So it seems as though we have hit another huge milestone that deserves a blog post. I'm horrible at keeping up at this, but it's a great way to communicate more than a facebook post.
I wanted to take some time to write about Zak's arrival since we are living so far away from many family and friends. I know there are many who would love to meet this little man and ask how everything went. We would love to sit down and have coffee....let Eli run around...and introduce Zak...but we are far away from Oregon, Arizona and Idaho...so a blog post will have to do.
So when Eli was born we had a c-section. You can read his birth story here if you need a refresher on what happened. After all was said and done, they said that I would be an excellent candidate for a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) if we decided to have another child. It was our intention to VBAC from the beginning when we found out about our pregnancy.
The pregnancy in general went well. Towards the end of the pregnancy I experienced A LOT of swelling...EVERYTHING was swollen. It was SUPER uncomfortable to be the largest I had EVER been in my life. I could barely shove my feet into my toms. I could only wear two pairs of pants (one of them being stretchy pants). I was checked for PIH/Pre-eclampsia and nothing showed up...so all was well. I wish I would have taken a picture of my face before and after the birth. I don't think I even realized just how swollen I was.
We were heading into the week before Christmas and as Erik and I were talking about the arrival of this new one we had high hopes that he would arrive before the end of the year (of course having a tax break would be nice but it wasn't that important) we were okay if he waited till the new year. Erik's mom arrived December 21st and was staying until January 5th. We started to talk about the option to schedule another c-section. Some plans had changed with my family coming after he was born and we were at peace with either trying the VBAC or doing another c-section.
We started to talk to the Dr. about the option of another c-section and they were supportive. However, I did want to try to get things rolling on my own in a "natural" way. We tried just about everything except castor oil. We scheduled the c-section for January 3rd for various personal reasons. I could list them out but some reasons are really personal and not for an "online" forum. We took into consideration how this whole change would affect everyone in our family and made our decision. We both had peace about it. When I went in for my last appointment the Monday before the c-section I was really hoping that there would be some sort of progress and all I needed was just a little push to put me in labor. When the midwife checked me she couldn't even reach my cervix. I was posterior and very tightly closed so it seemed. I was really disappointed that through everything we were trying that there was nothing happening. I knew that the c-section was likely to happen.
I'm not someone who has these great dreams of delivering a natural vaginal baby. After our first, I just wanted what was the right decision for us.
Will I regret the decision? I don't think so, and I just need to trust that God is bigger than my decisions.
So the morning of January 3rd we were scheduled for a 10AM c-section. We arrived at 8AM to get prepared. Because I have so many allergies they had to double and triple check everything. It also took three nurses to find a vein for my IV because I was VERY swollen. I entered the cold operating room at 10:03AM. Everything was prepped. I received a spinal block and waited for Erik to enter the room. My mind definitely flashed back to Eli's birth, but for reasons of realizing how everything was SO different with Eli's birth.
With Eli's birth I didn't realize how rushed everything was. I really didn't think much of the fact that we had the NICU team in the room to assess Eli, and that it was not "normal." I didn't really think much of the anesthesiologist having me lay down on my left side for a spinal block instead of sitting up. I now see hind sight that it was because Eli's heart rate dropped so much and would only go up if I was on my left side.
This time around everything was much more relaxed and routine. However, it wasn't without it's fearful moments that just run through your head.
Erik finally arrived and it was just a matter of moments before Zak entered the world at 10:38AM. It seemed like it went so fast once Erik was there. When he came out he was screaming...a lot. I didn't see him right away because the prep table was behind the curtain. It was a little while before he came over to see me. When he did come over to see me I was amazed again at the little man my body had incubated and nurtured. He was so sweet.
The Dr. finished everything up and I went to post op for about two hours where I munched on some yummy ice cubes. Erik's mom got a chance to come in an see him as well. When my time in post-op was finished I was moved over to the post partum area. In the post partum area I had a great, spacious corner room...that had construction going on outside. It wasn't bad until the next day when I had to request to move rooms.
The other major difference in this birth vs. Eli's was the recovery. I was up and out of bed in the same day. I wasn't completely stable, but I was WAY more stable than I was last time. When I stood up the next day after Eli was born, I could barely stand on my own and was very shaky and wobbly. This time, I just was a little unstable.
We had great nurses and staff that seemed to all be on the "same page" and not sending mixed signals about my care or getting breastfeeding started. There was only one nurse that was a little "off" and just personality wise just rubbed me the wrong way.
Because I was recovering so well we pushed to leave the hospital on Sunday. Zak's weight dropped a bit (totally normal) and my milk hadn't come in yet. We took some preventative measures in making sure we didn't have to stay longer by supplementing to get his weight up. Once my milk came in we were able to make the complete switch back to just breast milk. I have so much of a supply that I'm freezing quite a bit every day.
Erik's mom left Sunday afternoon, so it was perfect timing to be allowed to go home. Erik was able to take the rest of the week off and we were able to get settled in before my dad arrived on Thursday. My dad was able to stay for two weeks and was a great help to us. Saturday after my dad left my mom arrived and is staying for three weeks. After February 15th....we are on our own.
I'm a little apprehensive about flying solo, so we have looked into hiring a nanny for a couple hours a day. We found a lovely young lady who is looking for some part time work while in school and it seems to be a really nice fit.
So far Zak is doing really well. His weight at his one month appointment was 9lbs 5 oz. He is very sweet and loves to be held. He's not super fussy and is sleeping well so far. He does have a little bit of reflux, but I'm sure he will eventually outgrow it.
I'm amazed when I look at him. He has some of Erik's features but I still wonder...what will he look like?
Eli is adjusting to the new member of the family. He has shown some jealous tendencies and some acting out, but we have taken time to just focus on him. He likes to help with blankets and binkies and is overall very tender towards Zak.
So here we are...a family of four. I told Erik while we were driving one day...I've only known you for 7.5 years...I have known so many other people so much longer...but I have kids with you...CRAZY. We are enjoying this new adventure. It's really fun!
