One of the dad’s is accompanying me to the growth scan today, along with another of their friend’s who is now one of mine as well! It’s getting so hot now that it’s July, and I was out of breath when I got there, but felt happy to see them! The nurse called me back to do the non-stress test before the scan. When they hooked me up, baby girl was all over the place, as per her usual routine, and my blood pressure was good. After the first few minutes the one nurse said that her heartrate wasn’t coming down from the 170s and they needed to see if she would relax before they could send me to the scan. Well, baby girl had NO desire to chill out, even though this is how she is normally, so they instructed me that because her heartrate wasn’t leveling in the time we were monitored, I would need to head across the street to the hospital to be monitored for a bit longer. 😯 So, when I returned to the waiting room to get the dad to join me in the scan, I told them what the nurse said and received a shocked look! Anyways, the scan went very well and baby girl was measuring 9 pounds 14 ounces!!! Holy moly, did this girl grow!
Over to the hospital we headed! We were put into a room after they had me check in and get a bracelet for the labor and delivery triage area. They hooked me up to a blood pressure cuff and the belly bands that monitored contractions and started watching baby’s heartrate for a bit while we waited for the doctor to pop in. Once he came in, he reassured us that baby girl’s heart rate had seemed to return to normal, but that he had to keep us for a bit longer. All the while my blood pressure started to change…I wasn’t sure if it was due to the stress of the situation, or what, but we questioned the doctor when he came back, he didn’t seem concerned, but had us hang for a bit longer. At about 6 or so he came in and said that since my blood pressure wasn’t normally this high (even though it wasn’t astronomically high), that we were going to have a baby! WHOA, what news! I thought we were going to be heading home, but man, did baby and I have other plans for our evening! Since it was a c-section that was happening no matter what, he gave us the run down and said that we would be starting surgery within an hour or two after getting me all prepped.
My husband showed up after a few minutes. He felt bad because he had McDonald’s and knew I couldn’t have any. I reassured him that he needed to eat, too, so I would enjoy the smells for now. 😋 The excitement in the room was enormous and the dad called his husband to be sure he was headed our way! Thankfully, by the time we had finished being prepped, which was mostly me being shaved and an IV put in, he made it in time to give me a hug and thank me for everything before they took my husband and I back to the operating room. They sent my husband out for a bit until they got the spinal block in for surgery, which wasn’t too fun, but the two nurses that had been helping me kept me calm and collected! I experienced what they call a ‘zing’ from a quick nick of the nerve with the epidural needle, it’s like an electric shock. It went all the way down my left leg, but when I said something, they fixed it immediately and we were smooth sailing from there! I was soon numb from the diaphragm to my toes. They put the curtain up and brought my husband back in to be at my side. I’m feeling very nervous at this point, this being the first major surgery of my life, but so ready to meet the little girl I’ve been carrying for 9 months! Doctor comes in and starts talking me through the surgery, and within a few minutes time I hear him say, she’s out and you made the right decision having her this way, she’s a big girl! And right along with him speaking was the most beautiful sound, her cries! She had good lungs on her! Welcome to the world Audrey Joan; at 9:27pm weighing in at 9 pounds 2 ounces and 20.5 inches long! As they were doing all the rest of the sewing up I had a little bout of nausea, but it passed quickly with an adjustment of the medications. They had my husband hold her after a brief hello and kisses from me to which she opened her eyes and looked into mine! Love, pure and simple, even though she wasn’t mine biologically, I’ll love her forever knowing she is in such wonderful hands! And after some time the nurses told me to give her another kiss and they wheeled her out to her dad’s. They promised to take a video so I could watch their first moments together. Then I was done being sewn up and wheeled back to recovery. I felt exhausted, I wanted to sleep for days at that point. I stayed in the recovery room for two hours, being visited by the new dad’s and baby AJ! They put her right on my chest to hold for the first time, how sweet that moment was! I wasn’t tired anymore, just so excited for the new life these guys had in their lives! Once in the new room, I rested for a bit, but then began the process of pumping the colostrum for her every 3 hours on top of the healing and everything involved with a post surgery. I saw the dad’s and baby often throughout the night and a half we stayed in the hospital. They gave me plenty of time with her, telling me that whatever I needed to feel ok was what they wanted. I even remember the moment one of the dad’s came in and laid her on my chest, he asked me if I needed anything, and then promptly made me a snack at about 2am! 😋 I only got overly emotional when my husband went home the second night and I was alone in my room, but it was never for long and I’m glad my husband and my boys, the dad’s and baby AJ, their family’s, and my best friend stopped in regularly before my stay was over. My boys were over the moon when meeting her for the first time, all taking turns holding her, I have so many pictures of that! And since I was doing so well, I asked to leave a day early when the dad’s and baby were leaving. My husband and I spent some quick moments alone with baby while the guy’s filled out the last bits of paperwork and got the car ready, which was bittersweet. Saying goodbye was difficult, but I knew it wouldn’t be forever!
It was a rough ride home, but once there I was happy! Although, to my unpleasant surprise, our air conditioner had kicked the bucket while I was in the hospital, so it was a bit stifling for about a week or so. Now this next stage is important for all the new mom’s/surro mamas out there! Pay attention to the signs your body gives you! I was told to monitor all sorts of things and come in if anything was persistent…a headache, not anything crazy, just constant, was nagging me after a few days. So, after calls with the OB, I was told to head back to the hospital. Turns out I was having some issues with postpartum preeclampsia and had to be put on a magnesium drip for 24 hours. What a crazy experience. I’m so glad I listened to my doctors and my body because this may have turned out differently. I’m also truly thankful to my husband for helping me through this crazy time in my life, and to the nurses who kept me company while I was in overnight. They were a total godsend! I was even visited by a therapy dog during that one day stay, what a sweet big puppy she was, too. Then it was over and my friend came by to wait for my official release and my husband to pick me up. I’m grateful for her coming to keep my company, especially since I met her through the dad’s! We shared snacks and laughs while watching my blood pressure come down, hahaha! When I finally went home I had to monitor my blood pressure and symptoms, but thankfully had no issues moving forward.
I received many photos and texts from the dad’s throughout the hospital stay and until now! I have continued to pump breastmilk, which came in around day 4 or so, to give to them for baby AJ. I am proud of that commitment because it was difficult to do with recovering from the c-section and all that involves, but I stuck to it and now I have very little freezer space! 🍼😅 The wonderful thing about that is that the dad’s and baby come to visit me and retrieve the milk giving me great memories with them and baby! I feel like this is the most impactful thing I have ever done in my life, and I know she is cherished beyond any measurement!
Thank you for coming along on this journey with me! Just think, it’s not over! It’s just the beginning…
