birth story (now with pictures)

[mpc]

My daughter, Katelyn Joy, was born on October 1. We are calling her Kate.

I was scheduled for a repeat c-section and this time I made it to my scheduled date without going into labor early. It was strange walking into the hospital knowing exactly when the baby would be coming out. There's not much of a labor story to write about. I was surprised to realize that the OR had windows with a beautiful view of the river since the other two times I was in there it was the middle of the night. I felt really crummy before and during the surgery. Maybe it was the anesthesia? I had been very congested the previous month and it got really bad laying on my back for the surgery, then all of a sudden halfway through, my nose cleared completely up and hasn't been bad since. Taking the baby out literally cured my cold, lol.

I had a "gentle c-section", which meant two things. First, they had the clear drape so i could see when the baby came out. That was neat but there's something wild and special about the first time you see your baby regardless, and I didn't find this to be any more special than previous c sections. Second, I got to do skin to skin in the OR. Actually baby stayed with me the whole time and came to the recovery room with me as well. She didn't go to the nursery until a while after that. This was really nice because previous babies we'd been separated for an hour or more. Skin to skin was also nice, but it was hard to lift my head up to look at her for long periods. But I could feel her and it really helped distract me from the work my OB was doing to finish closing me up. We didn't try to nurse until I was in recovery, but that was because she hadn't been showing any signs of looking for it right away.

The first 24 hours of recovery were great. I felt great, I could eat, I didn't have any signs of a migraine. Then I guess the stronger meds started wearing off and the second 24 hours were the worst. My second night was so rough. I alternated between freezing cold and burning up. I was sobbing. My pain was at its highest point. I stayed at the hospital for a third night, mostly because I was allowed to and I was scared of going back home where my other two kids were too. It felt overwhelming.

I had issues with my blood pressure being high a week or so after I went home. I made a post about it on MMM that maybe you saw (http://pandce.proboards.com/thread/602603/2-postpartum-ppd-bp). It turns out everything was fine, but it was really stressful for me for awhile. I took BP meds for I think 2 weeks and now I'm off them and things seem to be back to normal. I'm also taking anti-depressants for PPD. I was really struggling. I'm doing a lot better now. I don't know if it was just baby blues or true PPD, but I'm pretty convinced the meds are the only reason I'm holding it together now. This baby still, at 5 weeks old, wakes up every 2 hours overnight. I'm getting up 5 times a night. It's brutal. I keep telling myself, just make it through one more day, eventually it will get better, but god this is hard.

The older kids seem to love the baby. It's sweet. So far, we're finding having three kids to be not that bad. Really the hardest part is just the fact that she's a newborn.

Whew, that was a lot of words for a scheduled c-section! lol. Thanks for reading.

[Smurfette]

I love that you got to have skin to skin so soon! I hope you can get some good quality rest soon, I know that's easier said than done with a newborn. Congratulations!

[suzv]

Congratulations!

[cherryvalance]

Congrats!! I'm so glad I opted for a gentle csection instead of ending up with an emergency section (that was the worry if I kept laboring). Glad you had a great experience!!

ETA: obviously I'm sorry about you feeling lile crap later on, though.

[woowoo]

Congrats! Hope the rest of your recovery goes smoothly!

[turboteal]

Congrats! I hope she starts sleeping better for you soon!

[cheeseandcrackers]

Congrats! I named my Nov 1st baby Katelyn as well

[cactuscookie]

Congratulations! I love that middle picture. Fingers crossed for more sleep at night soon!

[lovesherheels]

Congratulations; she is beautiful!!

I'm so sorry you had a tough go in the beginning emotionally, and that Kate is still not sleeping well. I'll keep fingers crossed that better sleep is on the horizon soon.

[pinkalicious]

Congratulations! She’s absolutely precious!