birth story: colin michael

June 3, 2009
8:18 am
8lbs 13oz
21 inches

Our second little bundle of joy has finally arrived! He arrived, as planned, on June 3, 2009 at 8:18am.

It's interesting that one of the things no one talks about when you have a scheduled cesarean is all the extra time you have to think about what is actually going to happen to you. After all, it is surgery. And it's scary to realize that your doc is about to take your baby out by ... well, I won't detail it because I think you know just how many layers require repair when all is said and done.

So, as I sat on the surgery table, about to get my spinal block, I couldn't hold the tears back. I was scared and nervous in a way that I hadn't had time to be with Vin's birth. With Vin it all happened so fast. All the docs and nurses were so sweet and supportive. I had people wiping back tears and holding my hands, trying to comfort me. I knew I was in good hands.

The spinal wasn't even remotely as bad as I was thinking it was going to be. It's not much worse than getting Novocaine at the dentist office. Once it settled in, that was such a weird feeling. I couldn't even move my toes and I suddenly had an inkling what it must feel like to be paralyzed.

The actual surgery went about the same as it had with Vin. I could feel the docs pushing once they were pulling little Colin out ... and yes, it's strange and awkward and I just wanted it to be over with. Then the doc pulled back the little cover on the window (the "window" my doc, the ex-Senator, invented) to show me our little baby boy. I immediately thought he looked just like Vin! And the tears just wouldn't stop. I was so happy that he appeared healthy and I just couldn't wait to hold him. But this time I specifically asked Chris to NOT let me hold him until we were back in our room. One of the things I felt with Vin (and I've heard many other moms who've had cesareans say the same) is that when they hand you the baby when you're strapped to a table and most of your body is numb, all you can think about it, "OMG, I'm going to drop the baby!!" So I asked Chris to hold Colin up to my face so I could talk to him and kiss him and just stare at him for a bit. It was such a relief to not worry about him falling to the floor!!

Dr. Morell is a wiz at cesareans. All the nurses even said he's the fastest in the hospital. He's got it down to a science and we were back in our room by 8:45am and I was nursing little Colin moments later. At first he didn't seem to know what to do, but once the nurse helped me get him to latch the first time, well, he was a PRO! His second latch was PERFECT! I'm sure it was partially because of all the practice I got with Vin, but it was such a relief to not have to worry about nursing this time. (When we went to our post pardum follow up appt the nurse said I should teach a class on breastfeeding! While many of my friends were probably told this with their first child, I was just so happy to hear it this time around!)

Colin didn't take long to start power feeding. He had a four hour power feed ... followed by a nearly 24 hour power feed. Seriously. One of the nurses informed me that Colin was known (during shift changes) as the super star breastfeeder :) I was just so proud.

Healing from the cesarean was such a completely different experience from the first time around as well. I was up and showering 24 hours later! Woo hoo! The only unfortunate side to this was seeing my post pardum body that soon after ... oh boy. NOT pretty. I seriously looked like a HUGE pear and I came out of the bathroom in tears. I was not happy. But I knew a few weeks later that would all change. Time. Gotta give the body some time to process all the IV fluids and recover from surgery. Deep breath.

Oh wait! I suddenly remembered that I have a beautiful, very mellow, perfect latching little baby boy. All is right with the world again.

I actually asked the nurses at one point if I should be worried that Colin rarely cried. I think the nurse was holding back laughter (but I was serious!) He just barely made a peep the first days. He was just so easy to please. And really, he still is! Chris and I keep joking that he's pulling the wool over our eyes and one day he's going to wake up and really challenge us. So for now, we're just trying to appreciate what a wonderfully easy little baby he is ... and we're counting our blessings. Who knows how long it will last!

So, welcome to the world little Colin! We are all so happy you are finally here!