My Birth Story

Our Miracle 

When I sat down to write this story I figured I would start with the morning of my c-section. But then as I was thinking about it I realized that my birth story really started long before that day. It actually started over a year and a half ago... when we decided to start trying for another baby.

I had always imagined that I would have at least two children... maybe three... but definitely two. Immediately after my daughter was born I promised that was it! The labor and emergency c-section was so painful and scary that I swore I would never do it again. But it's true that a mother forgets. Within a few months I knew I wanted another baby.

We waited until our daughter was about a year and a half old before we started trying. The next year brought us heartbreak and the fear that we might not have another baby. We lost two angels and couldn't bear the thought of losing another. We almost stopped trying.

Thankfully was gave it another try... and this time our dreams came true. We found out we were pregnant in April of 2012. We waited awhile to tell any friends or family to make sure everything was ok. Finally in July we were able to share the news... and most importantly, tell our daughter that she was going to be a big sister. 

She took the news great! She was really looking forward to having a "sister." So when we found out what we were having we filled a box with balloons and let her open the box to see if it would be a boy or a girl.

Her immediate response was "where are the pink ones?" But luckily she adjusted and became very excited about her future little brother who she lovingly nicknamed Donald Duck.

Fast forward a few months after a thankfully uneventful pregnancy and we were ready to schedule our c-section. My previous birth experience was slightly traumatizing as I had complications and ended up having to be put completely under and missing the whole experience. But after 16 hours of labor I was too exhausted to care too much. But it put a lot of fears in my head.

We scheduled the big day for 12-12-12... what a cool date! So the weeks leading up I was worried I would go into labor early. I knew the baby was big and my daughter came a week early. So I figured this guy would come even earlier. But we made it to the big day.

As I was laying in bed all hooked up to the monitors I said to the nurse that I felt like I might be having contractions. She said that I was and that he knew today was the day and he was ready to come! This made me feel so much better as I always worried with a scheduled c-section if he would be ready to come out.

The contractions quickly intensified and I was relieved when it was time to head to the OR. I was also a barrel of nerves! The anesthesiologist became my best friend, since she was right by my head she talked to me the whole time and helped me relax. My husband was helpful too... but hearing a doctor say everything was going perfectly was very comforting. 

Since this was my first time experiencing I didn't know what to expect. The things that threw me off were how close the doctors were to my head. It makes sense, but they were literally right on the other side of the sheet and I could hear every word they said to each other.... ummm yuck! We had two med students in the room... so they were talking them through the surgery. Not the best idea and I wouldn't recommend allowing it if you are squimish like I am!  And the other major thing that took me by surprise was the smell. I never asked what it was because I don't think I really wanted to know. But I imagine it was the burning of cauterizing things.

The good news is that you really don't feel anything. I was worried about the whole feeling pressure thing. But it was nothing. And before I knew it I heard my baby crying and then I got my first look at my little miracle. I was so glad I was awake and that my husband was there. Then I was distracted by my baby for a few minutes as they brought him over to me. Then they took him away to the nursery and gave me a sedative while they finished up. The sedative was great... I just laid back and relaxed. 

Then the doctors called down to the nursery because they were placing bets on how big he was. I was expecting him to be between 9 and 10 pounds. The actual weight blew everyone away.... 11 pounds 14 ounces! More to love!

I am so happy that my story has a happy ending. My little miracle was well worth the wait. We are now settling into life as a family of four. It has been an adventure and it's not always easy... but it's worth it every day.