At my 37 week prenatal appointment, I learned that Valarie had gone from being head down to head up. Most every doctor will not let you give birth vaginally if your baby is breech, and since that was my plan, we wanted to do everything we could to get this little girl to flip. So the next day I went to the hospital and my doctor performed an external cephalic version. (I was given medicine to relax my uterus, and then the doctor kneeled and kneaded my belly to try to force baby to turn.) It was extremely painful and I could only stand so much of it. After trying for a little over five minutes with absolutely no success, we decided to schedule a Cesarean Section. . .
The night before May 28th was the hardest night of my life to sleep. I was tossing, turning, worrying, getting excited, thinking, etc. I got almost two hours of sleep. Once 7am hit I could not force myself to stay in bed any longer, so I got up and got ready to go. Shane got ready at the same time, but he was able to nap while I finished getting ready.
We were ready super early, so we took a few pictures and made a couple videos, trying to pass the time until we had to be at the hospital.
Finally 9:45am rolled around, and we were out the door!
Once at the hospital, I got really nervous. I was terrified, mostly of the spinal, (I do not do needles.) I was also worried something would go wrong and either me or Valarie wouldn't be ok. Shane did a great job calming my nerves and took lots of pictures to force me to put on a very happy face.
Once noon hit, we were walked back to the operating room, where I was given my spinal. It wasn't near as bad as I'd expected. It was only a burning sensation that lasted about a minute. Once it kicked in, I felt so strange! From my chest down, I got really hot, super tingly, and then, I couldn't feel a thing! I was trying so hard to wiggle my toes, and they just sat there, as if they weren't mine at all! It was the most frustrating feeling and honestly, I never want to do it again.
Once I was lying on the table, they prepped my belly for surgery and pulled the curtain up. I could feel pressure, it felt as if they were massaging or kneading my belly, but it didn't hurt. After a few minutes I asked the anesthesiologist when they were going to cut into me and begin. He laughed and told me that they already have the baby's feet out!
In a matter of minutes, I heard the crying. The cutest little cry I had ever heard in my life! My baby was here! The little one I'd been waiting for was finally here and I couldn't be happier! They lifted her up to show her to me, but I wasn't really able to see her because a gush of amniotic fluid had spilled out all over my pillow and barely missed going all over my face.
After about five minutes, they had her cleaned up enough that they could show her to me. She was beautiful. She was perfect. I'd never been as happy as I was at that moment.
(Not the most flattering picture, but this was the first time I got to look at my baby.)
Valarie Violet Anne Randall was born on May 28, 2013 at 12:23pm. She weighs 7 lbs 9 oz and is 19 inches long. She has a full head of black hair and her daddy's eyes.
Once I was sewn up, we were wheeled into the recovery room, (and slammed into the wall twice. The doctor was not a good driver.) I held my baby for the first time and got to give her lots of loves! (Unfortunately, I couldn't kiss her because of a cold sore.)
Over the next few days Shane and I got to spend time getting to know our new little girl. We learned that she loves snuggling, getting burped, being talked to, and her hair being played with. She does not like breast feeding, baths, getting changed, and bad jokes. :) She's also a night owl.
Since being home, life has been perfect. We love having her here and couldn't be happier. She is the best little baby and makes our life complete. I can't wait to continue to raise her with the love of my life.
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