Well, our nearly 39 week appt didn't go exactly as planned on June 29. We were expecting to go in, have the sonogram, be shocked at how big they thought she was and get our induction date for the following week. The sonogram was good. The tech estimated Gracie at 7lbs 11oz and noticed the amniotic fluid was low. When we got into see Dr. Thatcher, she entered and said "Surprise! You're going to the hospital today!"
After our jaws lifted off the ground, we headed home, got our things together, made phone calls and made final arrangements for the dogs. We arrived at Winnie Palmer Hospital around noon & we were admitted. The rest is an amazing adventure we'll never forget...
Tuesday, June 29
815am Sonogram
9am Dr Thatcher appt - found out we're going to the hospital!
10am - home to pack
Noon - arrived at Winnie Palmer Hospital
2pm - I was induced with cervidel, a drug that is time released for 12 hours.
6pm - I started having contractions
Overnight - contractions 2-4 minutes apart, but only 2cm dilated
Wednesday, June 30
7am - given medication to slow down contractions so dilation could catch up
730am - second round of cervidel given
230pm - moved to Labor & Delivery - at this point I was sure she'd arrive overnight! Stronger contractions, dilation progressing. On the right path.
7pm - thank God for epidurals!
Overnight - contractions continued & dilated to 9cm
Thursday, July 1
745am - Dr Thatcher came in to check me & I had gone backwards. Cervix was swollen & we were back to 7cm. I was not happy. She informed us that it was time to consider alternative means to the delivery - that's doctor speak for "you'll need a c-section". ARGH!!!!
After the tears, I realized that the only thing that mattered was that Gracie arrived safely. If a c-section was necessary then so be it. I thought of my motto "life's tough, but I'm tougher". Somehow it wasn't very consoling at the time. They quickly switched over the epidural medication to something that made me numb from the chest down & prepped me for surgery. I thought, surgery?!?! Wasn't planning on that this week! Here I had planned to finish cleaning the house in preparation for Gracie's arrival!
Having a c-section was not in the birth plan. In fact, I skipped that chapter in the "What to Expect when you're Expecting" book. Though I logically know that the birth plan has to be versatile, I was ok with lots of things changing, but ultimately not interested in a c-section.
About 10 years ago I had an intestinal resection due to Crohn's Disease. I had about a foot of my intestines removed and recovery was very difficult. The thought of a c-section reminded me of this hard time and something I definitely didn't want to repeat. Moreover, the thought of not holding our baby right away always tore me apart. I think this is why I never considered it for us.
Around 815am we were prepped and off to the OR! Once everyone and everything was set up, they let Jared come in. I remember being VERY cold, to the point my teeth were chattering & feeling some tugging on my stomach. I kept repeating to Jared to go with Gracie as soon as she arrived & to take lots of pictures. I didn't want to miss a moment of her first few moments of life!
Dr Thatcher asked Dr Scott, a partner at her practice, to join in on the c-section because of the intestinal resection. No one was certain as to what they'd find in there after all these years. The surgery started & after only a few short minutes, we heard Gracie cry for the first time. We both teared up and off Jared went to see her. What seemed like an eternity later, Gracie was all wrapped up like a burrito & brought over to see me! A nurse snapped a few photos of the 3 of us as a family & just moments later Jared & Gracie were off to the recovery room.
At this point, I was very out of it. The surgery was really taking a toll on me & I could barely stay awake. The anesthesiologist was asking me questions like "What color is the nursery?" just so I would say something. Still very cold and feeling like I was having some crazy out of body experience, I just laid there thinking of Jared, Gracie & the dogs - excited for our new life!
After about an hour, Dr Thatcher came around the curtain & said that she used the same incision doctors 10 years earlier created. That is a vertical incision and she explained that even so, my uterus is cut horizontally. They took out the old scar tissue & some other scar tissue inside my body.
While I was getting put back together Jared called our parents & let them know what had happened & that Gracie had arrived! A healthy baby girl!
Gracyn Paige Lamason
July 1, 2010
8:46am
20.50 inches long
7lbs 5oz
I got wheeled into recovery & finally got to really hold Gracie. I just took apart all of her blankets, counted her fingers & toes. Though I didn't know it at the time, it was the most defining moment of my life to date. There I was - with a great man and a beautiful and healthy baby girl! Seriously, what more could one ask for?
The next few days in the hospital were spent with a few visitors and mostly just Jared & I being in awe that we created a new life. And, that she was finally here! We were cleared to leave the hospital on Saturday morning & were released Saturday afternoon.
The nursing staff at Winnie Palmer Hospital is incredible. In antepartum (the first 1.5 days) the nurses were very supportive & always explained what was happening. In labor & delivery, the anesthesiologist was very nice, professional, caring and I was shocked how little getting the epidural actually hurt. Amanda, our labor & delivery nurse for the overnight shift 6.30 into 7.1 was fabulous. There was a shift change as we were going into the OR and she stayed til we got to the OR and really made us feel like she truly cared about our situation. At no point were we a number. We were always people that were being cared for by professionals that love their jobs.
Camp Lammy...
C-section = no steps. no driving. no lifting anything heavier than the baby.
For the first week we slept downstairs at Camp Lammy. Jared moved the bassinet, glider & all of our supplies so that I wouldn't have to do the steps - other than to shower of course. It was convenient that's for sure!
Recovery...
Recovery from the c-section has been a challenge. I struggle with the fact there was no "here's your baby!" big moment after delivery & that my insides hurt no matter what I do. Thinking back I'm not confident I would've had enough energy to push after more than 36 hours of laboring anyway. I just try to remember that everything happens for a reason and as long as Gracie is healthy, I'd go through as many surgeries as needed.
I went to the doctor Wednesday & got my staples removed. Since, I have been feeling better each day. Still taking it easy overall and not pushing myself. We moved back upstairs yesterday & sleeping in my own bed is incredible - even if Jared has to push me to sit me up.
Gracie went to her first pediatrician appt on Tuesday & is doing great. I was worried that she wasn't eating enough, but she is! She's very strong & nearly rolled herself over on the table during her exam. We go back on Wednesday for her second check up.
Jared has been, and is, the most amazing husband. He is handling the housework, helping with Gracie and just loves spending time with her. Being home is very different from the life I was leading at work, but different in a good way. I'm still adjusting to it, but happy I get to wake up and look at a beautiful, healthy girl each day.
All & all, things didn't go as planned - but I guess that's our life now!
Thank you so much for following along during our pregnancy & helping us welcome Gracyn into the world. I'll keep updating the blog and share lots of stories about Gracie as she grows!
Photos from Gracie's first moments:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=62698&id=1452882215&l=2208c3c899
Love,
Jared, Sara, Gracyn Paige & the hound dawgs
newborn photos courtesy of Kelly Jeck
www.kellyjeck.com
