be prepared, this contains graphic info about babies, breasts and c-sections!!!
Well, we managed to figure out how to finally get online at the hospital, so I wanted to do my best to let you know what was going on. After our surgery time was bumped back on Wednesday due to another mommies ER c-section, we anxiously entered the OR, or at least I did. I immediately started shaking because it was so cold. I waited while the anastheiologist (sorry about spelling) prepared to do my spinal/epidural. I told her several times that I didnt want to get shaky, vomit or be numb for a long time since with my first pregancy I was dumb for about 24 hours after I got it. I told her I was extremely sensitive to meds and told her give me a lower dose if she could to avoid problems.
The spinal/epidural seemed to take forever and was a little painful but not as bad as I thought it would be, but I was praying non stop through the whole thing and man was I praying! I laughed at one point and said my feet just got all warm, she said that was a good thing.
They warned me that when she was done they’d have me immediately lay down on the table, but it wasnt so swift a thing since I was already getting paralyzed from the drugs. We finally got me settled on the narrow OR table and I waited for what seemed for ever for my supportive hubby to show up. I was shaking extremely bad and they kept saying I must be cold but it really wasnt a cold thing at that point, it was the drugs, the cold and plain old fear, and no one seemed to understand I couldnt control it. They put this really neat inflatable heated blanket over my arms and what part of my chest wasnt under the sterile surgery area. It really helped a lot, but my feet were so numb and felt so cold I couldnt get completely warm. They got me all draped and were almost ready to start without Dean. I heard them say that we better wait for the dad to get here, and could feel them getting ready to cut my belly. Finally Dean arrived and I started crying. I needed him so much and not having him there for that first half was unbearable. I cried and shook throughout the surgery, I know I’m a baby but it is a very emotional and awesome experience and I had no control over my feelings or my body.
It seemed like it took more time to do my epidural than it took to get the baby out. I didnt feel much of anything but a lot of pressure. I knew that they’d gotten the baby out immediately becuase I felt like I could breathe again and I felt “empty” but I wasnt for sure about him being out because I didnt hear him crying. I kept asking why he wasnt crying and they were laughing because although he didnt cry right at first he was peeing all over when they pulled him out. They showed him to me and whisked him away to the nicu nurses waiting by. I think his first apgar was a 9 but I never asked, but it’s what I remember overhearing from across the room. He was crying a small little cry and I was dying to see him and Dean at that point was with him so I was once again alone waiting for it to be over. The “drug” doctor kept talking to me about what she was going to give me for the pain in recovery and I kept telling her low doses but I was almost asleep from the meds while they were still stitching me up. They had given me some morphine through my epidural to prevent incision pain for the first 24 hours and it knocked me out. I admit though I didnt have incision pain until 2 pm Thursday so I guess it was a good thing they’d given it to me! So they drugged me up good before I even left the OR. While in the recovery room after surgery the nurse kept asking me to wiggle my toes, they were waiting for me to get feeling back in my legs before they could move us to our permanent room. I was getting scared I’d never feel my legs again, especially after she told me I should feel them in about an hour after the surgery. I wasnt able to move my legs until about 5 hours after the surgery was done, so so much for what she told me. I kept telling them it was their own fault I warned them to not give me big doses and they didnt listen. I was so relieved when I could finally move my toes and it still took a long time for me to be able to move my hips, a long long time acutally. That is the worst feeling ever!
Before the surgery we were told that the baby would be with us for about 2 hours after birth and then would be taken to the nursery to get cleaned up , assessed, and all that good stuff. So we were expecting that to happen since that’s what we were told. But right before my surgery started they had informed me that due to my diabetes they’d have to take him immediately to the nursery for care to manage his sugar levels. I was devastated at the news and immediately told Dean when he got into the OR, we were both upset but knew it was best for baby. So after the surgery was done Dean and the baby went to the nursery for a little while and I went back to the c-section recovery room for a few hours. It wasnt too long actually. I walked into the OR room at 10:12 and was wheeled out of the OR room at 11:20, so the surgery part itself wasnt too long. We were moved onto the maternal care unit room where we have spent the last three days around 2 pm that day, so the turn around time wasnt too bad. Although Boaz wasnt with us til we got into our new room, and that was hard for me, but it was good because I needed to sleep off some of the drugs they had given me.
I felt bad becuase we had been told the baby would be with us and had told our parents to be there at the hospital with Caleb expecting them to be able to see him right away. They were able to watch him through the nursery window but weren’t able to hold him until we got settled in our permanent room, around 2 p.m. but caleb did a good job being patient waiting. Unfortunately becuase they’d waited so long before seeing him they didnt stay long after we were in our room. We had a few visitors that first evening and since then have had tons more! Baby Boaz has met many of our near and dear friends and family and they are all smitten with him! Heck the hospital staff keeps saying how cute he is too!! We’re quite proud of our new little man.
We decided during this pregnancy that we’d try very hard to breastfeed this baby since I wasnt really able to with Caleb. Right away we were told by the nurses that the baby had a short tongue and that they might have to clip it, I forget the word they used, but I was upset and immediately worried we wouldnt be able to breastfeed. Our first attempt didnt go well and the lactation consultant did her best to help us out. We did finger feed him the first few times with formula and he learned how to suck our fingers rather quickly. During our nighttime feedings that first night we were amazed at how well Boaz started nursing. It was a complete turnaround from the first experience and I was again hopeful we’d be able to breastfeed since we werent having problems. When the consultant checked in with us in the morning we told her how things went and she watched and was also amazed at how well he was doing nursing. I have other issues w/ my breast that we wont go into, but it means that before we can nurse I have to pump to prepare them for nursing, so it’s a long process but it’s working rather well. This evening my milk came in and Boaz nursed for 35 minutes on one side! The nurse was amazed at how much I was pumping as well so we’re rather hopeful that we wont have to give Boaz any more formula. He really didnt have much at all and we finger fed him so he never had a bottle at all. He hasnt even had a pacifier which amazes me! Caleb had one and although he didnt need it all of the time I cant believe we havent resorted to using one. I know it’s only been a few days but I never really thought I could say I’m a breastfeeding mom but the way things are going I think we are going to be continuing on with this for as long as we can. he’s doing amazingly well and seems to enjoy nursing. The hardest part I think is going to be getting Caleb used to seeing me nurse and finding a way to nurse and take care of Caleb. I’m very grateful Dean will be home these first few weeks so I dont have to figure it out yet.
well I really need to rest. we’re planning on escaping this place in the morning so stay tuned for loads of pics and baby related entries in the days to come!!
