Welcome to the fam, Lincoln!
Well, it didn't go quite as we planned, but our baby boy has arrived! We are all healthy and lovin' the new addition to our little fam! I have seen a new 'trend' so to speak of mama's sharing their birth stories and thought I would share with ya'll how ours happened!
At 36 weeks, there was protein in my urine and I had some swelling, other than that I was doing great! I went in for my 37 week appointment on Good Friday. I had been feeling pretty good, but I was super swollen. They tested my urine, of course, and it was still showing elevated levels of protein and my blood pressure was a little elevated as well. My doctor suggested going in for observation. I was honestly, shocked! My husband and I had both taken the day off and were excited to spend the day with our little one as a last hoorah before her baby brother was born. This whole 'observation' thing totally put a damper in our plans.
I went out to the car, told my husband who immediately called his mom to see if she could keep Quinn. I was a bit worried that this observation may turn into actually having a baby, and if it didn't I was worried I may be on bed rest as there were conversations about a possible pre-eclampsia diagnosis (pre-eclampsia is defined by google as 'a condition in pregnancy characterized by high blood pressure, sometimes with fluid retention and proteinuria' it is often times solved simply by delivering the baby!). I stopped at work to wrap up a few things as I wasn't sure what might happen next! We dropped our daughter off, ran home, showered and got our bags for the hospital (that were definitely not packed, not to self, don't hesitate to pack the hospital bags!), grabbed some quick lunch (McDonald's for the win? yuck...) and headed in for 'observation'.
By the time we got there, my blood pressure was still elevated. My husband at this point was just ready to call it and have the c-section that day. I was still pretty unsure. I had SO much to do at work still, so much to wrap up at home and wanted to snuggle my baby girl just a bit longer before she wasn't the only one any more!
We were taken up to the maternity floor for observation. They had me change into a gown and hooked me up to a blood pressure cuff. My blood pressure was still pretty high, but not quite high enough for a full on pre-eclampsia diagnosis. We sat, and waited, and sat and waited. The next thing we know the nurse comes in and tells us she thinks they are going to release me. A few minutes pass by and the nurse comes back and asks when the last time I ate was, we said about 1:00, on our way in, she says ok and heads back out.
Next thing we know the nurse is back and telling us they are just going to have me deliver! Relieved, anxious, excited, exhausted, nervous, happy and even a little sadness are all the emotions I felt. Relieved, anxious, excited, exhausted, nervous and happy for obvious reasons, sad because I knew everything was about to change for my little girl at home!
They move us to pre-op on the maternity floor, we notify the family FaceTime our baby girl and less then two hours later, we were headed into surgery (I was having a repeat c-section). If you haven't had a c-section before, there is about twenty minutes when you are separated from your spouse, during this time they take you into the operating room (FREEZING COLD) do your spinal get everything situated and then bring your hubby (or spouse) in.
The c-section went well, it took a little longer then our first as they had to cut through scar tissue and such, but overall, everything went smoothly, I didn't even have any nausea like I did during my first! Then he was here! My husband was called over to cut the umbilical cord and be there for the first measurements and all that. Then they wrapped baby up and my husband brought him by me. Once they finished sewing me all up I moved from the operating table to a movable bed, and held my baby for the first time. We got to pre-op and they had me move one more time to my final hospital bed.
We were in the hospital for two days, nervous if we would get released because of my blood pressure. It ended up being low enough on its own to be released just in time for Easter, Sunday dinner!
Little did I know less than a week later I would end up in the Emergency Room, readmitted to the maternity ward due to the pre-eclampsia. Check back for a post on my experience with pre-eclampsia soon! Good news is everyone is happy and healthy now!
Sierra Zaban
-Center Director, The Learning Experience Gurnee
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