Max_1

Max_1

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Here's a shortened version of our birth story. The pitocin drip is immediately stopped and we need a new plan of action. Janet, the midwife, tells us that the baby needs to come out. She quickly goes and talks to my OB who wants to do a C-section IMMEDIATELY. While this was not an urgent situation, his heartbeat did return to normal, there was absolutely NO thinking involved on our part, which was fine because I didn’t have time to worry. Allie and Ryan made a hasty exit and wished us luck. Not two minutes went by and I signed the consent forms while they were telling me what to expect in the OR while wheeling me there. I didn’t really want a C, but I wasn’t willing to risk Paco’s life and didn’t think the iron cervix would open, so this was it. Jump into the diving pool, STAT!

Lou goes and changes while they prep me for surgery. Two anesthesia residents and an anesthesiologist tell me what’s going to happen play by play. The OR is freezing cold and I’m shivering and shaking, which in part might be due to being scared. They give me warm blankets, even though it’s only for a few minutes…Instead of an epidural, I get a spinal, which does into a different layer of your spinal cord. Essentially painless, just a pinch, I start to feel numb. Was I not just talking to Ryan about some patient of his that day like 5 minutes ago? Now I can’t feel my legs and it’s just surreal. “Can you feel this? This? This? “ the female anesthesia resident asks. I feel nothing from my boobs up! I started to feel nauseous and told them, then I had indigestion.

They wafted an alcohol pad under my nose, which helped. I wanted to know where Lou was and they assured me that he could come in as soon as I was draped and ready. He joined me at my head and they joked about having the curtain high so he couldn’t watch and criticize. He sneaked a few peeks, but was mostly just checking in on me. I couldn’t feel a thing, not even pulling when they said that I would (which I was so happy about!). A few minutes later, Max was screaming his head off. Evidently he was swimming in meconium (newborn poop), which can make a baby septic.

Lou gets to hold him after they clean him up and the three of us have an amazing time behind the curtain while they sew me back up. While I so wanted to have a vaginal delivery for a speedier recovery, I know that this is what was best for the health of our child. We thought I was headed for a C-section Saturday morning when my cervix was still undilated. We both agreed that we would rather go ahead and do it than risk Max at all.

Max was born at 4:04 p.m. on Saturday, March 14, weighing in at 6 pounds, 14 ounces and 21 inches long. It took longer to close than it did for him to be born. While Lou, Max, and I were hanging out (I literally was since I was filleted open) we majorly bonded and continued to do so in the recovery area. I put him on me for some skin-to-skin contact. He felt so amazing with super soft skin and downy  hair.

I tried to upload a video without success.
Love,
Shelley, Lou, and Max