My sweet Hannah is finally here and her dad and I are overjoyed ❤️ in the days before having her, I found myself searching glow and other apps for a detailed birth story as I knew I would have to have a c section, but was unable to find one. So I've decided to share mine in case there is someone else trying to prepare.

To start from the beginning, I'd had an ultrasound at 36 + 6 and my dr told me my baby weighed nearly 9 pounds. Being that I was still 3 weeks from my due date, my dr. Was naturally concerned about the size of my little one and sent me for another glucose test. The test was affirmative, i had gestational diabetes. He told me that he refused to induce me early, but we should plan on a c section around 39 weeks.

Me being a first time mom, I was freaked out at the idea of a c section. I've never had any kind of surgery before. So I immediately went home and started trying all kinds of labor inducing techniques to avoid the surgery. I also argued with my dr. There was no way she was as big as they were saying! And he should just induce me and let me try naturally, but Dr. T stood his ground and refused. After about a week of constant bouncing on my exercise ball, pumping, evening primrose oil, and sex labor still hadn't started so I decided to trust my dr and prepare for the inevitable. Plus I'd had two more ultrasounds and baby girl continued to grow.

I was scheduled for an appointment with my Dr. in the morning on the 26th of May. My mom and mother in law went with me. I went into an exam room to be checked for dialation (in case no one has told you, that crap hurts!) my dr said I was 4 cm so I should head to the hospital for my c-section. I called my husband and went home for my hospital bags. 

We arrived at the hospital 2 hours prior to my scheduled c-section. They put me in a room and Stuck the IV in my hand, which hurts like hell. My nurse warmed up a towel under some hot water and wrapped my hand, which did ease the discomfort. Then she returned with the catheter. Mine really hurt going in, but I'm not so sure it was put in right anyway so....? I felt like had to pee really bad but was unable to get any relief. By far, it was the worst part of the whole thing.

My dr authorized for two family members to go in with me for the procedure which nearly caused a heated argument between him and my anesthesiologist, but my husband and mother in law suited up while I was getting the spinal tap. My nurse stood in front of me and had me wrap my arms around her shoulder. She stood forehead to forehead with me and helped me with my breathing and being still. He gave me a shot to numb my back first which pinched but went to work almost immediately. Then came the slightly larger spinal tap needle, which unlike an epidural, is removed. He then laid me down and pulled out my arm rests which would have me laid out like a cross. The put up the sheet, and in came my dr followed by my husband. My husband sat next to the anesthesiologist behind my head.

My dr told one of my nurses "let's get her shaved". I never know what proper grooming for my dr is supposed to be, but I though "this is embarrassing" but all In all, I didn't care. So much was going on in that room, my pubes were the last thing on my mind. 

Anyways, dr sat down, and started touching my belly. The only pain I ever felt was surprisingly, in my shoulder. It ached and I asked my hubby to message t during my procedure. I also had some nausea but was determined to not throw up, as I knew they would have to knock me out. My anesthesiologist told me to breathe rapidly to rid myself of the nausea, which was impossible because I felt like a cow was laying down on my diaphragm so I asked for alcohol pad to be put under my nose. It took less than 5 minutes to get my princess out from the time they started cutting. I felt a wave go through my belly, and my sweetie came in to the world at a beautiful 11 pounds 7 ounces. They never held her over the curtain so I could see her. At some point following her birth, I realized I wasn't even on the same planet as everyone else anymore. My husband and nurse said I started to panic when they wouldn't bring her to me immediately (but I don't remember that) so my anesthesiologist gave me something in my IV to make me loopy. 

They started to stitch me up, which was significantly worse than being cut open, because it took much longer, and the only person paying attention to me was my dr. My husband was mesmerized by our little beauty and the next thing I know, I can't even see him anymore. They finished putting me back together and they took my little one to the nursery to check her sugars and give her necessary care. The nurses hoisted me back on to my bed and wheeled me back to my room. I was still feeling a lot of nausea and the alcohol pad had stopped working. My cousins came in to tell me hi, or bye, not sure which, and they immediately had to go on a hunt for something for me to puke in as I still could not feel my legs and was unable to move. 

Sadly, I do not remember the first time I held my little darling. Whatever they gave me to calm me down was STRONG. but I continued to barf all night long. Every sip of water I took was puked up and food was out of the question. I got dehydrated and ultimately decided it was worth it o suck down the water for just a few minutes of relief even knowing it wouldn't stay. The nurses said my catheter had to stay in for 12 hours and my IV had to stay in a little longer. The anesthesia was good enough that I found no discomfort from either before they were removed the next morning. The nurses came in periodically to push on my belly and check my bleeding.  I'm not sure why, but it was fine when I was still numb. When I started to regain feeling, it was quite painful. My nurse and husband helped me in to the shower after my 12 hour bed rest. I found the second day wasn't that bad, however from the third day on to the seventh I was in much more pain than I had imagined. The recovery for me was surprisingly more rough than I had been told it would be. Getting up from either bed or chair was incredibly painful. I didn't change a diaper for my own baby until she was 2 days old because I could neither sit up in bed nor bend over her bassinet. 

We were released after 3 days. I went home and tried to take it easy, baring in mind, I had a very demanding newborn to take care of. There were times the pain brought me to tears, but on day 7 they took out my staples, which also hurts. Some staples coming out brought a very small pinch, others burned and brought tears to my eyes, but my incision is a bit larger than normal because my baby is a bit larger than normal! They also gave me a double dose of pitosin in my IV during my procedure to shrink my uterus back to normal. My baby is 13 days old now, and I'm still bleeding. I don't know how long it will last.

That is my birth story. I wrote this for moms who might want to know what they may feel and what to expect during the procedure and days following. I do apologize for the length, but it was meant to be informational. If any mom will be experiencing this soon, I hope it helps them to prepare!

*************** someone asked for a bump picture. My mom took a picture of me every week throughout my pregnancy. This was taken 5 days before my baby was born. I was huge and miserable... I was tired of having my picture taken lol smile is not very sincere lol