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Feb
9
Here it is: long, kind of boring, and bereft of any of the more thrilling labor details that typically make up a good birth story — but I’m glad to have written it down so it’s not lost to my untrustworthy memory in the years to come.
:::
First of all, let me just tell you that an alarm going off at 5 AM on the morning you’re supposed to have major surgery resulting in the birth of your second child is one hell of a nerve-wracking sound. I was a nervous wreck and the fact that I was not allowed to immediately plunge my head into my usual morning feedbag (Cinnamon Life, and LOTS OF IT PLZ) was depressing, plus I had to shower with this stinky antibacterial soap that made me dwell on the fact that in a matter of hours someone’s scalpel would be hacking into my flesh.
We arrived at the hospital at 6, and were immediately ushered into a labor and delivery room and attended to by a very nice nurse, who despite her friendliness wasted no time in spiking the world’s gnarliest-looking IV into my arm. I was hooked up to some sugar/saline solution and a bag of medication (this wouldn’t normally be necessary, by the way, the drugs were for my own medical situation), a fetal monitor was strapped on my belly, and we were left to wait. And wait.
I spent nearly the entire time reading your comments and I cannot tell you how grateful I was to have them. They cheered me, distracted me, and provided lots of conversation fodder for JB and I. Thank you so much for that, guys.
We were visited by the nurses who were going to attend the surgery, and two of the doctors who would perform the surgery (trivia: the lead surgeon was one of Mike Holmgren’s daughters). Then one of the anesthesiologists came to visit, which was disconcerting because he was not only our age, but also . . . well, um . . . he was sort of cute, okay? Blue eyes, goatee, bearing mood-altering drugs — what’s not to like?
He proceeded to freak me right the hell out by covering many of the potential side effects of the surgery, including a little thing they call DEATH. I told him that I was less worried about death than I was about barfing during the operation, and he mentioned that they would try and help mitigate any nausea and also that the surgeons would keep my uterus inside my body if that was possible. “Sometimes they just have to take it out for a while,” he said, shrugging. “The manipulation can make people sick.” I nodded sagely, like I totally knew what he was talking about, while desperately trying not to picture ANY of my organs being outside of my body.
At around 12 — at which point I could have eaten a LIVE HORSE, despite the nerves — they finally brought me into the OR. The nurses had me sit on the side of a table with my surgical gown wide open in the back so the anesthesiologists could start working on the epidural. At that point all I could think about was how my ass probably looked: squashed, dimply, totally white and gross. It didn’t help that Hottie Anesthesiologist was back there murmuring in my ear about how I was going to feel something cold now, Linda, we’re just swabbing your back.
They had me bend forward over a pillow for several minutes while the anesthesiologists — there were two, Mr. Hottie and an older man with a wonderfully soothing voice; I think Hottie was interning under him — inserted the epidural. There was some discomfort, a little stinging, but overall this didn’t hurt at all. After the epidural was in, they started the meds, and I felt the familiar sensation of warmth running through my lower body. My legs began to tingle, then go dead.
The nurses helped move me onto the operating table, and someone covered my chest with a warm blanket. They neglected to cover any other part of my body, though, so when the nurses then began to get the catheter in place I realized I was completely naked and spread apart like a frog. On the table. Under the bright lights. Visible to everyone in the room.
I must have been squirming and wincing, because the older anesthesiologist asked me if I was feeling any discomfort. “Um, just MENTALLY,” I said, and earned a hearty chuckle from the room. The roomful of people next to my naked body, that is.
They got the catheter in and covered me up, and the anesthesiologists began the process of checking my progress with the medication. They would prick my upper body with a safety pin, then ask me to tell when I felt the same sharp sensation in my lower body — then they’d begin pricking my skin from around mid-thigh on up. They did the same sort of sensation test with an alcohol swab and eventually ice cubes, asking me to say when it felt cold. As the numbness crept up my body, they adjusted the drip until they were satisfied that I was in the right state, at which point they told the surgeons we were good to go.
It was at that moment that I officially began to feel very scared, partially because I was paranoid that I wasn’t a good enough judge of how well the epidural was working and oh my god what if I said the wrong thing and now I’m going to feel EVERY SINGLE CUT, etc. They brought JB in, who sat next to my head and held my hand and told me I was doing really, really good, even though my teeth were chattering like maracas.
Things seemed to be happening very fast at that point. A nurse strapped one of my arms to the table, JB held the other. Someone put a drape in front of my chest so I couldn’t see anything. The anesthesiologists told me what sorts of things I should be feeling (pressure, and weirdest of all, a cold sensation of running water that slid down my back from the inside).
The surgeons began their work. Music was playing in the background, something classical. I could feel my belly being moved around, and I could hear a wet suctioning sound. The anesthesiologists talked to themselves behind my head. I took deep, frightened breaths and JB rubbed my head until I finally told him I felt like he was Lenny and I was one of the puppies.
One of the anesthesiologists suddenly said something like, “Okay, here he comes!”. One of the surgeons peeped over the drape to tell me the baby was almost out, and asked JB if he wanted to see. “Um,” JB said, looking totally freaked out, and I whispered, “Do it!” So he did, he stood up and looked over the drape and then there was a lot of movement and the unbelievable, indescribable sound of a baby crying.
Dylan was crying in big lustful wet gasps and so was I, the tears ran straight down my face and puddled in my ears and I was sobbing and asking if he was okay and one of the anesthesiologists said he was fine, they were just taking him to be suctioned and checked on. JB stayed with me for a few moments, then he was allowed to go over to the pediatrician’s station where Dylan was being attended to.
JB was gone for a couple minutes and I craned my neck to see, while simultaneously trying not to pay too much attention to the disturbing movements happening below the drape but inside my body (I did feel some nausea but nothing too overwhelming, I credit the kindness of the anesthesiologists for helping to prevent the dreaded Operation Barf). Soon JB was back, holding Dylan close to me, and Dylan was crying and still sort of goo-covered and absolutely beautiful. A wonderful nurse offered to get our camera and she took this photo:
Soon everyone was done, they all told me I did great (I was filled with an absurd pride at this, which is so ridiculous because really, what else would they say? “You did really shitty, you big giant pussy”?) and one by one they left the room. The nurses loaded me onto a rolling table, put Dylan in my arms, and pushed me back to the L&D room, comically ramming into 1) a wall, 2) a laundry cart, and 3) a doorway on the way.
We hung out in the L&D room for a while and Dylan was bathed and poked at a bit. Hottie Anesthesiologist checked on me one more time to see how the epidural was wearing off (which was not at ALL, it took a long-ass time before I could move my legs or wiggle my toes). Eventually, we were moved downstairs to the recovery floor, whamming into the sides of the elevator and at least two doorways as we arrived.
And that’s where we stayed for the next two days, while I recuperated. (JB’s parents had arrived at our house last Friday night in order to stay with Riley while we were off producing his sibling.) The evening of the surgery I was allowed to eat, which would have been awesome if the hospital food didn’t suck so much, and I astounded everyone by easily walking around the floor at 9 PM (sadly, it would turn out this was just the magical effects of the drugs wearing off, because it was MUCH harder to walk the next day). We spent a lot of time holding Dylan, trying to sleep, and wishing mightily for an internet connection.
Now that we’ve been home for a while, I can say that recovering from this surgery was initially much better/faster than the first time and now is probably about the same. It hurts to get up, and my scar area is very tender, but I’m definitely able to get around. They tell you not to lift anything but that’s pretty hard to avoid, I’m able to lift Riley out of his highchair and I’m obviously picking up the baby all day long. They gave me a pile of Dilaudid but I’m only taking it at night, otherwise it makes me all woozy and crappy-feeling.
All in all, it went as well as I could have hoped. Easy enough procedure, not too hard of a recovery, and a perfect, perfect outcome:
Comments
143 Responses to “Dylan’s birth story”
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Seriously, so perfect.
This is the first cesarean birth story I’ve read, so thank you for sharing it.
Wow, does he have Riley’s toes?
He is pretty darn cute, and I am envious of the epidural working for you for so long…
he is beyond adorable… and man does he look like his brother!
Congrats, Linda. He is such a beautiful baby.
Congratulations. He’s so cute. And your writing is sweet and funny and wonderful.
Dylan is perfection.
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I’m glad that you are having such a swift recovery. You deserve it!
oh my goodness, dylan is so handsome. and that b&w pic is awesome…his little toes and fingers are not so tiny….they’re so long and cute!!!
thanks for sharing your birth story.
oh my ~ you are SO brave!!! I’d have passed out from that IV alone. I love what you said when they asked you if you felt any discomfort ~ Um mentally !! LOL….I SO understand that. Thank you for sharing your story with us.
Wonderful story. You’re such a great writer. As always, I hung on every word.
He’s beautiful! He doesn’t look like a newborn at all!
THE TOES!!! I want to nibble on them!!!
Look at those long, long feet, and fingers! Am I right in remembering that Riley had long newborn feet as well? I’m too lazy to look it up.
Oh, Dylan is so so cute and you look awesome! Congratulations to you and your new family of four!!
So the birth story? Made me a little queasy because I’ve never had a kid. But the last picture? Made me want to go reproduce, PRONTO.
What a great story. And that boy is so cute, adorable, and perfect all around, as is your whole family.
Congrats. So happy for you!!!!
Oh, and P.S. Those FEET ARE HUGE!!!!
What a beautiful family. Congratulations. Any way you could put a side by side pic of Dylan and Riley on the site. I would like to see the newborn resemblance. I babysat my neighbor’s 2-week old this past week and she hardly opened her eyes the entire time I was with her. I am shocked at the bright eyed pictures of Dylan you post. Is it the constant flash of the camera? :o)
(another comment from me, I just re-read the story another, oh, ten times or so): when you were lying there under the bright lights, did anyone comment on your cool belly-henna???
I am not sure that I have commented before, but apparently I have since it remembered me. First of all, you constantly crack my shit up.
Secondly, thank you for your very very candid story. For those of us who have not had a child (hi! here I am) it is great to hear stories like yours. Even if parts made me a wee bit woozy.
And finally. Your freckles are awesome.
JESUS CHRIST, ORGAN REMOVAL!? I would like to keep all of my parts in the original box, kthxbai.
I really enjoyed (is that the right word?) reading your story as I have a feeling I’ll find myself in the same situation one day (c-section b/c of medical condition). It will be nice going into it with some inkling of what may happen!
He’s so beautiful. I love his little knit cap!
The picture of JB with both boys is so sweet.
super cute green/blue/yellow hat! where did you get it? i’d love to get one for my niece that will arrive in april.
Wow…what a beautiful story! I’m so glad everything worked out the way it did. Dylan’s absolutely adorable. Good luck with the continued recovery.
Great birth story! I love the detail about your tears pooling into your ears.
Your boy has finger toes. How awesome!
Thanks for writing this… I imagine that this will be much like my second birth story will go and it’s nice to know what to anticipate.
Dylan is just fabulous and he totally looks like you, btw. :)
Ahh you had me in tears readung his birth. Congratulations to your new family.
Those are the greatest baby feet I’ve ever seen.
That’s a great story. I love how matter-of-fact you are. Dylan is adorable! And, yeah. Huge feet! Woah!
Thank you for sharing! You don’t read as many C-Section birth stories on-line it seems. Yours seems to go like I would think it would. I’ve had two people tell me their C-section stories and mention (casually, on the side, like it’s no big deal) how they were in recovery while the baby was in the nursery. WHAT?!? They had to wait HOURS to see their children!!! (Seriously, one only had a polorid picture, hadn’t even held her daughter.) Shocked me! And this was this year, not 15 years ago. You getting to keep him with you seems right, the way it should be.
Also, I love how in your last post (I’m sorry this is so long, once out of the feed reader I can’t stop!) you hit the nail on the head about being reminded about the laundry and the mess newborns make, yet how you wounder how you thought one was so hard?
Anyway, enjoy the tiny squishy stage. Oh, those cliches are true and it goes so fast!
Funny that the hottest doctors tend to be anesthesiologists – I wonder why that is?
Great to read this. I’m having a scheduled c-section on May 15th for my second son and I’m pretty nervous. Son #1 was an emergency c and I was already on some good drugs and a regular epidural before they started the process. I’m hoping if I beg enough maybe they’ll give me some Vicodin beforehand.
I have to say he’s beautiful, and also that he definitely looks more like you…I checked your flickr site to see a comparison of Riley and Dylan….so aside from the enormous hands and feet, his face looks more like you. :-) I babble a lot.
He is so cute it’s making my uterus hurt.
That first picture actually made me squeal. Good lord, he is cute!
I just LOVED reading this, thank you for sharing! Dylan is an exceptionally beautiful newborn (as was Riley). I think he looks more like you.
OOH, look at his toes!! Hee hee!! I just love him.
I can’t believe you found the time to type all of this. Are you sure they didn’t give you some freaky speed by mistake?
This was so great. Paul said, while I was reading it, “Stop wheezing and crying!”
He is REMINISCENT of Riley (most notably of Riley’s FEET), but I think he looks different overall. Brothers but not twins.
By the way, in case you’re CURIOUS about what happens if you’re NOT quite numb enough: they give you a huge dose of the kind of drugs that could lead me to wander the hospital-area streets looking for more.
His hands and feets are so big and cute!! Glad everything went well for you and bebe :)
Those are some rad toes! I loved your story (why do birth stories automatically lead to tears?). Your little boys are beautiful. Congrats! He looks like you too.
Wow, thanks for writing this… it’s the first time I’ve heard all the details of a C-section. And your writing makes it so real.
The pics are also awesome. You’ve got some cute men in your house! Dylan’s expressions are already priceless.
Oh, that black and white picture is stunning! He is such the prettiest baby-froggy-person ever:) Just look at the feet, oh.
And of course, thank you for sharing the story.
Wow, he’s a doll. Also, that story freaked me out, even without any terrible happenings. I’m really afraid of having children . . . .
Stephanie above already mentioned your freckles, and their awesomeness, which was pretty much exactly what I was going to say! Congratulations!
Wonderful wonderful story and beautiful pictures to go with it. Thanks for sharing!
As far as freckles, my freckles popped out when I had my son – we joked that I pushed so hard, I pushed them out!
Enjoy!
He’s so cute !!
Dylan is so darn cute… God makes them that way on purpose!
I had a hot blue-eyed anesthesiologist too! Maybe that’s a requirement for the degree.. makes you forget about the needle going in your back.. sorta.
Hearing a positive C-Section story like yours is actually pretty cool! Thanks for sharing it with us. Dylan is squishy and perfect (as suspected).
The timing on this entry is MORE than perfect as I was just told at our 37 week appointment (this past Tuesday) that either 1) our baby is of linebacker proportions given that I’ve grown a full 2 inches in 5 days and am now measuring past 40 weeks…OR (wait, it gets better)…they made a “mistake” as to my due date and that I’d likely be having the baby wihin a week-10 days (perhaps induced)…both options…SO comforting for a firsttimer!
SO….hearing about a GOOD and scheduled c-section….was actually pretty awesome!
congrats to everyone once again!
Linda, it sounds like things went so well and Dylan had a blessedly uneventful birth. My favorite part is the Lenny and puppies part. That, my friend, is awesome. That baby is so incredibly beautiful, and OMG his feet! I can’t get over them!
ready for another? he’s darling and will you look at the size of those feet!
I love a good birthing story and this is definitely one of them. I’ve had a vaginal delivery and a C-section and I’ll tell you that they are both nerve-wracking, crazy, and beautiful in their own way. Way to go for telling the lovely tale of Dylan’s entrance into the world!
Sundry, at the risk of sounding like a psycho, this pregnancy and Dylan’s birth have been a real candle of hope to me during my own stupid, rough phase of life I’m going through and I’m just so thrilled that you’ve shared it with your readers. Thank you. Best of luck to the four of you!
This took me right back to the birth of my own kiddo. I laughed and cried. THanks for sharing with us.
You and JB make good babies.
ok. it’s official. i am NEVER having kids. :)
I think my ovaries just exploded from looking at that gorgeous little boy.
Thanks so much for sharing. As many have said, it’s not often that we hear an uneventful (except for the baby!) and routine c-section story. You really did put us there with your telling.
He is oh-so-cute. Don’t wear the camera out! But keep showing us those lovely pictures!
What a perfect story and a perfect little boy.
Congratulations to you and your family!
color me green, with envy. seriously, i love your life, and i seriously hope for something just as delicious. if anything, what i appreciate is how you “manned up” to life. i can only hope that i can be as brave.
as i said before, you are a hero and role model. i know you’re all humble and shit, but for serious, you’re AWESOME! i apologize for my use of caps, but i can’t italicize in this bitch!
i wish you nothing but happiness, health, wealth, and love. you deserve it. despite all your suffering and angst (believe me, i understand), it has to be a refreshing and awe-inspiring feeling to know that despite all the bullshit, that yes, yesh, you can be happy.
i understand your stance on religion, but i hope that God, or whatever has caused us to be here, continues to bless you. just simply reading you has reminded me of how wonderful humanity is, and that i need to immerse myself in it. even if it is for the hilarity that we humans are…
in short, thanks….
may you always know that you’ve touched many and may you have the strength to continue… i hope you do, we need you out here… i mean us “sane” folk. i wish you many hugs (big ones!) and kisses. i don’t know you, but you know me…
one question: are you psychic?
because damn, i feel like you’re in my brain! thanks, and thanks again. oh! and congrats to you, jb, riley and dylan! iiiiiiiiiii have become comfortably nuuuuummmmb! ;-D
Good lord, that child is GORGEOUS.
Job well done, mommy. I think a c-sec must be more terrifying if it’s planned. More time to think about it that way. Mine was an emergency c-sec, and by that time (after 6 hours of labor and a baby heartbeat scare) the cutting part seemed like a piece of cake.
I had 2 c-sections and reading your’s brought back “my birth stories” I could totally relate :)
Your story sounds similar to mine only 1) what I had they called a spinal 2) It didn’t work fully even though I passed the pinch test and 3) they refused to let us bring our camera into the operating theatre. Because of the pain during surgery (that suctioning around the uterus? That shit HURTS) they put me under once I got to see my baby.
In more peppier commenting, Dylan is precious and he looks just like you!
I am now officially freaked out by what warcrygirl just said. SUCTIONING AROUND THE UTERUS. AND FEELING IT. GAH.
As for you, my friend, oh holy SHIT, I am happy for you. And Dylan is perfect and lovely and so staggeringly different from Riley, at least in terms of his appearance, that I can hardly stand it, it’s so miraculously cute. You have two! little! boys! And they are lovely.
What a handsome guy! Actually, your whole family is just beautiful. You must be so proud! And of course you did great, way to go!
The hat! The wrinkly toes! The smushy cheeks! He is SO gorgeous.
I also laughed a lot at the nurses whacking your gurney into the walls. Sorry about that.
I had a c-section after 24 HOURS! of labor. Your way with the immediate epidural sounds much better!
Beautiful and BIG hands and feet on that boy. Be glad you got pics of them — I don’t think there’s anything much cuter than newborn hands and feet. And those sweet little peaceful faces when they’re asleep. Couldn’t you just eat them up?
Oh my good God, he is the most beautiful baby!! Congrats to all of you!
Your story sounds almost exactly like my #2 C-section story – glad you’re experience was trauma free. Take care ~
I saw a bunch of babies born last year in nursing school and 9 out of 10 (both c-sec and vag births) aren’t so cute fresh out of the womb.. you seriously got 2 really cute ones.
I’m not just saying that either.. I remember newborn Riley being so cute that when you announced this pregnancy I actually thought of the odds and ‘no way can this one be as cute as Riley was’.. yet Dylan is another pretty, pretty baby!
I will chime in with the many who have thanked you for sharing so much of yourself and your family with us (and JB, thank you for stepping in with The Latest News when Linda was unable).
I have a very good friend, Midge, who reads you as religiously as I, but who is a serial lurker (even when *I* had a blog — wench!), but she and I oohed and aaahed over Dylan’s birth like we had planned your last baby shower and she commented on how consistent you are with your blog — how devoted you are by giving is first-row shouler-perch seats to your life. Midge are both delighted that everything went well, that you are all healthy, and that Dylan is clearly just perfect.
(I didn’t want to sound TOO pervy after your last set of pics, but… those lips! Perfect cupid bow. SMOOCH! And those feet, my God, Linda! They are made to be nibbled.)
Keep us posted, but take the time you need to get some well deserved rest when you can.
xoxoxo to you all, including Ashley and The Panther.
*sigh*
Because I must:
shouler = shoulder, and
“Midge *AND I* are both…”
Damn keyboard…
Wow, he is just beautiful. I love your pictures.
I can’t sleep and came out to the computer to…distract myself. So lovely to see your post as I will be going through the exact same thing in about a month from now. Second c-section and scared out of my mind. Reading your words makes me think I can make it through. Congratulations on beautiful Dylan and Riley, too. And JB. What a great family you have. Thanks for sharing your life with us, Linda.
Oh my gosh, that last photo is just total perfection. Thank you sharing your story.
Wow, I was literally making little audible whimpers of wanting another newborn, looking at that last picture. And I ALREADY HAVE A RELATIVELY SMALL BABY!
Also, that was a wonderful telling of the birth story- you are my new hero, seriously! I think that sounds far scarier than my kids’ unmedicated vaginal births! As another commenter said, I think what would make it hard would be the KNOWING and the ANTICIPATING.
But you handled it like a rock star! And look at that baby you made! (Whimpering again about the squishy baby goodness.) Mwaah! Kiss him again for me!
A belated congratulations! He is adorable! And batten down the hatches now because for some reason two boys = 100x the trouble they can get into as one. And I don’t know why I didn’t process what his birthday would be… D’s birthday was the 25th anniversary of the death of one of my friends from junior high. I’m pleased that the day now has a happy association.
@warcry The worst part of the section for me ALWAYS was the move from the table to the gurney at the end. You can’t feel anything below your bra strap and they are LIFTING YOU. I was always petrified they would drop me.
Can you believe it? Really? Less than a week ago, he was still inside your body, completely dependant on you for EVERYTHING, and now he’s out in the world, regulating his own body temp and hunger pangs?
He’s really beautiful, Linda. Thanks for sharing your birth story. I’ve had 2 csections too, so it’s all to familiar… in a good way…
Such a beautiful baby, congratulations on his birth and wow – you look awesome!
I had my second c-section this past July, birthing my fourth child (first three are triplets) and I thought the recovery was much faster. Although, I had forgotten how pain medication can cause horrible constipation. And stool softeners cause horrible gas. So, if you find yourself going that route >> just keep lots of Gas-X on hand. I’m not sure if you’re nursing or not, but I was really amazed that my nipples felt like they were being pulled right off my chest. I felt like crying every time the baby woke up hungry. I knew what I was doing, the latch, yada yada, but holy crap, it hurt like hell for a solid 3 weeks. That nipple skin is pretty darn sensitive and takes some time to break in. At least for me!!
So, how do ya do?! I’ve never leave THAT kind of first comment before!
Congrats again & best wishes!!
D looks like JB I reckon…
Thanks for sharing that mama – the more details the better…. All I remember from my emergency c-section was the nurses squeezing two bags of COLD saline into my body in about two minutes flat so they could ok the spinal, then being freezing cold, teeth chattering, and completely overwhelmed while they went in for Gi. I hope my scheduled c goes as well as yours did!
Oh my! I have been away but was thinking you should have popped that babe out by now :D HOW SWEET! Love the pictures and all of the story. Congrats!!!
Congrats on the new addition. He definitely looks like you, and would it be wrong to say just a *little* like Ed Asner? Not that I’m suggesting anything untoward.
Also, this is the first birth story I’ve ever read that receives my prestigious LMAO designation. You ask why we keep reading your blog? This is why: “JB rubbed my head until I finally told him I felt like he was Lenny and I was one of the puppies.” Pure gold.
ok I gotta ask, what did they say about the belly henna thing? I forget what it’s officially called. They had to comment on how awesome that was!
Look at those (yom yom yom) tootsies!
I’m excited to see his head of fuzzy hair! Not too much, not too little but juuust right.
I loved reading every word of Dylan’s birth story. Thank you for sharing. I’m glad you enjoyed reading comments during the waiting game…I’m sure you know we were all just going bonkers with excitement for you. I had fun reading the comments too(flickr) as they piled up because it made me realize I wasn’t the only one neglecting my own kids to refresh! refresh! refresh! to see if you’d iphon’d an update. What a woman.
Congratulations Linda! He’s gorgeous!
You have my utmost admiration for going through all that; not there was any alternative, it’s just…wow. And as for being exposed like a lab rat, I think doctors and nurses must forget how uncomfortable it is to be a patient? Like, can’t they cover up everything but the bits they are working on?
As for Dylan, I’ve never seen a cuter newborn in my life. His little face is beyond munchkin-ny goodness…and those FEET! Man, he’ll be in size 11 trainers in no time.
Thanks for sharing this story – he is very cute and you made me feel like I was there, as you always do. Too bad you didn’t get a picture of hottie doctor (i’d write anesthe…but I can’t spell that…). :)
kim
wow you are courageous!! apologies if you have explained this before, but why did you choose to have a scheduled c-section rather than trying for a vaginal birth?
guess what, i did a search and found out the answer to my question above. oop. i suppose i should have tried that before i commented but, hey. another question (that i have searched for, to no avail!) are you breastfeeding and what are your thoughts on that?
I love how nonchalant the anesthesiologist was about your uterus being outside of your body. Even it is completely nervous, as you said, it’s an organ on the outside of your body and now I’m feeling the nausea.
Anyway, Dylan is so adorable. Congratulations once again.
Steinbeck allusions under stress should earn you an honorary degree from someplace prestigious.
Oh my, he is so cute I want to reach through the laptop and give him a kiss on his sweet little nose.
You have two fine looking boys there kiddo.
That bit about your uterus being outside of yu body made me a little bit crawley all over.
glad things turned out so well! and i bet you are super relieved that you did not have to have any more of that metallic crap from last time (cannot remember what it was called..)
the second picture up there reminds me of kristen’s nolan, lol aww
I had tears and then laughed! Great birth story!!
Reminded me all over again about how with birth#1 afterwards in recovery the nurse asked if I could stand (to get into the wheelchair to take me to my room). Of course! Splat- I ended up spraddle legged on the floor (in a hospital gown and those mesh panties). She was horrified and freaking out. Me- giggling and rolling my eyes at myself. An orderly (huge NFL exlinebacker I am sure) had to come in and bear hug me to standing and then sit me in the wheelchair.
All I could do was laugh at myself.
Ok, your birth story was almost identical to my second as well, including the Holy Hell water down the back/spine thing which was the most bizarre feeling EVER!!!!!
Anyways, thanks for sharing and bringing me (and others) back to those early days of a new baby. My husband saw both of our kids come out by way of c-section and although he said it was pretty gory and may be scarred for life, he said it was something he will always be grateful he saw.
Can’t wait to see more posts, god knows you must have tons of time on your hands these days!!
He is so cute and he looks so big. Congrats!
congratulations! he is beautiful.
Just a comment on the post-op picture…I love the look in JB’s eyes! It’s like he’s thinking, “Check it out! Can you believe this shit?!” He looks incredulous and fiercely proud. (As you should be!) Congratulations!
I thought I was gonna hurl last week when I had my c-section. Once the epidural kicked into high gear I felt amazing, never felt more relaxed in my life. When my husband came in, he was a wreck! I thought HE was going to vom! I held HIS hand + told him it would be alright. When Maggie came out I thought a cat had wandered into the room. MMMMMEOW! MMMMEOW is what she sounded like.
@ least you got your catheter in after being numb. Mine got rammed in there prior to any drugs + that suckeddddd.
PS: Maggie wants to know if Dylan will be her valentine.
His little froggy legs just slay me. And are basically torture for me – I am now one day overdue and don’t feel even a twinge. The longer I go the more nervous I become.
But now I know what to expect if the natural plan doesn’t happen. Great story. Beautiful family.
wow, look at those feet! they’re long! :) what a cutie. also… do i see a suspicious look on his face in that second photo??? congratulations again!
In that first picture he looks like a tiny baby GNOME. It’s the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen.
Certainly didn’t expect tears…Dylan is gorgeous, as are you.
That had me laughing and crying and “awwwing”! Congratulations again :)
Hot damn he’s a cutie. Hot damn he’s got big feet!! Congrats!!!!
i can almost smell the fresh baby all the way here in nyc. mmm. im so glad that things went so well. i love that picture of the 3 of you in the OR. you can see the pure joy in jb’s eyes and it’s wonderful.
and i can only laugh at the bed-steering adventures. speaking from loads of personal experience (imagine doing that with 2 iv poles and their subsequent 12 or so “lines” of tubing, a portable respirator, 3 oxygen tanks, 2 large tool-box-like “transport kits” and various other necessities), driving those damn beds is sometimes impossible. one can only laugh because youre bound to crash into a thousand things no matter what you do.
congratulations on the lovely lil un. xo.
What a great story. The new family addition is just amazing. As are Mom, Dad, and Brother Riley. (He seems to be taking the upheaval really well – you’re doing a great job!)
Where did Dylan get that rockin’ handknitted hat?
Sniff, sniff… reminds me exactly of Jacob’s birth except I didn’t get sent home with DILAUDID! You got some monster awesome drugs. I got crappy Vocodin and ibuprofen. I can’t believe the details you remember… very impressive!
What a beautiful little boy. Love the little old man faces, too. Congratulations.
I held my sister’s hand through her c-section and dared to look on the other side of the drape. I am ashamed to admit that I was stunned that there wasn’t a little face waving at us when they made the incision. I had no idea they had to go digging for her.
Glad to hear you are recovering and that everyone is doing well.
Oh his squishy, wrinkly feet! Want to kiss them!
Also: sniff the newborn head smell.
And now that I’ve totally skeeved you out: Yay for healthy baby and healthy mom!
Very cool birth story, Linda. Congratulations again! It makes me look forward and dread the same thing five weeks from Tuesday as that’s when my daughter will be born.
Those are 3 gorgeous guys! Congratualtions!
Lovely story and beautiful baby. What a combo!
oh! He looks like a little cheeto! I want to crunch him. And you are crazy brave for doing this thing they call birth.
Congrats again! I am so thrilled for you all. Dylan is just an adorable little old man. Thank you for sharing your story. It made me laugh and get all warm and fuzzy at the end. So glad it all went so well for you.
It’s interesting hearing a c-section story as I’ve never experienced one. Four kids and all born vaginally. It’s interesting to hear what it’s all like the other way. It always shocks me to hear that getting an epidural didn’t hurt too bad because when I had each of mine it hurt like hell. About as bad as a really hard contraction. I wonder if my spine is not quite normal and it causes more pain for me to get one.
Ok. I’m done yammering. Keep the pics coming. :D I am so happy for you guys.
Yay for a boring, uncomplicated c-section birth story! I’m looking forward to mine with mixed feelings and it’s a relief to read a first-hand account.
I’d be very curious to see a baby picture of Riley beside one of Dylan – to me they don’t look much alike at this point, but maybe they did when compared at similar ages? Of course, I’m no great judge – I was looking at baby pictures of Grommet a couple of days ago and was astounded to see how much she had changed since she was born. If I can’t remember my own kid’s exact face from a couple of years ago (and really, I spent days just holding her and gazing at her after I brought her home), what chance do I have with another’s?
Congratulations Linda and JB! What a cutie pie, and (as many have commented already) those feet!
Damn. I had never even considered how much it would suck to barf while stuck on your back, naked, and half anesthetized. You wrote such a great description of the birthing process. I have to say it sounded much less like a beautiful part of life, and much more like living hell. This post really tugs at some of my deepest fears. Will I be a good father and husband when it’s time? Is it even something I’m meant to do? Is it possible to live your entire life without ever getting a catheter? I guess it’s something that most people manage to get through when it is thrust upon them, (parenthood, not the catheter thing) but it scares the living shit out of me. I only barely feel I can manage my own life most of the time, could I ever grow into someone capable of taking care of a family and being responsible for the entirety of their well being? Could I ever be a good enough man to carry the responsibility of raising children? You joked about the medical staff telling you that you did a good job, as if they could say anything else, but I honestly don’t know if I have the strength to face the things you have already faced. You are an excellent mother and I tip my hat to you. (not really, I’m not big on hats, but you catch my drift) And I guess JB is alright too. ;)
Congrats on a beautiful baby boy!! Is that a hint of suspicion I see on his furrowed brow?
Okay. . . shed enough tears (the happy kind) over this child. . . I’m ready for the FUNNY stuff!
Heartwarming story of birth; Congratulations! I think your son Riley looks mostly like your husband and new baby Dylan looks more like you. I enjoy your “blog” very much. Thank you for sharing your life and the best of luck to you all.
Dewd! His feet are huge!
I think I have now died of the smoosh. Such a cutie. All of you are cute!
The unvarnished truth of how the surgery happens — no one TELLS you about these things. You write so well about the reality of the situation setting in — as I was reading, I was thinking “ok, NOW is where I’d be suddenly scared shitless….”
Such a heartwarming birth story. Thanks for sharing. Dylan is absolutely beautiful – not like any of you guys aren’t though!
Congratulations, he is absolutely beautiful! You did a great job, which was never in doubt!
Look at those FEET! So freaking adorable!!
What a great birth story. And I love that teeny knitted hat; hats + babies = my heart-melting weakness.
I absolutely adore that last picture. I just want to rub those soft baby cheeks and smell that sweet baby smell. He is precious. Congrats!
Love the last picture, so cute!
What delicious monkey paws and feeties he has!
What a cutie! I’m loving those long fingers & toes. I’m glad your recovery is going so well!
He is so sweet. I love that last shot.
He’s so beautiful! I would bet that despite the discomfort, you are truly on cloud nine. I completely forgot about the teeth chattering. Why does an epidural do that, I wonder?
He is just beautiful! I love the B&W picture.
Absolutely beautiful! Thanks for sharing your story with us.
You know how people always SAY a newborn is beautiful, even when they don’t really think he is? Except yours really IS that beautiful, and no one is just saying it. He’s awesome.
What a great c-section story – brings back memories of all four of mine. On at least two of mine, the anesthesiologist wiped my tears for me so they didn’t pool up in my ears (silly DH was too busy watching the surgery to attend to his wife), and yes they absolutely do take your parts out and mess with them, then put them back (to check to make sure they don’t forget part of the placenta, which would be BAD). I always ended up shivering for hours afterward because taking your organs out is a good way to cool you off quickly (useful to know if one ever gets hyperthermic in an or, kwim?).
Anyway, that is one cute squooshy baby. Almost makes me regret my tubal. Almost.
I’m so happy that I’ve finally got the inside info on a Caesaran birth, however I am now convinced that there just isn’t less painful alternative to giving birth. I am childless at the moment and scared shitless to stop taking the pill. My clock is seriously ticking, but I’m terrified of the one million consequenses of not only giving birth but also what it will do to the relationship between my husband and I. I am so perplexed..
Oh my uterus is aching! I have a 10 month old, and my husband and I are doing the “should we try again?” dance. The fact that you cried at the second birth makes me feel squishy inside. I was worried that the second birth wouldn’t be as special. I love your blog, the fact that you update it so frequently is orgasmic! But anyway, thank you for putting humor into parenthood. “We’re never gonna survive, unless we get a little crazy.”
He is so cute! Love the black and white photo.
I’ve only been reading your blog for about a month, but am thoroughly enjoying it. I’m having my second bambino in early July so the timing of finding you is perfect!
Enjoy your new little bundle!
I can’t wait to hear your stories of having 2!
He’s beautiful and perfect and your family just oozes happiness and joy. I couldn’t be happier for you four.
So glad that everything went as planned and that Dylan and you are safe and sound and healthy! Welcome to the world, little one, and you’ve got a wonderful mommy (and family)!
I have never had children before and seriously, your story makes me not want to.
I typically pass out every time there’s a syringe NEAR me. I don’t know if I could do all of that, Linda. You realize you’re like an incredible action hero to me for putting up with all that stuff!
I had to put my head between my legs and walk away from the computer and lie down for awhile, you’re a little TOO GOOD with words woman.
BUT then, the pictures… I see your beautiful boy with his chimpanzee feet that I would love to monch on and I think, “Well, if that’s the final product…maybe I could”.
Incredible.
Great story. That last picture just made my overies ACHE! If I get knocked up, I blame you. (and will eventually thank you.)
i love the first photo. he’s gorgeous. can’t wait to see more!
YAY for a great birth. I ‘m so happy for you. I also had 2 c-sections, and when I had my 2nd, my OB burned a cd just for me (named Sebastian’s Birth Mix) and it was GREAT. He had secretly asked my hubby what type of music I liked. So at the very moment that Sebastian was born the song that was playing was one that I aboslutley LOVE and will now forever be associated with the heart stopping joyful sound of Sebastian’s newborn cry.
Believe me – whenever you listen to classical music from now on – you will remember the first time you heard your son.
God Bless you all – he is gorgeous and the pictures are beautiful. Love the one of JB and the boys together.
Delurking to tell you that the last picture brought tears to my eyes. He is so beautiful! Thank you for sharing.
Sooo adorable, congrats! Dylan looks like a wise little old man, I love babies that look like that! I’m a new reader, just found your blog the other day. I have a baby boy, Riley, 8 months. (weird huh? at least for me, as I pretty much only hear that name used on baby girls anymore, but I love the name) And I just want to say, props to you for nourishing your baby whatever way you can, and please DO NOT feel guilty about it!
Codec.
Codec.