On July 1 at 10:01 A.M. we welcomed Ellie Grace Bethea into our family! She weighed 6lbs 10 oz, was 20.5 inches and is perfect as can be. Before the details become fuzzy, I want to get her birth story down in writing.
Eric and I got ready and headed to the hospital around 7:45 am. The nurses got us back to the preop room and we started getting ready to meet our baby girl.
My sweet friend (aka Aunt Ashley) joined us while we were filling out all the paper work and answering last minute questions. It was so nice to have her back there. It really took away some of the anxiety of all that was about to happen. The surgery was not scheduled until 10 A.M. so I was extremly surprised when my doctor came into the room around 9:20 A.M. and said he was ready to get started as soon as the OR was cleaned up from the last procedure. Around 9:30 A.M. I found myself walking down to the OR. I just assumed that everything would go just as it had the last time, but everything was different. First of all, not all epidurals are the same! With Mac, they stuck me once and I immediately felt numbness in my feet and it quickly worked its way up my body. This time I found myself in the typical position, hunched over and leaning on a nurse, as the anesthesiologist began. Suddenly, my right leg shot out in the air and it felt as though someone had just stabbed me in the thigh so the doctor had to adjust the positioning of the epidural. Once that was taken care of they had me lie back on the table and I really didn't feel anything. There were about 8 or 9 people in the room at that point and I suddenly became very aware that my gown had been pulled up over my stomach and I was out there for all the world to see. Honestly, it didn't really bother me all that much, but I still don't understand why they wouldn't put up a surgical drape before beginning all the prep work! I spent the next 10 minutes or so chit chatting with my doctor and wondering why I had not felt the epidural take effect. Apparently it had already worked; at least partially. A nurse started to prick my stomach with a needle to make sure I could not feel anything and my right side had not been affected by the medication. She told me not to worry; that they wouldn't start until it had taken affect. I nerviously giggled and said that I would definantly appreciate it if they could wait until it worked! After about 15 minutes of waiting, the surgical drape went up and the epidural had kicked in. Unfortunantly so had the nausea. Another side effect I had not experienced with Mac. Fortunately, that feeling was short lived and before I knew it, Eric was standing by my side. The next few minutes seemed to fly by. Instead of feeling extreme pressure on my lower stomach, I started to feel as though someone had their hands in my rib cage. It was a very strange sensation. There was minimal pressure, just a feeling that my rib cage might explode at any given moment. Suddenly I heard the doctor telling Eric to get the camera ready and there she was. Bloody, dirty, and the most beautiful little girl I had ever seen.
I didn't know what to expect in terms of my emotions. When Mac was born I expected to bawl my eyes out, but I didn't. I just laid there and looked at him. This time I couldn't control the tears. Eric had already gone over to the warmer to be with Ellie and I just laid there with tears rolling down my face. Happy tears of course. I started to get a little concerned because after a few minutes I kept hearing the nurse saying "You need to get pink." Her lungs were obviously working because I could hear her crying, but it still made me a little uncomfortable. I tried to ask Eric is she was alright, but I felt like there was a heavy weight sitting on my chest and I could barely get out anything more than a whisper. From start to finish, the whole procedure took about 20 minutes. Once they had finished, the nurse brought my sweet girl over and laid her on my chest. And yes, I'm sure I will look back at those pictuers one day and realize that she was just as swollen and puffy as every other newborn, but to me, she was gorgeous.
After a few minutes, Eric and the nurse left to take her to the waiting room to meet our families as I was wheeled to the recovery room. I was so excited that policies at the hospital had changed because instead of Ellie spending 3-4 hours in the nursery, she would be able to join me in the recovery room. I was determined to successfully breastfeed this time and I felt it was very important to try and have her eat as soon as possible after delivery. Eric quickly came and joined me in the room and Ellie was supposed to be folling him shortly. After a few minutes I could see a baby in an incuabator right outside of my curtain. And much to my dismay I heard the nurse with her say "her parents are in curtain 3." They brought her right next to my bed and let me stick my hand in the incubator to touch her as they explained that she seemed to be having some labored breathing, most likely because she still had a little fluid in her lungs. I was crushed because now instead of spending what I felt like was important bonding time with my daughter and husband, she would be monitored in NICU for a minimum of 6 hours. I have to say, I held it together pretty well though. Eric went with Ellie to the NICU and I found myself alone. That's when the tears came. I called my sister to tell her what had happened and I'm not sure if she could even understand all the words that were coming out of my mouth at that point. I was never really worried about Ellie because I knew that this was a possible complication from a c-section, but I was so disappointed and frustrated. When my nurse came back to check on me I really got upset because I was told that I was not allowed to go and see her for at least 6 hours! So basically, unless she had to have an extended stay in NICU, it would be at least 5 PM before I could be able to see my baby.
I don't even know how long I was in recovery, but it seemed like a very short amount of time before I was taken to my room. That's when time stood still. It seemed as though I was nevery going to get to see her. Sitting in a hosptial bed knowing that she was just a wheel chair ride away was horrible. By the time 5 PM rolled around I could not wait to get on the phone ot find out where she was. We called the NICU nursery and they told us she was being transferred to the regular nursery to be checked in and that she would be in our room by 5:30 PM. That time came and went so I asked my nurse to call and see if she could get more information. To make a long story short, 3 nurseries were called and not one of them knew where Ellie was. I am sure that we just happened to call as she was in route to the regular nursery, but to hear that they can't find your child is not a good feeling. Finally, at 7 PM Ellie was brough to our room! I could not wait to finally hold her! A beautiful head of black hair, chubby cheeks, and oh how I love that double chin!
And much to my delight she is a pro at eating. I had such a difficult time with Mac, but she immediately latched on and has been eating like a little pig ever since.
So her first day on earth started out a little rocky (at least for me), but all in all I ended up with a beautiful, healthy little girl in my arms so I guess it really was a perfect day.
More to come...
