Baby #5

Norah Snow was born June 30, 2010. She weighed 6 lbs 5 oz, and was 19 1/2 in long. She had a perfectly round head, a result of a shocking c-section.

These pics were taken the next day.

Initially, we thought she might look more like Samantha...but she is turning out to be another clone of Julie and Annie. :)

You can continue reading if interested in the birth story. If not, no big deal. I write so I won't forget.

I was desperate to have this baby early. At the time, I THOUGHT we were moving to Texas in August and my family reunion was the week before my due date. So I prayed, and I walked, and did everything I could to induce labor. On Saturday, June 26, my contractions started coming 2-3 minutes apart and they were painful. So we went to the hospital. After a few hours and still being only dilated to a 2, I was sent home, dejected and angry.

Fast forward to Monday. I was bleeding...that was weird for me. I never do that. EVER. So I called the doctor, but decided to stay put since Brian was on call that night, and I didn't want to be sent home again. The next morning I went for my normal OB appointment, and told them my story. I was now dilated to a 3, but my doctor kept telling me bleeding was normal. I kept thinking, "but it isn't normal for me."

Tuesday night I went for a walk. My contractions had been coming every 7 minutes all day long. They were painful, but not unbearable. Walking brought them every 3 minutes, and they hurt! After I got home, I took a shower and laid down on my bed. About 10 minutes later I felt a pop, stood up, and my water had obviously broken. It was about 11pm.

Then it became chaotic. We packed up the kids and drove to my brothers house. My contractions were coming so hard every 2 minutes, then faster. By the time we were at the hospital they were right on top of each other. I asked for an epidural the minute I walked in, but the dang doctor didn't show up for about 45 minutes (or so it seemed). They checked, and I was only at a 5. They put me on oxygen, and everyone was acting weird...secretive and slightly panicked. The nurse kept telling me to breathe slowly, but I felt like I was hyperventilating and could not get a breath. It was awful.

Finally the anesthesiologist came in (he looked about 16, seriously) and said he was going to give me a spinal as well as an epidural in case I needed a c-section. What?

Then the on call ob walks in and starts talking to us and Norah's low heartrate and how he was recommending a c-section. Any questions? I looked at Brian, the doctor looked at the monitor, and then he said "too late, we are going right now!" It was crazy. Brian was getting on scrubs and I was being wheeled out to the OR. I was there in 30 seconds , the drape was up, and they were going.

I was freaking out now because I didn't think I was numb. I kept saying "don't cut me! I'm not numb...I can feel it, I can feel it!" Then Brian said, "they are doing it", and I was apparently numb because I was not in pain. I did get a glimpse of my innerds on the outside of my body through the reflection of the OR light, so I quickly closed my eyes. Who needs that image?

Because they had also given me morphine, I couldn't stay awake. I vaguely remember the doctor saying they were done, and Brian bringing her over. Vaguely.

The whole thing was crazy. And while I was glad to have a healthy baby, I think it was unnecessary. Brian and I have both been angry about it. Most times I think I am fine, but then I get angry all over again. Norah's cord was not wrapped around her neck like they thought, and they weren't sure if I had placental abruption...I wasn't bleeding enough for a typical case. So no definitive, "Yes, you absolutely needed that c-section!" And that is what I wanted. What I needed to feel ok about it.

I ask a lot of "what ifs"...what if I hadn't gone for that walk? What if they had just let the epidural work for a few minutes? what if I had just said no, let's take a minute and calm down? what if I had insisted on calling my own doctor? What if, what if, what if?

But then I look at my sweet baby, and I am ok. She is perfect. Even though I am sure she would have been just as fine coming out vaginally, she is here and healthy. And at the end of the day, that is what matters.

The end. Whew! Did anyone actually read to the end of this? :)