for George Clooney to rush in ER style... no such luck. The scariest part was getting the spinal, but the anesthesiologist was really comforting and it wasn't as bad as I had anticipated. It kicked in quickly and was the strangest feeling to not be able to feel the lower half of my body. To the right of my head was a screen monitoring my vitals. My blood pressure got really low (around 90/60), but since it tends to always run a little low, no one seemed too concerned. In hindsight, this was probably a result of my hormonal deficiencies and could have been quite dangerous.
Hunter was finally allowed in the room, in full scrubs. He made sure to stay on the "good side" of the curtain which I agreed was a smart choice! Within minutes, she was cutting me open. The doctor told me I would feel some pressure but no pain. It was a bit like having dental work with novocaine; you can feel them working but it doesn't hurt. At 9:50 a.m. she pulled out Sawyer (definitely felt pressure!) and we got to hear that amazing little cry we had been dreaming of for nine months. We both started crying as we realized how truly blessed we were to finally meet our sweet boy. I was able to hold him on my chest for a moment as they finished the surgery. We were both shocked that against all odds, he actually had hair! I told Hunter to go with the nurses as they got Sawyer cleaned up.
Once my surgery was finished they moved us into a temporary room so that I could have some skin to skin time with Sawyer. I am not exaggerating when I tell you Sawyer was the most beautiful little boy anyone has ever laid eyes on. Everything about him was just so perfect and tiny. It was so hard to give him up anytime they had to run tests on him or weigh him! We were in our own room within a few hours (and they finally let me eat and drink, yay!).
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| 7lbs 3oz, 20.5 inches |
I remember thinking that afternoon, "c-sections are so easy, I can't imagine why everyone wouldn't have one!" And then the spinal wore off. Holy pain. You know how trainers at the gym always tell you that you should work on your core because it support's the rest of your body? Yeah... they're not lying. I could not move anything! The nurses wanted me up and about as soon as possible, and I had to go to the bathroom by midnight or I would have to have another catheter. I felt like I was 120 years old trying to get myself out of that hospital bed, and that was with the help of Hunter and a nurse. Trying to go to the bathroom was a whole 'nother issue that I won't get into, but just know that you need core muscles to do that too! Hunter saw too much. When people tell you that you lose all shame after giving birth, they aren't lying!
Luckily, the pain got better each day (also, again, this was two years ago. I've conveniently tucked those memories in the way back of my brain). Plus, you are so excited and busy with a sweet little newborn that you don't have the time or energy to think about the pain.
We got to bring Sawyer home to meet his fur brother on Thursday afternoon. Our sweet neighbors decorated the house with balloons and handmade signs from all the kids, which immediately made me cry because, well, postpartum. But it was really the nicest gesture and made us feel so at home even though we weren't living near family anymore. Once we were inside and had given little man the grand tour of our downstairs, we promptly settled Sawyer into his bouncer seat and both fell asleep in the living room like the true, new parents that we were.
My parents came up the following day, and Hunter's family stayed with us the following few weekends, so our house was filled with a lot of love and some much needed help so I could take a nap!
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