C-section

I am going to document some of my time spent with Ruby starting at the very beginning.

Beginning meaning the dreaded c-section.

When I originally thought I was going to have a c-section due to placenta previa I was pretty bummed out.

Little did I know, but having placenta previa was a blessing in disguise.

It was the only reason that I went back in at 28 weeks for another ultrasound.

The 28 week ultrasound was the day we found out that our little girl could have some problems, which I was strictly monitored from this point on.

If I wouldn’t have had placenta previa I would have never gone in for another ultrasound. I would have thought our little girl was totally healthy. I think it would have been harder not knowing she had complications ahead of time.

I probably would have delivered Ruby at a small hospital naturally. Who knows if she would have even made it through the delivery.

So thankful for this tender mercy. I got to spend 15 wonderful days with her because I delivered c-section (even though I no longer had placenta previa) to prevent further complications with her and 2 NICU teams where standing by to take Ruby into their care.

Back to October 11, 2011. Jared and I arrived at Sunrise Children’s Hospital at 5:30am. Way too early for me, but I didn’t get any sleep the night before anyway (partly due to me, partly due to Luke).

We were taken back where they prepped me for surgery.

My c-section was scheduled for 7:30am, but we got bumped to 8:15am. Which only meant one thing…. more waiting, more nerves.

When it was finally our turn they wheeled me into the operating room, gave me a spinal, and then did who knows what to me because I couldn’t feel a thing.

Jared was brought into the room and sat down next to me.

It wasn’t like the Baby Story you see on TV where the doctor walks you through everything they are doing. You know know what I am talking about, right?  “I am going to make the incision now, you are going to feel a little pressure now, ok here she comes, it’s a girl…”

No, nothing like that.

In fact, all Jared and I can remember is that my doctor and staff were talking about going to dinner and eating soft shell crab.

Then, all the sudden they say, ok daddy, if you want to see your baby you better hurry and look over the curtain.

Jared jumped up and looked as they pulled her out and then they immediately gave her to the NICU team.

I heard a faint cry and that was about it.

I didn’t get to see her and I was panicking.

I told Jared to make sure she is alright so he stood up again to see what was going on.

He sat back down and said she is still with the NICU team in the corner and they are making sure she is alright.

He didn’t want to tell me what he actually saw.

Yes, she was in the corner with the NICU team but they had an oxygen mask on her and were bagging her to get her to breathe.

Then the doctors announced they were taking her to the NICU and they would bring her over really quick so I could see her.

This is what I saw:

They had to intubate her because she wasn’t breathing. I was sad I didn’t get to see my baby girl without tubes down her throat. I told Jared to go with them and make sure everything was ok.

After they had stapled my belly up, they wheeled me to my recovery room.

I was numb for about 10 more hours.

They wouldn’t let me go to the NICU to see Ruby until I could get up and walk.

It was a long 10 hours…

Stay tuned for my official first meeting with Ruby.

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More on my c-section:

Whoever told me that c-sections were no big deal is a big, fat liar. I am not sure anyone told me this, but still, a liar.

I have never been in so much pain.

Ok, I take that back. Kidney stones were far worse, but every time I tried to move after the c-section it felt like my insides were going to explode.

A cough.

A sneeze.

A chuckle.

All painful.

My recovery with Luke was easy breezy compared to this.

Not to mention they tell you that you can’t lift anything for 6 weeks. Tell that to my needy 2-year old. Ya, not happening.

Then, I had to watch them pull out my staples one by one as I tried not to faint. Just seeing the staples in my stomach for 5 days was enough to make me cringe.

The worst part of this is that I still haven’t hit my 6 week mark. I am STILL recovering.

The good news about this whole c-section is that I will always have a reminder of Ruby with me. A physical scar that when I look at it I am reminded of her. She will always be apart of me.

That beats a remembrance tattoo any day.