We got to the hospital a little after our scheduled time of 9:30am (hey it takes extra time to hug your boy before you leave!) and they walked us up to the birthing center at Maple Grove Hospital. They showed us to our postpartum room, told us what would be happening and gave me a gown to change into. After we got settled the nurses came in and started to prep me. I got a few bags of fluid, some antibiotics, and an IV (in the wrist, ouch!). The anesthesiologist came in to talk to me about what would be happening, they took my vitals, and drew some blood. My c/s was scheduled for 11am and I was prepped and ready to go by 10:30. They called my doctor and got the OR ready and then were ready to go just before 11. Throughout this whole process I keep looking at the clock and saying to myself, only X amount of time until she's born!
When they came in and said everything was ready and it was time to head to the OR it was so different than last time. Last time I was wheeled to the OR sobbing the entire way. This time I walked to the OR with the nurse anesthetist and jokingly told her last time I was sobbing on the way to the OR. She said "you can cry now if you want" and I said "nope I'm ok and ready". And it was true. I walked to that OR knowing that in a short time I'd meet my little baby girl. I was 90% excited, 10% a little scared. However, I think the benefit of being wheeled into the OR while crying is that you don't have time to take in your surroundings. That 10% scared probably got bumped up a bit when I saw everything in the OR. It was a little daunting. All those bright lights, the table, the tools, etc. Yikes, a little bit freaky for sure. Luckily the nurse anesthetist was awesome and kept talking to me and I knew it was all part of the end goal of brining our baby girl into the world.
I got situated up on the table and one of the nurses grabbed my hands and I was thinking "why is she grabbing my hands?" Then I realized she was being so nice and supportive and comforting as I was alone in the OR getting my spinal block. I love labor and delivery nurses, I swear they have to be the most nurturing and soothing people around. Once the anesthesia started to hit me, they prepped my belly and the room was pretty quite while they were getting ready. I had a few too many minutes of silence to really concentrate on the affects the anesthesia was having on my breathing - which they had warned me about, thank god, but it was definitely a weird, unpleasant feeling. Thankfully I didn't have much time to focus on that as they got started and brought Joe into the room. Joe and I were pretty quite not wanting to miss the first cries of our little girl. All of a sudden we heard the most petite little cry and she was here! They held her above the curtain and we saw her tiny little body and I said "ohh she's so small!" as tears were rolling down my cheeks. How it's possible to love someone completely just by hearing their little cry is beyond me, but it is the most amazing feeling in the world. They brought her over to check her out and Joe went to be with her.
The only sucky thing was that I couldn't see any of this. With Carter they had the baby table right off to my right side, this time it was down past my feet so I couldn't see her while they washed her up and measured her, or while Joe held her little hand. Luckily the nurse anesthetist was giving me a play by play. 7lbs 10oz and 20.5 inches long and the most petite little cry I've ever heard. She scored two 9s on her APGAR tests, such a good and healthy little lady!
As soon as she was cleaned up and checked out they brought her over to me and laid her right by my head. I will never forget the feeling of her tiny little baby breath on my lips. It makes me tear up just writing about it. As I talked to Mya the nurse anesthetist said "look, she knows your voice, she's turning to you!" I was able to touch her and kiss her right away and just lay there with her little baby body right next to my head. It was so great! She was very alert and wanted to open her eyes so badly. But being in the OR it is very bright. Again the nurse anesthetist was awesome and had a little trick up her sleeves. She put a cloth above our three heads so it was shady for Mya and Mya opened her little blue-gray peepers and looked at us. So awesome! We got to sit there, the three of us, holding her and kissing her and telling her how much we love her, etc. It was awesome!
Because the OR is kept pretty cold they brought Mya back to our postpartum room as they finished putting me back together. As soon as I was all stitched up I went directly back to our room and held and fed Mya right away. I was so happy about all of this because with Carter I was stuck in a little OR recovery area for 2 solid hours before I was able to hold Carter. It sucked, but I really didn't know any better then. This time I went in armed with these questions and I knew as long as everything was ok with Mya and myself that we'd only be separated for a little bit. It was so amazing to be brought right back to the comfort of or own room and to see Joe sitting in the chair holding Mya. That's another birth day memory I know I won't forget - being wheeled into our room and immediately seeing Joe sitting there with little Mya in his arms.
We had a few hours of nurses being in the room constantly - to make sure I was ok - but the whole time I was holding and feeding Mya and falling madly in love with her. This is how they do the recovery time and it was so great. We were all together, in our room, instead of me being stuck in a little OR recovery area all alone.
Now she's two whole weeks old and I cannot imagine my life without her. (actually 2 months now, but I started this at 2 weeks) I was nervous about having two but the moment she arrived I knew my life would never be right without her in it. My friends with 2+ kids all told me this would happen but I just couldn't wrap my head around it. Hearing Mya's first little cry and I knew that everything they said was so true. Your heart doubles and your love for your second child is just as strong and fierce as the love for your first. Then the heart melting moment when Carter gave Mya a kiss, or went over and talked to her while she was crying and she stopped crying... brings tears to my eyes. I didn't know it was possible to love so completely and fiercely and then to love two like that... it's the most amazing thing.
Recovery from this c section has been so much easier. They say it is because I didn't labor and push for hours this time. I knew this could be possible all along but I definitely underestimated the toll that contractions and pushing have on your body. This time around I was up and walking like a normal person, albeit very slowly, less than 24 hours later. And I was discharged a 2 days post op, which apparently is a big deal because the doctors and nurses couldn't believe I was ready to go home so soon. This recovery is honestly 10 times easier than last time. I really had to remind myself that I had pretty major surgery and to take it easy and that just because I felt great didn't mean I could pick up and carry my 30lb dude around. They say once you overdo it, it is hard to regain control of your recovery. Luckily I had Joe home with me for a week and had my mom here for 2 weeks, and my dad for a week after that. I whole 4 weeks with help, it was amazing!
Now we're settling into our new normal with two little loves and I couldn't be a more happy mama! My big dude and little girl totally complete me and make me feel like the luckiest person ever. I love those little bugs more than words can properly express.
