Part 4: Charlotte Rose Packard

This post is a continuation of a previous post.  To read Part 3 click HERE.

***Disclaimer: Please be aware that this post contains photos of the actual birth***

June 1st.  We arrived at the hospital a little before ten and found our way up to the maternity floor.  It was very quiet and calm and they were waiting for us when we arrived.  We got checked in and then they showed us to my room where we met the nurse who would be with me throughout the procedure.  She was very kind and went over everything that would happen in the two hours prior to the C-section to prepare both the baby and I for the delivery.  An IV was inserted, I was started on fluids and I was hooked up to a fetal monitor to track her heartbeat.  Surprisingly I was having some contractions and hadn't even realized it.  The lab came to do a blood draw and I met with the anesthesiologist to discuss the administration of a spinal block and signed a ton of papers.  Throughout all of this I was able to keep very calm.  I tried to rest as much as I could but mostly Bud and I just chatted the whole time.

Outside the hospital

 Final pregnancy picture

 Being monitored

 Bud in his HUGE scrubs

A little after noon my nurse came to escort me to the operating room.  She instructed Bud to stay in the room until I was completely prepped and then someone would come and get him.  As we walked into the operating room I remember feeling very calm.  There were nurses prepping instruments and soft music playing.  The anesthesiologist came in and administered the spinal block and then I was laid down on the operating table.  I remember lying there looking around the room and feeling so calm that it was almost like an out of body experience.  I had an overwhelming sense that I was being watched over and protected from harm and so were all of the doctors and nurses who were there with me.  Around 12:30 pm the C-section began and at 12:46 pm I heard the sound that every mother longs to hear.  This is probably one of the only times that a baby's cry can bring tears of joy to your eyes.  As soon as the umbilical cord was cut the doctor brought her around to my side of the drape so I could see her.  I couldn't believe how small she was.  He then gave her to the baby nurse who weighed her and wrapped her up before bringing her to me.  I still thought she'd be close to eight pounds and was shocked when they told me that she was only 6 lbs 15 oz.  I realize that this is a fairly average size for a baby but after giving birth to a 9 lb 8 oz baby it seemed so tiny!  I didn't get to hold her right away which was kind of hard but I was content to kiss her little face and talk to her.  She was so sweet and everything about her was so small.

After I saw her she and Bud went back to the room to wait for me.  About 10 minutes later I was taken back to my room where Bud was snuggling with her next to the window.  I was worried about not being able to hold her right after the surgery but was grateful that they were able to spend some time alone together while they waited for me.  I was excited to hold her and examine all her little features.  I couldn't believe how different she looked from Abby.  Everything about her was smaller, her mouth, her nose and her tiny little face.  She was wide awake and we just stared at each other.  Such a special time that I wouldn't trade for anything in the world.

 Our first snuggle

I was so excited to finally hold her in my arms.  It was hard to believe that I was now a mommy of two beautiful girls.  The C-section had gone perfectly and there were no complications other than I was pretty sick the first hour of recovery due to the pain medication that was in my IV.  They had to give me two different anti-nausea meds to help me feel better since the first one didn't work and I couldn't hold down my ice water and graham crackers.  Thank goodness I was still numb when that happened.  Yuck!  But as soon as the second one kicked in I felt SO much better and was finally able to eat some real food.

I was determined to have a smooth easy recovery if possible and had heard that the faster you get up and walk the quicker you heal.  I felt really good that night after the spinal block wore off and so with the help of two nurses was able to stand at the side of my bed and even walk the short distance to the bathroom to brush my teeth.  This was a really good sign to me and I felt very strongly that my recovery was going to be a much better experience this time than the first.

To be continued...