Saturday 23rd September - 39+2 weeks pregnant
7.30 - 8.00pm
Jono gets his scrubs on, packs up our stuff to be moved into our room and I get wheeled into the prep area before going into theatre for the caesarean section. I get a bit more info about what to expect but I can't really remember what they were telling me. Once I'm in the room the anaesthetist (the same one from earlier that morning, poor guy working a double shift) pumps up my epidural. When he tested how well it had taken I could still feel down to my waist so I believe he pumped in a bit more drugs.
They started painting the disinfectant over my stomach and my partner was brought in just as they starting cutting me open - they were in such a hurry to start they didn't wait for him before picking up the scalpel!
Within a few minutes I was told I'd feel some pressure and it might feel a bit odd as bubs was so far engaged they had to dig him out. Its definitely an odd feeling when they are moving things around in there, for some reason I though the Doctor had her hands under my rib cage.
8.26pm
We hear the Doctor say "Dad, come have a look at this type" as she held him up in the air. Jono came to me and said "its a boy" and I remember saying "told you so!" I then heard the Doctor say "oh, he is weeing" and I remember thinking 'is that hygienic, I'm cut open right now!'.
They start finishing up with me and Jono goes over to bubs on the table on the side of the room. The anaesthetist told me to look over and I'd see them cleaning him up and I remember the Paediatrician saying bubs was just having a little trouble but not to worry.
It was now when the Doctor discovered my bladder had become swollen and was blocking bubs way out causing his head to swell and block my bladder - they think there was no way he was coming out with my bladder swelling and in the way so I'm thankful they got me into surgery when they did.
When he was brought over to me several minutes later the first thing he did was drop his bottom lip and start crying. I was unable to hold him (other than putting my hand up as in the photo below) as I was shivering so much I had little control over my arms and hands. I remember I kept tapping the Doctor's bottom and I had to hang my hand off the table to stop.
They whisked bubs and Jono off to special care nursery to get some skin on skin time while I was closed up and taken to recovery. I believe I had so much medication in my system and that's why I passed out before I even left theatre - although I think I remember moving onto another bed but it's very patchy for me.
I do remember being told I'd only be in recovery for 20 minutes before being taken to the Maternity ward but I was there for over an hour. I also remember the nurses kept asking me why my baby was in special care and I think I told them he had some oxygen issues but I didn't know he was in special care!
10.00pm
I remember every time I opened my eyes between passing out I would look at the clock that was right across from me so I know this is roughly when I left recovery for the maternity ward. I heard the nurse say she couldn't take me to maternity ward because I was still too sedated but they couldn't keep me in recovery so off I went. I don't remember the trip there but I do remember the ward clerk asking me if I could move onto the bed myself and I just glared at him - thankfully the midwife mentioned the caesarean I had just had.
When I came to in my room on the maternity ward the nurse was fitting me with an oxygen tube and Jono was just coming in followed by bubs. I learned that they weren't in special care nursery for a medical reason but as they don't have nursery's in hospitals anymore that's where they send partners with babies after caesarean's. I then learned from my partner that our little bub needed oxygen at first and it was about 3 minutes before he took a proper breath. He also had fluid in his lungs and needed it cleared but he coughed it up just as they were putting the tube down his throat.
We had our first feed, which was a lot harder than I thought it would be, especially as I was still so groggy and kept falling asleep. I called my sister and told her the news, told her to tell no one to call me because I was not answering as I was so groggy. Jono left just before midnight and not long after the nurse put the rails up on my bed and I slept with bub, waking when he did to attempt feeding.
Part 3 to follow - recovery and our first week
xx Emily
No comments:
Post a Comment