Motherhood....by Amy

A Second Time...

I've been wanting to post about giving birth to our second baby!

I'm amazed that I just typed the words "giving birth". Why you ask? Well, after delivering Drew via c-section I never really felt like I had "given birth". Yes, I carried the child for 9 months (well maybe 8), I suffered all the pains and joys of pregnancy woes, but I never got to "push" the baby out! So therefore, I've felt like I never really gave birth to him...some of you may agree and some of you may think I'm crazy! You can let me know your opinion on the matter if you want....:)
(Picture of Drew)

Well, this time around I was determined to watch the entire c-section...well, let me back up. My plan was to actually birth this child v-bac. But this sweet little thing decided to turn breech and was not going to budge on the subject. Also, with my previous c-section and the fact that I'm diabetic put my pregnancy full term at 37 weeks, so they couldn't induce me. Medically I would have to go into labor on my own...at 37/38 weeks....yeah right!! So hence the 2nd c-section was scheduled! Ok, so now back to me being determined to watch the procedure....I always wondered why they draped the blue cloth at my neck and everything happening from there down seemed quite the mystery, so I asked Dr. L if I could watch, you know, not hang the sheet?!! He said I COULD watch but was a little hesitant. My nurse who was listening suggested, if it was alright with Dr. L that they could bring in a mirror!! Dr. L agreed and said that was ok!! I was so excited...I was going to watch my baby be born!! I was going to really feel as if I had given birth....and I DID!!! It was quite amazing watching the two docs work their magic and me not feel a thing (except for the pressure of the tugging and pulling)! The minute they finally pulled her out (I'll explain later) not only did I feel the instant relief that my abdomen was no longer pregnant, I felt this instant gratification in the fact that I HAD GIVEN BIRTH (for a 2nd time)!!! It was quite the amazing moment! It was quite surreal actually!
(Picture of Reagan)
I'm the type of person who really quite enjoys watching medical shows...the real ones...so that explains why I would want to watch my c-section a little, right? Silas was able to get a few really great shots of the surgery...the birth of our baby girl. If you don't like this type of thing then skip down or stop right now! Oh, one thing I want to document is...it's a good thing they numb you the way they do with a c-section!!! AND it's no wonder you are so stinkin' sore afterwards! Also, I seriously thought Silas was going to PASS OUT this time. He kept standing up to watch and then he'd sit back down...now this was all happening at my HEAD so you can only imagine what I was thinking..."DO NOT THROW UP ON ME!!!" I kept asking him if HE WAS OKAY!!! LOL! I thought that was pretty funny!! When it came time to pull the baby out the Drs. had a really hard time. She kept slipping. While I was watching (& loving every second of it, hehe) I swear that at one point, Dr. L had his arm inside my belly all the way up to his elbow!!! What the crud?!! And then both Drs. put one hand in to try to grab her while pushing my belly skin up out of the way...eeewwwww you say??....you should have been the one watching!! :) FINALLY, they used this thick metal hook thing to grab her and they got one foot out first and then they were able to grab the rest of her!! Little stinker! But needless to say, I was amazed at the entire process!! I'm so grateful that she was delivered safely and that we both suffered no major trauma from this pretty major surgery!! Enjoy the pics!!

I love my little angels that I'm so privileged to be a mother to!! They truly are little miracles and I'm so blessed to have them in my life!

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Amy Woolery
www.amywools.blogspot.com