I had asked Dr. Aum to try not to give me the "goofy drugs" if I became nervous during the surgery. I wanted to remember all of this birth. As soon as I was feeling better after the blood pressure episode, Sandra got the Foley inserted and we were on our way to the OR. Jon was dressed in his scrubs, and had the camera ready. When they wheeled me into the OR, they had Jon wait outside for a few minutes while they got me prepped. Dr. Heroux came in and she and Dr. Aum started talking about their new furniture from Cantoni! I was like, "Hey, I am HERE!" They washed my belly in betadine, and I then noticed there was a mirror on the wall where I could see everything happening. Jon came in, and Dr. Heroux got to looking at my existing c-section scar. She told me it was too low and right on my pubic bone, so she would have to make a new separate incision a couple of inches up from the old one. I told her that was fine with me, and they finished getting things ready. Before I knew it, the assisting doctor said they were beginning, and it was 12:42pm - the surprising thing to me was that they had wheeled me into the OR right at 12:29! I was shocked at how close to on time this c-section was!
They did lots of cutting as I listened, and Jon even asked me if I wanted him to look at them performing the surgery. I told him it was his choice, and he looked over the screen. The screen was actually quite short compared to the ones with my previous c-sections, plus they did not have my hands strapped down this time, which was very nice! I could smell them using the cauterizing gun as they cut, and finally Dr. Heroux said we are ready to deliver the baby. Jon watched as they lifted her head and upper body out, and suctioned her. I remember asking if she was a girl, and they told me they hadn't gotten that far yet. Dr. Aum then asked me, "You wanted a boy, right??" and I came back with, "No! What?!?!" I think that got everyone's attention, because then they were all assuring me she was indeed a girl. She was born at 12:59pm. 6 pounds 6.4 ounces, 19 1/4 inches long, APGARS of 9 and 9. She made a few screeches, not really even cries, just squeaky sounds. They took her over to the warmer to start checking her out, and since my screen was so low, I was able to pull it down slightly and peek over enough to see her. She was covered in vernix, so white she looked like she had been dusted in powdered sugar. I remember closing my eyes shortly after that off and on. I heard Sandra call my name, and when I looked up, there she was holding Katie right in front of my face so I could see her. She was so white and so tiny, still wet from being in the womb. They took her back to the warmer and continued checking her out, and I listened as Dr. Heroux sewed me back up. |
