The Delivery, January 12, 2011

Well, at 37 weeks the doctor decided it was time to induce due to blood pressure issues. I had been sent to the hospital for monitoring two times during the last two weeks for it. I was very nervous about being induced as I've read that most inductions result in c-sections. I definitely did not want a c-section! That's major surgery and I want to be able to see my baby and hold him after being born.

After the initial shock of being told I was going to be induced in four days, I kind of hinted at being induced on Monday so I could deliver on Tuesday 1/11/11. That didn't fit the doctor's plans. I went to the hospital at 7 PM on the 11th and received Cervadil to prepare my cervix. Then, at 7 AM the next day they broke my water and gave me Pitocin to start my labor. After doing so, they noticed Cooper had had his first bowel movement in utero which means we were now deinitely in a time crunch! After that my contractions became very intense. The doctor immediately offered the epidural and I'll tell you that what they say about contractions and the epidural is true: You don't even care about the fear of getting a shot in your spine compared to the intense pain of contractions!

Around 9 PM on the 12th, they checked me for the last time. I was only at 5-6 cm and Cooper was ready to come. So, they decided it was time for the dreaded c-section. At that point, I just wanted to see my baby and to know he was healthy and normal. They prepped me and sent Aaron and me to the OR. As they began working, I couldn't tell what was going on because I could literally feel nothing, not even pressure. Once Aaron confirmed that Cooper had been delivered (@ 9:25 PM), I waited for the cry, but there was nothing! I asked the doctors and the nurses what was going on. "Why isn't he crying? Is he okay? This can't be normal!" No one answered and I still couldn't hear his cry. I began full-on panic mode! Aaron said the nurse behind me said to the doctor, "Doctor, I think it's time for the vitamin D." And then, I remember nothing because I was knocked out! I guess vitamin D is code for Demerol. That is exactly the c-section scenario I feared so much.

I woke up four hours later and felt like I had been hit by a train. They wheeled me to the nursery so I could see my baby boy for the first time and I'll tell you what, I fell in love instantly! He was beautiful and perfect. And Aaron with his son, I have never seen such a love! We were kept in the hospital for 6 days because I had fevers. I was so frustrated. I just wanted to go home and heal. Well, fevers were the least of my problems. The next Sunday, on the 23rd, I had to go to the ER because my incision was seriously infected! That was the worst pain imagineable, even with 4 cc's of morphine! I was like a child. I had no control over my pain, my reactions, my emotions. I was crying hysterically and screaming at the top of my lungs as the OB on-call was digging a track in my incision to drain the infection. Then, she had to pack it with gauze. I spent 4 more days in the hospital for complications. It has been 5 weeks since that terrifying ER visit and Aaron is still packing my insicion with gauze everyday.

Next time, I hope will not be such a challenging recovery, but I am so blessed to have such a caring husband and a beautiful baby boy! Knowing what I know now, I'd go through this all over again just to have Cooper in our lives.