Dear Stella Rose,
It was 3:25am once mama and papa arrived at the hospital. Papa got mama a wheelchair and had mama wait in the lobby for papa to park the car. He was actually faster than the free valet service. And up to the 4th floor they went.
They checked into Triage and mama got changed into her gown, while they waited for a nurse to get everything started.
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| Mama's last picture pregnant with you. |
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| Papa wore his Ryan Adams "Electric Rose" shirt in honor of your middle name :) |
The nurse put you on the monitor, and it was such a relief again to hear your heart beating. Mama had to answer some questions, and her nurse checked to see how far dilated her cervix was. Just since 2:30, mama's new found labor contractions had changed her cervix from 0 to 4, almost 5 cm!
The nurse also couldn't tell if you were still breech or not. She could tell something was down there but she couldn't tell for sure if it was your butt or not. They were just going to have to wait until the doctor came in with the ultrasound machine to be able to tell for sure.
Some of the nurses from the 5th floor had heard that mama had come in to deliver, and they came downstairs to say hi. They also said that they were getting mama's same room ready for after the surgery! You guys wouldn't have to stay on the 4th floor after all! Mama was happy that she would get to be on the 5th floor again where most of the nurses she had gotten to know would be.
In the meantime, mama's contractions were becoming stronger and more frequent. The kind that you have to breathe through. Papa was great at talking mama through each one and reminding her to breathe.
There was a bit of scare for a minute, because it sounded like you had a really big movement and your heart rate changed from normal to arhythmic. Thankfully, it didn't last long, so the nurses were no longer concerned. When the doc got there, the ultrasound revealed that you were definitely still butt down...so a c-section it still was!
The anesthesiologist had already been in to educate mama on what she would feel and what to be concerned about after getting the spinal injection. Mama wasn't worried about anything because she was so excited that she would be holding you in her arms in just a matter of minutes!
The plan was for papa to head back to their room and wait until mama was all prepped for the surgery before he could come in to the operating room. After mama got her IV and drank this "oh so yummy" liquid (sarcasm) which she forgot what it was for, papa packed himself like a pack mule with all their stuff and mama wheeled out on the bed up to the 5th floor.
Papa gave mama a kiss as he went to room 5212, and mama and her nurse continued down the hall to the operating room. Mama felt a wave of excitement as the doors opened to the bright white sterile environment. She was surprised how many people were in the operating room. She thought there would only be one nurse and the doctor, but there were 5 nurses, the doctor and the anesthesiologist!
Mama was transferred to the operating table, and it was now time for the anesthesia. The two injections weren't that painful. At least mama wasn't feeling those contractions anymore! The doc tested to see if the injections had kicked in yet. They had because apparently the doc pinched mama really hard and mama didn't even know it. Mama definitely could tell the injections were working, because it felt like her legs were paralyzed. It wasn't the most comfortable and mama started to feel like she was about to have an anxiety attack. All she wanted to do was to be able to wiggle her toes and move her left leg over just an inch, but she couldn't. Between that and wearing the oxygen tubes on her nose, she was starting to have feelings of claustrophobia. She started to pray silently, for it was all she knew to do to help her anxiety go away.
Finally, papa walked in the door in his gown, hair net and mask on, and he came and held mama's hand. Papa and the anesthesiologist were a big help for mama's comfort, using a tissue to rub mama's face. The anesthesiologist had warned mama that the medicine would cause her face to itch, and that it did...like crazy! Mama kept wanting to scratch her face herself and rip the oxygen tubing away from her face, but she was supposed to keep her arms outstretched making a "t."
They had draped below mama's waist so that she couldn't see anything, so papa took a few pictures. It's probably a good thing that mama couldn't see or it probably would have made her anxious again! The surgery started at about 5:30am, and you entered this world at 5:37am!
Mama was waiting to hear your cry to know that you were born, and she got nervous when papa told her that you were out but she didn't hear you cry. There was nothing to be nervous about. It just took you a little bit, and then you belted it out!
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| Your First Cry |
After you were weighed, you got put in the warmer as you got cleaned up. They also had to check your blood sugar to make sure it wasn't too low, since mama was on insulin the whole third trimester. Your blood sugar was perfect!
Papa had waited patiently to hold you, and the time so greatly anticipated had finally come! What a proud papa!
Mama had to wait even more patiently while the doc stitched her up before she could hold you. It only took about 25 minutes and watching papa holding you made it go by in a blink of an eye.
Once everything was all done, mama got transferred from the operating table to her bed. Then it was time to finally hold you in her arms. This moment was so sureal!
Mama got to hold you in her arms as you both were wheeled back to your room. This was the start of something truly amazing!
Love,
Mama & Papa
