EDD & Birth Story

Today is my boys' EDD.  Obviously, we didn't make it that far... but it's a good day to reflect on their birth.  We had scheduled the c-section a few weeks prior to the date and only told my parents about it ahead of time to avoid needing to call and update folks right away.  We arrived at the hospital on 1-2-11 at 9 AM for check-in.  They took us up to our room and started the paperwork.  Our doula, Kate, arrived and helped lighten the mood as I was very nervous.  The nurse I had assigned to me, Elizabeth, was great.  She was upbeat and kind.  She was able to get my IV started after only 2 attempts.  The anesthesiologist was running late for my 10:30 c-section because he was placing an epidural.  He finally showed up at 10:20 and then ordered some blood work done (because of my PIH) before he would place the spinal.  My nurse attempted to draw the blood, but due to not drinking for 12+ hours I was dehydrated and she couldn't find a vein easily.  She then called the phlebotomist in, and she drew the blood and they sent it for testing.  At this point it was after 11 and my Dr was very antsy.  She poked her head in and cracked some jokes and told us she would track down the test results so we could get "this party started."  The tests came back fine, and I was told all the risks of the spinal and told how it would be administered.  I was EXTREMELY nervous about the spinal.  Of the whole c-section surgery, that was what I was most nervous about... a needle going into my back.  I'm FINE with needles- I did all of my IVF injects except the IMs by myself and had all the blood draws- with no problems.  But the thought of a needle in my spine- YIKES!!  My hubby, doula and the Dr's helped calm my nerves.  We all walked to the elevator and went to the OR.  It was cold in there.  They had DH and my doula gown up and wait outside while they positioned me on the table.  I sat on the edge trying to curl around my enormous belly to push my lower back out enough for the spinal.  DH and my doula came in, and I clung to my hubby.  He said calming things in my ear as the Dr attempted the spinal.  The numbing shots were fine- just a small pinch.  Then he tried to place the spinal.  I felt sharp zinging pain down the left side.  He tried again- pain on the right.  They repositioned me and tried again, and again.  I was hyperventilating by this point.  Finally on the 5th attempt it was placed and I was laid down, a drape place and I was sobbing.  DH tried calming me, but I was in full-blown panic attack mode at this point.  Finally, he got through to me and I calmed down.  They tested to see if I could feel anything, and I couldn't so the surgery started.  I felt some tugging and a lot of pressure, and I heard "here they come" and "oh, he has his hand in his brother's mouth!"  and then I heard the most beautiful sound- my son crying.  My Dr held him up to the window in the drape for me to see and then he was whisked away to the warming table and the NICU nurses to be checked out.  Before I could turn back, my other son was held up to the window for me to see and then taken to the table as well.  They both had great APGAR scores at 1 and 5 minutes.  My doula and DH brought the babies to me and we did skin-to-skin which was heavenly.  Magnus tried to nurse right away, and Ragnar just cuddled on me.  After I was all sewn up, we were all wheeled to the room again and were able to get to know each other for a few hours.  Then Magnus' blood sugar took a dive, and he was sent to the NICU for observation... but that's for another post.  Here are a few pics of my babies:

Operating Room family pic

Ragnar

Magnus