Tomorrow my sweet baby James turns 2. I love to reminisce, so even though I shared his birth story a few years ago, I thought I'd relive it and share a condensed version. (edit: I failed at condensing) My kiddos birthdays are so special to me because those days changed my life forever.
My due date with James was November 21st. Oddly enough, my due date with Daniel was also November 21st! The first 6 months of pregnancy went well, other than the awful and I mean AWFUL acid reflux and ya know...sneeze peeing. If you've had kids, you totally know what I mean.
Then I started having complications with placenta previa which landed me in the hospital twice. Once for 24 hours, and the other time for 3 nights, including having to get steroid shots to help his lungs develop in case they had to deliver him.
My doctor said that once I made it to 34 weeks I'd be in the "safe zone" for delivery, and should I start bleeding again due to the previa, they would just go ahead a deliver.
Because of the previa, I would need a c-section if the placenta didn't move. They checked every week, and every week led to disappointment. I didn't WANT a c-section. I ended up scheduled for November 17th, and by Halloween I really thought I was going to make it! (Although...that meant I wouldn't get an October baby, that was okay!)
I went to bed on November 2nd with no inkling that I would have a baby in my arms 10 hours later.
I woke up just after 4, and as soon as I got up to use the bathroom (probably for the millionth time), I felt the gush. I prayed that it was my water breaking, but alas the bleeding had returned in full force. I mean, either way I would be having James that day, but water breaking is slightly less disgusting.
I woke up Jacob to tell him we needed to go to the hospital. I knew James was fine because he was kicking away, so I called Brenda at 4:30 or so and asked her to come (from an hour and a half away) to watch Daniel. Once I knew she was coming I started packing. I don't pack bags early because that's just not how I roll. Jacob panicked because he left the good camera at work. I said we'd just take the point and shoot, but instead he drove clear to Assumption to get it. So, while he was gone, I took a shower and chilled .
Brenda arrived, and I called my mom to let her know we were going to the hospital and to pray for us.
We arrived and got checked in. I ended up in the same triage room that I was in the past two times. Did the routine stuff with the nurses, and then the doctor made rounds at 7. My doctor was out of town, so it was her associate who turned out to be awesome. He told me we'd be delivering that day, which I had figured. He kindly walked me through everything, because I was slightly nervous about being sliced open. He left and quite honestly I figured I'd be sitting there another few hours before anything happened.
Next thing I know I'm being wheeled to the OR. I just remember it being cold and bright. I was scared the spinal block wouldn't work because of my scoliosis and because it took 3 tries for an epidural to work with Daniel. The anesthesiologist was amazing and promised me it would work. And work it did!
Jacob came in and they began. I think they started at 7:58 and at 8:02 James Michael was born! 7 pounds 8 ounces. The sound of his first cry was priceless. They showed him to me and then took him to clean him up a little. I wish I could remember things more clearly, but I wasn't totally with it. I do remember feeling sick and dizzy. (I found out later I lost a ton of blood and was very close to needing a blood transfusion). But, I do remember the moment they laid him on my chest. I just wanted to snuggle him forever.
They were concerned with some fluid in his lungs, but we both were taken to the recovery room while one of the NICU nurses came down to monitor him. I did get to hold him a bit more, but then they told me that they needed to take him up to the NICU to keep an eye on him. It was heartbreaking to let him go, but it also gave me time to recover as well. I was able to call up and talk to the nurses any time day or night.
As soon as they let me get out of bed I had to get up there. I think the first time I let them push me in the wheelchair, but the second time I walked. The nurses were all impressed with my determination. I went up every few hours to nurse him. I walked from the very end of the hall, down to the elevators and down another hall to the NICU. I wasn't allowed to hold him the first time we went up so I held his little fingers.
The second time I went up was around 10:30 that night. I just had to be with my baby whether I could hold him or not. A new nurse was on duty. She said no holding still, so I sat by his side stroking him. A bit later she said we could try holding if I wanted, but if he started having problems, I'd need to lay him back down. I just sat and rocked and rocked that sweet little guy until I could hardly stay awake.
He spent about 5.5 days in the NICU and then we got to come home! And now, here we are 2 years later!
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