Caleb's Story: Scheduled C-Section

Mary and Dave · August 2009

Considering Caleb was born via a scheduled C-section, this birth story will probably be very boring, but still worth documenting.

We arrived at the hospital on July 22, 2009 at 10am, and by 10:30am I was relaxing in the ever-so-comfortable hospital bed in Labor & Delivery Triage. They hooked me up the monitors, and it turns out I was having contractions. Nothing close together, but contractions nonetheless. Luckily, there was a TV in the room, so we watched the History Channel, this helped time to pass quickly. About an hour passed, and the nurse returned to start my IV. I admit, there were two things about this whole procedure that I was scared about: The IV, and having the staples removed. The first IV attempt was a bust. I was dehydrated, so my veins were not as visible as they usually are. Nurse #1 gave up, and called in Nurse #2. Nurse #2 = FAIL. Nurse #3 gave my right hand a quick looksie, and within minutes it was in. They administered the anti-nausea meds, and in what seems like no time, a crew of nurses (including one guy that reeked of ?Yesterday?s cologne?) arrived to wheel me to the OR.

Off to the OR

I was wheeled into the hall outside of the OR and the anesthesiologist explained what was about to happen, while Dave was in the other room gearing up for battle. Once the OR was ready, they brought me in and had me sit up and hunch over so they could administer the spinal. The numbing shot didn?t hurt at all, just a little pinch, but when he attempted the spinal with the first needle, it hurt like heck. The needle ended up being too short, so he had to try again with another needle. Needle #2 = FAIL. Needle #3 = Success. Three must?ve been my lucky number that day. Once the spinal kicked in, I felt AMAZING. Dave was then allowed into the OR, and he sat right by me, holding my hand. I told him how good it felt to not be in pain. That was the first time in years that I have been pain-free. I will cherish that hour of numbness for the rest of my life.

The C-section went by so quickly. I felt no pain at all. After what seemed like minutes, the doctor said ?You?re going to feel a lot of pressure?, I knew that this meant the baby was about to be delivered. He pushed really hard on what felt like my sternum, but it still wasn?t painful. Within seconds of that ?pressure? Caleb was born (1pm on the dot). He didn?t cry right away, and I had prepared myself for there to be some silence when he was born. It seemed like 30 seconds passed, and then he let out the cutest little cry. Once he cried, WE cried. Dave had the hugest grin on his face, and said ?He is so pink! He has a ton of dark hair!? He scored 8 on both APGAR?s, weighed 8lbs, 7oz, and was 21 inches long. Once Caleb was taken care of, they brought him over so I could kiss him. Dave and I were instantly in love. Dave and Caleb went off to the nursery while I was being sewn back up.

Proud Papa

I was in recovery for an hour, and that was the longest hour ever. I just wanted to be with my baby! Once I got to my room, they brought Caleb in and we immediately tried to breastfeed. With the help of the Lactation Consultant, he nursed for about 10 minutes, then went back to sleep. Recovery went pretty smooth. I was in a lot of pain, but the nurses made sure that I was comfortable. That first night, I think I slept for maybe an hour. Caleb roomed in with us, and I didn?t want to put him in the crib, so between Dave and I, we held him the entire night. Seeing Dave hold our son made my heart grow so much. I knew that I loved Dave before, but seeing him as a daddy made that love grow by leaps and bounds. It was the most special moment.

The first time I got to hold the Little Guy

We were released from the hospital on Friday, July 24?there?s no place like home.

There you have it?Caleb Gerard birth story.