I'm finally getting around to writing down Olivia's birth story. I'm writing down a lot of details for me to remember, so sorry for being so long and detailed. Feel free to skip to the pictures.
I was hoping to be able to have a VBAC this time, after having a c-section with Daphne. Throughout my pregnancy, my doctor and I discussed that if I were to attempt a vaginal delivery, I would have to go into labor on my own by my due date. At my appointment just a few days before my due date, I was still not dilated at all, and we discovered that the baby was breech. So one way or another, I guess she wanted to come by c-section. At least I know now that all my babies will come by c-section. We scheduled the c-section for two days later, Thursday, the 20th of October. (Which was actually exactly 5 years to the day from when Andrew and I started dating. I thought that was cool.) We had Daphne sleep at my parents' house the night before since we had to be at the hospital at 5:30am.
As soon as we arrived, we had to fill out paperwork, then I had to change into that wretched hospital gown. I was terrified of getting the IV in, because I remember that hurt worse than anything last time. They gave me some numbing cream on my hand this time before attempting it, but it was the nurse in training that was trying to give me the IV and she couldn't find the vein in my hand. So my nurse put the IV right in my other hand instead. It didn't even hurt for a little bit. Then they had the anesthesiologist come and give me an epidural. As soon as he was finished, they came in and said that someone else was going in for a c-section before me. So I had to wait as my legs were becoming numb. I was so bugged that I had to lay there on my side not being able to move for so long before they finally took me for my c-section. Especially since the epidural made me shake so badly this time! Partly from nerves, partly from coldness, partly from the nausea and dry heaving, and partly from exhaustion having only gotten a few hours of sleep the night before. They gave me a warm blanket which helped a lot.
Finally they wheeled me down to the operating room. It's such an odd feeling being wheeled around hallways while laying in a bed. When they gave me oxygen in the operating room, my nose was completely stuffy, so it was really annoying having the oxygen blow into my stuffy nose. I kept feeling nauseous, then itchy, then freezing, then hot. I've never felt so many things so quickly before! They kept shoving new things into my IV to help me with everything that was going on. They offered me a mirror this time if I wanted to watch the operation. I didn't really feel like watching them cut me open though, so I said no. Maybe next time....we'll see. They started without me even realizing, but soon I did feel a lot of tugging. I guess they had a hard time getting her out! But soon I heard her cry, and they brought her over so I could see her. She was a beautiful baby with very dark hair! She weighed 8 lbs. 1 oz. and was 18 inches long. Just one ounce less than Daphne, but a whole inch shorter! I sure have short kids. :)
They took a while to get me all stitched up, and Andrew followed them with Olivia to take more pictures while they got her cleaned up. It really is quite entertaining just laying there while the doctors do their work and make small talk with each other. I guess it is something they do every day. Thankfully it's not something I have to go through that often! They took me back to the labor and delivery room to make sure I was stable, then finally to the recovery room. My family soon came over bringing Daphne with them to see her little sister. And Andrew's family soon followed. Unfortunately I had eaten some lunch a little while after the operation--all clear liquids--but I guess I was not ready to eat yet, and it all came back up, all over me. That part was no fun at all. But seeing Daphne with her little sister was just adorable! She was so cute with her. She immediately wanted to hold her and didn't want to let her go. She kept talking about "sister" and how much she loved her. So adorable! We had many visitors, which was lots of fun. I was so grateful that my Mom could take care of Daphne all weekend, along with my sisters, so Andrew could stay with me at the hospital. It helped beat some of the boredom of being in bed in the same room for a few days. Daphne came to visit us every day, which was nice. It was my first time being away from her for more than a few hours. I think the separation was harder on me than it was on her though. :) I was in the hospital until Sunday, then they finally let us go home.
We love our beautiful new baby, and are so grateful to be a family of four now!
