Birth Story Part Two

For Part One of the Birth Story, click here.

Once Dr. S came back around noon, and determined that I had stopped progressing, it was a bit of a whirlwind. We had already had plenty of time to come to grips with the c-section result. We had expressed a desire to try a vaginal delivery, but not to be fool hardy about it. So, there was no need to debate. Daddy packed up all of our stuff to be brought to our final post-partum room while the nurse busily began prepping me for surgery. I was wheeled down the corridor toward the OR, and we passed the original antenatal nurse on the way, the one who didn't think my water had broken. She seemed surprised to see us. 

Once we got to the OR wing, Daddy was given scrubs to change into and they brought me into the the OR and transferred me to the operating table. They gave me more anesthesia, which was great, because I was really feeling pain in that window by that point. They put up a drape to block my view, and tested to make sure I was numb, and then brought your Daddy in. I felt some weird tugging and pressure, and we over come with emotion. I couldn't believe that it had been more than 3 years since we actively started trying to become parents, and we were just moments away from meeting you. I had a similar reaction on the day you were transferred back into my uterus. Just pure waves of overwhelmed emotion taking over every ounce of my being. There's really no other way to describe it. The anesthesiologist was over my shoulder, and she said something like "just one more minute and you'll be a mom!" 

And then, there you were! At 12:51 in the afternoon. They held you up quickly over the drape so I could get a quick look at you before they brought you to the other side of the room to examine you. I could immediately hear your tears, which brought me the greatest sense of relief. Daddy went across the room with you so he could see you and take some pictures. I could hear them talking, saying how pink you were, and how cute. Daddy told them they were just saying that, and they said no, they don't make that up. If a baby is not cute, they find something else to say, like "oh, you look just like your mommy." I might be a bit biased, but you really are pretty darn cute. 

At some point, they asked what your name was. I think I mumbled that Daddy had to tell them, because I was going to be too emotional. One of us managed to get out that your name is Leo. My little Leo. Oh, how I love you!

After they were done checking you out, and weighed, coming in a 9 lbs. 3 oz, they wrapped you up and were able to place you on my chest for a bit, while they finished sewing me up. I couldn't see you, because you were right up against my face, but I could feel your soft little head against my cheek. It is, and always will be one of the most amazing feelings ever. 

Daddy took you after that, and held you so I could see you a little bit better. I started to feel a little bit woozy and light headed, so they gave me some medicine for that, and some of the details are a bit blurry. I also started to shake quite a bit, which was normal, but freaky! We were finally brought to the recovery room, where they checked vitals on both of us, and finally put you on my chest for some skin to skin time, and to try to breast feed. They only gave us a few short minutes to try, because your blood sugar was very low, and their protocol dictated that you be given some formula immediately. I wasn't thrilled about that, but ultimately, I was ok with doing what needed to be done to keep you with me, and not have you be send to the special care nursery for monitoring. A half hour or so later, they tested you again, and needed to give you more formula, but your sugar was much closer to the cutoff at that point, so you were headed in the right direction. Daddy took a bunch of photos of us, and the nurse took a few of the three of us together. Our first family portrait, of which there are many to come, little man!

Finally, they determined that we were set to be transferred to the post partum wing, where we would stay for the next four nights, until 10/13, which was your official due date. We tried to nurse again, and my suspicions were correct. My nipples are a bit flat, which was causing us some difficulty. The nurse put us on the list for the lactation consultant to come by in the morning. Daddy and I took turns snuggling you, and Daddy took on changing your first diaper without any help at all. It was the first diaper he'd ever changed in his life, and he was amazing. He has really taking to being a dad in the most natural way. It melts my heart. He spent a ton of time with you skin to skin in the first few days, as did I, and we all really enjoy it. We credit this with helping to stabilize your sugar and keeping you with us instead of in the nursery. 

The next few days were somewhat of a blur, with lots of vital checks for both of us, many nursing attempts, endless cuddles and naps. We kept you in the room with us almost the entire time except for when we attended two classes that were offered on infant care and breastfeeding. They also took you out of the room for a bit every night to weigh you.

We were a little bit up and down, getting the nursing started, and the lactation consultant recommended a breast shield to help you latch on, and that I pump after each feeding and give you that. She even secured us a brand new pump covered by our insurance that we could bring home with us, and brought it right to our room. You also ended up with a bit of jaundice in the hospital, probably due to you not being well hydrated due to our nursing issues, and therefore not pooping out enough of the bilirubin. It was frustrating, because in all honesty, jaundice is fairly common, but the nursing staff kept freaking us out about you having to be taken to the special care nursery if we didn't supplement with formula as soon as possible. And every single nurse (three shifts a day) who came into the room had a slightly different philosophy about what was best for you, and how best to combine nursing and pumping. Just when we thought we had something figured out, someone else would come in and suggest something different. We did our best to stick to our instincts and navigate all of the various advice, but I can't deny that it was frustrating. 

At your lowest weight, you dropped to 8 lbs. 8 oz. I can't remember anymore what day that was, but we did end up giving you a bottle or two of formula somewhere in there, and your weight began to climb again, topping out at 8 lbs. 13 oz when we were finally discharged from the hospital. We were so proud of you. 

While we were in the hospital, you had lots of visitors. On Wednesday, when you were just a day old, your Gramma, Great-Gramma and Great Aunt N came to visit. You were such a good boy while they all cuddled with you. The next day, Gramma came back with Grampa, Great-Grampa Louis and Uncle J. Great-Grampa had the biggest smile on his face. He was so excited to meet you. My friend from work, J9, also came by one evening to see you. She brought a bottle of wine for Daddy and me, saying she'd already brought enough for you...which she had! It was nice for me to have a friend visit since my side of the family is not near by, but your Granny was just counting the minutes until she headed into town to meet you. We told her she should wait until we were home from the hospital because we would need her help much more then. 

Finally, it was Saturday, October 13, 2012, your official due date. You passed your weigh-in and bilirubin test with flying colors, and we were discharged to let you come home. We got you all dressed, wearing the special green sweater that your cousin S made for you. You were so content as we strapped you into the car seat, and didn't make a peep for the entire 15 minute ride home. By around 1:00pm in the afternoon, we were home, finally a family of three! 20 minutes later, Granny arrived from Albany and set about taking care of all three of us. I cannot begin to put into words how amazing it is to have you with us. I could sit and cuddle with you, and stare at your beautiful face all day. The little coos and grunts you make are the sweetest sounds I have ever heard 

* * *

Leo, you have now been home for nearly an entire week. We are settling into life as a family of three, and it is going quite well. We're getting the hang of nursing finally, and I've not needed to pump for a few days. I still need to get better at changing your diaper, but Daddy is quite a pro by now. You really are the sweetest little boy, and are quite content most of the time. However, you don't like to have your diaper changed one little bit, and will scream bloody murder until you have clothes back on again. But you are also extremely unhappy if your diaper is the tiniest hint dirty. You also make fussy little faces when we shift your position, but usually you settle right back down. We've taken you in the car a few times, and you do great. You also like naps in your stroller, but you will grimace when the sun hits your face. You get the hiccups about once a day, and seem to be a bit gassy at times. We're working on burping you more productively. You're favorite place to sleep is on us, but you will sleep just about anywhere, and have been enjoying your swing quite a bit. I get overcome with emotion multiple times a day at the miracle that you are and at how truly grateful I am to finally have you in my life. 

Mommy loves you Leo, probably more than you will ever know.