Baby Lemondrop is here!

[lemondrop]

Maxwell Brian was born via emergency c-section this morning, 4/13 at 3:02am, weighing in at 8lbs 8ounces and 21 inches long. I’ll be back with his wild birth story, which included 3 failed epidurals and a failed spinal, an evacuation from our room due to a tornado sighting, and a borderline pre-eclampsia dx.

His dad and I are so, so in love with him 💙 I’ll be back with a pic, it looks like the birthing center blocks tinypic and I don’t have it in me to download tapatalk lol

[tapdancer]

I was getting worried about you. Your birth sounds like it was a wild ride. I'm glad everyone is here safe.

[jacks]

lemondrop Glad he’s here safely! Sounds like it was a bumpy ride. Hope you are starting to recover and get a little rest.

[loorin]

Glad he’s here safely. I’ve been thinking about you.

[Deleted]

Oh my goodness! Glad to hear that baby is here safely!!

[snickerdoodle]

Congrats. I’m glad he is here safe.

[haleyscott]

Congratulations on your baby!! It seems like a wild story and I hope you are recovering ok. I’ve been thinking of you!

[remi]

Glad he’s here and healthy!

[bex15]

Congratulations!! Glad he’s here safe, look forward to reading your birth story.

[Wicket]

Oh my, sounds like quite crazy time. Congratulations! I am glad he is here safely and I hope you are doing well too.

[jacks]

lemondrop Glad he’s here safely! Sounds like it was a bumpy ride. Hope you are starting to recover and get a little rest.

[jewelsofthenile]

lemondrop congratulations! Hope you are recovering sounds like a crazy birth glad he is here safely.

[Yogurt]

Congratulations! I love the name!!

Please allow yourself to feel all the feels regarding a difficult birth. I know I had some...emotions when my first birth didn't go as planned. ❤

[pambee]

Congratulations! Sounds like a crazy few days, but I'm so glad you all are well now!

[orangehibiscus]

Congratulations! Sounds like a crazy birth story, but glad all is well.

[Eames]

Yay congratulations! I'm glad he's here safely and wishing you a smooth recovery. Sounds like things were hectic so I hope you gst some good rest!!!

[lemondrop]

Thanks everyone! We’re slowly wrapping our heads around what happened - it’s been difficult.

I’m sure some of you may remember that my midwife had mentioned a few weeks ago that the size of my pelvis might not be big enough for Max to descend. We went with the decision to attempt a vaginal delivery because there was no guarantee of how big he was. Mistake number one.

On Thursday we went to our usual weekly appointment and my BP was elevated. The doctor I saw requested we head to the emergency OB department of the hospital up the street, so we went there immediately. My BP started going down, but when they took labs, my uric acid was high - should have been under 7, mine was 10+. So they called it early stage pre-eclampsia and decided I wasn’t leaving the hospital until Max was born.

That night around 8, a Foley balloon was placed and I progressed from 70% effaced and 0cm dilated to 80% effaced and 4cm dilated in about 20 minutes. Holy SHIT was that painful.

Friday morning, I was started on Pitocin at about 8:15. I was checked at 8:30 and was still 80% effaced but 3cm dilated. Around 1 I was having contractions about 3 mins apart, so I asked for an epidural. The anesthesiologist placed one and I thought I was on my way to having a baby.

About an hour later, I was rechecked - I had only progressed to 4cm dilated. They broke my water and placed a catheter.

About 2 hours after that, while using a peanut ball, I started having severe urethra pain. We thought it was from the catheter, so they removed it. I was still in severe pain, so they called in another anesthesiologist. He placed another epidural, assuming the one I had been given was possibly not in the right spot.

Around 6, the sky turned black and a tornado was spotted 2 towns away. This sent the hospital Into lockdown and everyone in a room with a window had to be evacuated to another part of the hospital that didn’t have windows. So they wheel my contracting ass to another area, get us all set up, and then say that we’re in the clear and can all go back to our rooms. So I’m wheeled BACK to labor and delivery.

As they were wheeling us back, I started getting the urethra pain again. I tried pushing through the contractions, but they were the literal worst pain I have ever felt. The midwife called the anesthesiologist back, who was hesitant to place ANOTHER epidural. We decided I’d try to continue to labor on.

By 9pm, I was only at 6cm. The midwife called the anesthesiologist and he came back and gave me a third epidural. It lasted about an hour before I was in the worst of physical pain. My H was the world’s most amazing coach, talking me through each contraction and breathing with me.

By 1am, my midwife came in and checked me, and while I was about 9cm dilated, Max’s head was still high up in my pelvis. Meanwhile. I was screaming in pain. I have a pretty high pain tolerance, and this was nothing I’ve ever felt. I was begging for some type of relief.

By 2am, the doctor on call from my practice came in and suggested an emergency csection because it was clear that Max was just not going to come down easily - it probably would have been another 2-3 hours, and even then, there was no guarantee. I choose to do the csection.

I was wheeled to the OR and the anesthesiologist attempted to place a spinal. Y’all. It didn’t take. I could feel everything. Every contraction, which were about 45 seconds apart, every needle, every pinch. He kept using a piece of an alcohol wipe to see where I could still feel his touching me, and it was everywhere. They THINK I possibly had too much fluid in my spinal column from the epidural and that’s why it didn’t take, but at the time, I was losing my shit. They let me know thy they were going to attempt another spinal, but my only other option was to be put completely to sleep and both myself and my H would miss seeing our boy being born.

Meanwhile, my H was in the hallway, freaking the fuck out because he could hear me having contractions and in severe pain and he wasn’t allowed in, and then the doc let HIM know about the spinal issues.

Finally, the anesthesiologist placed a second spinal, which took. They placed the curtain, let in my H, and turned on some music. Max was born at 3:02am to the song Crazy Little Thing Called Love.

I’m in a decent amount of pain now, partially because I labored for so long and so hard before the csection. Per my doctor, the chance of Max’s head ever coming down was slim, so we made the right choice.

We are so, so in love with this little boy. Every minute of excruciating pain was worth it to get him. I promise to post pics shortly! He’s got a head full of hair and the chubbiest cheeks and he’s working so hard at breastfeeding. I am so lucky to be his momma. 💙

[haleyscott]

Oh my gosh. I don’t blame you for still trying to process everything. What a wild birth story for your baby boy. I’m SO glad that final spinal worked so you and your h could be together and see him. It sounds like he’s a great guy.

I hope your recovery becomes smoother for you. I’m sure the baby snuggles help! I promise every day from your c-section it does get better. ❤️

[snickerdoodle]

Wow lemondrop that is a lot to go through. I hope you are recovering ok.

[orangehibiscus]

Oh my goodness lemondrop! That must have all been so scary. So glad he’s here safely and that you’re ok. I hope your pain goes away soon!

[Wicket]

Wow that would be a lot to process. I am sorry that happened. I am glad you and your husband could be present to greet your baby boy. I hope your healing goes well and you are feeling better each day.

[Deleted]

Wow that is quite the birth story. I’m glad your H was able to be there with you and that you and baby are ok. Hope you are able to get some rest and baby snuggles and heal quickly.

[jacks]

lemondrop I’m sorry you had such a difficult time. In the coming weeks, please be gentle with yourself as you process everything. Between the hormones and everything that happened, it can be tough, but sounds like you have an excellent support partner! I’m so glad that he made it to you safe and enjoy the newborn snuggles!

[remi]

Wow I am so sorry that his birth was so traumatic. I can imagine that comes with a lot of stress and anxiety. I hope you heal quickly!

[tapdancer]

As someone that went through a failed induction with preeclampsia and needed a c section be kind to yourself. Get a belly binder. It was soooo helpful this time. I had to grieve the birthing process that I wanted to have versus what actually happens and that plus postpartum hormones and I was a mess for a bit. I'm glad everyone is ok now and here safely.

[nmom]

I’m so sorry your birth experience was rough! Be kind to yourself❤️ So glad everyone is healthy and safe!

[Tlex]

Congratulations on your baby boy!! Welcome little guy!

As for you, please give yourself so much grace and time as you recover. Do not compare your recovery to others, you have gone through a really tough birth and it’s just not something everyone can relate to. It’s very hard to take the recovery slow but you will feel like yourself again one day. ❤️

[lemondrop]

Thanks everyone, for your kind words. We were discharged yesterday so we’re home now getting to know each other on the outside. So/so on breastfeeding but we’re working on it

I’m planning on talking to a counselor soon with my H. We owe it to our little buddy.

And as promised, pictures! Spoilered because I’m sure they’re gigantic.

SPOILER: Click to show

[Yogurt]

Yikes that all sounds like it must have been very scary for you and also your H. I'm sorry you went through that. Please go easy on yourself. I think talking to someone is a great idea.

On the upside, CONGRATULATIONS! Those cheeks look so kissable.

[Eames]

Wow what a story. I'm sorry it was so stressful and painful. You are a warrior and your baby is so so precious. Take care of yourself, get little treats, etc. You deserve it!