Mom Without a Clue: Phoebe's "birth" story, PART ONE (about 10 weeks too late :)

But better late than never, right?!?

Soooo, I think I left off where the high-risk OB was looking at me as an almost 34-y-o woman who wanted a V-BAC two full weeks past her due date with a cervix that wasn't budging and an 11-pounder waiting in the wings. Needless to say, I had to have a c-section. I'm going to try to let pictures do most of the talking, but let me state for the record that going 2 full weeks past your due date is pure craziness. I don't know if I would wish it on my worst enemy! This is what it looks like...

OMG, so disgusting and uncomfortable!!! To give you an idea of how much water I was retaining, I was around 225 pounds on this day and then 40 pounds lighter 7 days later. Insane.

Anyways, my midwife was at the hospital with us before and during the surgery. Since I'd had a c-sec before, I knew the routine and didn't really need help on that front. His job was to hold a mirror we had brought especially for him so that I could hopefully see the moment of Phoebe's arrival. As you may or may not know, I have serious issues when it comes to my first c-sec. I just can't bring myself to say that Raina was "born;" the experience was far too scarring for such a theoretically beautiful concept. When it comes to Phoebe's "birth," however, I'm a little bit better. I still can't say that she was "born" either, but I can think of the experience with a degree (albeit a small one) of fondness. Three things, I think, helped with this difference: (1) Knowing that I did everything within my power to have a natural birth...the doulas, midwife, going 2 weeks over; (2) having my midwife hold the mirror up for me when they pulled her out; I actually felt involved, a feeling completely missing from my first sensory-deprived c-sec; and (3) actually having a baby close to 12 pounds! As wonderful as a natural birth would have been, I can't help but think that maybe it would have hurt just a little more with such a big baby!

Pic time. Props have to go out to my midwife. Not only did he use one hand to hold the mirror up for me, he was using his other hand to take pics of Phoebe's arrival. Granted I was contorting myself on the table in order to see what was going on in the shaky and off-center mirror, but still...pics and memories of the big moment is more than I could have ever asked for. I'll spare you the bloody pics :)

This is at some point during the surgery obviously. I have to say that this time around hurt WAY more than the first time. The pain in my chest, neck, and shoulders was indescribable.

This is the high-risk OB that did the surgery. As he was first attempting to pull her out, I heard him say "Oh my, look at the size of this head! This is gonna be a big one!" After she was out, there was a parade of medical staff coming in and out of the room to get a look at the big baby. Word traveled fast!

She was actually bigger than the 11-pound estimate.

Isn't that just the cutest receiving blanket? Somehow one found its way into my bag and ended up here. I keep meaning to send it back. ;)

Obligatory post-op/recovery room pic. I'll never be one of those women who have the state of mind to remember to put on s0me makeup.

I didn't puke during or after the surgery, like the first time around, but I did have more pain than expected. They kept me well-medicated, though, so it wasn't too bad. The catheter was AWESOME! I was disappointed when they only kept it in for a day; with Raina, it was in for 2.

Speaking of Raina, she came to visit me that day...and meet her little sister :)

Like Raina, Phoebe suffered from some jaundice; however, unlike Raina, it cleared up on its own, with no need to take a light blanket home with us. She's pretty yellow in these pics, though!