One week ago about this time of day, I was getting ready for what I thought would be another normal NST/Ultrasound. Part of me was wondering at 39 weeks 1 day pregnant if they would induce me - but I never expected what happened last Friday, May 7th. Kaitlyn was going to have the last laugh and make mommy regret ever complaining about possibly being induced at 40 weeks.
As I sat down in the reclining chair at Provo Hospital Maternal Fetal Medicine for my NST test, I was anxious to find out where my fluids were this week. It seemed that although my fluids were considered to be on the very low end of the "safe zone" that they were getting lower every week. We struggled each Friday afternoon to find pockets of fluid. I expected this day to be no different. Hard to find the pockets, but relatively safe. Kaitlyn had been moving plenty, and that was reassuring to me that the fluids must have been fine.
The NST nurse put the warm gel on my belly, and with her ultrasound tool looked for the pockets. First thing she said was "has she always been breech?" My eyes opened wide. "NO!!! Is she breech now!?" After a quick double check we confirmed that Kaitlyn had indeed made the flip. Kaitlyn had been vertex for 8 weeks before this - I was shocked. I honestly didn't think that babies could flip that close to delivery. The NST I had two days before this day, she was still head down... she must have turned sometime Thursday, May 6.
Flashing back to Thursday, I remember telling Shayne "I think Kaitlyn has dropped" because I FELT like I was carrying her differently. Thursday night as I was trying to sleep, I found it hard to get comfortable because of a bulge next to my ribcage on the right side. Little did I know that was her head...
Being so far along, I immediately KNEW that my fate would be c-section. I thought that I would have plenty of time to adjust to the idea though. This wouldn't happen. As she kept searching for pockets of fluid, the nurse said, "I can't find any fluid. I will have to have a doctor come look at this."
"Crap;" that was all I could think of. "Crap" and "is she ok?" I sat there and started my text messages. "Fluids are low and baby is breech. Brace yourselves this might be it." I waited for what felt like forever before the doctor came in. She put the tool on my belly again and said, "well, your NST looks great, but the baby is going to have to come out today by cesarean section. I will call your doctor and let him know that I am sending you down to Mountain View Hospital. Congratulations!"
Congratulations??? On being cut open? Yes, I was excited to meet Kaitlyn but my head was spinning very fast at this moment. I couldn't process it fast enough. I was considered an Emergency 2 c-section (so not as bad as it could have been) and because I had eaten lunch that afternoon had to wait for my lunch to digest first. My fate would be around 8:30 p.m, and I was to be at the hospital at 6:30 p.m.
I headed home to rest, make phone calls, and make sure that everything got out in the car for the long weekend in the hospital. It seemed like forever waiting, and with my fluids being so dangerously low, I headed to the hospital early (just a half hour) to get started on an IV for my peace of mind.
It wasn't long after my arrival to the hospital that family started to come to show their support and meet our new baby. Around 8:00 p.m. Dr. Chipman and Dr. Crouch came to let me know that they were ready to give me my c-section. "THIS IS IT," I thought. I pushed back tears knowing that if I were to start to cry it would be impossible to stop them from flowing.
After my walk to the operating room, things really became "
real." I sat myself on the operating table, and things started to move fast. The anesthesiologist gently put in my spinal block, and I laid myself down in the table. Right away, I started to feel numb BUT horrible. My breathing became very labored, and I felt like I was either going black out or worse. Letting the anesthesiologist know, he told me that my blood pressure and heart rate dropped (to 77/20!!!) and that he was going to give me some medicine to make me feel better. Once the medicine was in, I began to feel better and felt like I could now tolerate the surgery.
Once Shayne was in, I felt very comforted. It was nice to look behind me and see someone familiar that loved me soothing me with his words and helping me find my strength. The anesthesiologist (I wish I knew his name!) was also very comforting and let me know everything to expect at the moment it was happening. Finally, he said to Shayne and I, "here comes your baby; get your camera ready Dad."
There she was; Kaitlyn Marie Munn. My baby girl. I couldn't see her but I could hear the sweetest cry I had ever heard. I wanted to see her. I wanted to hold her. After a few minutes, she was bundled and ready to be taken to the nursery to be bathed and have a check up. Shayne was so proud to get to show her off. I was still having my surgery of course during all this. She was 6lbs, 8 oz, 20 1/2 inches long born at 9:00 p.m. on May 7th.
Once back in my room, my first thought was "ok, where's Kaitlyn? I want to meet her." That's when the nurses told me that Kaitlyn had to stay in the nursery for a while because she had swallowed fluids during the delivery she was having trouble breathing. Kaitlyn was hooked up on a sleep apnea monitor the whole first night. FINALLY at 1:30 am, and after I was moved into my postpartum/recovery room, they brought in my baby.
It was amazing seeing her. I was in such "aww" of my new baby girl. She is beautiful. Dark hair, a little thinner and shorter on top than Ellie's was. She has what we think are her daddy's eyes and chin (so she looks a lot like Shayne right now) and in many ways she looked like Ellie did as a baby too. It was the best feeling in the world to get to hold her and kiss her sweet face. Kaitlyn is here. All the hard times during this pregnancy and everything we endured just in hopes to even have another baby all were worth it. Right down to being cut open to have her taken out.
We spent three nights and four days in the hospital recovering. It has been great to get back home and get back to our "new" normal lives. Kaitlyn has been an easy baby since delivery. She cries very seldom and only when she really NEEDS something. She is starting to have more awake time with each passing day. We love her so much and are so happy to be a family of four now.
Ellie has been taking the new baby very well. The day after she was born, her Aunt Monyka and I had planned for Ellie to have a very special day. Together they built bears at Build a Bear for her and Kaitlyn. On the bear that she made Kaitlyn, there is a button you can push and in Ellie's voice she says, "Ellie loves you Kaitlyn." So sweet! They had lunch at Noodle Company, and came to the hospital bearing flowers and balloons for me. It was very sweet to see Ellie meet her new baby sister for the first time. She hasn't gotten enough of her since she was born a week ago.
Ellie is also already very protective of her too and wants so bad to be a big help and a part of everything. Our first night home, Ellie was disappointed that the baby couldn't sleep in her room with her. I wasn't too surprised that she came downstairs to help in the middle of the night (even though it made things a little tougher). Ellie is very gentle with her and I have realized that the five years apart are making things much much easier on all of us.
I also am doing very well right now. When Ellie was born, I hate to admit this but I had a mild case of postpartum depression that lasted for almost three months after her birth. I was in denial about how bad it really was though, and didn't really HOW BAD it was until I had Kaitlyn. The difference is amazing. Maybe it is because of my age, or perhaps the fish oils I took during pregnancy (and now) or a combination of the both my my mood has been wonderful. With this baby I am happy, willing, and wanting to take care of her - even in the middle of the night (let's just say that I didn't have the same attitude with Ellie). The pain and swelling from the c-section seem to be getting better and better everyday. I am excited to get a full bill of health and start exercising again.
I can't thank Heavenly Father enough for Kaitlyn and for her safe delivery. The entire pregnancy I believe she was being carefully watched over and protected. We love her so much and she is a wonderful addition to the entire family. Hopefully we will be able to show her off soon when she is probably a couple weeks older. Thank you for all the prayers we received during the pregnancy, delivery, and now. Thank you also for the gifts, support, hospital visits, help, and meals. We feel very lucky to live in such a wonderful ward, and have the best friends and family around :). Thanks a million for being a part of our life! More updates to come shortly.
