Wow! I can't believe how fast time flies when you're having an emergency c-section and taking care of your son in the NICU. Yes, you read right...little Luke is here and after a brief stay in the NICU, we are all home and settling in. But let me tell you how we got to this momentous occasion!
Tuesday, February 2nd, I had my very first doctor's appointment in Little Rock with a wonderful woman who is great friends with my brother and sister in law. Chris didn't think he was going to be able to come, but he had mentioned that he would like to be at my appointment and so they said it was not a problem, they could work it out, so he drove from work to meet me at the office. Once we were called back, they took my weight, which had risen a whopping 7 pounds since my last appointment in Fort Smith the week before. Then they checked my urine and the protein had gone from 2+ in Fort Smith to 4+. Then, to top things off, they checked my BP. It was 179/91. I went to the exam room and after a brief conversation with the doctor, Chris and I found ourselves driving to the hospital to have me admitted - we were hoping for a short 24 hour stay to see if they could manage my BP, but it quickly became about having Luke.
Once I had checked in and gotten my gown on, they started a magnesium drip to control my blood pressure. The only thing I could think of was 'Great, more needles'. After several doctors examined my chart throughout the day and consulted with one another (all friends of Jon and Kricia and one senior doctor who delivered our younger nephew), they decided it would be best to go ahead and induce me Wednesday morning. They started the drug and Luke did great handling the contractions, but I wasn't dilating, so they placed a pill at my cervix to start to thin it out. After 3 hours it was working so they placed another one. All day long we waited to start the drugs after that second pill and around 8 pm, after watching my contractions (I was having some on my own accord at this point without the drugs), Luke's heartbeat started to decelerate and was taking longer and longer to recover after each contraction. I was greeted by a doctor who said they were waiting to finish up a c-section in the OR, and then they were going to take me back for mine. It all happened so quickly that I didn't have time to process it. Within 20 minutes my bags were packed, and my mom and dad (who had come early that morning to stay with us) had been taken to the waiting area with my belongings. I was rolled back to the OR and the anesthesiologists started my spinal. This is when it all hit me and I felt like I was going to start hyperventilating. The nurse was wonderful at calming me down, and after what felt like a lifetime, the spinal was done and I was numb from the chest down to my feet.
The nurses put up a blue cover so I couldn't see anything...I didn't even know the doctors had come in, and all of a sudden I hear them start talking about getting started and Chris wasn't even by my side yet. No sooner did he sit down next to me that I hear them say "The head is out" and Chris was getting up to go be with Luke. Luke did great - he cried within seconds and it was the most beautiful sound I've ever heard. Chris got to cut the umbilical cord and then brought Luke over to me so I could see him. It was a split second glimpse of my precious baby boy and I got to touch his forehead before they rushed both Chris and Luke out to be taken care of. The doctors finished sewing me up and I was told that they went so fast because Luke's heart rate had really decreased with my last contraction and they could not wait a second longer to get him out.
Christopher Luke was born February 3, 2010 at 9:00 p.m. He weighed in at 4 pounds 10.5 ounces and was 18 3/4 inches long. He has the longest legs and arms I've ever seen on a new baby...and they are perfect.
After being taken back to the recovery room, Chris and my parents came in. I was shaking almost uncontrollably so they piled tons of blankets on me and raised my bed up some. All the effects of the spinal I was given. Shortly after, patient transport came to get me and wheeled me up to the postpartum floor. I got settled into my room and given magnesium again for my blood pressure - apparently you can't just come off of it - it has to be gradual. They also started a morphine drip to control the pain from the c-section. Chris had been to see Luke in the NICU, but I wasn't allowed to because of the magnesium. I had to wait until 9 pm on Thursday for them to take me off the magnesium and morphine to be able to be wheeled down to see him. Giving birth and not being able to see my son for 25 hours was really hard, but so worth it when we finally met. I fell in love with him more than I could've ever dreamed possible when I finally got to hold him and love on him.
Chris' parents were able to come down on Thursday and along with my parents and family, they all got to ooohh and awww over Luke before I could. It made me feel a little left out, but knowing that I'm Luke's mom, I got over it and was just happy that Luke has so many people who love him to pieces.
I was in the hospital until Saturday when I was discharged. I was so upset because I didn't want to leave Luke in the hospital alone - so I stayed in his room, as did Chris, Saturday night. Sunday we were asked if we would be willing to move Luke to a less critical area of the NICU and of course agreed. So after his 5:30 am feeding, we packed up and moved to a new room. At 10 a.m., the doctor asked if we would like to take Luke home and I was so shocked I almost couldn't believe those words were being uttered. We had honestly expected to be in the hospital for up to 2 to 4 weeks with him. So after he had his circumcision (ouch!) and passing an hour and a half car seat test, we found ourselves loading up all of our belongings and heading out the door of the hospital around 4 p.m! We had a wonderful first night home and love our new life of parents of this precious baby. He is perfect!
Here's some pictures of his first few days of life! Enjoy!
Chris before joining me in the OR. Not quite sure why he had to wear a head cover...he's bald!
Luke being cleaned up after delivery. Daddy got to cut the umbilical cord!
"Hello World!"
All bundled up - headed to the NICU
Dad and Son
The sweetest face!
On a light blanket for his bilirubin
Holding Luke for the first time 25 hours after giving birth.
Please excuse how I look...morphine doesn't do much for looks.
Little foot!
Luke's first bottle! He's doing great breast feeding, but needed a little supplement to help out.
Luke was hooked up to a lot of monitors: Heart, Pulse, Body Temp, and even had an IV.
The IV had been in both arms already at this point, and now had to be moved to his foot.
This was at 2 days old.
Scrunchy face!
More pictures to come! We love having our son home with us and are so grateful for all the doctors and nurses that took such great care of me and Luke while at the hospital! We will always be grateful for their excellent care!
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