Hudson's Birth Story: December 18, 2013

This is the longest poster ever, but I wanted to make sure I wrote everything down so I wouldn't forget.

Hudson's birth went very smoothly compared to Hannah's. However, everything leading up to his birth was very stressful. Two days before he was born, I was still at work trying to finish up my last project. I planned on taking that Monday off to relax, but still didn't have final approval on my gala invitation. This was very stressful on me.

That evening, Hannah came down with some kind of virus and was running fever. We took her to the doctor and were advised not to bring her up to the hospital once the baby was born.

Tuesday afternoon I went in for blood work and prep and chatted with my doctor one last time about anesthesiology. She said the two CRNA's that she wanted to use were out of town, but another doctor she liked said he would come do it. I was still so nervous about the epidural and feeling a little defeated about the whole thing.

Then the night before we received some horrible and shocking news that Brandon's uncle whom we both really admire and love, had passed away in a freak oil field accident. We were sitting at Abuelo's enjoying our last meal before the big surgery when Brandon's other uncle called with the devastating news. I was an emotional train wreck. I didn't sleep much the night before he was born.

Wednesday morning arrived and we did our best to get up and get going, but were running a little late. The hospital called and asked where we were. We rushed to drop off Hannah at school and hurried to the hospital. Brandon spilled his coffee all over himself in the car. I think he was a little nervous. And of course the one day we need to be somewhere fast, we got stuck in traffic.

We arrived at the hospital at 8:30am and got checked in. There were a lot of babies being born that day, and the birthing center was at capacity. They put us in the last room at the end of the hallway. It was fine. Very private. My nurse was awesome. She put me at ease. She put my IV in and had me fill out some final paper work and called in Dr. F to do my anesthesia consult. Dr. F was awesome. I really had a good feeling immediately about him. He was shocked to hear about my previous experience with an epidural and that his esteemed colleagues were unable to get it in. He reassured me though that everything would be fine.

Brandon got scrubbed up and we were ready to go back to the OR. I was super nervous at this point. I told my mom goodbye and that was it. No turning back.

Brandon had to sit in a chair outside the OR while they put my spinal in and prepped me. It was the longest wait of his life. Dr. F had me sit up on the the table and lean over. Then he and the resident doctor started the spinal. I was shaking all over. Partly because I was so nervous and partly because it was freezing in there. They put warm blankets over me and that helped. Then he said there will be a quick stick and a burn. Then he attempted to put the spinal in. At first I felt a pain like I did with Hannah going down my left side, but with a slight adjustment seconds later it was over and I began to feel numb. What a relief!

After that they had me lay on the table and I began to shake. My heart was racing and they were telling me just to relax. Easier said than done. After they prepped me, the brought Brandon in. He said it was the longest wait of his life. Then Dr. L came in to do begin the surgery. 

I couldn't feel a thing and then before I knew it they were holding him up over the curtain and said it was a boy! Hudson Jacob had arrived at 10:03am. They brought him over to the warmer and weighed him. He was 7lbs 7oz 21in. They the kinda wrapped him up and put him on my chest. I was a little uncomfortable holding him though. It was a little awkward and I began to feel dizzy so I think Brandon took him from me. The rest of the surgery was a little blurry. I think I might have fell asleep. Before we knew it we were in the recovery room.

I remembered my mom coming in first and holding the baby and then my dad. By the time Brandon's dad and step mom came in the room though I began to feel really hot and nauseous. I threw up several times. They said it was due to the extra pain meds they put in my spinal. I also itched all over for days because of that medicine.

During Hudson's routine newborn screenings it was discovered that his blood sugars were extremely low. They had to put a tube down his throat and pump some formula in his stomach and then check his sugars about 40 minutes later. Because they didn't want to cause him extra stress they didn't bathe him. (In fact, he didn't receive his first bath until 2 days later). I was able to breastfeed him though. From what I can remember they checked his sugars again and they had gone up so we went to our postpartum room.

Brandon and I hung out, got a little rest and just loved on our new baby. The nurses kept checking on us and pricking Hudson's heal to check his sugars. But they were still low. So they did the tube thing again. By late evening and after the third attempt to get his sugars up it was decided he needed extra help and would need to go to the NICU.

I was devastated. I couldn't believe my full term perfectly healthy 7 1/2 pound baby was going to NICU. We were scared and confused.

Our plan was that Brandon would stay home at night with Hannah and I would be up at the hospital with the baby getting help from the nurses. But without my baby I felt very alone and sad. That first night was the pits. I didn't get much sleep.

Luckily I had an awesome nurse to help me get through it. Her name was Precious and she definitely is. She was my night nurse when I had Hannah and helped me through my difficult stay with her. 

By the next morning I was determined to get my catheter out and get dressed so I could go down stairs to see my baby. I was very unhappy with my day nurse who wasn't moving fast enough. After that morning she strangely wasn't my nurse anymore. It helps to know people in high places. Ha!

We went downstairs around 9am and got to see our sweet boy. He was tired and uncomfortable and I was a mix of emotions. His NICU nurse was awesome though. She explained what she could to us and let us care for him normally as much as possible. And that's what we did for the next three days.

At first there was a lot of unknowns. They thought he could have an infection. And they treated him for one. They even put a feeding tube in his nose but never used it. In the end, I think most of what they did was protocol. Once a baby is in the NICU they have to do lots of tests to rule out stuff before they can send the baby home. But he was healthy and fine. I went home that Friday and we brought our boy home the day after. It was very strange leaving the hospital without my baby but I'm so glad it was only for one night.

I've worked on projects in the NICU but never thought I would be on the other side as a parent. It's very surreal. My heart really goes out to all the parents of sick babies. Many of the little ones in the beds around Hudson were only 2 lbs at birth. I'm changed by going through this experience. I will be forever grateful for those who took care of us while in the hospital.

I'm glad to have made it through this experience. It was a long road to get here. Now we will be moving forward with our lives and raising our two kids the best we know how. I feel extremely blessed and happy.