Braden's Birth Story

We went to our weekly OB appointment on Thursday (April 24th) and my blood pressure was up again. After the doctor checked me and rechecked my BP she decided to send me to Labor & Delivery to be monitored and try to get my BP down. We ended up staying the night and my BP still did not go down so they monitored my urine and there was protein in it so she diagnosed me with Preclampsia. I pretty much thought that I had Preclampsia, but she wanted to make sure before she took the baby early. The next morning she decided to go ahead and induce labor since it was best for him and me too! The nurse began the Pitocin around 10:30AM on Friday (April 25th) and my contractions slowly got stronger and closer together. I had dilated to 3cm and was 85% effaced, which was good, but Dr. Ottman really wanted me to be further along. I was still only 3cm dilated at 4:30 so my doctor said she would break my water when she was finished in the office. She arrived at the hosptial at about 5:30PM and I had just got my epidural, which was not bad at all. The anesthesiologist talked me through everything and it was pretty painless, just more pressure than anything. Then Dr. Ottman came in and broke my water and there was meconium in it so she said we didn't have a lot of time to play with, but we would wait a litle longer to see if I finished dilating. She checked me again around 6:45PM and there still was no change. So she said, "Let's go have a baby!" and things really went fast from there. People were coming in and getting me ready and other nurses were getting Jill ready then another anesthesiologist came in to prep me for a c-section and away we went. Once I was in the operating room I started to get really nervous. I was shaking like crazy from nerves and the anesthesia. Jill was so wonderful and said and did everything so awesome! She really calmed me and I couldn't imagine her doing anything else better than what she did. I love her with all my heart and soul and know that she was very scared for me and Braden, but she was absolutely amazing!! The c-section wasn't too bad-- there was no pain but I could feel them moving around inside my belly which was really weird! Braden arrived at 8:15 PM and he had a bit of a rough start. The cord was wrapped around his neck twice and his body once and he didn't want to cry. He was breathing, but not regularly and he wouldn't cry. So they suctioned him and got him breathing regularly, but still no cry. They took him to the Special Care Unit and assessed him. His first Apgar was only 4 since he didn't cry but it went up to 7 then 8. They stitched me up and sent me to recovery for two hours, which was rough for Jill because she couldn't be with either of us during that time since I was in recovery and he was in the Special Care Unit.

Braden had trouble maintaining his body temperature and his blood sugar was low so they did some blood tests and a a CT scan and said that the results were good. I was doing well after surgery and I got to come back to the room around 10:30PM. It was great to see Jill and all of the people that stayed, but we didn't ge to hold Braden until 1:00AM! That was rough, but he was a sweet little baby and we were so happy to finally have him in our arms! We are so in love with this little man already!!

On Saturday (April 26th) Dr. Ottman came to check on all of us and we were doing good. My BP was still a little high but better than it was. Braden and I were doing really well with breastfeeding- he is a breastfeeding champ! We are supplementing with formula because he is still having some trouble keeping his temp regulated so the doctors want to make sure he is getting enough nutrients. He is also on the warmer to help him as well. That night his blood sugar dropped again and they needed to give him an IV so they tried several places and they didn't work, so they ended up putting it in his head. He looked so pitiful! Since they did that he was not able to come to our room, we had to go to the nursery to feed him and visit. It was sad not to be able to have him at all times, but we knew it was best for him.

On Sunday (April 27th) he finished all his tests and everything came back just fine!! We were very relieved that everything was okay and so ready to be home with our little champ! Jill's stepmom was out of town over the weekend so she finally got to see him today. She was so excited and so proud of him:) She didn't want to put him down! The nurses let him come to our room at night to feed, which was so nice. All the nurses had been so wonderful to all of us, especially to Braden! The Special Care nurses just loved him and I could tell that they geniuenly cared about him. It was a great experience for all of us. We finally got to come home on Monday (April 28th) and Jill's dad and stepmom met us there to help us get unpacked. It was so great to all be home together!!