We left off part II of Emma Kate’s birth story with her getting cleaned up and me getting stitched up. I was very aware of the fact I was being stitched, but couldn’t feel anything. In an effort to not mentally psych myself off over what just happened and was currently happening, I kept looking over to the side at Bobby and the baby, trying to think of other things.
The stitching seemed to be taking a REALLY long time which made me nervous. My entire body was shaking uncontrollably, it was weird not being able to stop it. I still was able to snap pictures with my cell phone as I was being worked on though!
After a few minutes, the baby was given to me, but since I was shaking so badly I asked the nurses to stay by me and help me hold her because I was so scared I would drop her since I couldn’t control my arms.
We decided to try nursing, so they helped hold her for me while I kept shaking, still being stitched up. I kept hearing things like “bleeding a lot” and “more medicine” and they kept pressing down on my abdomen trying to get it to clamp down. Again, I tried not to pay attention, but at this point I was a bit too overwhelmed and I started to get nauseated. I told the nurse I felt like I was going to throw up, so they grabbed a tray and held it up for me, and they also held a towel up so I wouldn’t vomit on the baby. I was quite a site, laying there, getting stitched up, shaking uncontrollably, trying to feed the baby, all while dry heaving and having a towel held up over the baby. Bobby said my face went completely white while this was happening. I ended up dry heaving a few more times but didn’t actually throw up. They asked me if I wanted zofran I said it wasn’t working that I already had it, and they said they could give me a shot of Phenergan, but that it would make me sleepy. I said I DON’T CARE! GIVE IT TO ME! Thank goodness for that shot, it really helped me and I needed the sleep. Bobby took the baby down the hall to see our moms, and this was the picture Bobby’s mom snapped when he walked up, I love it.
They took the baby to the nursery for some tests and a bath, and my nurse was kind enough to shoo everyone out of my room so I could nap, and I was so thankful for her at that moment! I took the most glorious thirty minute nap, until the anesthesiologist came in to take the epidural stuff out of my back. I was slightly annoyed that he woke me up for that, and had forgotten about it even being there. I thought no big deal, he will take it out, take the tape off and back to sleep I go. Well, it’s comical now but was not at the moment….him taking all of the tape off of my back was WAY more painful than the epidural. I think I actually cried. Oh the irony.
Some sweet friends from church came by to see me and the baby, and it is all kind of a blur but I was so glad to see them. The nurse brought Emma Kate back so everyone could hold her, and soon the nurse said I would be heading to my recovery room I would be in for two nights. Well, an hour passed, and I was still not in my room, and I was starting to feel the pain from the delivery. I was so delirious from exhaustion and I just wanted to go to sleep. I fed the baby again, and I asked the nurse if I could eat. She said yes, so I sent Bobby to go get me some fast food. (It was 9:45 and everything closed at 10:00). He was supposed to meet me in my recovery room with all my stuff, but when he got back they still had not moved me and I was starving! At this point, I had not eaten in 23 hours and had slept for 30 minutes. Finally I was brought down to my new room, and given a shot of Demerol for the pain and more Phenergan just to be safe, which I was very thankful for.
I met my new nurse who was very sweet, and she helped me get situated and I was FINALLY able to eat at 11:00. Yes my chicken fingers and fries were freezing cold, but I scarfed them down and it was the best meal ever. I fed the baby again (we had the nursery keep her until it was time to eat so I could get some rest), and then I passed out for a couple of hours. I fed Emma Kate on and off all night, and even though it was broken sleep hooked up to an IV, it felt so nice to relax and rest. Apparently EK’s glucose was low, so they had to keep giving her heel sticks until it went back up the next day.
I’m not totally sure what I did the next day, I know my mom and some friends came to visit, and Bobby got us food a couple of times (the cafeteria food was NOT good), and I did some napping. It’s all kind of a blur to be honest.
I do remember taking this next photo, EK had her first poopy diaper and it took Bobby and my mom (and a really long time) to get her changed.
I was finally able to have my IV taken out and it felt great to be able to freely move again. However, I was so swollen from all of the fluids! I was then able to change into my own clothes which was nice.
Wearing my pretty pink BIC band!
That night was more of the same, and the next day (Friday) we were released around lunch time to go home! Homegirl does not like her car seat.
It was scary that they just let us walk out the door with this tiny human, and no instruction manual, but I’d say we are doing alright. A lot of it is trial and error, and some of it comes more naturally than I thought it would. 
QOTD: Was it scary to you going home with your baby for the first time? Who else hates being nauseated?
Aww! I knew you’d be a natural! I’m pretty sure I hyperventilated on the way home with Wyatt because I was so nervous. But on the way home with Hadley I sat in the front and tried to take a nap!
It sounds like you had a worse time after the baby was born than during labor. I can’t get over Emma Kate’s head full of dark hair – she’s too stinkin’ cute!
After 20 yrs I STILL remember be shocked that they were sending me home with this little human being that I felt like I knew nothing about. Scariest feeling in the world! Great story, beautiful baby, and again congratulations!
Loved ready all about her first day! Congratulations to all of you. She is absolutely precious. And the shaking thing happened to me two (with both births) and it’s so scary. Thank God for healthy babies!
oh yes. We felt positively terrified to leave the hospital. It was like, okay… now what?! But once we got situated and saw that our baby just kept on sleeping just the same, we could relax. And enjoyed the rest of our first day relishing in the fact that nurses didn’t come by every 3 hours to poke and prod!
Congrats on the transition home!
She’s beautiful Heather! I don’t know how you went 23 hours without food.
Feeling nauseous is the worst! Many narcotics make me sick to my stomach so I will usually rather be in pain then throwing up! When I had Riley I refused the heavy duty meds and stuck with rotating Tylenol and ibuprofen.
I was in labor for about 23 hours with Riley too and didn’t get to eat till later either. I probably would have eaten my left shoe I was so hungry!
She is so precious Heather! I love hearing her birth story and all of the pictures!
i was absolutely nauseous as well while they completed my c section! I kept telling my husband “I’m going to throw up on him!” The worst feeling. During our birthing class we saw a couple leaving the hospital and she was crying and I thought I hope she’s okay!….and then I did the same thing! It was so exciting/nerve wracking/ surreal that he was safe and we were taking him home! Hope you continue growing together, it is SO much trial and error!
Oh wow, that was quite the afterbirth! So glad you’re okay! Emma Kate is adorable!!! <3 Congrats!
I giggled when you said it took them a long time with the first poopy diaper. I was there when my niece had her’s and me and my brother in law changed her. It took us a while too 🙂
I’m so happy for you and your growing family! Thank you for sharing this story with us <3
they don’t give you a manual?? 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing her birth story with us! I’m glad Emma Kate arrived safe and sound!
I burst into tears the moment we pulled out of the hospital parking lot. I was beyond scared! Nausea is the worst. Mine hit me right after they upped my pain medication so they could take me to the OR after the delivery. I thought I was going to pass out from it.
The first meal after delivery always tastes awesome =).
I got shaky like that after my first child. I think it was because I had the epidural for so long. With my second I had just gotten the epidural and he was born about 10 minutes later! So no shakiness that time although I did get nauseous. I hate being nauseous.
Awe way to go Mama. Sounds like quite the adventure, but she is beautiful!!
This probably sounds bad, but leaving the hospital with Abbie was probably the scariest moment of my life. I was terrified to bring her home and have no idea what to do. I was so much more confident with Jake.
And I HATE being nauseated! When I was getting sewed up from my c/section with Abbie, I thought for sure I was going to throw up everywhere. Thank God for anesthesiologists and fast working meds through IVs!
love reading your birth story!! congrats again sweetie!!
I remember shaking like crazy too at the end there, it was such an odd feeling.
I was so ready yet nervous to take Madison home for the first time. Luckily I had a lot of help to ease my fears 😉
I hope all is well with the crying. It’s so hard to watch them cry
xoxo
Lori
She is so beautiful and all that hair oh my! You are going great!
First of all, congratulations! She is beautiful and I hope that you are all adjusting well now!
Second of all, I hate being nauseated! I passed out after my wisdom tooth surgery because I had a reaction to the anesthesia, and it was terrible. I’d almost rather feel the pain than take painkillers because my body does not agree with them!