Saturday, March 31, 2012

Birthing Story

As most of you know I was scheduled for a c-section on March the 15th.  I was to arrive at the hospital at 5:30 A.M. so they could get me started.  I was to be cut at 7:30 A.M.  I went to my doctor's appointment and there was confusion as to what time my surgery was scheduled.  I'm not sure how this confusion all started since I've had my c-section scheduled for quite some time.  There was talk of me going in at 1:00 instead.  I started to feel anxious because I didn't want to have to rearrange child care (not that it would be hard or anything but I am one that likes things planned in advance and have things go according to plan).  Then, I realized it would be okay as long as I did end up going in on that same day.  I didn't really care what time. 
I went to the doctor again the day before to make sure everything was ready and they still were confused about the time I was to go in.  I got a call that afternoon stating that it was for sure 1:00 not 7:30.  I liked that since I didn't have to be there at 5:30.  That's way early for me.  Being a new mom, I knew I would need all the sleep I could get. 
I arrived at the hospital at 11:00 to start the process.  My blood pressure was through the roof.  I was so nervous that something would go wrong or that I would feel a lot of pain.  My last experience was horrible and that's the only thing I have to compare it with.  I had the hardest time calming myself down.  The nurses stated that they thought I was going to cry or have a nervous breakdown.  I think consdering all of my emotions, I handled myself well.

I had to wait longer than anticipated because there was another lady in labor and she was having a hard time.  They decided to go ahead with an emergency c-section.  She was expecting twins.  Since I had to have an emergency c-section last time and remember all of my heart ache; I didn't mind waiting and was understanding to her needs.

I was taken to the freezing O.R. room and was given my spinal block.  This is when I was able to finally relax.  Once I felt numb and knew I wouldn't feel this c-section; I feel at ease.  The doctor laughed about my enthuasim to the effects of the medication.  That was the first time I truly felt numb.  It was the weirdest feeling ever.  My legs were so heavy and dead.

Paxton was born at 2:03 P.M.  They automatically commented on his size.  I was dying to see him.  I kept yelling, "I want to see!!!"  Finally, someone held him over the big sheet for me to see.  They took him into the nursery where I could hear him the whole time.  It was nice so that I could have something else to think about other than what they were doing to me. 

A few moments later they announced he weighed 8 lbs. 11 oz. and was 21.5 inches long.  They shortly gave him to Mike to hold.  Mike asked I wanted to hold him.  He handed him to me while I was still on the operation table laying down.  It was kind of awkward and of course needed help.  I was able to kiss him and take a moment to be with him.

Afterward, I was taken to the Recovery Room where they watched my vitals.  I felt horrible.   I felt so sick to my stomach.  I was so dizzy and had the worse headache. I was miserably itchy all over.  It wasn't until I was taken to my room that I threw up. 

In the recovery room, I was given baby and was able to bond with him.  They told me to do skin-to-skin with him to help him with the desire to nurse.  He immediately latched and we didn't have to worry about it.  I knew right about that Paxton loves to be cuddled.  Quinn never did. 

That's one thing that I loved about EIRMC.  They did everything they needed to do with baby right where I was.  Paxton didn't even get his bath until about an hour later.  I had no clue that he hadn't been bathed yet.  He looked so clean.  I immediately got that bond with Paxton that I never got with Quinn.  With Quinn I felt so cheated.  It felt like it took forever until I got to see him. That's why I walked to the nursery immediately after they took me to my room.  That's when they knew they had to bring to me.

Mike admitted that he was more bonded to Quinn that to Paxton.  That makes sense.  Mike was so worried about Quinn that he went with him right when he was born.  I remember when I was first home crying to Mike that I was not bonded to my baby.

With Paxton I didn't feel like that at all.  I think the skin-to-skin contact helps tons.  I was there, a part of everything, with Paxton.  I'm not saying that I love Paxton more or anything.  Of course, I'm bonded to Quinn and love him dearly.  I'm just comparing my two experiences.

I will definitely go back to EIRMC next time.  I felt I was better take of.  They didn't let my pain medication lapse.  They coordinated with everyone that needed to come into my room in the night so they would all come in at the same time.  This made it so that I could sleep longer. The only one that would wake me was Paxton to eat.  Mike liked that the nurses waited on him too.

Paxton was spoiled in the nursery.  Most moms arrived the same time as me but went home the next day.  So, there was a lot of times when Paxton was the only baby in the nursery.   They always commented on how good he was.

Paxton really is a patient baby.  He doesn't really cry.  There's times when he wakes me to eat and then I'll look at the clock and an hour had passed.  I feel horrible.  It makes me sound like a bad mom.

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