Recovery- the second time around

October 18, 2011 by · 7 Comments

After Brayden’s somewhat traumatic (to me) entry into the world, I was very, very skeptical about having another C-section at first. But in the same right, scared out of my mind to have a VBAC. I have a short torso, so my doctor was worried about the amount of scar tissue that could have made having a VBAC an issue. So, we settled on a scheduled C-section at 39 weeks and I prayed for the best.

The morning of Kenley’s birth, I was a nervous wreck. I wanted to know exactly what was going to happen, when it was going to happen, and how it was going to happen. I wanted to be alert during the procedure and I wanted to see her when she came out. That was it. I had talked with my doctor extensively about this and she assured me that this time would be much better than last time.

She was right.

She came in and gave me a final vote of confidence and a hug before heading to the OR. Once I got in there, I was shaking because it was so cold in there and because I was so nervous. The nurse that was with me was amazing- she held me still while I got the spinal and after that, things happened very quickly. When Brandon came in to sit next to me, he told me this was going to be fine, we were going to have a daughter very soon!

I started to feel a little nauseous so they gave me some Zofran through the IV, and then I felt great. Pretty soon, I hear the doctor say that she was almost out, and I was like really? I didn’t feel A THING. And I was awake! I remember everything!

After being in recovery for an hour, we were wheeled to our room where I was monitored pretty closely for awhile. I felt really good, and then itchy. One of the after effects of the spinal can make you itchy, so I was given some Nubain (my bff) and felt great. Brayden came to visit, and then I slept for a little while. Early the next morning, almost 24 hours later, the IV and catheter came out and I walked (shuffled) to the bathroom and put on real clothes. This was TOTALLY different than last time. I was able to get up and go to the restroom, but I was careful to not do more than that.

I felt great. And coming home I felt great. It’s hard to feel this good physically and still remember that internally, I am still healing. I am trying to take it easy, but it’s tough. I feel like I need to keep the pace I was keeping at home. Brandon has been working some pretty long days, and I hate asking him to do more when he comes home. We talked about it and he knows that I am recovering too, so we are just tag teaming as much as possible!

I even remember telling Brandon after I was out of recovery that I could probably do this again- not for awhile- but it would be doable! Only time will tell. For now, I am just busy cuddling my daughter and wrangling my son, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Filed Under: Baby #2, birth story ·

Kenley’s Arrival: Part Two

October 14, 2011 by · 1 Comment

After holding Kenley for the first time, the nurses gave her a bath, and then we all headed into our postpartum room. The hospital I delivered at has a brand new birthing unit, and we were VERY impressed.

I couldn’t wait for Brayden to come visit! He was on his way and I had my expectations set pretty low. I didn’t know how he would react since I was still hooked up to an IV. Good thing I kept my expectations pretty low because he was NOT impressed. Not at all. He didn’t want to see his sister, really wanted nothing to do with me, and only wanted to go back out into the hallway. My mom said not to worry- that it was a lot for him to take in, and that he had been just fine at her house. They were going to come back that evening with my dad.

Well, that evening wasn’t much better. We had a TON of visitors that evening, and Brayden must have been overwhelmed. I again, was worried, but figured we would give it another day. After his speech therapy on Wednesday morning, my mom brought him back down. At this point I didn’t have the IV anymore and I was dressed in my regular clothes (YAY!) so I had higher hopes. Boy, was I wrong. He didn’t even want to kiss or hug me goodbye when they left, and after the door closed, I sat in the hospital bed and just bawled.

My mom decided not to bring him back down until Thursday, and it was like he was an entirely different child.

 

Did you not just melt into a puddle? He was so worried about her having her paci and it was SO cute. He kissed me goodbye and I couldn’t wait to get home the following day so we were all together in the same place.

Filed Under: Baby #2, birth story, Kenley ·

Kenley’s Arrival- Part One

October 13, 2011 by · 7 Comments

I can’t even tell you how glad I am that Kenley is here! I was so nervous Tuesday morning when we drove up to the hospital. My previous experience with a C-section left me very anxious and I was so scared it would be like that again. I wanted to be alert this time, to see my baby girl when they held her up, and hold her as soon as I was in recovery. Didn’t seem like much, but to me, this was the most important.

We checked in to the hospital at 5:15am , walked up to the new OB department, and got settled in. They hooked me up to the IV, monitor (hello contractions that were 3-6 minutes apart!) and told me what was going to happen next.

Around 7, the nurse walked me into the OR and I got up on the table for my spinal. I was so nervous, I was shaking so bad- not to mention it was COLD in there! Once the spinal was in, things happened very fast. I couldn’t feel a thing, Brandon was on his way in, and we were minutes from seeing Kenley for the very first time. I was able to talk through the entire thing. I heard a nurse say “here comes her head!” and I was like seriously? Already? Like I said, couldn’t feel a thing.

At 7:30am, I heard the sound I had been waiting for this entire time- her cry when she was delivered. Tears instantly started streaming down my face. She was finally here! We had a daughter. And I was awake to see her over the curtain.

And she is perfect. At 7 pounds, 8 ounces, and 19 inches long- she was one ounce lighter and 1/2 inch shorter than Brayden. They look so similar to me as newborns, it is almost scary, but I see a little bit more of Brandon in Kenley. As soon as they held her up for me to see, I said “you look just like your big brother”. And then it hit me. My son was a big brother. More tears of joy, more smiles towards my husband. We did it.

After they got her wiped off and the APGAR scores, the took her to recovery to monitor her. After I was all put back together, I was also wheeled into recovery. By 8:05am, I was on the phone to my parents. And at 8:15, I got to hold her for the very first time.

Part Two coming soon! :)

Filed Under: Baby #2, birth story, Kenley ·

our beautiful baby boy…

July 26, 2009 by · 2 Comments

Tuesday after my dr. appointment, I had to do another 24 hour urine test because my protein count was indeed high, and Dr. wanted to confirm that this was the problem before inducing labor of any kind. She said if it was high, expect to be induced Thursday or Friday evening. Even when the nurse called Thursday morning and said “Could you be here at 6pm tonight?”, I was feeling slightly unprepared.

We checked in at the hospital and went up to the Labor and Delivery room. I started with a pill to soften my cervix, and was in labor around 2-3am. At 7am, I received my first round of pain medication and Pitocin-and off to la-la land I went! I rested pretty much all day. Around noon is when I had the epidural. I was only dialated to 4 at 2pm, so we were getting pretty antsy-as were all of our family members! The nurses were amazing and kept hoping right along with us that Brayden would progress soon. He was certainly remaining active!

At 4pm, my dr. came to check me and I was only 5cm dilated. She said if there was no major progress before 6pm, we would have to be talking C-section since it would have been 24 hours. Plus, she noticed when she checked him that he already had a coned head, making it hard for him to get lined up to come out!

The next 2 hours were pretty tough. We camped out in front of the monitor and just prayed that my contractions would be steady and hard enough to encourage Brayden to come out. At 6pm, I was 6cm dilated and with Brayden not progressing any farther, Dr. said it would be best to have a C-section and get him out. I instantly started crying. I was scared, disappointed, and anxious. Not to mention, had already been through 24 hours of labor. Brandon changed into his scrubs, I filled out some forms, had some blood taken, and off we went.

I don’t remember much from the C-section. I remember getting in there, the sheet being put up, the drugs being administered, and Brandon coming to sit next to me. When I woke up, my baby boy was already about 30 minutes old and I was in recovery, struggling to remember who I was! My mom and sister have a not so happy relationship with anesthesia, and since I have never been put out or under from so many drugs, it knocked me completely out. I woke up and cried instantly. I didn’t know how much he weighed, I didn’t get to see him first, and I didn’t know where I was. When I finally started to come to, I saw Brandon in his scrubs carrying our little bundle of joy. I lost it. I have never felt so much love in my entire life. Brandon was such a trooper helping me come to and tell me all of the details. He said it was so hard watching me go through that but the end result was priceless. The immediately family (parents and siblings) came back to recovery to see him quickly, then it was off to the warmer and bath for him, and to our room for us.


Dr. stopped by yesterday to see me real quick and said that the combination of his cone head, him coming out sunny side up, and that he really loved my right side was a terrible one for a vaginal delivery, and that we definitely made the right call getting him here. There was no way he would have come out the other way.

We are resting and recovering as much as possible. He finally just ate really well for me twice last night…I am looking forward to lots of cuddle time today! More pictures to come!

Filed Under: birth story, Brayden, delivery, the first year ·
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