My Birth Story Part 3

Before continuing, be sure to go back and read My Birth Story Part 1 & My Birth Story Part 2.

Now, where were we…

After I told my doctor to "cut him out of me," she agreed. I was exhausted. I hadn't eaten since Thursday night and hadn't had a decent night's sleep in a very long time. She could tell I was tired. I also firmly believe that if I did make it to 10cm, I wouldn't have had the energy to push. It's not like the movies where the woman pushes twice and POP, out comes a baby. No, some women push for hours.

At that moment, I was expecting that I would be wheeled to the OR for my section, but unfortunately, no. She told me she had two surgeries to perform prior to mine, and she left my hospital room. About 30 minutes later, Anesthesia walks in. My pain level was at an 8. She informs me that due to having a C-section, I am no longer able to receive a bolus (extra push of pain meds) since I will be getting a spinal in the OR, and they don't want to risk overdosing me on pain meds.

So here I am laboring at 7cm with full-on contractions very close together. My pain quickly goes from an 8 to a 10. Chance is sitting next to me, holding my hand, trying to help me breathe through each contraction. He watches the monitor and lets me know when the contraction is peaking and when it is tapering off. My nurse comes into the room. I look at her and say, "How much longer? I'm in so much pain!" She replies, "The doctor is currently in surgery, and then there is one more surgery after that one." She left the room (I am pretty sure I had some explicit words for her).

1:00 PM, Sunday, December 12th. My pain was past a 10 at this point. I look over at Chance, and with my jaws clenched together, I said, "Please call and ask the nurse when I will be taken back for surgery." He looks at me, grabs my hand, and says, "Soon honey, she's still in surgery." This happens several times within the hour. The pain becomes unbearable. "Go to the nurses' station and find out what is taking her so long and where the hell she is... NOW!" I said. Chance gets up and walks out of my hospital room. Come to find out, Chance NEVER went to the nurses' station. He told me several weeks after giving birth that he just walked out of my hospital room and walked up and down the hallway!

3:00 PM, Sunday, December 12th. Anesthesia and my nurse walk in. They both have a clipboard and paperwork for me to sign. I don't think I read a single word on those papers, but I did sign my name. I could have been signing my life away. I literally had no idea what I was agreeing to; I just knew I was one step closer to the OR. About 10 minutes later, my nurse comes in with a gown for Chance. She gives him the instructions that he will have to wait, and they will come get him once I have been prepped for surgery. He gives me a kiss, and before I know it, I am being wheeled down the hallway into the OR.

The operating room is bright, and so many people are in the room. I remember being so tired and slightly disoriented. Since my epidural no longer worked, they had to place a spinal block. I sit at the edge of the bed while the anesthesiologist performs the small procedure. Once the spinal is in, it's like a race against time. Everyone in the room is walking around with a purpose. Organized chaos is the best way to describe it. I am laid back, and immediately I start to feel myself go numb. "I don't want to feel anything! That is my biggest fear; I don't want to feel them cut into me," I tell my CRNA. She reassures me that they will make sure I feel no pain. She grabs a needle and starts poking me on my arm with it. "Do you feel that?" she asks. "Yes," I reply. She moves down to my legs, "Do you feel this?" "No, I don't," I reply. I am fully numb. The doctor walks in. Everyone stops. My nurse begins to present. She states my name, date of birth, blood type, and reason for surgery (I feel like I'm on an episode of Grey's Anatomy). "Okay, we may begin. Please go get her husband," the doctor says. They begin to cut. I can hear the suction and smell the cauterization. Chance walks in and sits by my side. I feel a ton of pressure and pulling. About a minute later, Chance is told to stand up so he can see them pull Maverick out.

"Happy Birthday Maverick!" everyone shouts in the OR. Maverick begins to cry. "How much does he weigh?" My doctor shouts to the NICU Nurse and Respiratory therapist. "9 lbs 1 oz!" they reply. "Wow, there is no way you would have been able to deliver him vaginally," my doctor says to me. That was pretty upsetting to hear. I feel like I was trying to communicate that for the last 3 days.

After they clean him up, they offer me to do skin-to-skin with him. I am so tired, plus there is a drape right at my breast line, so there is no room for skin-to-skin. I politely decline, which is a good thing because Chance, Maverick, and the nurse go to the NICU to do a full workup on Maverick. I am able to lay there on the operating table while they close me up and take a much-needed nap.

Maverick Alan Sweat was born on his due date of December 12th, 2021 and he stole our hearts the minute we laid eyes on him.

*Come back next week for my postpartum recovery and a list of my favorite postpartum recovery products for C-Section mamas*

And to all you mamas out there whether you have human babies, or fur babies, Happy Mother’s Day.

Follow me on instagram