My eventful & surprising birth experience
Hi All! Its been a hectic week. The kids were off for spring break and break for me is partially non- existent. I've been operating in slower motion, hence the late blog post. Anyhoo! Today I'm sharing my birth experience. Its one of those 'you never know until you experience it' kind of moment. Enjoy and thanks for following. --
When I got pregnant, I was happy. I was especially thinking of my cousin who said the birth of her daughter happened in forty five minutes - from her car she barely made it to the hospital bed. I immediately thought to myself, we’re related…right!!! so the same may happen to me. To my surprise I was not up for the ‘pushing’ option. I had previously undergone a myomectomy so my OB/GYN informed me my only option would be a C-Section. I began reading up the next day, but no matter how much reading you do nothing can prepare you for the experience. Below are a few of my surprises:
I’ve been seeing my OB/GYN for nine months and on the day of my scheduled c-section surgery, she called out. The day of my phone kept ringing off the hook, I glanced at it a few times but didn't answer. By the third ring I'm thinking this person is persistent. It was the doctor who was on call, apparently mine had an emergency. Immediately I felt nervous, she re-assured me that she's a great doc and has never had any complications of lawsuits. Her exact words after was I'm free, can you come now? Oh yeah, more nervous now, take a look at these stats below.
I had my daughter at a teaching hospital, it felt more like a classroom. Peering eyes everywhere, tons of introductions the only thing missing was the blackboard.
The after pain when the drugs wore off, hurt like hell, I wasn't prepared for this much pain. Sorry 'vaginal birth' moms, but this shit was PAINFUL. All I did was press that call button all day long, it practically lived in my hand. I asked for more painkillers, my doc prescribed Motrin 500mg, NOT THE SAME!!
My breasts were engorged and so big, I felt like ‘ELSIE THE COW’. I spent a good part of the night trying to soothe them using a warm towel. I actually refused to put my daughter on and she had to get formula. After I prophesied wholeheartedly that I’m a breastfeeding mom and no bottle feeding for me. Yeah, that went out the window!
I was shaking uncontrollably during surgery and was constantly retching. The anesthesiologist said it was totally normal, it was the effects of the anesthesia. It got so bad they had to request a few warm blankets to bundle me up.
When I got home I actually missed the hospital and the bed – for four days I was being catered to and the bed perfectly positioned for maximum comfort. If I wanted my legs high or low; press a button, for my mid-section, another button, my upper body, you get what I’m saying. Transferring home to my own bed was a disaster of an adjustment. I tried using pillows to get the same effect, never mind trying to get out of bed.
I needed a blood transfusion..I was GIVEN a blood transfusion. Apparently, most times with surgery your blood count gets low. On day two I was informed by my doc mine was low. My insurance only covers a maximum of four days for C-Section. So I needed to have a transfusion right away on day two so that they can monitor my levels on day three and fingers crossed release me on day four. Thought about it long and hard, I called every medical professional I knew. I even re-assured my doc that once home I’d eat lots of iron fortified foods, that didn’t fly. You MUST leave the hospital with an acceptable level and mine was nowhere near that. So transfusion it was and I was out the next day. PHEWWWW. Eventual...YES.
How was your birth experience? Let's talk, comment below.
Don't Forget You.
xoxoxoxo
-Ruth