So now that David is one year old, it’s time to blog his birth story, right?
I blogged a lot about being pregnant with David, since it was rather eventful (and yet not eventful at all, you know?). But I realized the other day that I never blogged his birth story. I wrote down Ian’s story a few months after he was born, and I want David to have the same record of his entry into this world.
So at the end of 2010, Paul and I were kinda hoping David would decide to make his appearance early. I was eager to be off of bed rest and meet my little guy, and — quite honestly — we thought it would be nice financially, since we had already met our insurance deductible. Of course, our OB kindly reminded us that even at 37 weeks a baby really needs more development for optimal nursing and breathing (you know, if you care about that kinda thing). So we waited patiently. -ish.
Cut to the weekend before my C-section — January 8 and 9. Oh joy, a snowstorm was forecast for the night before David was to be delivered. So we began the debate about whether or not to believe Nashville’s meteorologists and reserve a hotel room near the hospital so I could get there by 6am Monday. Despite feeling a bit silly for worrying too much, I decided to play it safe and plan to spend the night two blocks from the hospital. If it didn’t snow, I would feel silly. Oh, well. If it did snow, I would still be able to deliver David on time.
Paul’s parents graciously agreed to spend the night with Ian so we could go to the hotel. That was another big relief, because even if we could get to the hospital I was worried that no one would be able to get to our house to watch Ian. My parents also got a room a the hotel so they could be at the hospital with us the next day.
So with Ian safely in the care of his grandparents, Paul and I headed to downtown Nashville. We decided to make a mini-date out of it, since I had barely been out of the house for five months. We grabbed a quick bite to eat near our hotel at Cafe Coco, where we felt waaaay out of place amongst the college crowd. This was a momentous occasion, as it was at that point we decided to change David’s middle name from Alexander to Andrew. No particular reason, we just liked it better. We then headed back to the hotel to try to get some sleep before our 5am alarms.
Up until that night, I had just been relieved that David was safe and viable. But once I was so close to the operation, I started freaking out a little.
“Oh my gosh! They are going to cut me open! Again! And needles! And tubes! And aaaaaah! Why did I do this again?!”
You know, that sort of thing. Yeah, sleep did not come easily that night. However, I did eventually sleep some. And when I woke up, I saw this out the window:
We drove slooooowly to the hospital and got there for my 6am check-in. I felt like the only patient in the hospital at that point. We had to go to a cubicle-filled office area to get registered (despite pre-registering — weird), and it seemed like we were signing up for insurance or something as opposed to having a baby.
After lots of paperwork, Paul and I headed to a room where several nurses got to experience the joy of my rolling, tiny veins. I think they stuck me four times before they were able to draw blood and get an i.v. started. I was brave for those four sticks, but when they came back to draw MORE blood because they did it incorrectly the first time, I started shaking and crying. I was so embarrassed, but y’all, I don’t do needles.
After hanging out for some time in the antepartum room, during which time Paul and I participated in a loving tradition known as “distraction ourselves with our smartphones because we are really nervous,” I finally was taken to an operating room for a spinal block and surgical prep. I was still really scared and nervous, but the prep team helped me feel a lot better, as did the random soft rock playing through the room speakers.
As they were preparing my anathesia, I heard the nurses asking each other if my OB was there yet. Um, oops. I was so worried about whether or not I could get to the hospital that I didn’t think about whether my doctor could get there. They assured me he was on his way and would be there in a few minutes.
The rest of my time in the operating room was a blur. Paul came in at some point to sit with me, and of course the OB arrived. I remember asking him if his drive was okay, and I remember him double checking that I wanted a tubal ligation after the C-section. A wonderful nurse anesthetist kept me talking and sane and also kept covering me in warm blankets, which was a blessing in that freezing room. During our conversations, we discovered that we had a friend in common.
Once the c-section began, only a few minutes passed until I heard the wonderful and angry cry of my sweet David. They took him over to the isolette to begin examining him and cleaning him. Paul watched him for awhile, and then he came over to let me know about David’s birthmark. The staff pediatrician came to examine David to make sure that his spinal cord wasn’t exposed and happily found that there were no urgent issues.
And then…..THEN…..
You guys….
They wrapped up my baby and placed him on my chest.
It was beautiful. I cried. I was so happy.
I had a hand on David, and Paul supported him so that he was snuggled close to me.
That meant so much to me. With Ian’s birth, he and I had been separated for hours after the operation, and I still mourn that to this day. To be able to hold David while I was still in the operating room, while they were finishing the surgery….amazing. What a gift.
After my surgery I was wheeled back to the antepartum room, while Paul followed David to the nursery (he stayed with David the whole time to make sure he was never alone — so sweet!). After about 45 minutes David and I were both wheeled to the room that would be our home for the next few days. We got to see Grammy and Papaw, Granddaddy and Grandmamma, and Uncle Matt. Paul went home to get Ian so he could welcome his baby brother into the world. A very curious and excited Ian said hi to David and then eagerly showed me the car and bridge set that was his “big brother” gift from Grandmamma.
The hospital where I delivered encouraged lots of “skin to skin” time between baby and mommy, so we spent much of the next few days snuggled up together. Paul spent the night with us sometimes, and Grammy took some night shifts as well so Paul could go home to be with Ian.
And then on the morning of our checkout, off we went bright and early to get David’s ultrasound at Vanderbilt, this beginning the next part of our journey….
