When I was about 33 or 34 weeks pregnant, I had an ultrasound that revealed extra amniotic fluid - polyhydramnios, it's called. I was borderline mild, and for a couple of weeks, I remained so, but then it quickly increased well into the moderate range. We had been looking at a birth day of August 19 - today! But after three c-sections, the excess fluid put Norah and I both at risk. August 11 was the final decision.
We got to the hospital early, but our check in was delayed because someone closed a screen they shouldn't have, and it was like we were never in the waiting room. The good news is, lots of people were winning on The Price is Right while we waited.
When we got to Labor and Delivery, the nurses worked so quickly that they made up for all of the lost time waiting - it was impressive! But there was a delay in the start of the c-section before mine, so we had more waiting to do. Then we found out the poor girl's spinal block didn't work, so the delayed c-section was going to take longer. I tried not to think about the reason - I was already nervous enough about my own spinal block. That is a procedure I could never get used to, even after having three.
Finally the operating room was cleaned and ready for me, and we were walking down the hall in our puffy hats, myself in a gown, Justin in some kind of zip outfit that replaced the scrubs they used to give to husbands to wear. He had to stay in the hall while they got me set up for surgery.
I walked into the familiar bright, cold room and sat on the table. They handed me a pillow and the anesthetist felt my spine and stuck a giant sticker on my back. I think it is to mark things, but I have never actually seen one since it goes on your back. The lidocaine goes first so that you don't feel the spinal going in, and then you hold the pillow and someone - a nurse or doctor, tells you to hold still while they put a needle in your spine. It's as nerve racking as it sounds. So that's what we did. Thankfully it went well and only required one try. Then they all helped me lie down on the table.
They stuck some monitors on me and strapped my legs and arms to the table - legs because they'll fall since they're numb, and arms so that your nerves don't make you grab the doctor during surgery or do anything else rash. They checked several times to see where I could and couldn't feel, and put up a small curtain over my belly to separate me from the "work area" that was my abdomen.
After all that, they brought Justin in with me, and we were off. They started surgery and worked a little before they broke my water, and my perfect, head-down baby flipped sideways. That was a first. The doctors had to wrestle her a bit to get her out. I told Justin I thought they were going to smash my lungs. It didn't hurt thanks to the spinal block, but it was uncomfortable.
At 2:00pm, they got her out. They suctioned her nose and mouth quite a bit, and I was worried until I finally heard her cry - which she only did for a minute, and then she just went to sleep on the little baby table. They monitored her and she was perfect and breathing and healthy, even at her early almost-38-week delivery. We were thankful.
They finished the rest of the surgery - just putting me back together again - and then moved me to another bed with a sheet, a wedge thing, and sorcery, I assume. We went to recovery for a while and snuggled Norah while I got back closer to normal after surgery. I was able to move my legs soon, so we got to go to our room to settle in with Norah.
The boys were waiting for us to meet their sister, so Justin went to get them and brought them in. They were so excited and it was such a sweet moment of them being in awe. Then she spit up and they burst into hysterical laughter. Boys. But they loved her at once and are still exclaiming that they can't believe we have a sister in our house.
Our hospital stay went very well. Norah passed her baby tests and met her visitors and hardly made a peep the whole time. I was in more pain this time around - maybe because it was my fourth time, maybe because of the extra fluid - nobody really knew exactly why, just that it would get better with time. I was able to eat without nausea for the first time in four c-sections, which was extremely exciting, even if I only ate hospital sandwiches.
We went home 48 hours later and have been adjusting to four kids while I heal up from my final c-section. It's been a busy week, but we are making it and doing well. Justin is working extra hard since I can't, but I am able to do a little more each day. We are all just smitten with our little girlie, and still can't believe we have a daughter. We are so thankful to God for the blessing that she is to our family.
