The day of the c section we dropped off Sophia at daycare like any other day trying to keep her schedule as normal as possible. We spent the weekends before having family date days and nights in effort to spoil her with attention and soak up any Sophi time that we could. She was our one and only for 20 months and taught us so much about how to be parents (and gave us quite a run for our money), she was a perfect 1st born and taught us both how to love like nothing we've ever felt before.
The worst part of that day was I could not eat or drink anything after 8am. So I decided I should keep myself busy that day. I decided to make a hair appointment to cover my grays and let's be honest who knows when I'll get back there (thanks again jaime!). Then I went to Target because there was an awesome sale on diapers (thinking back on it - probably not the smartest decision since I was trying to avoid going into labor) and then came home and got ready. I wanted to take a long shower and do my hair to see how it turned out. This experience is SO DIFFERENT then labor with Sophia, contractions started in the middle of the night and it was more of a rush to the hospital. This was so relaxed and leisurely. We left the house early incase we got stuck in traffic and got to the hospital early. We went into triage and went up to the 8th floor where we waited for the nurse to come get us.
Alyssa was our nurse in L&D and she was AWESOME. She got us early and had a very similar personality to ours, we started joking around immediately. Then my anesnteiologist came in who was also super awesome! The chick that jacked up my epidural for the ECV was also on that day and the nurse that blew out my vein - I made both of them PROMISE they would NOT leave me. One thing I wasn't expecting is every person who walked in the room wanted to rehash the birth of Sophia. I know its important everyone knows what they're getting into but going over it again and again was a bit unnerving. Then we found out what doctor was doing the surgery - DR. MCNAIR!!! If you remember from Sophia's birth - McNair was who came in and saved the day with my delivery and hemorrhage. She said well you're either going to be really happy I'm here or really pissed. We were both like NO WAY WE'RE HAPPY! I asked if she remembered us or if she just reread the chart. She said she did remember us for a really random reason - here is where we learned a new bit of information from Sophia's labor - when they went to deliver my placenta the umbilical cord popped off the second the pulled on it - it was BARLEY attached to the membrane and not where it was supposed to be. It's crazy to think about the "what if's" and I'm so glad I didn't know that bit of information until that very minute.
Everyone was there and ready to go way early so they requested an OR early and we were able to get started. Bart was given a paper onesie and told to wait in the room. I was given another robe to cover my bootie and we walked to the OR (I didn't know this part - we WALKED to the OR). I got in there and it really does look like a TV set and it was FREEZING! I sat on the operating table and a bunch of stuff started happening. First of all we had the BEST doctor/nurse team - they were amazing and super fun! They start off with a role call where they introduce themselves and what their role is - I asked if we could play a game, we chose 2 truths and a lie - everyone thought that was pretty funny. After everyone introduced themselves and called out my situation (they were very clear of my history of hemorrhage and sticky placenta and 1st birth - I mean lets rehash that one last time). Next was my spinal block - he was done in about 35 seconds - AMAZING and then all this stuff started happening... compression socks, warming blankets, lay down on the table, arms out, can you feel this cold, can you feel this prick, the table will tilt now, we're putting in the catheter, here comes the sheet, dad's coming in, sit there the wheels lock, oh here is the midwife on duty, anesnteiologist asking a million questions, it was a bit chaotic but also very scripted and calm and organized. I was worried about my arms being tied down like Jesus but at Prentice they don't actually tie your arms down, for some reason that was a relief. Bart was making jokes as usual which helps. I think I told everyone 10x that I wanted to do skin to skin if at all possible. And then it was time...
I had no idea the incision was open but Dr. McNair asked for quiet and said we're coming out butt first - I could tell it was a bit of a struggle they were pushing pretty hard at the top of my belly (aka his head) and there was a lot of pulling. The very SECOND he came out he SCREAMED! It was the best sound I've ever heard in my life and I could not stop sobbing. If you remember with Sophia, we didn't hear a peep for a full 5 minutes. Knowing that he was ok immediately was amazing! They took him over to the warmer table and got him cleaned up. He was 9lbs 2oz, 20.5 inches long and born at 3:40pm! Sophia was 9lbs 1oz and cooked a week longer! He was a BIG BABY! They were all shocked he was that big. I guess my placenta was also larger than normal (this is good for my weight loss he he he). I personally think this is why he couldn't flip - there wasn't room for him to get his big ol body around that big ol placenta.
They tried to hand him to Bart and Bart said NOPE Mom wants skin to skin. I didn't get that experience with Sophia and didn't think I'd get it with a c section and was so happy to have him so close to me. He was having some problems getting the stuff out of his lungs so I made my midwife take him to suction him out but those first few moments were nothing short of magical.
They suctioned me out and sewed me up. Bart got yelled at because he kept standing up to see what was going on and told to sit down. Once everything was done, they wheeled me back to the L&D room we were in before and Baby Lukas latched right away and started nursing. So this is what labor is supposed to be like. I had my baby... in my arms... right after he was born! I was very queasy as I always am after epidural/spinals but they told me I couldn't go to my room if I was queasy so they gave me some meds and I told them I felt better. Then we got to the room and it was game over - here is where the puking began - I made Bart take the baby and was so sick. Let me tell you - vomiting after having your stomach cut open... not amazing! Holy cow was that painful. It was a good 24 hours before I could keep anything down but it was a small price to pay for how wonderful everything went. We stayed in the hospital 4 days and 3 nights. 2 of the nights were AWFUL where baby Lukas cluster fed the whole night, he was a big dude and wanted my milk to come in. He only lost a total of 8% body weight and his levels were all perfect so we did something right. All those hours were worth it. I was anxious to get home but probably should have stayed that one more night in the hospital - the first day home was ROUGH.
CHEERS!!!
Bart stopped by the Disney store to get Lukas a Woody doll in honor of his circumcision.
Sophia was napping when we got home. When she woke up Bart and I went in and made a huge deal about seeing her. She was very excited to see mommy and daddy. She had a wonderful time with Nana and Papa and we cannot thank them enough for watching Sophia (and the home repairs completed while here). Sophia didn't skip a beat with us being gone and that was exactly what I wanted. Then we asked if she wanted to meet Baby Brother - OMG she was soooooo freaking excited. This is where her baby brother obsession began. She's had some rough moments of testing limits but overall we're soooo happy she likes him!
I think God put me through all these situations so that I can help others that are going through this. I'm grateful that I've had these different experiences and came out the end with a beautiful and healthy family of 4. I am truly blessed. When it comes to vaginal vs. c section - here are my thoughts... the labor of a vaginal is worse - you don't know how long it will last, pushing sucks, you tear and bleed, etc etc etc. But the recovery of a c section is worse - your insides were literally ripped out and moved around and sewed back together. Not being able to drive or pick up Sophia has been the worst part. I'm so ready to be back to normal and not be so dependent on my husband. Speaking of which - I can't write this without giving kudos to that wonderful man. He got 2 weeks of paternity leave which has been a godsend! He has literally sat with me every step of the way (sometimes sleeping more than I'd like) but he is the best supporter I could ever ask for and so happy to be living this crazy life with him.
