We've been home for a few days since welcoming Brooklyn into the world and life has been wonderful. I'm pretty certain that there will never be a dull moment in this house again, but we're surely loving having our 3 kids here with us. Brooklyn has been an extremely EASY baby. She sleeps all day and wakes up every 3 hours to eat. Her favorite time of the day to be awake is after her "dinner" bottle and she tends to stay awake for a good 2 hours. The only time of the day that she is fussy has been right when it's time to go to bed for the night and then she stays awake for another 2 hours when Brooks and I are ready to sleep. Oh well, everyone is adjusting. Gavin and Miles are loving having their baby sister around and have been doing so good with her. Gavin is sweet and gentle while Miles is excited and over zealous when he hears her or touches her. It's been nice having my parents here... it's almost one adult per kid-- so everyone is being tended to!!
We spent Friday afternoon enjoying lunch at our house with my parents and our friends Micah and Steph. We all hung out and played outside and just relaxed for the day since we knew Saturday was going to be a long and busy day. Here's our last picture as a family of four!
Now onto the details of the day:
3:00am- Brooks, my mom and I loaded up in the car, picked up Stephanie from her apartment, and headed to SAAD hospital.
We arrived at 4:30am and waited outside of the admissions office until 5am to be admitted for my induction. We sat with a Saudi girl named Nuff who was also being induced.
I got into my room around 5:30am and was hooked up to monitors and my IV was started around 5:45am. I started feeling sick and was mentioning that to everyone and started preparing myself for what was to come! My mom went and found a bucket just incase I needed it, but the fun didn't start until my anesthesiologist came in and was talking to me about all the risks and and explaining what was going to take place when I got my epidural. Around 6:20am I passed out during the guys talk.. I remember telling him, "wait a minute, I'll be right back"-- what can I say, that just happens to me- anytime I get an IV, have blood drawn, etc it's just what my body does. Within seconds doctors and nurses crowded our room with major concern because Brooklyn's heart rate dropped drastically when I passed out. As I was coming around I could hear my mom telling them this is just what I do, that I'm okay. I tried telling them when they did the IV, but I guess enough time had passed no one thought it was going to happen.
Once things settled down, I was being prepped for my epidural. All that meant was they put a shower cap on my head for like an hour. Ridiculous. My nurse for the day came in around 7am. We then waited and waited and waited. Around 8am my doctor came in to break my water. I was 6cm and 80% effaced. After my water was broken, my doctor told me I didn't have time to get an epidural.... ummm- I pretty much freaked out at that moment... so he expedited an anesthesiologist from downstairs (a completely different guy from the one that came in earlier in the morning) to administer the epidural. The 2nd anesthesiologist arrived at 8:15am and by 8:19am I had my epidural in place. It was easy and I did my best to stay calm and relaxed. I just didn't want to pass out again (which I did after Miles' epidural). All was well and I started feeling some tingling in my legs letting me know that the epidural was working. I was told over and over again that it would not be a 100% numbing epidural because over here, they feel it's important for you to have some understanding/feeling of what your body is doing to help get the baby out easier/faster. I didn't mind it as much since I had an 80% epidural with Miles.. never felt pain, but knew what was happening. They also did a "new" technique as I was told where you are only numb from mid back to your knees. Now that was weird. I could move my feet, bottom part of my legs, my toes- all of it. I was still okay with an 80%, new technique epidural because I was becoming numb in the area I was suppose to be numb.
8:45am- My doctor's assistant, Evelyn, came in to put the catheter in and that's when things got interesting. I was now 7cm. I mentioned to her that I felt what she was doing and it hurt. She was confused since my epidural was working and I was suppose to be numb. She continued doing her thing, but we quickly realized something wasn't right. The anesthesiologist came back in to check on things and he seemed to think all was well-- he did unplug a tube here and there and genuinely tried checking for any blocks or kinks in the tubes.
At 8:50am they started the pitocin drip to get my contractions going to see if my epidural was in fact working appropriately. If I didn't feel pain then it worked. At 9:05am my epidural machine started beeping saying it was clogged. Once again, the anesthesiologist came back into the room, requested that my machine be replaced with a new machine. At 9:17am the new machine is now beeping. Another anesthesiologist (#3) comes in to take his turn to see what's going on. He attempted to move me and see if maybe there was a blockage being caused by the position of my body. He did a few other things for another 10 minutes. However, I was continuing to feel contractions and a LOT of pressure. I tried telling Brooks over and over again that this wasn't right and I didn't feel comfortable with being able to feel as much as I could. There is a reason I want epidurals and I was quickly realizing there was a chance I might be having a close to natural delivery.
9:26am- after telling my nurse, Brooks, and my doctor's assistant that I was feeling more and more pressure, I was checked again and was 9cm. They told me to relax, it'd be another 30 minutes before I'd be ready to deliver. Within 5 minutes I was basically yelling I needed to push. Since I kinda felt like no one was taking me seriously, I made sure to make myself heard and didn't let Evelyn leave. She quickly ran out the door and yelled down the hall for my doctor to come in.
9:43am- After only 4 pushes (and embarrassing enough, a few screams).... Brooklyn arrived in this world!! She weighed 7lbs 4oz and was 20 1/2 inches.
I was given the same opportunity to bring Brooklyn into the world as I did Miles, and once again, it was an amazing experience. It's the only thing that got me through the pushing process-- knowing it was almost over when my doctor asked for my hands. I was so relieved and ready to meet her.
Once they whisked her away, Brooks stayed by her side. He was one proud daddy!
Brooklyn and Dr. Ashour.
After a half natural, half medicated delivery... I was a little out of it but was so thankful our baby girl was here. It was really surreal having a little girl and knowing she was ours.
My mom got to be there to welcome grandbaby #7 into the world. Brooks and I took our usual picture with him bringing our baby to me and giving me a kiss. Brooklyn had a head full of hair... we're loving it!
Brooklyn has looked like a little doll ever since she arrived.
Gavin came to the hospital to meet her and was just beside himself. He couldn't wait to see her and started telling us he wanted her to talk and walk. He loved giving her kisses and kept checking to see where she was the whole time. Brooklyn got Gavin a DVD and some Spiderman cars that he absolutely loved and kept telling her thank you!
My best friend Stephanie got to experience the day with us. Something we will both cherish for years to come, I'm sure.
Captain was there too and met his little grand daughter.
We enjoyed the rest of our day visiting with everyone and just watching Brooklyn. We ate dinner before sending my family and Micah and Steph home. The rest of our evening was easy and relaxing. We sent Brooklyn to the nursery through the night so we could get some sleep and they brought her back to us for her feedings.
January 28th was a great day and one we will remember for the rest of our lives!!
1 comment:
Congrats! She is so beautiful!
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