Cooper James was born right when he said he would be born. On Tuesday, January 18th I was going about my day as usual. I noticed my first contraction as I was getting the car seat inspected that afternoon, although I didn't realize it was a contraction. After a 4PM conference call, I realized that something was happening as things began to be more intense. I called Dave to tell him to stay at work until he wrapped everything up because this could be the night.
We ended up leaving for the hospital at 9:15PM and I was 3 cm dilated. By midnight, I was begging for the epidural. Turns out, I was only 4cm dilated at that point but I didn't care! Give me the drugs! And boy were they fabulous! (Even though they had to go in twice to try to find the right spot. Me - long needles - TWICE?!?! Seriously!?!) Anyway, I was able to fall asleep for a few hours so it was all worth it.
By 3:30 I was pushing. And I pushed! And pushed! And pushed more. But the little guy just didn't want to come out. At 4, the doctor gave me the option of a C-Section and I took it. No questions asked! Turns out, the baby's head was "sunny side up", meaning his head was facing up instead of down, so he couldn't get out.
The C-Section was a little surreal. I had a spinal which didn't hurt a bit b/c of the epidural. If I thought the epidural was fabulous - the spinal was a gift from god! Within seconds, I heard my baby cry! And that was it. I was done. Exhausted, numb, and a mother.
It took them awhile to put me back together (over an hour!) b/c of a bleeding artery. I just wanted to hold my son. For about 20 minutes, I laid there while they cleaned him up, weighed him, measured him and examined him. Luckily Dave was with him the whole time.
Ok – long story so I’ll wrap up quick. The recovery from the C-Section was and is a little daunting. But I’ve never been so happy to wake up with my son in my arms, feeling his soft hair and the smell of his body on top of me. After four days in the hospital, we were able to come home where his Papa, Pops & CC were all able to meet him.
Now it’s all about learning who he is, his likes and dislikes, and managing to be a mom.
We ended up leaving for the hospital at 9:15PM and I was 3 cm dilated. By midnight, I was begging for the epidural. Turns out, I was only 4cm dilated at that point but I didn't care! Give me the drugs! And boy were they fabulous! (Even though they had to go in twice to try to find the right spot. Me - long needles - TWICE?!?! Seriously!?!) Anyway, I was able to fall asleep for a few hours so it was all worth it.
By 3:30 I was pushing. And I pushed! And pushed! And pushed more. But the little guy just didn't want to come out. At 4, the doctor gave me the option of a C-Section and I took it. No questions asked! Turns out, the baby's head was "sunny side up", meaning his head was facing up instead of down, so he couldn't get out.
The C-Section was a little surreal. I had a spinal which didn't hurt a bit b/c of the epidural. If I thought the epidural was fabulous - the spinal was a gift from god! Within seconds, I heard my baby cry! And that was it. I was done. Exhausted, numb, and a mother.
It took them awhile to put me back together (over an hour!) b/c of a bleeding artery. I just wanted to hold my son. For about 20 minutes, I laid there while they cleaned him up, weighed him, measured him and examined him. Luckily Dave was with him the whole time.
Ok – long story so I’ll wrap up quick. The recovery from the C-Section was and is a little daunting. But I’ve never been so happy to wake up with my son in my arms, feeling his soft hair and the smell of his body on top of me. After four days in the hospital, we were able to come home where his Papa, Pops & CC were all able to meet him.
Now it’s all about learning who he is, his likes and dislikes, and managing to be a mom.
Wow. These photos made me cry. Reminds me so much of Rhys' birth. I love the pic of you holding him for the first time!
ReplyDeleteSo happy to have the story from your perspective! Such an amazing ride into motherhood.
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