bringing creativity: A baby story… (part 2)

As I said, I was pretty disappointed when the nurse checked me and said that I wasn't dilated at all. I knew that something was going on with my body even if the nurses couldn't really tell at this point. A few minutes after she checked me, I commented to Dustin that I felt kind of...wet (sorry if that's TMI, but you are reading a birth story). I mentioned it also to the nurse, and she said that it was just from the gel she'd used. I was not so sure, but I let it go and got right back to trying not to think about how awful I felt. A few minutes later, my nurse came back in and said that my urine showed that I was dehydrated, so I was going to be getting a few bags of IV fluid to help hydrate me and hopefully stop the contractions. I'm sure the nurse thought they were still false labor since they were so inconsistent.

The IV fluids seemed to do little except make me cold and need to visit the restroom over and over again...after which one trip I asked the nurse to please change the pads on my bed because the bed felt damp. I have no idea why I didn't think to ask the nurse more about WHY my bed was so wet, and I don't know why it didn't cross any of our minds that perhaps my water had broken... It sure would have saved us a LOT of waiting time.

Around 10pm, the nurse came back in with yet another bag of fluid and said that this one included some medicine including phenergan and was specifically for the purpose of making me relax and stopping the contractions. As she hooked this bag up, Dustin left to get something to eat since he'd skipped dinner to come straight to the hospital with me when he got home. This IV bag knocked me out fast...like SUPER fast. The nurse plugged it in (or whatever they do) and told me to "just go with it." I started to ask what she meant by that, but before she could finish telling me to relax, I was pretty much passed out. I'm sure it would've been amusing to watch.

I was out of it for about an hour, and when I woke up, I realized two things -- I had to pee REALLY BAD, and I was still having contractions. Dustin was of course back by this time, and when the nurse came back to the room again, she said that the anesthesiologist would be in soon to talk to me. I was like, "The anesthesiologist? So we're having a baby?!" She said, "Oh yeah! We're shooting for midnight. Your doctor is on her way here!"

This announcement triggered a wide range of emotion for me -- excitement that I wouldn't be pregnant any more and we'd have our baby, shock that it was actually happening, and SHEER PANIC because I knew what was coming. Suddenly the only things I could think about were how much it was all going to hurt, how Dallas was going to be affected, and how I was SO tired and after the baby got here I'd probably NEVER BE ABLE TO SLEEP AGAIN... a fear that proved to be surprisingly accurate for a while :/. I decided that all I really wanted to do was go back home, get in my own bed to sleep and wake up the next day and just be home with Dallas.

As the many different people began filtering through my room in preparation for the surgery, Dustin called our families. Dustin's mom went to our house to stay with Dallas, and my parents came up to the hospital. My mom and dad were each allowed to come into my room for a few minutes and talk to me. I was glad to see them, but honestly I can say that those two hours between the time the nurse told me we were doing the c-section till the time the baby actually got here were two of the longest, scariest and most difficult hours I have ever experienced. I'm sure a lot of it had to do with how tired I was, but I was completely terrified about what was about to happen.

Eventually I was wheeled back to the OR, and Dustin was left in the hallway to wait. He has since told me that he felt like he was waiting for forever, but I think it was really only about 30 minutes. Thankfully since I was in natural labor this time (as opposed to being induced with Dallas) my contractions during the time when the anesthesiologist was doing his thing weren't nearly as bad, which means the needles weren't as painful as I'd been expecting. I started feeling numb almost immediately, but then I started shaking from the drugs, the adrenaline rush and because it was fa.ree.zing in that OR. I felt like I'd been on that table for hours by the time I heard someone say that my doctor had come in the room, but thankfully everyone -- especially the anesthesiologist and his assistant -- was so nice and I could tell they were trying hard to make me feel relaxed and as comfortable as possible. At some point Dustin was allowed to come into the room. I don't really remember when.

During my c-section with Dallas, I don't remember feeling a thing. I was pretty much just falling asleep the whole time. This time, I felt a LOT. I know it's because last time I had an epidural meant for regular delivery and adapted for the c-section, and this time I was anesthetized from the beginning for surgery. It didn't really hurt a first, but I was definitely in a lot of pain by the time it was all over...almost like the drugs had worn off before the surgery was over. Not fun.

I knew the exact moment the doctor started pulling the baby out. I guess that sounds gross, but it's also really cool. The anesthesiologist's assistant was even able to get some pictures of the head, then shoulders then whole baby as he came out. Don't worry, I'm not going to post those :) At one point, I heard my doctor ask where all the amniotic fluid was. I wasn't sure if she was talking to me or the nurses or if she was just asking rhetorically, but I didn't answer. I didn't think about it again until few days later, and at my two week checkup, I told her about the whole feeling wet during triage thing and asked if she thought my water had broken. She said it definitely had and that she'd looked into it immediately after the surgery was over. It makes me feel a lot better to know that I truly was in labor when I came in to the hospital.

So, at 1:03am on September 1st, our baby boy came into the world...

Bradley James
6 lbs. 11oz. 19 inches long

Yes, his name is Bradley James. Dustin, Dallas and I kept his name a secret until he was born. He came out blowing bubbles. It was adorable, and that will always be my first memory of seeing him. I was so happy to not feel like I was about to fall asleep when Dustin was able to hold him so we could see him for the first time. I remember thinking that his skin was so smooth and pretty and that his nose was perfect and looks just like Dallas's. His eyes are blue but very dark -- much more so than mine and Dallas's -- which makes me think that they may eventually turn brown like Dustin's. He has about as much hair as Dallas did, but it's very dark brown -- again like Dustin's. He's beautiful and very, very sweet.

Unlike my delivery with Dallas where I had to wait over two hours in recovery before I was able to hold Dallas, I was able to go to the room where I'd be for the rest of our stay as soon as the surgery was over and hold Bradley immediately. I was SO happy about that. My parents were still waiting at the hospital, so they were able to come in and see us right away, too, and as soon as I was able to get a good picture, I updated facebook with the news that Bradley had arrived...because you know how important having an up-to-date facebook page is :)

That first night (really, the whole time we were in the hospital), Dustin and I missed Dallas terribly, but it was so wonderful to be holding our new little baby. I am so thankful that the Lord decided to bless us yet again with such a precious gift. And I am so thankful that he was born healthy and had no residual issues from my being on so much medication during the pregnancy.

Dallas was able to come up to the hospital the next morning to meet her "baby brudder." She was by no means a huge fan of his for the first few weeks, but she has slowly warmed up to him and now truly seems to enjoy having him around. She calls him "brudder" most of the time since that's what Dustin and I called him before he was born even though I now use his name the majority if the time. She is such a sweet big sister and loves to help me do things for Bradley. Every time I change his diaper she runs and gets her stool so she can get a diaper out of the drawer for me. When we give him baths, she stands on a chair at the kitchen counter and uses a little cup to pour water on his belly and feet to help keep him warm. If he fusses, cries or even just makes a funny noise, she'll yell, "It's okay, brudder!" as loud as she can to calm him down. She gives him his pacifier, covers him with blankets and will put toys in his lap whenever he's sitting in his swing or bouncy seat. I am so proud of her for being so sweet with him. She makes me and Dustin smile and laugh every single day.