Micah is 2 weeks old! Birth Story (long)

Shari M.
on 11/19/09 8:13 am - Wildomar, CA
I haven't been online really. It has been a long 2 weeks. I thank God everyday for my baby boy and the fact that despite some road bumps we are both doing well.

*First few days of pics of Micah are in my profile. I have newer ones but I am afraid to download them and lose them by accident...lol So, waiting for hubby to do it. Micah was really puffy in the beginning, but has lost some of the baby fat and is not quite so heavy looking now.*

Wanna hear my birth story?? I was scheduled for a c-section for Tuesday 11/10, but on Thursday 11/5 I had my bi-weekly nst...and baby Micah had other plans. I was having contractions every 2 1/2 to 3 minutes. I had been having contractions for so long that it didn't really phase me and I was surprised they were so regular. The nurse said she had to check my cervix to see if the contractions were changing me, and I was 3cm. She said, "how does November 5th sound for a birth day?" I went outside and made a few phone calls and texts and went back in to be admitted. It was about 3pm and I had eaten a banana at 2pm, so they would not perform the c-section until my stomach was empty for 8 hours...so about 10pm. They didn't stop labor and I sat there watching TV and talking to Victor. At about 6pm the doctor checked me and I was still at 3cm...didn't surprise me because with Emma it took me forever to dilate. My contractions were uncomfortable at most, but really bearable....Especially knowing there was an end in sight. At about 9:45 they prepped me and took me in for my Spinal. The anesthesiologist tried for over 20 (painful) minutes to place the Spinal...with no success. He switched to an Epidural and I just kept saying..."please, please...make this work... I don't want a general." As much as it hurt as he hit different nerves, I wanted to be awake when Micah was born. Another 20 minutes and he got it...so I had a combined Epi/Spinal. At one point I was praying and saying..."Please God, Please God" and then he hit a nerve and I said, "*uck!" and the nurse said, "honey, I don't think those terms go together in the same sentence." I just laughed.

So, they brought Victor in and we got started. I was still coughing from the anxiety attacks and periodically they would stop surgery so I could cough and the anesthesiologist would suction my mouth. I was also shaking from the anesthesia. After awhile I was freaking out because I thought it was taking too long. The Doctors told me that they were working on cleaning up the scar tissue from my c-section with Emma...apparently it was a lot. So, then they opened the uterus and worked on getting baby out. It was really hectic. Although I hadn't really labored and Micah's head wasn't stuck in my pelvis like with Emma, apparently he was a really big boy and his butt and feet were stuck under my ribs near my lungs. I could sense the struggle in the doctors voices and feel pressure which was fine...but after several minutes, the pressure turned to pain and the anestesiologist rushed to add more medicine. Apparantly I was not numb as high as they were reaching for the baby....and it sucked so bad. I was crying. They had to use something like a forcep to pull Micah out of my ribs...and I was so worried about complications like with Emma.

A few more tugs and pulls and he came out screaming. Thank God. His apgars were 8/9. Born at 11:24. He was 10lb6oz and 22 inches long. (emma was 9lb6oz and 18 1/2 inches long) A big boy for being 11 days early. They cleaned him a bit and let me see him. He was beautiful...so red and flushed and pudgy. Victor went with him to my recovery room and they finished my surgery. I got my tubes tied so it took a bit. Then I was wheeled to recovery and joined with Victor and Micah. They checked his blood sugars and they were a little bit low, so they fed him formula. I insisted that they not use a bottle because I was determined to breast feed. (Remember with Emma she was in nicu and then I was readmitted for my c-section wounds, so being apart for 9 days we never got the latch down...and I pumped for 4 months until my supply ran out) So, they gave him formula from a medicine cup and he lapped it up like a puppy dog! His blood sugars stabilized. It took me awhile to get feeling again and then they moved us to a room. Right away Micah latched and sucked.

This time was so much different than with Emma. He was with me right away and never left my side. He latched and has been nursing like a champ ever since. The first night, he was born so late that the rest of the night was a whirl wind. He was circumcised on Friday so Friday night was rough. Then they wanted to send me home Saturday. I cried and cried with the doctor. I was so afraid to be sent home and then have all of the complications I had had with Emma. She talked to me and we decided I should go home. My mom and brother were here to help for the first week, so that was nice. Emma was awesome at first. She just wanted to kiss Micah and cover him with blankets. It was really cute. But, lately she has shown some jealousy. We have been working really hard to include her and have one on one time with her...but she has been having bad tantrums and hitting us. She is still super sweet with Micah, but probably mad at us. We are working through it.

So, in the past 2 weeks I have had a couple complications. Just as I was worried about my c-section re-opened 4 days after the surgery. I was just rolling over in bed and felt intense burning and turned to Victor and told him it happened again. He checked and said we needed to go to the ER. I balled and balled because the hospital now has a no minor policy because of the h1n1 and I was sure if they readmitted me that I wouldn't see either of my kids for days and I was freaked about that. I had only pumped a couple of feedings ahead of milk for Micah because my supply had just come in full force the day before. Victor just told me that my attitude needed to change and that I needed to concentrate on getting better and not dwelling on the worse. We spent the night in the ER and the OB on call came in and assessed things. They did a wet to dry packing and started me on some intense antibiotics, made sure Victor was comfortable changing the dressing as needed and set up for home health care to come to my house for monitoring. I was so relieved that the Dr. heard how stressed I was about being re-admitted and let me go home. I think because the wound wasn't infected like with Emma. On that front the wound is healing very well. It has been open for about 10 days and is healing super well, and never got infected, thank God. Still have to take it super easy and no lifting Emma for sure.

The other issue I had was at about the same time my incision re-opened I started having migraine type headaches. When they persisted for 3 days and were so bad I could barely function I called my perientologist who told me to go directly to the ER. She was worried about infection, and blood clots. So, we spent another night in the ER. Turns out I had Spinal migraines from the epi/spinal anesthesia. The options...suck it up for 7-10 days until they hopefully go away...or do a spinal patch where they inject blood into my spine through another Epidural. Sucky options, but I chose the migraine...as the epi spinal was so hard to get in the first time. Those headaches are finally getting better.

Life at home with the kids has been great. I Thank God everyday for our health and the fact that after all the years of ttc we have 2 beautiful and healthy children. I will never take our fertility for granted and pray daily for my friends ttc.

Thanks for reading my book. Sorry it took so long to update, but now you know why. Hope to be back to posting more soon. Shari
Photobucket Photobucket  Micah 18 months, Emma 3

Liz R.
on 11/19/09 8:33 am - Easton, PA
WOW!! What a story!! I am so glad that you are home and doing well. Micah is a beautiful boy! I hope that things continue to go well for you!

Liz
tricia M.
on 11/19/09 8:33 am - pennington, NJ
wow..what a great story...but sorry for all your complications! i have to say your daughter is really beautiful...and your son has a perfect face..what cuties!!!! congrats to your family!

i am curious...this will be my third child and i am having my tubes tied during my csection...did the recovery seem longer for you because of it?

with both my csections i had extreme...and i mean extreme migranes after my csections....did they at least give you immitrex or anything orally?

well wishing your family health and happiness...

trish

 
 

camerons_mommy
on 11/19/09 8:34 am - Superior, WI
Shari,
He is just beautiful!! What a big guy!! Sorry to hear of your complications. Sounds like things are starting to get better!!

Jackie
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amy K.
on 11/19/09 10:00 am - Riverside, CA
 Shari,
Congrats on your new baby boy. He is just precious. I am so happy for you. I am sorry about your stressful birth but and glad things are looking better!
Take Care,
Amy 
tamiissunshine
on 11/19/09 10:05 am - Halsey, OR
We had similar complications with our first C sections.  I'm glad to hear it didn't get that bad again. That's good you didn't get another infection, it sucks though that the wound had to open. At least your husband can pack the wound for you, I had to do mine myself!I had the horrible spinal headache too, they are horrible!!! It is the worst headache you can imagine. I'm sorry you had that. But you sure do have a beautiful family!!!
Tami   "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me!" Philippians 4:13
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MaYpRiL1982
on 11/19/09 10:19 am - Springfield, TN
holy moly, what a story! But Micah is really blessed to have such a strong mamma.... I don't think  I could handle all that as well as you have!

He is so precious. I love his cheeks...just want to cover them in kisses! You look great for going through what you had to get him here.

Can't wait to see more pics!

April


 

 

Spencerb52
on 11/19/09 12:34 pm
My goodness, what a long and painful/scary ordeal. I'm so glad you are healing and that Micah is healthy.

The jealousy thing is a natural response. She's just trying to find her place in the expanded family. Some one-on-one time at some point each day can do wonders. It's over fairly quickly, in my experience.

Take it as easy as you can and rest whenever the opportunity presents itself.

Congratulations!

Hugs,

Jo
DS:9 yrs old / DD:5 yrs old / DS: 1 yr old

"Life must be understood backward. But it must be lived forward." -Soren Kierkegaard-
Hollywog
on 11/19/09 12:39 pm
I'm glad to hear that over all, things are going well...you're healing, the headaches are getting better...and best of all...you've got a beautiful little boy.  I'm sure once she realizes that Micah's no threat to you loving her, Emma will settle down and not be so angry. 

Maybe it's me and my active imagination...but even though Victor said you're getting upset and thinking about it wrong re the incision re-opening...in my mind, I'm imagining what it must be like for the incision to come open and I'm cringing and crying for you for that...and that's not even getting into the worries about Micah!  I'm glad to hear there's no infection this time though.  That should speed the healing up a hundred fold.

Pop in when you can and let us know how things are going...and behave yourself and don't do any heavy lifting for a while longer!

Holly
 January 2008, 
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emily B.
on 11/19/09 12:59 pm - MO
I am glad you are home and on the mend and that baby Micah is well and healthy.
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Mom to DS 9, DD 7, DS 4 and 1 angel.
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