Baby #3's Birth Story
Thursday October 2, 2008
I had been having contractions off and on for awhile. I had been on Terbutiline for a few weeks trying to keep the little bugger snug inside of me. Today I woke up hurting, no more than any other day though really. The kids and I went to Bounce Jungle with our MOPS group. This was way too crowded so we left after about an hour. Then we got S’s haircut and came home to have lunch. We had a nice picnic lunch and headed off to nap. I was still feeling crampy and not so hot during this time but still manageable. That evening it seemed to get worse. After dinner, the kids took a shower and I walked around outside some trying to determine if these contractions were real when they migrated to my back. This is the same thing that happened with S – back labor. I hadn’t had that with L but oh my goodness I was having it again. About 7:30 I tried finding my mom to see if she could come sit with the kids while we went to the hospital to get checked out. She came out about 8, after the kids were out of the shower and lotioned and jammied up for the night. I read each one a story and put them to bed all the while hurting like crazy. During this time, Daddy Piper was gathering our bag and cameras just in case this was the real thing. I kissed each of them and assured them that Mommy was fine but I might not be here in the morning. Daddy Piper wasn’t scheduled for work on Friday so I told them that if I was still at the hospital then Daddy would be here when they woke up. They seem comforted by this and off we went to the hospital. We got to the hospital about 9:25 (according to our admission papers). We signed our financial life away and finally got admitted to a triage bed. They hooked me up and asked a million questions. Then after checking me, they called the dr. I could hear from our side of the curtain the nurse saying “Okay we’ll get a team together.” I was FREAKED out. I had 13 more days to go until this baby was supposed to be here! I was so scared of the c-section this time – premonition of things to come I guess. I got a shot of Terbutiline to hold off contractions before the c-section. While they tried to get me ready for surgery, Daddy Piper ran out to the van to get our camera (he came back with the camcorder, wrong camera honey, went back and got the still camera). The first nurse to attempt my IV tried twice to no avail. Next up was the original nurse that we started with. She got it in the first try (thank goodness because this hurts just as bad as the spinal does!!). After the IV was in place, the anesthesiologist was able to start the medicine needed to do the spinal later. During this whole time, I was super worried about having the baby on 10/3. I did not want this for my baby’s birthday. Daddy Piper told the nurse this and she said they would do everything they could to get the baby out on 10/2 (which they did!!). So after the IV was in place and medicine started, Daddy Piper got his scrubs on while they shaved me “down there”. Now this was funny in itself since they did shave me with L and didn’t with S and then decided they needed to this time. After that, we were ready to go. They wheeled me down the hall to the OR. I got a final kiss from Daddy Piper and walked into the OR while he waited for me in the recovery room. They got me situated up on the bed and ready for the spinal. The spinal hurts so bad, well not much more than the IV really. They get me sitting straight up on the bed, then hunched over sticking my back out and staying as still as possible. Well it hurt, just like I remembered. It went quick though and then I was lying down on the bed while everyone was scattering around me getting things prepped. They got the blue sheet hung up so I couldn’t see anything while the anesthesiologist (who was wonderful and great bedside manner!!) checked on me. I didn’t get nauseous this time like with S so I didn’t need to get that shot. And this time I had the nose oxygen instead of a whole face mask. They got everything ready and everyone in place and almost forgot to bring Daddy Piper in before they started. He came in and grabbed my hand and gave me a quick kiss and the surgery began. It seemed to start out fine. They were doing their thing and next thing I know they were saying it’s almost time for the baby. I was to feel some pressure and then he/she would be out. It seemed to take awhile to get him out. Finally I heard his cry and Daddy Piper saying “It’s a BOY!” I was so excited to have another son, but let’s be honest – I would have been just as excited if it were a girl. They immediately took the baby to the warmer to check on him since he was early. He was having some difficulty breathing. They brought him over to me to hold for a minute and then whisked him off to the nursery. I started having horrible chest pain; my heart was hurting terribly during this time. I told the anesthesiologist and she was watching me closely. I felt like I was on the verge of dying at this point. My chest hurt and I felt like I was fading, like if I just closed my eyes it would all be over. It was the scariest feeling ever. I kept praying over and over to be okay and then I just felt like I had too much to live for and started to feel better. I had looked at Daddy Piper during this time and just kept telling him I love him and our babies. It was a surreal moment. They finished up my surgery; Daddy Piper gave me a kiss and took off for the nursery – right where I wanted him to be. They transferred me over to the OR recovery and I stayed there for about an hour while they monitored me. I kept asking about my baby and the nurses were wonderful and kept using their walkie talkie things to call the nursery and check on him. His oxygen levels were low and they wanted to keep him for at least an hour to watch these levels. Then they decided to keep him for the 4 hour transition period just to be safe. On the way to the postpartum room, they took me by the nursery so I could see him. The nurses in there let me hold him and nurse him for a bit. This was so NICE of them. I know I wasn’t supposed to be in there on my surgery bed but they did it anyway – the most wonderful, kindest thing these ladies could have done for me. After a little while in there, they took me to my room. I was still so sad to be alone during this time. I think it was about 1 am at this point. The postpartum nurses kept checking me about every 30 minutes and when they would come in, they would call the nursery to see how Baby Piper #3 was doing. The nursery nurses had said he would be brought to my room about 3:30 AM. I was alone in my room until about 3 when my magnificent husband came pushing in our son. This was the most fantastic sight I could have asked for. I was going crazy in the room by myself, thinking all kinds of things and just hoping and praying the whole time that my baby was going to be okay. Well he was (and is!) okay. His levels leveled out after the first hour but they kept him anyway just to err on the side of caution. Baby J was 5 pounds 12 ounces and 18 1/2 “long. My smallest baby to date. Even S, who was 5 weeks early, wasn’t that small. Baby J has a full head of brown hair. His facial features look just like S. Our other 2 babies had little or no hair when they were born so all this dark brown hair is unusual for us. So after getting my husband and baby back in my room, I nursed Baby J for awhile and just relished in the joy of holding my baby boy. He started out nursing just fine. Seemed to take to it like a fish to water. We rested and nursed for a couple hours. Daddy Piper tried to get some rest during this time. I called Anita and Kelly at 5:30 our time to tell them the good news. Then I called my girlfriend Jen, who just had a baby too. I called Jill and a few others around 7 our time to share the news. Everyone was so surprised – especially since my breakfast shower was planned for 10/4, the next day! Daddy Piper woke up about 7 and drove home to get the kids. I couldn’t wait to have all my family gathered today. That is one thing I think would be neat about a home birth – having everyone right there when the baby joins the world. My mom got to the hospital about 9 or so to meet Baby J. Daddy Piper was there shortly after with L and S. They seemed so excited when they ran in to meet him. I was ecstatic to have my children all together. I have only spent 1 other night away from L (when S was born) and I have never spent the night away from S so this was an unusual time for us and I really missed my older 2 while I was in the hospital. The kids spent most of Friday at the hospital with me. We had gotten them cute little bags with their names on it with activities for the hospital, like color books and puzzles and new Big Sister/Big Brother shirts. Baby J and I spent the day resting and nursing. I had some problems with my IV. I guess when the 2nd nurse inserted it, she did so at an angle and it must have slipped out of my vein at some point. The nurse put some medicine in it , to soothe horrible itching I had again this time, and the medicine went into my hand instead of my blood so my hand swelled up to be like 4 inches thick. The nurse who saw this said and I quote “wow – never seen this before” oh this did not make me feel real good!!! She removed the IV and needed it to be redone (this would be the 4th time). Well the anesthesiologist happened to come by at this time and re-inserted my IV for me. The 1st spot she tried, the vein collapsed on her since it was the same vein they tried use the night before, about 12 hours ago. She got it inserted into the crook of my arm (the 5th IV insertion). This wasn’t going to work for long because it interfered with nursing and after losing so much time in the beginning nursing, I wasn’t going to let ANYTHING interfere with this. They ended up taking it out a couple hours later. Having that IV out was nice except for losing access to the morphine I needed for pain and Nuhbein for the itching but I was fine with that since I was able to keep nursing. Daddy Piper took the kids home for naps and I rested some more with Baby J. Daddy Piper and the kids came back after naps and ate their dinner in the room with me. I still couldn’t eat at this point since I needed to pass gas before I could have anything solid. They brought me a plant (our tradition) and some cute “It’s a Boy” balloons. My best times in the hospital were when Daddy Piper and the kids were there. I love having them around me!! Baby J did well during this time. He nursed like a champ and slept in between. So far as a baby, he really reminds of me of L – very sleepy and content to eat and be held. Daddy Piper took the little ones home for bathtime and bedtime. My mom agreed to stay the night again tonight so Daddy Piper could stay at the hospital. It was important to me that Daddy Piper put them to bed though and being the kind-hearted hubby that he is, he did as I asked. He came back to the hospital about 10 and stayed the night with me. It was so nice to have this time just the 3 of us – surely the only time we will get that way until the older 2 leave for college in a hundred years (oh how I wish it were that long away!!). The night went well. The nurse took Baby J for a vitals check – all looked good, otherwise we had him with us the whole time, just nursing and sleeping. So one thing I forgot to mention. We had the same day nurse and same night nurse the entire 3 days we were there – Marcy during the day and Jamie at night. It was nice to have the consistency in our care for the duration of our stay. Saturday morning we woke up after getting about 3 hours of sleep – a long time for a nursing baby. I nursed Baby J and Daddy Piper headed home to shower, get the kids and take them to the park for awhile for some quality time. I started getting visitors about the time he left. A good friend Monique dropped by to meet our newest addition and then my sister came by with my niece, my nephew along with her mother in law and some little girl they baby sit. Anyway – then my mom came to the hospital with my grandmother. The visit was fine. Daddy Piper and the kids showed up a little while later. Daddy Piper had wanted to take the kids to the park but they were anxious to get back to the hospital to see Mama and Baby J – no complaints here! They arrived wearing their Big Sister/Big Brother shirts – so cute!!! It was great to have visitors but boy was I tired when everyone left. It was nice to be alone for a bit with just my kids and hubby – 1st time since Baby J was born on Thursday night. We took Baby J down the hall for his newborn pics. And just like L and S – he wanted nothing to do with pictures this early in life. They were okay but not worth purchasing since I knew my friend was coming next Sunday to do newborn pictures at the house. Daddy Piper took the kids home for naps and Baby J and I rested and nursed. The kids and Daddy Piper came back Saturday night for a visit. Daddy Piper went home with the kids to get a good night rest before bringing Baby J and I home on Sunday. I had thought we might get to go home on Saturday but I had quite a bit of bruising so they thought about keeping me through Monday – fortunately we were able to come home on Sunday. Saturday night was pretty restful. They took Baby J to the nursery for a vitals and weight check. They offered for him to stay so I could rest but I couldn’t rest until he was back in my room. I called for him after an hour or so to get him back. The nurse thought he was already in the room with me… uh no. The baby nurse was bringing him in the room at the same time the other nurse and I had this conversation. It was kinda freaky. I just wanted my baby back with me! He did sleep for one really long stretch – from 1:00 till 5:47 AM. That was a very long time to sleep and I woke up feeling so rested. Of course Baby J nursed forever to make up for that long stretch. Sunday morning rolled around and we were cleared for release. Daddy Piper and the kids made it to the hospital about 10:00. Daddy hadn’t even fed the kids yet. S walked in and said “I’m VERY hungry” and he and L proceeded to eat everything off my breakfast tray. I ordered lunch for them from dining services. I skipped the discharge class since I had done this twice before. The nurse brought our paperwork in and we were ready to go by about 11:30 or so. She wheeled me out while the older 2 kids fought over who got to roll the suitcase. The other funny side story was about his name. We couldn’t settle on his name for the longest time. But after calling him Baby J for the first 24 hours, nothing else fit so Baby J is what we decided on.
The birth wasn’t quite what we expected but getting this little guy in the world was well worth anything I went through. We are so happy to be a family of 5!!
Thursday October 2, 2008
I had been having contractions off and on for awhile. I had been on Terbutiline for a few weeks trying to keep the little bugger snug inside of me. Today I woke up hurting, no more than any other day though really. The kids and I went to Bounce Jungle with our MOPS group. This was way too crowded so we left after about an hour. Then we got S’s haircut and came home to have lunch. We had a nice picnic lunch and headed off to nap. I was still feeling crampy and not so hot during this time but still manageable. That evening it seemed to get worse. After dinner, the kids took a shower and I walked around outside some trying to determine if these contractions were real when they migrated to my back. This is the same thing that happened with S – back labor. I hadn’t had that with L but oh my goodness I was having it again. About 7:30 I tried finding my mom to see if she could come sit with the kids while we went to the hospital to get checked out. She came out about 8, after the kids were out of the shower and lotioned and jammied up for the night. I read each one a story and put them to bed all the while hurting like crazy. During this time, Daddy Piper was gathering our bag and cameras just in case this was the real thing. I kissed each of them and assured them that Mommy was fine but I might not be here in the morning. Daddy Piper wasn’t scheduled for work on Friday so I told them that if I was still at the hospital then Daddy would be here when they woke up. They seem comforted by this and off we went to the hospital. We got to the hospital about 9:25 (according to our admission papers). We signed our financial life away and finally got admitted to a triage bed. They hooked me up and asked a million questions. Then after checking me, they called the dr. I could hear from our side of the curtain the nurse saying “Okay we’ll get a team together.” I was FREAKED out. I had 13 more days to go until this baby was supposed to be here! I was so scared of the c-section this time – premonition of things to come I guess. I got a shot of Terbutiline to hold off contractions before the c-section. While they tried to get me ready for surgery, Daddy Piper ran out to the van to get our camera (he came back with the camcorder, wrong camera honey, went back and got the still camera). The first nurse to attempt my IV tried twice to no avail. Next up was the original nurse that we started with. She got it in the first try (thank goodness because this hurts just as bad as the spinal does!!). After the IV was in place, the anesthesiologist was able to start the medicine needed to do the spinal later. During this whole time, I was super worried about having the baby on 10/3. I did not want this for my baby’s birthday. Daddy Piper told the nurse this and she said they would do everything they could to get the baby out on 10/2 (which they did!!). So after the IV was in place and medicine started, Daddy Piper got his scrubs on while they shaved me “down there”. Now this was funny in itself since they did shave me with L and didn’t with S and then decided they needed to this time. After that, we were ready to go. They wheeled me down the hall to the OR. I got a final kiss from Daddy Piper and walked into the OR while he waited for me in the recovery room. They got me situated up on the bed and ready for the spinal. The spinal hurts so bad, well not much more than the IV really. They get me sitting straight up on the bed, then hunched over sticking my back out and staying as still as possible. Well it hurt, just like I remembered. It went quick though and then I was lying down on the bed while everyone was scattering around me getting things prepped. They got the blue sheet hung up so I couldn’t see anything while the anesthesiologist (who was wonderful and great bedside manner!!) checked on me. I didn’t get nauseous this time like with S so I didn’t need to get that shot. And this time I had the nose oxygen instead of a whole face mask. They got everything ready and everyone in place and almost forgot to bring Daddy Piper in before they started. He came in and grabbed my hand and gave me a quick kiss and the surgery began. It seemed to start out fine. They were doing their thing and next thing I know they were saying it’s almost time for the baby. I was to feel some pressure and then he/she would be out. It seemed to take awhile to get him out. Finally I heard his cry and Daddy Piper saying “It’s a BOY!” I was so excited to have another son, but let’s be honest – I would have been just as excited if it were a girl. They immediately took the baby to the warmer to check on him since he was early. He was having some difficulty breathing. They brought him over to me to hold for a minute and then whisked him off to the nursery. I started having horrible chest pain; my heart was hurting terribly during this time. I told the anesthesiologist and she was watching me closely. I felt like I was on the verge of dying at this point. My chest hurt and I felt like I was fading, like if I just closed my eyes it would all be over. It was the scariest feeling ever. I kept praying over and over to be okay and then I just felt like I had too much to live for and started to feel better. I had looked at Daddy Piper during this time and just kept telling him I love him and our babies. It was a surreal moment. They finished up my surgery; Daddy Piper gave me a kiss and took off for the nursery – right where I wanted him to be. They transferred me over to the OR recovery and I stayed there for about an hour while they monitored me. I kept asking about my baby and the nurses were wonderful and kept using their walkie talkie things to call the nursery and check on him. His oxygen levels were low and they wanted to keep him for at least an hour to watch these levels. Then they decided to keep him for the 4 hour transition period just to be safe. On the way to the postpartum room, they took me by the nursery so I could see him. The nurses in there let me hold him and nurse him for a bit. This was so NICE of them. I know I wasn’t supposed to be in there on my surgery bed but they did it anyway – the most wonderful, kindest thing these ladies could have done for me. After a little while in there, they took me to my room. I was still so sad to be alone during this time. I think it was about 1 am at this point. The postpartum nurses kept checking me about every 30 minutes and when they would come in, they would call the nursery to see how Baby Piper #3 was doing. The nursery nurses had said he would be brought to my room about 3:30 AM. I was alone in my room until about 3 when my magnificent husband came pushing in our son. This was the most fantastic sight I could have asked for. I was going crazy in the room by myself, thinking all kinds of things and just hoping and praying the whole time that my baby was going to be okay. Well he was (and is!) okay. His levels leveled out after the first hour but they kept him anyway just to err on the side of caution. Baby J was 5 pounds 12 ounces and 18 1/2 “long. My smallest baby to date. Even S, who was 5 weeks early, wasn’t that small. Baby J has a full head of brown hair. His facial features look just like S. Our other 2 babies had little or no hair when they were born so all this dark brown hair is unusual for us. So after getting my husband and baby back in my room, I nursed Baby J for awhile and just relished in the joy of holding my baby boy. He started out nursing just fine. Seemed to take to it like a fish to water. We rested and nursed for a couple hours. Daddy Piper tried to get some rest during this time. I called Anita and Kelly at 5:30 our time to tell them the good news. Then I called my girlfriend Jen, who just had a baby too. I called Jill and a few others around 7 our time to share the news. Everyone was so surprised – especially since my breakfast shower was planned for 10/4, the next day! Daddy Piper woke up about 7 and drove home to get the kids. I couldn’t wait to have all my family gathered today. That is one thing I think would be neat about a home birth – having everyone right there when the baby joins the world. My mom got to the hospital about 9 or so to meet Baby J. Daddy Piper was there shortly after with L and S. They seemed so excited when they ran in to meet him. I was ecstatic to have my children all together. I have only spent 1 other night away from L (when S was born) and I have never spent the night away from S so this was an unusual time for us and I really missed my older 2 while I was in the hospital. The kids spent most of Friday at the hospital with me. We had gotten them cute little bags with their names on it with activities for the hospital, like color books and puzzles and new Big Sister/Big Brother shirts. Baby J and I spent the day resting and nursing. I had some problems with my IV. I guess when the 2nd nurse inserted it, she did so at an angle and it must have slipped out of my vein at some point. The nurse put some medicine in it , to soothe horrible itching I had again this time, and the medicine went into my hand instead of my blood so my hand swelled up to be like 4 inches thick. The nurse who saw this said and I quote “wow – never seen this before” oh this did not make me feel real good!!! She removed the IV and needed it to be redone (this would be the 4th time). Well the anesthesiologist happened to come by at this time and re-inserted my IV for me. The 1st spot she tried, the vein collapsed on her since it was the same vein they tried use the night before, about 12 hours ago. She got it inserted into the crook of my arm (the 5th IV insertion). This wasn’t going to work for long because it interfered with nursing and after losing so much time in the beginning nursing, I wasn’t going to let ANYTHING interfere with this. They ended up taking it out a couple hours later. Having that IV out was nice except for losing access to the morphine I needed for pain and Nuhbein for the itching but I was fine with that since I was able to keep nursing. Daddy Piper took the kids home for naps and I rested some more with Baby J. Daddy Piper and the kids came back after naps and ate their dinner in the room with me. I still couldn’t eat at this point since I needed to pass gas before I could have anything solid. They brought me a plant (our tradition) and some cute “It’s a Boy” balloons. My best times in the hospital were when Daddy Piper and the kids were there. I love having them around me!! Baby J did well during this time. He nursed like a champ and slept in between. So far as a baby, he really reminds of me of L – very sleepy and content to eat and be held. Daddy Piper took the little ones home for bathtime and bedtime. My mom agreed to stay the night again tonight so Daddy Piper could stay at the hospital. It was important to me that Daddy Piper put them to bed though and being the kind-hearted hubby that he is, he did as I asked. He came back to the hospital about 10 and stayed the night with me. It was so nice to have this time just the 3 of us – surely the only time we will get that way until the older 2 leave for college in a hundred years (oh how I wish it were that long away!!). The night went well. The nurse took Baby J for a vitals check – all looked good, otherwise we had him with us the whole time, just nursing and sleeping. So one thing I forgot to mention. We had the same day nurse and same night nurse the entire 3 days we were there – Marcy during the day and Jamie at night. It was nice to have the consistency in our care for the duration of our stay. Saturday morning we woke up after getting about 3 hours of sleep – a long time for a nursing baby. I nursed Baby J and Daddy Piper headed home to shower, get the kids and take them to the park for awhile for some quality time. I started getting visitors about the time he left. A good friend Monique dropped by to meet our newest addition and then my sister came by with my niece, my nephew along with her mother in law and some little girl they baby sit. Anyway – then my mom came to the hospital with my grandmother. The visit was fine. Daddy Piper and the kids showed up a little while later. Daddy Piper had wanted to take the kids to the park but they were anxious to get back to the hospital to see Mama and Baby J – no complaints here! They arrived wearing their Big Sister/Big Brother shirts – so cute!!! It was great to have visitors but boy was I tired when everyone left. It was nice to be alone for a bit with just my kids and hubby – 1st time since Baby J was born on Thursday night. We took Baby J down the hall for his newborn pics. And just like L and S – he wanted nothing to do with pictures this early in life. They were okay but not worth purchasing since I knew my friend was coming next Sunday to do newborn pictures at the house. Daddy Piper took the kids home for naps and Baby J and I rested and nursed. The kids and Daddy Piper came back Saturday night for a visit. Daddy Piper went home with the kids to get a good night rest before bringing Baby J and I home on Sunday. I had thought we might get to go home on Saturday but I had quite a bit of bruising so they thought about keeping me through Monday – fortunately we were able to come home on Sunday. Saturday night was pretty restful. They took Baby J to the nursery for a vitals and weight check. They offered for him to stay so I could rest but I couldn’t rest until he was back in my room. I called for him after an hour or so to get him back. The nurse thought he was already in the room with me… uh no. The baby nurse was bringing him in the room at the same time the other nurse and I had this conversation. It was kinda freaky. I just wanted my baby back with me! He did sleep for one really long stretch – from 1:00 till 5:47 AM. That was a very long time to sleep and I woke up feeling so rested. Of course Baby J nursed forever to make up for that long stretch. Sunday morning rolled around and we were cleared for release. Daddy Piper and the kids made it to the hospital about 10:00. Daddy hadn’t even fed the kids yet. S walked in and said “I’m VERY hungry” and he and L proceeded to eat everything off my breakfast tray. I ordered lunch for them from dining services. I skipped the discharge class since I had done this twice before. The nurse brought our paperwork in and we were ready to go by about 11:30 or so. She wheeled me out while the older 2 kids fought over who got to roll the suitcase. The other funny side story was about his name. We couldn’t settle on his name for the longest time. But after calling him Baby J for the first 24 hours, nothing else fit so Baby J is what we decided on.
The birth wasn’t quite what we expected but getting this little guy in the world was well worth anything I went through. We are so happy to be a family of 5!!
1 comments:
What a scary start! i am so glad it all turned out okay though...Baby J sounds like a dream ;-) If you dont mind me asking how come you didnt want him born on the 10/3?
Take care and enjoy your new little one
Cassandra xx
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