Emerson Claire-- A Birth Story

Emerson,

Our c-section was scheduled for Thursday, December 21st at 10am. I was almost certain we wouldn't make it to that date with all of the contractions and labor signs I experienced in the weeks leading up to it. However, you must have known that it would be easiest for you to join our family on your scheduled date.  Nonna and Papa came up to stay with your sisters the night before, Wednesday. I could not sleep the night before, and was up for the day at 330a.m. with thoughts racing through my mind. I hadn't really thought about all of the things that could go wrong during surgery until that night, and I began to worry and was overall just nervous and anxious to have you safely in my arms. We planned to leave the house by 6am to leave plenty of time to beat traffic and make our 8am check in. 

The ride in was strange because it was pitch black out and it felt like the middle of the night, mostly because I had been up most of the night. Daddy and I joked how it felt so different from our drive into MGH when we had Adeline- Adeline was born in April and we went in after dropping Reese off at school at 8am, so those two hours and different months made all of the difference in the world. We watched the sunrise as we drove. After driving around the parking garage for what seemed like ages, we finally made our way into the hospital. It was daylight as arrived!

Ready to have a baby!

I was instructed not to have anything to eat or drink after midnight (even water!) which was awful. I was so thirsty and used to eating soon after waking.  When we got to the hospital I told Daddy to get some coffee and something to eat because I knew it was going to be a long day and I didn't want him to pass out.  We stopped at the coffee shop inside the hospital, then made our way up Blake 14. We were early (730am), but they took us into our room pretty soon after arriving. 

All changed into my gown

Anxious and ready to get the show on the road.

Our nurse was very nice and made sure I was comfortable while waiting. She joked that my belly was small, and that if she didn't know my history of delivering big babies she would guess that you were 7lbs.  I told her that's exactly what my nurse said when I was delivering Adeline, and she came out 9lbs 1oz! Ha! I was hooked up to monitors to monitor your heartbeat and see if I was having any contractions (which I was- small ones). I wonder if you would have come on your own that day if the section wasn't scheduled.  

Lots of different people were in and out of our room- anesthesia, nurses, and a fellow doctor who brought me consent forms to sign. This doctor told me all about the risks of having a repeat c-section and given my previous surgery that things could take much longer, that I could have a lot of scar tissue etc.  Basically all worst case scenarios. As soon as she left I looked at Daddy and said, "I wasn't all that nervous until now.  Now I'm scared!". He reassured me that when my doctor, Dr. Lau would come in that she would reassure me of things going great, and he was right. Dr. Lau came into our room saying, "Who's ready to have a baby today?! We made it! The day is finally here." She was such a calming force.

Daddy was all ready! 

They took me back somewhere around 10am. As soon as I left the room and headed towards the OR without Daddy I got overwhelmed with emotion and started to cry. The nurses were all so sweet and sensitive to me. Because of my complications with Adeline Dr. Lau and team took some extra precautions. First and foremost they got me prepped for both a spinal and an epidural in case my surgery ran long. They put my legs in stirrups in case there was any issue with my bladder again, and had Urology on call. It felt so different being in the OR this time than last time.  The team took their time and walked me through every step. They gave me warm blankets and made me comfortable. It was all women in the room. The anesthesiologist was fantastic and kept me talking and calm until Daddy got into the OR. They actually started my surgery before he came in, so when he walked in he was unsure of what was going and am immediately asked me if I was ok and if everything was going ok, which it was.

READY! About to meet you!

Daddy was able to take a video of your coming out of my belly. They had asked before my surgery began if I wanted them to drop the blue curtain as you came out so I could see you, which I did! When I first laid my eyes on you it was love at first sight. I tried to touch you through the clear plastic sheet, and just saw how beautiful you were. I admired how round and perfect your little head was, and thought to myself that you didn't look big! However, I didn't say anything to anyone because I wasn't sure if it was just my vantage point, or that I had forgotten how little babies are. A few minutes after they took you over to the bassinet to check you out I heard one of the nurses say 19". 19" I thought to myself? Both of your sisters were 20.5" at birth. Next, I heard them say 7 pounds 12 ounces, and then Daddy called out to me, "Court! You did it! You made a 7lb baby!" Hahaha! We couldn't believe how little you were in comparison to your sisters. I was certain that you were going to be 9lbs, if not bigger!

Daddy cutting your cord

My little peanut! 7lbs 12oz 19" of perfection!

So strong even at birth!

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT! I couldn't believe that you were finally here! And perfect!

Getting ready to do skin to skin.

I nursed you right on the operating table, and you latched right on even though it was an awkward angle.

My surgery went wonderfully! Very routine, no complications (thank God!), no extra scar tissue etc. I kept saying to Daddy how thankful I was to have things go so well, and what a relief it was. We both were incredibly grateful. As we were wheeled out of the OR I immediately noticed that the hallway was lined with people. Come to find out they were carolers there to sing Christmas Carols! I was overwhelmed with emotion and got teary as I was wheeled to my room.

After getting to my room they continued to sing one more song. We got a nice video to remember such a special moment!

Pure bliss! Snuggling you!

We went back to our room and were able to have some time alone just the 3 of us before Nanny & Grampy came in.  Nonna and Papa brought Reese and Adeline too! Watching your big sisters lay eyes on you for the first time is a moment that I never will forget. They had been counting down the days to meet you for MONTHS! They were so excited and proud! I did not take this encounter for granted for one second after my last experience of Reese meeting Adeline. Their meeting came immediately following my learning that they had found cancer on my bladder, and holding that information to myself as I watched Nanny, Daddy, and Reesey walk through that hospital room door. Your big sisters meeting you though made up for it.  It will be forever stamped in my memory.  My three girls. My heart.  My soul. Our family is complete.

The proudest BIGGEST sister!

The proudest BIG sister!

Our first picture of our family of five! 

Later that night Papi and Kathy came in to meet you. 

Our hospital stay was pretty uneventful. My recovery this time around was like night and day from Adeline's c-section. I was up and walking that same night, and my nurses were all impressed with how well I was doing.  You were a rockstar baby. You latched on right away and we had no problems with you nursing. You passed all of your baby tests with flying colors. The nurse that did your hearing test said that you were her best patient all day, and that your exam was the quickest! Your test for jaundice came back perfect.  They like to see numbers under 10, and you were a 1.5! 

Your first bath.  You were not a fan. I wasn't surprised.  I have a smilar picture of both of your sisters crying during their first baths, too!

After your hearing test.

Daddy loves snuggling you!

Best doctor ever, Dr. Lau! She was set to deliver her second baby 6 days later! I was her last surgery before her maternity leave.

Because this was my third delivery and you and I were both doing so well, we requested to be discharged one day early to go home on Saturday, December 23rd, instead of going home on Christmas Eve. Your weight dropped to 6lbs 9oz which was on the higher end percentile-wise, and the pediatrician on call almost didn't want to let us leave, but we persisted, and after telling him that my milk wasn't in yet (it had only been less than 48 hours after you were born!), and agreeing to have a visiting nurse come do a weight check on you the next day, he agreed to discharge us.

Getting ready to go home in your gigantic size 0-3 month outfit! Mom fail- I packed no newborn clothes!

Wearing Mama's sweater that your great Nana had knit over 36 years ago!

The weather had been a bit crazy sleet/snow while we were in the hospital, and when we left it was actually raining freezing rain and everything was slushy ice.  The traffic just leaving Boston was crazy. My hormones went a bit haywire on the way home when you started crying, and I knew you were due to eat. Not to mention that I was starving and overdue for my pain meds! Daddy did a great job getting us home safely. Your big sisters were the best greeters upon our arrival, and couldn't wait to hold you again! The rest of that day you and I napped off and on in bed. We were so happy to finally have you home!

HOME.