I felt like my labor went exactly how I had pictured it and for that I am extremely grateful. The staff at Virginia Baptist were all awesome and extremely helpful. They were there when I needed them and gave me space when I didn't.
That being said, Cambria's delivery did not go as any of us would have liked. We are happy that she was healthy and well taken care of but it was such a whirlwind and I was left WITHOUT MY BABY and extremely disappointed for OVER THREE HOURS.
As I mentioned previously, the doctor came in, did the episiotomy, cut the cord, passed Cambria off to the nurses, delivered the placenta, stitched me up and took his leave all while saying very little to either Andrew or I. We were baffled. And inexperienced. And I was left wondering if he had even seen our birth plan.
I was finally given Cambria and was able to snuggle her and do a little skin-to-skin for about ten minutes. Andrew said it was more like fifteen minutes and I felt like it was less than five so we will split the difference on how we remember that!
Cambria needed to be taken to the NICU for evaluation due to my fever. I asked Andrew to go with them. He did but sheepishly returned five minutes later. I asked why he didn't stay with Cambria and he said the nurse had suggested he return because I "might need him." No way. I was fine. I wanted one of us to be with Cambria. I kept asking about Cambria and was told that she was fine and we would be with her as soon as she could.
We were transferred to our hospital room and the nurse suggested we get some rest. How in the world was I going to sleep WITHOUT MY BABY?!
(I know Cambria is "our baby" but since I am writing this from my perspective I am saying "my baby.")
I kept asking for Cambria and kept getting told that they would check on her and let me know. Andrew was so exhausted that he was able to lay down on the couch and catch a few restless Zzzzs but not me. I was so lonely for Cambria! I can't even tell you how I felt!
Heaven!
Finally around 6:15, the nurse brought Cambria to our room and I was elated. I could finally feel what it was to be a mommy and have my baby with me. Cambria had been given an IV in her hand and I was told that I had developed chorioamnioitis during labor. I asked what the criteria were for diagnosing it and they replied that my fever and Cambria's erratic heart rate were the clinical signs. I wasn't necessarily mollified but better safe than sorry.
Okay, enough of the new mommy rant and on to the happy parts!
I love these photos so very much. I can look and look and look at them over and over and never get tired. They bring back such a flood of feelings that I had never before felt until the moment Cambria looked up at me with her sweet little face!
That sweet little face! She is perfection!
Cambria became pretty fussy after the above video was taken. She had been through a lot and had this yucky IV in her hand as well. She had been poked and prodded and who knows what. Poor thing! We finally got her settled down and then the parade of nurses, students, her pediatrician, the OB on call, someone about her hearing, someone about newborn photos, someone about filing her birth certificate, housekeeping, room service to deliver food, room service to pick up our trays, all started to file through. It was exhausting! And quite the rocky start for our family! Ha ha!
We all finally got settled down and enjoyed being a family. The nurses had dressed Cambria in this long-sleeved onesie that was sized 12 months. We couldn't figure out how to roll it and make it fit her better so she just looked like a Jawa when she would flail her arms around.
I got loaded up with a ton of fancy hospital bracelets. #swag
Cambria's introduction to the world via social media!
Some of the cute physical traits we noticed about Cambria were:
1. She had Mommy's nose. Sorry, Baby Girl! But it looks cute and squishy on you!
2. Her right ear kept folding over when she was a newborn. It must have been that way in Mommy's tummy!
3. She was a furry little cutie-pie! She had fine hair on her back, shoulders and ears.
4. She had a few birthmarks on her scalp--one about the size of a half-dollar directly on the back of her head and then a scattering of marks at the base of her scalp.
5. She had long, long, long eyelashes! All of the nurses would comment on her eyelashes every time they came in. Thank you, Daddy!
I made this felt heart garland to hang up on Baby Girl's crib since it was almost Valentine's Day.
Mommy had to dress Cambria in something pink and add a bow for photos.
A visit from my good friends Lauren Malone and Dacy Ayres.
I felt so badly for Cambria that she had an IV. The nurses came to give it a saline flush every four hours and that was no fun! They had to take her to the NICU to administer the antibiotic every eight hours. Also, her IV would jiggle loose and get blood in the line. Oh, I hated it. I kept begging the nurses to take it out. I know it was painful for her! The antibiotic they gave her made her so gassy and her diapers so dang smelly. Anyone who walked in the room kind of gagged a bit at first. How embarrassing! She was constipated as well to add to all the fun and went almost 24 hours before poohing again and by then it was an onslaught that wiped out several diapers according to the nurse who changed her.
We started to get the hang of things on the second day. Everything was coming together for us as a family. Cambria was happy and we were happy.
Milk coma!
Look at those cute little chicken legs!
Before I forget I have to say that everyone was right! The food at the hospital was amazing! It was all-you-could-possibly-order and what's even better is that Andrew got to eat for "free" as well! We loaded up on bacon cheeseburgers, French toast, deli sandwiches, potato chips, chef salad, milkshakes and smoothies. The smoothies were amazing! We were both sure to order one every meal.
Another fun thing about the hospital is that the 2014 Winter Olympics began on Cambria's birth day. Awesome! So we were able to watch the opening ceremony and kick back as a family in our room.
Finally on February 8, we were able to go home. That morning, the staff left us completely alone. Cambria's IV finally came out (hooray!) and so she and I settled in for a nice, long nap. But poor Andrew was running around town getting the car seat installed.
We got Cambria dressed and the nurse had us sign a bunch of paperwork. She said, "This is your final bill of sale. After this, there are no returns!" She helped us clean out the room of any extras that we could possibly take home and I felt like Ross from "Friends":
Here's the good news: life got a whole lot easier after we left the hospital and got settled in at home!
Grab yourself a three-course meal and get cozy because you are about to read the world's longest post. Okay, here goes... Tuesday, February 4, I had my regular weekly visit with Dr. Cherian. He stripped my membranes for the second time. It hurt like the dickens. And then there was nothing. Really? Andrew and I were really hoping that Baby Girl would make her appearance that week. Andrew had school off since all of the PT faculty was at the annual APTA meeting in Las Vegas. If Baby Girl came, then Andrew could be with her and I without worrying about school commitments. The week before I had read a blog post from our good friend, Chris Silva, in which he mentions how he specifically asked Heavenly Father to allow their son to be born at a certain time. I felt inspired that we should pray that Baby Girl would come when Andrew was on his break. We discussed it and agreed that it was a righteous desire and would grant Andrew the ability to be with his new family one hundred percent without distraction. And so Tuesday night we prayed for Baby Girl to come that week. (In the back of my mind, I anticipated that we would have to give our prayer a little time to work. This was a relief to me because I still had a few things I wanted to tie up in Cambria's nursery on Wednesday to feel "ready" for her. I also wanted to get her car seat installed. And my oil changed. And finish vacuuming the entire house. I could do this all on Wednesday.) Tuesday night I went to bed and joked with Andrew that "absolutely nothing was happening." Andrew joked back that "it was just the calm before the storm." We laughed. It was the same routine of sleeplessness that night. My carpal tunnel syndrome made it impossible to sleep for more than 10-15 minutes at a time. After a restless night, I finally got up at 5:30 and went into Baby Girl's nursery to rock in the glider for a little bit. Suddenly, I felt a little gush of fluid. I had been having those sensations intermittently for the last couple of days. I had been too chicken to mention it to Dr. Cherian at my appointment because I didn't know what it was and I didn't want to seem like I was overreacting to every little symptom. I had wondered (and still do wonder) if I was leaking amniotic fluid. I grabbed a towel and went to lie back down in bed. My back started to ache a little so I was becoming suspicious that I might be in labor. About 7:00 I decided to wake Andrew up. "How do you feel about having a baby today?" That got his attention. I told him we had plenty of time and that I was going to take a shower. As soon as I went in the bathroom (thank heavens I was on the tile floor--a tender mercy for this clean freak!), my water broke in a major way. Like undoubtedly so. And then a second splash of fun for good measure so that I was standing in front of my bathroom sink in a puddle of water. I got my shower. Andrew did, too. I also ate a bowl of cereal and asked Andrew to vacuum the house. What a good sport! He did. We were timing my contractions and they were coming every two to three minutes and lasting 30 seconds each time. I was surprised that the contractions were coming so quickly! I was trying to stay chill and hang out at the house but around 8:30 I gave Andrew the okay to head to the hospital. The poor guy was a little more anxious than I thought he would be!
We double checked our hospital packing list and loaded up the car. I thought I would include the list so you can see how crazy organized I was trying to be. Everything that we needed to pack at the last minute was highlighted in yellow. Someone gave us an awesome tip on Facebook to sort your items into a small bag for labor (you don't really need that much!) and pack what you need to stay at the hospital for a few days in a suitcase. Another suggestion that we loved was to pack a big Rubbermaid tub to throw all of your hospital goodies and gifts in. Great idea!
FOR JESSICA:
Cell
phone
Cell
phone charger
Toiletries
iPod
iPod
dock
Camera
Camera
charger
Flip
flops
Slippers
Pajamas:
loose elastic neckline and drawstring/elastic bottoms
Robe
Nursing
bras
Purse
Outfit
to go home in
Makeup
Underwear
(“boy shorts” type)
Slipper
socks
Extra
hair ties
Glasses
Paperwork:
Centra registration, insurance cards, birth plan
Laundry
bag
Ask
hospital for:
·Lanolin
cream
·Thunder
pads and ice packs
FOR BABY GIRL:
White
cardstock or baby book for footprints
Boppy
Outfit
for photo
Outfit
to go home in
Car
seat
Receiving
blanket
Ask
hospital for:
·Pacifiers
·Nasal
aspirator
·Surgical
scrub/sponge brushes for cradle cap when bathing
·Formula
(in case we ever need it)
FOR ANDREW:
Cell
phone
Cell
phone charger
Bookbag
Laptop
Laptop
charger
Toiletries
Quarters
for the vending machine
Earbuds
iPad
iPad
charger
Swim
trunks
Sweatshirt
Pillow
Flip
flops
Slippers
2
changes of clothes
Rubbermaid
tub for gifts, etc.
Dr. Catherine Schuller
We drove to Virginia Baptist Hospital which was about 10-15 minutes away. We got checked in (no problems with the elevator this time!) and set up in triage. I wish that the hospital didn't do "luck of the draw" deliveries with whomever was on call but I understand that they are busy. The doctor on call was Dr. Cherian's wife, Dr. Schuller, and I was so excited to meet her! She had just had twins in October and was finally returning to work. From there (as it was the rest of the day) it was just kind of a waiting game. We waited to get checked in triage. When Dr. Schuller took a peek, she had to test the fluid to make sure it was amniotic fluid. She was certain it was but I guess they have to follow protocol. She also said that I was dilated 2 centimeters and at 80% effacement. I wanted to hear higher numbers at that point! Other than that they just left us alone to wait for a Labor & Delivery room to become available. I was sure to ask for a room with a tub and a birthing ball since I wanted to try laboring with both of those. I think we tried turning on the TV but couldn't find anything interesting to pass the time watching--Andrew and I aren't much for vegging in front of the TV.
We made sure that the nurses put a copy of our birth plan in our file and got transferred to a super swanky Labor & Delivery room late that morning around 11:00. I included our birth plan for grins and giggles below. All of you moms who are reading this could use a good laugh at how we thought (hoped) our delivery would go! Such naive expectant parents we were!
BIRTH PLAN FOR
BABY GIRL MITCHELL
Central Virginia
Baptist Hospital
Lynchburg,
Virginia
PARENTS:
Andrew and Jessica Mitchell
OB/GYN:
Dr. Ajith Cherian at Women’s Health Services of Central Virginia
PEDIATRICIAN
(requested): Dr. Justin Mutch at F. Read Hopkins’ Pediatric Associates
We
understand that labor and delivery do not always go according to plan, but we
have discussed the following and feel strongly about these guidelines. Many of the items we have listed are standard
procedure at Central Virginia Hospital and for that we are extremely grateful. Here
are some things that we would prefer if at all possible:
·I
only want my partner, doctors, and nurses in the room. Please no students.
·I
am open to the possibility of induction techniques as well as pain management
after discussion with my doctor.
·I
would like to have a birthing tub available for labor. I understand that hospital policy does not
allow its use during delivery.
·I
would like to have a birthing ball available for labor.
·I
would like to have directions regarding when to push or not to push, so as to
avoid tearing. If necessary, I am okay
with an episiotomy.
·In
case of an assisted deliver, please us a vacuum extractor as opposed to forceps
unless the doctor has more experience with forceps.
·I
would like to avoid a caesarean birth. I
would like to discuss other options, if a c-section is proposed. If an emergency c-section is required, I
would like to stay awake and I would like my partner to be with me. I would like the baby to be given to my
partner immediately after delivery. Do
not perform a hysterectomy, unless it is the only option to save my life.
·My
partner and I would like to have skin-to-skin contact and time to bond with our
baby as soon as possible after delivery as per hospital policy.
·I
would like to hold our baby before eye drops or ointment are given.
·I
don’t want the umbilical cord to be cut immediately, but want to wait until it
stops pulsating. I would like my partner
to cut the umbilical cord.
·I
would like to breast feed our baby as soon as possible after birth. I would like to have some help the first time
I breast feed our baby.
·I
would like our baby to have medical exam and procedures as well as her first
bath given after we’ve bonded and in my partner’s presence.
I
would like my partner to stay with our baby if there is an emergency.
I I finally remembered to snap a quick photo at the height of my pregnant glory: 39 weeks and 6 days.
Check out that belly! We can't wait until you are OUTSIDE of Mommy's tummy!
Around noon, I asked what my pain management options were. The nurse gave me Stadol in my IV and that took the edge off of the contractions. As my labor progressed, I tried more and more creative ways to alleviate the pain. But oh my gosh I could hardly stand it! Talk about weeping and wailing of teeth! I didn't know if I wanted to lie on the bed, walk around, sit up, have Andrew help me, have Andrew get out of my face, bounce on the birthing ball, have Andrew give me counter pressure, augh! I didn't know what I wanted but I was miserable.
At 2:00, I had some more Stadol and the nurse filled the tub. I laid down on the floor of the bathroom and told Andrew I couldn't do it. I am sure that those who are reading this realize that I had reached my limit because I was laying down on the bathroom floor of a hospital. Sick. 3:00 and I asked for the epidural.
Our plan all along as far as pain management was to keep an open mind. I knew I would most likely have an epidural but I just wanted to see how long I could last. I didn't want to say for sure one way or the other because I didn't want to feel like I couldn't change my mind. I had been doing the Hypnobabies home classes but found that the only thing they really did for me was put me to sleep. I knew I wasn't committed to the program because once the pain hit, I wasn't even interested in hooking up my iPod.
By 3:45, I had my epidural and I was haaaaaaaappyyyyyyyyy! So very happy. I laid back in the bed and declared that I could do this every day. I settled down for a snooze and Andrew reluctantly dug out some homework.
And good news! I was at 5 centimeters! I was a little on the puke train which didn't surprise me since I have thrown up this entire pregnancy. Gah! I was hungry so they allowed me to have some beef broth and cherry Jell-O. Hello! Did I not say I had puked? Why did I have to add cherry Jell-O to the mix?
I loved the epidural but it did make me itchy initially and then I got the shakes. I wasn't cold necessarily but I couldn't stop shivering. And my teeth were chattering as well. That was a bummer because it didn't allow me to take a really good nap the way I had been hoping to.
As the afternoon progressed, I also started running a temperature. That is really unusual for me. The nurse, Theresa, was trying not to check me very often since my water had broken and she didn't want me to get an infection but all signs were pointing to infection. Ugh. I asked what would happen if I did have an infection and even asked if Baby Girl would need IV antibiotics but they said probably not. What a relief!
Dr. Schuller had to leave at 8:00 so she checked me one more time and left. Our nurse, Theresa, was on until midnight so I was really hoping I could at least deliver with her. We loved working with those two!
Theresa, Mommy-to-be, Dr. Schuller
Theresa thought we could start pushing around 10:30. At about 10:45, I gave pushing a try. I was so tired and I couldn't really feel anything to push effectively. Theresa kept slowing my epidural but I still didn't have any sensation that would aid in my pushing. Finally we gave up on pushing so that I could labor down for an hour or so. Theresa had to leave and we had a new nurse come in but I can't remember her name now.
Dr. Wade A. Neiman
I began pushing again around 12:30 AM. It was now Baby Girl's due date--February 6--so I was happy about that. I really liked the sound of 2/6/14 as opposed to 2/5/14. What a weirdo I am. My contractions were only coming every 5-8 minutes and so I could only get one or two good pushes in before we had to wait for another contraction. Andrew and I started snoozing between pushes. My temperature was up to 102-degrees. Dr. Neiman came in a little after 2:00 AM and it was all business from then on out.
Everything seemed to be going really well at first. But then the nurse started mentioning Baby Girl's heart rate and it was pretty erratic. Also, Baby Girl was kind of coming out at an angle. All of the sudden Dr. Neiman said something about not waiting any longer and before I knew it, I was having an episiotomy and Baby Girl was being pulled out. I was kind of shocked because this was all done without a word to Andrew or I. I remember Andrew and I just looking at each other like, "Um, are we even a part of this?" because I really was hoping that Andrew might get to help deliver Baby Girl.
The nurse took Baby Girl over to the table to clean her up. She was crying and I just wanted to reassure her. I was so sad that I didn't get to hold her first! Apparently the umbilical cord had gotten wrapped around Baby Girl's ankle and with my fever and her erratic heart rate, I guess there was more cause for concern than they had let on. Also, Miss Ladylike Baby Girl started poohing immediately after delivery and was making quite the mess!
Cambria Alexis Kaye Mitchell was born at 2:35 AM on February 6, 2014. She weighed 7 pounds and 15 ounces and was 20 1/2 inches long. We are in love! And we took a bunch of less than stellar photos on Andrew's cell phone...
Cambria needed to be taken to the NICU for evaluation due to my fever. I asked Andrew to go with them. He did but sheepishly returned five minutes later. I asked why he didn't stay with Cambria and he said the nurse had suggested he return because I "might need him." No way. I was fine. I wanted one of us to be with Cambria. I kept asking about Cambria and was told that she was fine and we would be with her as soon as she could.
