Here's me right before we drove to the hospital on Tuesday night July 27th. See that smile? I'm thinking - yeah! I have a plan... let's start checking things off the list and get this baby born! Little did I know, giving birth never works on your timeline.
Tim and I started on Saturday July 24th going to Baylor for "ripening" appointments. Luke was already getting to be a big baby and my doctor did not want me to go past my due date to deliver him. So on Saturday July 24th and again on Monday July 26th we went into Baylor to try and get things moving. We didn't seem to make much progress but we weren't discouraged. On Tuesday July 27th at 8pm, we checked into Labor and Delivery at Baylor to start the induction process. That night, they gave me a drug called Cervidil. The next morning they started Pitocin. I started having contractions pretty quickly and asked to have the epidural done. I was scared to death of the epidural, but as all of my friends had told me, it really wasn't a big deal at all. So I was in labor from about 6am until 3pm that afternoon when they came in to check my progress. The nurse had this funny look on her face and said "I think I feel an ear." I had no idea what this meant. In my mind I was saying well of course he has ears - why is this lady making such a big deal? Finally she told us that if Luke was in an ear-first position, I would not be able to have a normal delivery. At 3pm on Wednesday afternoon it was decided that I would have to have a c-section. I had not mentally prepared myself for this possibility.
The anesthesiologist came back in and gave me another drug through my epidural to further numb my body for the c-section. I had a really bad reaction to whatever it is that they gave me. I could no longer move any of the lower parts of my body and all of the sudden I felt that I HAD TO MOVE. It was like having restless leg syndrome but not being able to move your legs at all. I was going crazy to the point where I started shaking my bed with my arms and even hitting myself in the face to distract me from the horrible feeling of needing to move. I was scaring my sisters LOL Tim was trying everything he could think of to relax me. We told one nurse and she just brushed us off and told us it was normal. Finally we got to the anaesthesiologist again and he immediately realized what my problem was and gave me another drug. Finally I was able to calm down!
Here's me in the labor and delivery room about 14 hours in and a couple hours before the c-section:
About 7:30 they wheeled me into the operating room to do the c-section. I was scared to death but knew it was all going to be over soon and I'd get to see my precious baby.
Here are the people that stuck it out with us all day long to see Luke after he was born:
At 7:52, Dr. Stevenson delivered Luke and he immediately cried. It was the most beautiful sound I've ever heard.
Luke was examined by the NICU team immediately after delivery - here he is right after birth:
Here is Dr. Stevenson with Luke. I just love her. She is such a great doctor. She is conservative and really tried hard to make sure we did everything possible not to have a c-section. In the end though, we couldn't control the way Luke was facing :) She takes plenty of time to explain things to make sure you don't worry unnecessarily. She was there with me through all of the hernia problems and I felt so cared for - I was in good hands.
I got to hold Luke for the first time as they wheeled me from the OR to the recovery room:
Here are some pictures of me getting to know my sweet baby in recovery:
Here is Daddy feeding Luke for the first time:
Here's Luke with Aunt Missy in recovery:
Luke with Aunt Shell:
Luke with Grammy:
Luke with Pop:
Luke with Aunt Joan:
Luke meets Markie:
Luke meets CJ:
First bath:
Our favorite pic so far LOL - Luke lets Daddy know who's boss!
So we are getting settled at home now and trying to establish a routine. We've had Christy Hill (www.sweetbabydreams.net) with us since last Saturday night. She is a newborn care specialist and an absolute God-send. Christy is helping me with breastfeeding and teaching us tons of things about babies. While she is here, I am able to get a really good night's sleep to help with my recovery. Without Christy, I think I would have already given up on breastfeeding. I had heard things about how difficult it was to get started, but I wasn't quite prepared for the emotions you go through when trying to breastfeed but feel like your baby isn't getting enough to eat. Christy has given me tons of tools, tips and tricks to help along the way. I cannot say enough good things about her!
Tim and I are enjoying bonding with our beautiful son. Our hearts are just overflowing with love for this special baby - this ultimate gift from God. We thank all of our friends and family for your prayers and selfless acts of love during the last few months. We cannot wait for everyone to come meet Luke!
1 comment:
WE LOVE HIM!!!!
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