Our due date was June 26, with the c-section scheduled for June 21- a Friday. We had everything ready and set for Friday- the bags were mostly packed, Jeff had his work notified, and the parents had their flights scheduled for that Tuesday.
We went in for our last prenatal appointment on Tuesday, June 18th. They did an ultrasound to measure fluid and growth. My fluid had been low a few weeks before, but went back up the following week. I had been drinking tons of water in hopes my fluid would stay up, since I was considering a VBAC (but wasn't quite sure if I wanted to risk it). After the ultrasound I told Jeff I hoped the doctor wouldn't say we had to deliver sooner than Friday because I didn't feel ready and I wanted the baby to stay inside me for as long as possible. Of course, Dr. Flowers came in and announced that my fluid was low (it was a 6, and the normal range is 8-12 cm of fluid) and she didn't feel comfortable sending me home. My options were to deliver right away or get admitted to get an IV and deliver the following day after I had been pumped with fluids.
Since my parents were on a flight to Dallas as we spoke and I wanted my mom in the delivery room, we opted to deliver the following day. Jeff and I walked to L&D and I got admitted. We were giddy with excitement and nerves- laughing and calling friends and family to let them know the baby was coming sooner than expected! Things slowed down as we waited that day at the hospital to get checked in and get my IV, and get everything set. Jeff went to pick up my parents and brought my mom to the hospital while he went back home with my dad to get the hospital bags. Later that afternoon, Gwen and all of our parents came to visit. Somehow we were able to sleep that night... (I believe I took a sleeping aid to help me sleep, actually).
We woke up the next morning, and were scheduled for a c-section at noon. I was still pretty calm until about 11:30, when I realized this was really happening. As they wheeled me into the c-section room, I started to feel sick... Almost as if I was tired or uneasy and didn't want to participate in the conversations surrounding me...then as soon as I entered the OR, I became more alert. I sat up and the anesthesiologist (who I really liked) gave me the spinal block. The nurse who held me was very soothing and sweet and they all kept talking to me and asking me questions. I was very nervous about the spinal block, but I actually not remember it hurting at all. Then I layed down and a little while later the Doctor came in and started. Then soon after my mom and Jeff came in. They said later that they were surprised because they had already started the operation and had to walk past all of it. Everything went smoothly. I thought I would be more nervous during the procedure, but I actually felt great. The anesthetist at my head was a nice man who kept assuring me every 2 minutes that everything was going very well. I remember feeling a little out of breath, but they told me that was normal, and I didn't panic.
Then I heard a noise that sounded like a cry, but muffled! Then I heard it again louder, but it was gargly. Such a sweet sweet sound! They showed me the baby over the curtain very quickly, and took her to be cleaned and examined. She was beautiful! They assured me she was in great condition and Jeff and my mom went over to take pictures. She was 8 lbs and 19.5 inches long born at 12:39 pm. After what seemed like a long time, they finished sewing me up and brought Penelope over and put her on my chest, skin-to-skin. It was such a great moment, having her on my chest all warm and close and cozy. I loved her instantly.
That first day she cried a lot. I fed her every hour that afternoon and through the night. I was starting to get worried that she was colicky right from birth, but the next day she slept easier and there was a little less crying... My milk came in sometime on day 2. Now at two weeks old, she sleeps all the time and I have to wake her to feed her, and she still falls asleep while feeding. She is now 8 lbs, 12 oz, and is thriving. She has started to cry when placed flat on her back without swaddling, and also will cry a few minutes after a feeding when we place her down swaddled, probably due to a little gas. She has been a great baby so far, and I'm really hoping she keeps this up. Im still nervous about how it will be when I'm home with both girls by myself, but my parents are staying for a month, so I don't have to worry about that yet.
My recovery has been so fast- even in the hospital after the morphene wore off, I had very little pain. This second c-section went so smoothly, I'm so happy with how everything went. Also, Gwen has been a great big sister- waking up every morning asking about "baby". We're so blessed to have these two little girls, and I'm really excited about what's in store for us. I know at times it'll be hard, but I feel prepared to handle it! Check out the cuteness overload in these pics- this is so worth it!
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