I was scheduled for a c-section on Wednesday, September 21 when I would be 39 weeks. I went in to the doctor for my 37 week check up on Friday, September 9. The baby's heartbeat was great, all was well until they took my blood pressure. I had been experiencing some major swelling in the past two weeks. My face, hands, and feet were enormous (or at least to me!). The doctor had sent me for blood work the week before to check for preeclampsia, but determined that I was fine. As soon as she took my BP that morning, she said, "I think we are going to send you over to the hospital for observation. If your blood pressure and labs come back ok, then you can go home. If not, then we are probably having a baby today.". WHAT???
You know how "planned" I am and this was definitely NOT in the plans! I had my 3 year old with me because I thought it was just a routine checkup and we were supposed to be meeting my sister and her two girls for lunch for my niece, Ellie's 2nd birthday. I quickly called Jenny and she was already heading up so she came to the hospital to get Andy. Greg came over from work. I was hooked up to the fetal monitor and they were monitoring my contractions (which I was having). Throughout the day, with me staying in the bed, my blood pressure came back down to normal. I sent Greg home - he and the boys were signed up to run in the 5K sponsored by their school that night.
About 6pm, the nurse came in and said my doctor was letting me go home. I was to REST and monitor my blood pressure from home. If I experienced a whole list of symptoms, I was to come back. They asked me to let my doctor know what the blood pressure readings were on Monday.
Saturday I stayed home all day and tried to rest. However, in the back of my mind was the list of things that needed to be done before baby. I tried to get the laundry caught up. I picked out outfits for the boys for the next week, especially since picture day at school was on Tuesday. I went through their school folders and signed things, paid for plays coming up, etc. I continued to monitor my blood pressure throughout the weekend. It didn't seem to matter if I was laying down or up moving, it was staying fairly elevated for me.
Sunday, I was scheduled to sing with the worship team at our church. I got up early and went to sing. I felt fine. Greg made me lay down and rest after church. We went to the grocery, planned for the week and played with the boys.
Monday morning, I called the doctor about 9 am to report my blood pressure readings. I was supposed to watch my niece, Cora, and pick her up from pre-school at 11. At 10:50, I was walking out the door and I got a call back from my doctor. The nurse said she was calling to schedule my c-section. I said, "I already have it scheduled for next Wednesday.".
She laughed and said, "No, honey, I mean for today. When did you last have something to eat/drink?"
I told her "8:30".
She said, "Okay, then we can do your section at 4:30. Does that work for you?"
She promised to call me back shortly to tell me what time to be at the hospital. I went and got Cora. I got home and immediately sprang into action. I packed bags for Blake and Noah to go to Greg's parents house. I packed stuff for Andy to go with my sister. I had called my Mom (who was 6 hours away) and Greg's parents (who were at the lake 3 hours away). I emailed people at school to say I would not be there that week and listed all the meetings/things I needed taken care of since I would not be able. I packed my bag and got stuff together for baby. Greg came home and got things together and we literally jumped in the car. We had to be there at 3. We got in the pre-op area and I found out that my blood pressure was now 170 something over 100. It had not been anywhere NEAR that high! My anxiety was increasing. I also found out that my blood work had come back on Friday showing some antibody that could cause anemia in the baby. Rather than treating me and the baby/monitoring us constantly for the next week and a half, my doctor felt it was time for this baby to be here. We had to wait almost an hour and a half for the lab to type and cross my blood. I am O- and can only receive that blood. Since I was a repeat c-section, there is concern about bleeding/hemohrraging and they needed blood on hand.
At 5:15, they wheeled me back to the surgical room. At 5:35, they started and at 5:40, Jake was born. We did not know if he was a boy or a girl before he was delivered. The nurses kept saying it was a girl, but I kind of thought it was a boy. He was precious and MAD!! His apgars were 9 and 9 and he looked perfect!
It seemed like forever that I was on the table waiting for them to finish up and take me to recovery. It was probably 30 minutes, but they were having trouble waiting for my blood to clot. I just kept praying and asking God to let everything be ok.
Once I was back in recovery, my blood pressure took a while to come back down. They were discussing what they'd do if it didn't and it involved me going to an ante-partum unit without the baby and getting some medicine that would not be pleasant. Fortunately, my BP came down. I was able to see all three boys separately in recovery as well as my sister, my mother-in-law and Greg. Once we got in our Mother/Baby room, they brought Jake in immediately. He was so precious. His cheeks were so chubby and he looked like he had a triple chin :) I took his hat off to see how much hair he had and it was dark (like mine) and there was quite a bit of it.
My mom got there right about that time, so she was able to see him and hold him. The first night was a little rough, simply because I had just had the surgery (I am used to having the surgery in the early am so by nighttime, they aren't checking on me as much) and they had to keep examining my incision, temperature, blood pressure, etc. Between nurses and trying to feed Jake, I don't think I slept at all! I was thankful for naps throughout the next day in between guests.
The boys were enamored with him. Evidently, when Noah found out it was a boy, he smacked his forehead and said, "Oh no, another boy!". Greg said all the nurses in the nursery were laughing. They each got to come in and see him the next day. Andy and Noah wanted to hold him immediately. Blake actually waited until we came home. Andy is mesmerized by all his "baby sounds" that he makes.
They have all been really sweet with him and helpful to me. They bring me diapers, pacifier, burp cloth and want to help burp him. There have been many questions about the nursing in the beginning- but now they seem uninterested in it.
My heart is completely overflowing. I am so blessed and blown away by the fact that God has entrusted me with another child of his to nurture. I am always amazed at the capacity of my heart to love another child as much as I love my others.
Thank you so much for all of your thoughts and prayers and offers of help! We are so thankful for friends and family that surround us and who love on our kids!
Here are a few pictures from the first two weeks:
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