Birth Story Part 2

Induction Day 2 started Saturday morning around 7 am. As the morning went on the contractions got more and more intense. The midwife broke my water rather easily enough. I was expecting a tidal wave of epic proportions considering my polyhydramnios, but it wasn't as much as I thought. I had three doses of fentinyl to hold me off until it was epidural time. I should have asked for the epi about 20 minutes earlier than I did because the last set of contractions were awful. Actually getting the epi wasn't bad at all. I had a hard time understanding why women don't opt for it! Unfortunately I didn't progress much during the day -- only ending up around 5 cm dilated by 8 pm. The OB came in to check me and we made the call to consider it a failed induction and do the C-section.

I was devastated but I think I always had a feeling it would result in a C-section. I cried a little as we got ready, but I was still able to make a joke about Wes looking like an astronaut in his OR gear. As they wheeled me into the OR and I laid under the bright lights, I couldn't stop shaking. I was absolutely terrified about what was going to happen. 

They brought Wes in right before they started the procedure. He and the anesthesiology team talked with me about anything and everything to distract me from what was happening on the other side of the curtain. I felt some pressure and wondered how far along they were in the process. Soon the doc said "Dad, you ready to see your baby?" and as Wes stood up to look, I remember shouting "Don't let him -- he'll faint!" But then Wes said "Oh my God" and started crying and said "She's beautiful!" I remember the doc saying "Wow, that's a big girl!" I couldn't believe she was here, even after hearing her little baby cries. I turned my head to the side to watch them take her to the isolette to clean her off. I couldn't see all of her, but I could see all of her dark hair and her chubby limbs. I couldn't get over how big and healthy she looked. They brought her over to me and I had my lips to her face just telling her how much we love her and how happy we were she was here. Then as Daddy held her, I had to focus pretty hard on her and not the pain I was feeling as the docs put me back together. I felt more of it than I thought I would.

They wheeled me into a recovery room while Lucy got cleaned up in the nursery. Then I was transported to my post-partum room and they brought Lucy in, wearing a pink sleep gown and a pink knitted hat. When they placed her into my arms I couldn't get over how heavy she was! We tried to breastfeed but she wasn't interested in latching. I had them return her to her nursery after a bit because I was so exhausted and out of it I couldn't keep my eyes open and knew I wouldn't be able to take care of that night. I didn't know that was the last time I'd get to hold her in my arms for another 5 days.

TO BE CONTINUED.