We recently had our third child! I always write up a birth story about my kids so that I can keep as many details as possible. If you love hearing birth stories, today’s post is for you!
Peter’s birth was a little different from our girls, simply because the c-section was scheduled for 8pm, rather than being in the morning. I was initially a little bummed that I’d have to wait around all day, but it turned out to be just fine. I had a nail appointment in the morning and Ada had a Spanish singing program in the afternoon, plus we had a few last things to finish up at home, so it was actually kind of perfect — I wasn’t bored or antsy waiting around all day; I had just enough time to get everything done! And although I had to stop eating solids around 11am, I could still have clear liquids until 6pm, so water, sprite, and chicken broth held me over pretty well.
About 5pm, we left our house with the girls and took them over to my parents’ house. After a few instructions to Grandma and a quick dinner for Russ, we headed to the hospital!
Once we got checked in and settled into our pre-op room, we were just chilling until things could get started. It felt so surreal that we were finally going to have this baby!
Our nurse came in and started hooking me up to some monitors, and eventually she gave me an IV. Man, those are so unpleasant. Luckily only took two tries this time! 😅 She reviewed my birth plan with me and I felt good knowing that everyone was on the same page about my hopes for this birth.
Dr. Dewey arrived at 7:15pm, so I was hopeful we’d be able to get in before our scheduled time. Children can’t visit the nicu, so despite the late-ish surgery, we planned for the kids to come right after Peter was born just in case he had to go to the nicu; I wanted them to be able to meet their brother and be in the photos/video that our photographer would be taking.
I texted Uncle Rick [Russ’s uncle who is a retired OBGYN, and our kids’ current pediatrician] when we got to the hospital to let him know that we were having a baby that night, and he said he’d come see us! He arrived about 7:30. I thought we’d be going in soon, but then everything got delayed because the doctor who was assisting Dr. Dewey was tied up with another surgery. Uncle Rick said he could assist, but that message must not have gotten to the right place because the nurse said we were going to wait for the other doctor; but then eventually, when Dr. Dewey came back to the room and saw Uncle Rick, he said it would be great if Uncle Rick assisted.
In the meantime, my parents showed up with the girls, and Ada was already showing signs of being tired, which was unfortunate since it was still going to be a while! Between my parents, uncle Rick, and the girls, the room got chaotic. It’s always been just me and Russ before the baby comes, and I felt like there were too may people around this time 🙈🤣 I just wanted to get back to the Operating Room!
After all the delays, we finally got back to the OR just before 8:30. For the first time ever, I wasn’t freezing! I sat on the side of the operating table as the anesthesiologist administered my spinal. Russ held my hand. I’m always so grateful to have him by my side ❤️
Shortly after the spinal, I started feeling my legs and lower body go all tingly and spiky, and people helped me lay down on the table. Suddenly I felt like I was going to throw up, and my chest felt so incredibly heavy; I felt like I couldn’t breathe and I was so panicky about when the overwhelming discomfort would end. I think I was worried about not being able to enjoy the birth because I was so distracted by the pain and panic. Dr. Conley (the anesthesiologist) took my blood pressure and determined it was low, so he gave me a few doses of something to counteract the low blood pressure. Although the pain and fear seemed to last for ages, Russ said the whole episode was probably less than two minutes. I was incredibly happy when that was over!
Next someone helped set up a mirror for me. I’ve never been able to see my kids born, and I really wanted to this time! For now though, all I could see were my legs that looked like rubber 🤣
The next bit is a little fuzzy for me, but eventually they were finally onto the surgery. I didn’t know if I’d be able to handle the surgical parts in the mirror, so I mostly didn’t watch, but occasionally I’d sneak a peek and it was never too much. Then finally, it was baby time!
It was so fun to see him pulled out along with everyone else because I could see everything they talked about. Mostly it was talk of how HUGE he was; he definitely had tons of rolls!! Someone said something about his “head full of hair!” but I missed that part in the mirror so I had to ask someone what color it was. Uncle Rick told me it was “light brownish, sort of like yours!” I was excited about that because then he’d look like me, but his hair actually turned out to be a dark brown, basically the same as Holly’s when she was born. Still cute 😍 What I mostly saw in the mirror was his purple-y body covered in white vernix caseosa. Babies look so weird right out of the belly! 🤪
They took Peter for quick measurements, and announced that he was 11 pounds, 7 ounces!! Such a big boy! Then Russ brought him over to me for my favorite moment — meeting face to face 😍 Russ was talking to Peter, telling him he was going to get to see mama 😍 Then Russ brought us close enough so that our cheeks could touch and I felt soooo happy! Pete had been fussing a bit, but as soon as we were close enough to touch, he calmed down. I love how connected I felt ❤️
Next they took Peter away for more initial tests, and Russ went along with him.
In the meantime, they started putting me back together. Someone removed the mirror, and I wish they wouldn’t have because I would have liked to be able to check in; I felt a little lost without the visual.
Dr. Conley put a warm blanket on me about then, which I usually need because I recall being freezing post-op for other births, but like I mentioned before, this time around I wasn’t cold through any of it, and in fact the blanket was too hot and I had to have him remove it. I continued to be hot or warm for the next several hours.
I was also shaking uncontrollably. Everyone kept thinking I was cold, but I was just shaking! Dr. Conley said it was due to the adrenaline from the surgery.
When they finally finished with me, they lifted me off the operating table and onto a hospital bed and wheeled me over to the room with all my people. Russ and Peter were still gone, and my body was still shaking like crazy. The girls both seemed concerned for me, and asked me why I was shaking. Holly kept asking me to talk louder, but I couldn’t really 🤣 Holly also came up on the bed and snuggled with me. She kept asking me about the shaking. Both girls were asking where Peter was, and luckily it was only a few more minutes before my boys returned. I felt anxious to see them!
It was coming up on 10pm by this point, and I could tell that Ada was very tired. She kept saying she just wanted to go home, and it was time for bed, and why was it taking so long?? Poor thing. Holly, on the other hand, had napped late and was used to not falling asleep till 9 or later, so she was doing great!
When Peter and Russ finally returned, the girls were so sweet with our new baby -- both so adoring and soft.
All through the evening, I kept bracing myself for the news that Peter would need to go to the NICU, but amazingly, his blood sugars were stable, and nothing else seemed to be wrong! He came to Mother/Baby with us, and we spent the next few days bonding with one another.
We loved having him right there with us -- it was such a new experience!! We got to hold him whenever we wanted, he wasn’t attached to a million cords and monitors, and we basically got to take care of him however we saw fit -- unlike the NICU where they dictate everything. The girls came to visit several times and they were always so excited to hold and kiss Peter. I just wanted to touch his perfect squishy skin and soft hair all the time! It was such a dream! I’m so incredibly happy to add this cute little guy to our family!
