Birth Story. Welcome, Henry George!

Henry George was born February 16th at 10:35am, weighing 8lbs 5oz and was 20.5" long.

Here is the story of how he got here.

My c-section was scheduled for 9:00am, which meant we had to be at the hospital two hours prior. We left the house at 6:15 to be sure we were early and not caught in traffic. Being President's Day, the roads were smooth sailing! Before we left, A took one last belly picture for me.

The Last Belly Picture!

We arrived by around 6:45am and were taken back quickly. We were in pre-op room #2, and our nurse started prepping me right away. I had blood draws, a nasty IV insertion that took a few tries, and lots and lots of fluids. Mostly though, we waited. 

Last picture as a family of two! 

My doctor came to see me and talk to me about the surgery to come. The anesthesiologist came and explained the spinal and how it would work. We were so close! The clock hit 8:45 and we were told "any minute now" to get the surgery started.

While we were waiting for the go-ahead to enter the operating room, we started to hear a lot of activity on the other side of the door. Pre-op rooms are attached to the ORs, so that patients can walk quickly from one area to the next. At first, A and I thought that the noise was final preparations for me.

And then the noise got more frantic. Loud voices, clinking, so much activity for a routine c-section. And then our nurse came in and told us that we'd been bumped for an emergency. So THAT explained all the sounds coming through the door. Waiting longer was nerve wracking, but it meant my mom had time to come see me in the pre-op room. A went out to get her and bring her back. While he did, I got to hear the emergency take a turn for the better - I heard the first cry of the other woman's baby. It was such a relief to hear it, and I was grateful that whoever was in there had a healthy little one despite the struggle. 

Around 10:15, it was finally my turn. I had to take a long walk around to operating room #1 (as my original room was not ready for another surgery yet after the emergency). I went in and hugged a pillow while the spinal was administered. This was the scariest part because A wasn't with me. Dads aren't allowed in the OR until the spinal is administered and mom is lying back on the table - I assume too many fainting episodes when dads see that loooooong needle! Within seconds my body started to go numb and it was truly the strangest feeling I've ever had. Your brain fires signals your body can't answer. 

In the OR, Spinal administered, waiting to start.

A came in and sat by my head, though he could see over the curtain. Originally he'd said he didn't want to look, but in the end he did. I think I would have too. As he said later, "I watched your INNARDS become your OUTARDS!" A thought both hilarious and also terrifying. 

The hardest part of the surgery itself was the fact that I couldn't feel my lungs working. You take for granted that you FEEL yourself breathe. I felt like I was unable to breathe, though monitors showed I was okay. The anxiety of that (and probably the cocktail of drugs) made me nauseous too. A few minutes in I turned to A and said, "did they start yet?" and he said they had . . . and it turns out that we were moments away from meeting Henry! 

And then, at 10:35am, just minutes after they began, Henry George entered the world with a cry. Alex caught the moment on film, and I'll share it here. I promise it's not too graphic. 

The moment of birth

Moments after birth. One of Henry's first pictures.

Henry was immediately whisked to the corner where they checked on him, making sure all was okay. They also cleaned him up some. This was a hard moment for me, as my surgery was not over yet. Now began the process of closing me up. They had briefly shown him to me, but being so short I didn't get a good look over the curtain. A was also asked to go over with the baby to take pictures, so I was left alone on the table for a few minutes. It seemed like much longer than it was. But soon, the baby was in A's arms and they were both by my head so I could look at him. 
Quickly, the surgery was over. All told it took something like twenty minutes start to finish. I was wheeled in to recovery and finally able to hold my little guy.

Family.

Brand new.

In recovery the feeling slowly came back to my torso and legs. Nausea hit as well, and I was throwing up intermittently for hours after the surgery. But everything was perfect - Henry and I both were the picture of health! 

Henry looked JUST like his 3D ultrasound.

That first day, Henry got to meet his Grandpa (A's dad) and my family - grandparents, Great PopPop, and Aunt Kel. 

It was a long, tiring, and emotional day. But we all came through it and I fell in love immediately.

We were in the hospital for four days. Finally on Thursday morning, since my recovery had gone so well, we were allowed to go home. After days in a small room, A sleeping next to a freezing window (it snowed and hit 5 degrees while we were there), we were so ready to go home and start being "normal."

Goodbye, GBMC!

 

Foxy pair

Home. Home at last.

**Bad mom alert. This post took months in the making. Things at the time were so hectic and stressful that this blog fell by the wayside! So I'm finally catching up!**

35-39 Weeks

**Bad mom alert. This post took months in the making. Things at the time were so hectic and stressful that this blog fell by the wayside! So I'm finally catching up!**



The last four weeks of my pregnancy took me from this.....

to this...

The final weeks were psychologically brutal. I tried everything I could to get my stubborn Henry to flip into the proper position. But by 36 weeks, he was NOT budging from his breech position that he seemingly had been in since conception. So after my 36 week appointment and ultrasound, it was decided that Henry would be a c-section baby. It wasn't what I wanted, but I adjusted to the idea and started making arrangements. There was something to be said for having a date and time for baby's arrival. Henry would be here on Monday, February 16th at 39 weeks and 2 days at 4pm! I told my work. I told my long term sub. I started nesting like a madwoman to get things done. I re-packed my go-bag with more c-section friendly things. 

And then at my 37 week appointment, my doctor said, "he may have flipped. This could be his head."

WHAT?

I sobbed in her office. I had wanted him to flip for so long, and he DIDN'T, and I had made peace with the c-section. Adding this now unknown element was just too much. She scheduled another ultrasound for me the next week, but I was left in limbo. WAS Henry in position to come on his own? Or was he instead just freaking out his mother who was already getting anxious waiting for him to show up?

The ultrasound at 38 weeks took forever to come. Of course in that time my c-section date (which was not cancelled in case I still needed it) moved from Monday afternoon to Thursday morning. And then Thursday afternoon. Because why make things simple? 

Finally on Thursday February 12th I had my final ultrasound. 

My boy was there, chubby cheeked and button nosed, and still frank breech with his feet snuggled up by his face. I walked into my doctor's office and she said, "well . . . do you want to have a baby on Monday?" An opening in her schedule had freed up, and so we were rescheduled YET AGAIN for President's Day, at 9:30am. We were just three short days away from meeting our little man.

It was a roller coaster, those few weeks. I cried more during that time than I think I cried any other time in my pregnancy. But knowing, finally, when it would come to an end really made me savor those last days. Yes, I was in horrible hip pain, was sleeping poorly, and was nervous. But I paid extra special attention to the kicking that you could see if you watched my belly. I rested in his nursery more, thinking about holding him in there soon. I wore my favorite maternity clothes one last time.

And I waited for the scariest, most exciting day of my whole life. 

Nursery Design!

So instead of spending a ton of money ordering fancy prints to hang in Henry's nursery, I decided to get creative myself!

I made these digitally and am having them printed at Walgreens as 8x10s. I think they will hang over his dresser. I hope they print well! Then we can just frame them and get them up on the walls asap!

I have to admit that the "no wake zone" is my favorite for how fantastically pun-y it is for a nautical nursery :)

34 Weeks!

How far along:  34 Weeks, 2 days
Maternity Clothes: Yes. Why do we wear real waistbands seriously?
Stretch marks: Yes. I just realized I have some UNDER the belly too I hadn't noticed before. Boo.
Sleep: Spotty at best.
Best moment of the Week: Meeting with some of my pregnant online friends for Sunday Brunch! I've gotten to know these girls online since June, and it was amazing to see them in person after all the laughter, tears, and support we've shared. It's also exciting to have some local new mom friends. I will say that The Cheescake Factory seemed a little confused as to how there were THAT many super pregnant ladies all together at once! 

February 2015 Moms

Also one of my students gave me this: 

High Five! You got out of bed and are prego! Way to go! Keep it Up! 

He understands the struggle. 

Miss Anything? Break. Actually I just miss moving slowly like I did over break. I am definitely more worn down than before.
Movement:I think he is still breech because of the head in ribs thing. He likes to wiggle most in the evening, or when I rest the ipad on my belly and it's playing music.
Food Cravings: Nope.
Queasy or Sick? Nope. 
Have you started to show?  Is there a question? I need to do an updated bump pic though. I haven't bothered since Christmas and I am sure I've grown.
Gender: Henry.
Labor signs: No. Today I am planning to organize his clothes in the nursery and pick some going home outfit options, though! Eeek!
Belly button in, or out? Still in. HOW? I love you, belly button.
Wedding rings on or off? Off. 
Happy or moody? Happy! 

33 Weeks

How far along:  33 Weeks
Maternity Clothes: Yes. I am also now giving in to leggings as pants.
Stretch marks: Just gorgeous.
Sleep: Achy hips, hot as hell, lots of pee breaks. Not so great.
Best moment of the Week: Losing Aunt Trudy made this week especially difficult. The shining light during this horrible week was the 3D ultrasound we had scheduled to get a sneak peek at Henry. We were able to bring my cousin Amanda, which was really nice because it gave her something positive to do instead of just thinking of her grief. We confirmed WITHOUT question he is still ALL boy, in glorious 3D. I won't share that pic with you, ha! Here are some of my favorite shots:

Cheeks! And nose! And look at that pouty lip!

Frank breech - CANNONBALL. Also kicking himself in the face....

Hugging his legs

Sucking his thumb

Miss Anything? Still not school. Monday returns. Ugh.
Movement: He is definitely wiggling all over the place.
Food Cravings: Eh. Not really. Milk, I suppose? I drink way more than I used to.
Queasy or Sick? Nope! 
Have you started to show?  Very much so. I am starting to waddle hardcore under the weight of this belly.
Gender: Henry.No question.
Labor signs: No. BUT at my last appointment my doctor was like, "yeah if you have contractions five minutes apart come in and have a baby!" WHAT? When did we hit the point where it became "yeah let's do this" and not "OH NO too early slow it down?" This is real. REAL.
Belly button in, or out? Still in. This is a valiant effort, belly button.
Wedding rings on or off? Off. 
Happy or moody? Happy but scared. So much is changing so very soon.

Loss

On December 26th, we lost a dear family member in my amazing Aunt Trudy.

Words can't express how much sorrow we all feel over this. She was a funny, smart, hard headed woman who loved this family so very much. Her children and husband are of course devastated, and it is so hard to watch them trying to cope with this.

For me personally, the hardest thing is knowing that she did not get to meet Henry. This woman loved children unlike anyone I have ever known. Babies were such a joy to her, and her excitement over Henry was palpable. She had a surgery upcoming that would have been very risky, but she said she had to live because she "had babies to hold," - mine, a cousin of mine expecting twins, and another expectant mom on her side of the family. It's devastating to know she didn't meet that goal when these babies are expected in January, February, and March.

My thoughts of consolation are this...

No longer is Aunt Trudy in pain and forced to fight against a body that made her struggle daily.

While I'm not much of a believer in God, I know she was. I hope she was right. If so, I know she would be meeting Henry now before we get him here in our arms. I'm sure if it is at all possible in this world, she'll be watching out for him.

At our shower, she gave us this hand made teddy bear crafted by her friend. It was thoughtful at the time. Now I am so very grateful to have it as a memory of her love for my growing family. We will treasure it always.

We will have to always remember to tell Henry about his Great Aunt Trudy who loved him though she never met him.

32 Weeks!

How far along:  32 Weeks
Maternity Clothes: Yes, and I love them and even some of THOSE shirts are getting a little short over the belly.
Stretch marks: Yes. Linea negra getting worse too.
Sleep: I've become a true furnace. I'm so hot I'm sleeping in cotton shorts, a tank top, and no covers. And I still wake up hot.
Best moment of the Week: Spending Christmas with my family. We are loved and very lucky. I can't wait for Henry's first Christmas next year - we already got his matching "H" stocking to go with ours. It will be really fun, too, since he'll be a 10 month old and able to at least enjoy ripping paper even though he won't know what else is going on! 
Miss Anything? Not school. Winter break is a godsend. Every day gets a little tougher on the body front, so this break is a welcome relief.
Movement: Lots. He particularly likes to shove his head (I think?) up in to my ribs on the right side.
Food Cravings: Not so much.
Queasy or Sick? Nope! PLEASE let me avoid this flu outbreak....
Have you started to show?  Yes. More and more people are getting surprised I have "so long to go."
Gender: Henry.
Labor signs: No. Hospital bag almost totally packed, though, and car seats probably getting installed next month. Oy.
Belly button in, or out? In! Shallower, but IN.
Wedding rings on or off? Off. 
Happy or moody? Happy! This kid is nearly here.