Colin's Birth Story (LONG - but with pictures!)

thecuddleeffect · May 2014

On April 7^th we arrived at the hospital at 10:30 for our 12:30 c-section. Bill and my mom both came, I thought that I was going to be able to have my mom with me as well in the pre-op room, but I couldn’t. I needed her to talk me off the ledge! We waited a while to be moved into our room, once there I was instructed to change into a johnny. I had a wonderful nurse who was with me the whole day, and a junior from BC observing (turns out her roommate graduated with my sister, small world!) The resident came in and took lots of info, along with the anesthesia resident.

They weren’t sure they wanted to do the c-section because I was 36w5d. My MFM had chosen the date because of my TAC. When the ok was given by my MFM they tried 3 times to place my IV and finally places it towards the top of my hand by my wrist (not preferable if you are trying to use your hand to hold a baby). The residents said I was doing a great job at holding it together and joking with them. I had to drink this horrible stuff that makes the acid in your stomach more neutral incase you aspirate on your vomit. I still shiver when I think about it, blek. At 12:30 we walked down to the OR. I hugged Bill goodbye at the door (he couldn’t be in the OR when my spinal was being placed) and walked into the OR and promptly lost it.

The surgical resident, my MFM, a nurse, the anesthesia resident and the anesthesia lead all tried to calm me down and ask me what was most scary. My response “it’s all scary!” to which they said but what part is most scary? Me – “all the parts!”. I climbed up onto the table anyways and buried my head in the chest of the nurse while my amazing MFM (Dr. McElrath) and the surgical resident rubbed each of my shoulders and held my hand. It took them at least 5 tries to place the spinal. Basically you never want to hear “we can’t find the exact center of your spine”. I had to tell them which side I felt shooting pain down. When it was finally placed my blood pressure plummeted and they had to give me meds to bring it back up. They had to do a lot of monitoring my blood pressure during the surgery. They got me completely prepped and called Bill in at 1:00. (He said that was the longest half an hour of his life) He sat down next to me but it felt gross to turn my head, so I was facing away from him the whole time. I hear Dr. McElrath say “incision” and smelled the cauterizing. They told me I would feel pressure and I certainly did, my shoulders were killing me. They ended up making my incision larger and vacuuming him out. They pulled him out and I heard him let out his first cry at 1:07pm. Bill and I burst into tears. That was the most amazing sound I had ever heard. They told us he had a "true knot" in his cord, yikes. Bill went over to him as they finished my surgery.

first kiss!

Colin Joseph M was 6lbs 14oz 20 inches long. Bill got some pictures, but then needed to come back and sit down, he was feeling dizzy, it was all so emotional and warm in there and he hadn’t had anything to eat or drink since like 7am. They brought Colin over and I got to kiss his head and tell him how much I love him, then they whisked him away to the NICU because he was grunting (trouble breathing). Bill was escorted back to the recovery room to get some juice and crackers so he didn’t pass out, leaving me in the OR alone while they sewed me up. I was wheeled to recovery and was told I needed to be able to bend my legs and lift my bum before I could go see Colin or get to my room I would be staying in. My left leg took extra long to get its act together and I wasn’t out of recovery until around 4:30/5:00. They rolled my whole bed down to the NICU so I could finally get a look at my baby. He had the CPAP, IVs and leads all over him, but he was so so perfect.

Colin ended up spending 8 days in the NICU, he was intubated twice with two doses of steroids (surfactant). I was finally able to hold him 3 days after he was born (hardest time ever, waiting to hold your baby). After he was extubated for the second time, he was on a nasal cannula with 50% O2. He couldn’t keep his blood oxygen saturated enough. He ended up pulling his own nasal cannula out and ended up being ok without it. We left the hospital after 5 days, it was SO hard leaving the hospital without our baby (again). We traveled over an hour each way every day and spent 10+ hours in the NICU with him each day. The nurses thought he would be home on Monday (7 days) but he had trouble desating after a difficult nursing session. Finally on April 15^th he came home, the anniversary of my TAC surgery, the miracle procedure that made him a possibility. Our NICU nurses were outstanding, so understanding during my meltdowns and so good with him and taught us so much. All things considered it was as great experience, despite the circumstances. We love our little man and are so happy he is here!!

This formatting is pissing me off, so here's a block of pictures.

First time we saw him in the NICU

Nurse took pics of him being born!

First family pic!

Daddy gets to hold Colin

Little man with his nasal cannula

My first time finally holding my baby!
ETA: we also made baskets for the nurses in post pardom and then one for the nurses in the nicu. We put candy, snacks, tea, hot chocolate, hand lotion and pens in the basket. I found a cute poem for the PP nurses "we've been blessed with a sweetie and it only seems right, to share the sweetness with some treats that you'll like! Thank you for all that you do" then the one for the NICU just said "thank you for taking such good care of me, and mommy and daddy too! Love colin" Here are tiny pics of the baskets

bobcee · May 2014

Thanks for sharing. You seem to have a very positive attitude towards it all which makes me happy

. He's adorable.

bridget0117 · May 2014

I agree with what @bobcee said. You are so positive towards everything that happened, and I love that! I smiled the whole time I read this! I am extremely happy for you and your husband!

Thank you for sharing, he is such a cutie!

MRads · May 2014

I am so incredibly happy for you and your H. What a sweet little bundle of joy and a great little brother for J and Z. I can't imagine how scary delivery was for you. You are a total champ.

callitcompulsive · May 2014

What a roller coaster! I'm so happy for you and your H! And what a nice idea to make a gift basket for the nurses.

Uptowngirl2009 · May 2014

Thanks for sharing your story!

lindsayandjamie · May 2014

Thanks for sharing your story - it sounds like a crazy emotional journey I can't even imagine. Congrats again on sweet Colin!

caseyandlizzie · May 2014

What a roller coaster! I'm so happy that you finally get to hold him in your arms, and Z&J have a brother to look after. Lots of love and hugs to you guys!