There was something different about this one. I had almost gotten used to the little bleeds - random episodes (which for me were always overnight) that required some extra monitoring, sometimes extra medications, consideration for transfusion or other interventions that proved time and again why I was living in the hospital. But this past week has felt different ~ more unsettled, more episodes of contractions or bleeding. Generally these didn't even happen together, and this is the time for Braxton Hicks to show up; baby looked great on every monitoring event we did. And the doctors were technically more surprised on the nights I had no events than the nights I had small ones, which in a weird way was reassuring. But still it felt different.
At 10:15 on the 4th of July I was dozing off, waiting for my nurse to do night assessments and listening to the neighborhood fireworks. Oh, and I started bleeding again; but this started different. Usually when these happened I would only wake Chris (always happened at night!) if they escalated the plan for monitoring or moved me to the L&D floor "just to be safe." My nurse happened to come in just as I was going to call for her, so instead I let Chris know. Just felt like this wouldn't turn out to be one of those wait and see nights. I could tell right away the bleeding was more significant and steady; the fact that the number of nurses in my room kept steadily increasing was a sign as well. Oh, and that the doctors showed up at my bedside 10 min later rather than the usual phone consult for my usual behavior. The conversation with Chris went from "hey something is happening" to "give a heads up to our dear friends re: staying with Lydia if needed" to "come ASAP" in the same amount of time it took to type that.
Fortunately this wasn't technically a "crash C section" nor was I really hemorrhaging ~ but it was obvious this wasn't going to stop soon. I was on the monitors by 10:20 and down to the L&D floor by 10:30. Contractions started then and continuously became stronger and real, and with each contraction the bleeding picked up. It looked like this was as controlled a situation as we were going to get, and the decision was made by 10:40 that we were delivering this baby in short order. Quick paperwork, lab draws, baby blue scrubs for Chris, re-consulting with the NICU and GYN-ONC surgical team, meeting with anesthesia, and in-bed scrub down while wheeling to the OR quickly followed. They had Chris wait on a very lonely looking chair just outside the OR while they finished getting me prepped. I just kept hoping he wasn't having PTSD from our first semi-traumatic delivery while sitting out there alone in the hall (except for everyone rushing past to get into my OR room). Luckily things were "stable enough" I could start with a spinal so I didn't have to be put to sleep unless "things progressed." These terms are all nebulous enough to be reassuring...at least for those who don't already speak medical.
Spinal in and working (thank goodness too because contractions at this point were true labor pain intensity); Chris invited into the room & sitting by my head (reminds me what great eyes he has when that's all I can see of his face); the NICU team arrived and ready and GYN/ONC on standby & we are ready to begin. One of the highlights is that even my regular OB was out of the call schedule for the week, she came in to assist her partner for my surgery anyway. Her dedication to getting us through this with our sanity and health has been awesome.
I'm not sure exactly when surgery started, but I know that at 11:25 on July 4th our big little man entered the world! William Oliver let out a squeaky cry to announce his own arrival, all 5lb 5oz and 18 in of him. It was the best sound, and I cried to celebrate it ~ we both kept this going for a bit. He went straight over to the NICU team, and once assessed and well enough, took a pit stop in his isolette at the head of my bed for a glimpse before heading up to the NICU with his proud daddy in tow.
Of course they aren't done with me yet, but that is for another post. What is important now is that Will is here, so far doing relatively well considering he was only 32 wks + 2 d, and we love him terribly. Each day since his birth has been another adventure, one we expect to continue for a lifetime. But now we take it day by day, and pray he continues to be the strong little miracle we know.
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