I love hearing birth stories. Especially when I get to tell my own!
Brooklyn was a healthy, happy fetus. She was a kicker from the start. We had tickets to go see Wicked just before my due date, so naturally, she came early. I went in for a normal appointment and the doctor decided that since there was a growing potential for hypertension and pre-eclampsia, she was comfortable inducing labor now. It was Thursday, May 16th, 12:00 pm.
While Mom drove me to the hospital, I called Ray and said, "are you ready to be a Daddy?". He left work immediately, but since he was working out at Stone Mountain, it took him awhile to get there.
Labor progressed slowly. I was hooked up and given various drugs and fluids. We passed the time by playing Friends Trivia, which I am awesome at!
I don't remember the exact timing of how the day went, but I know it was dark out when they finally broke my water and the contractions grew painful enough that I was ready for the epidural. Once I had that, things were fine, and I was much more comfortable. But when it came time to push, I couldn't feel the pressure enough to make any real impact. So they had to turn my epidural down. Still I struggled. I yelled at Ray and my Mom when they didn't count through the contractions fast enough or loud enough. I was exhausted and that is an understatement.
The doctor did something with forceps and a vacuum, but neither worked. Finally, around 7am, the doctor decided to do an emergency c-section and I was relieved. Within minutes it seemed, I was moved to the OR, still numb and shaking from the epidural, and then she was out! 7lbs, 15 oz, 19 inches long, and bald. My first thought was "Wow! She looks just like Jenna!"
The next few hours passed by me in a blur. I remember they asked me if I wanted to nurse her, but I was too scared because I was so shaky. So Ray gave Brooklyn her first meal. I was weak and needed a blood transfusion. I assumed at the time that it was due to the long labor, but I learned with Grayson that my previous c-section was very badly done and there was a lot of built up scar tissue. So recovery in the hospital took a little longer. Brooklyn and I struggled to figure out nursing and I even had to supplement with a little formula while we worked it out. We fought through it and I am so glad because she ended up nursing for just over a year. It was well worth the effort.
When we finally went home, I sat in the back with her and cried, overwhelmed by love and responsibility.
I have so many memories of her in those early months...curling up together to watch a movie (she is still my little movie buff!), nursing (she was a good, patient eater), bathing, and playing.
And now I can't believe she is going into Kindergarten in the fall!
Brooklyn was a healthy, happy fetus. She was a kicker from the start. We had tickets to go see Wicked just before my due date, so naturally, she came early. I went in for a normal appointment and the doctor decided that since there was a growing potential for hypertension and pre-eclampsia, she was comfortable inducing labor now. It was Thursday, May 16th, 12:00 pm.
While Mom drove me to the hospital, I called Ray and said, "are you ready to be a Daddy?". He left work immediately, but since he was working out at Stone Mountain, it took him awhile to get there.
Labor progressed slowly. I was hooked up and given various drugs and fluids. We passed the time by playing Friends Trivia, which I am awesome at!
I don't remember the exact timing of how the day went, but I know it was dark out when they finally broke my water and the contractions grew painful enough that I was ready for the epidural. Once I had that, things were fine, and I was much more comfortable. But when it came time to push, I couldn't feel the pressure enough to make any real impact. So they had to turn my epidural down. Still I struggled. I yelled at Ray and my Mom when they didn't count through the contractions fast enough or loud enough. I was exhausted and that is an understatement.
The doctor did something with forceps and a vacuum, but neither worked. Finally, around 7am, the doctor decided to do an emergency c-section and I was relieved. Within minutes it seemed, I was moved to the OR, still numb and shaking from the epidural, and then she was out! 7lbs, 15 oz, 19 inches long, and bald. My first thought was "Wow! She looks just like Jenna!"
The next few hours passed by me in a blur. I remember they asked me if I wanted to nurse her, but I was too scared because I was so shaky. So Ray gave Brooklyn her first meal. I was weak and needed a blood transfusion. I assumed at the time that it was due to the long labor, but I learned with Grayson that my previous c-section was very badly done and there was a lot of built up scar tissue. So recovery in the hospital took a little longer. Brooklyn and I struggled to figure out nursing and I even had to supplement with a little formula while we worked it out. We fought through it and I am so glad because she ended up nursing for just over a year. It was well worth the effort.
When we finally went home, I sat in the back with her and cried, overwhelmed by love and responsibility.
I have so many memories of her in those early months...curling up together to watch a movie (she is still my little movie buff!), nursing (she was a good, patient eater), bathing, and playing.
And now I can't believe she is going into Kindergarten in the fall!
Our sweet little Brookly Boo! Happy 5th birthday, granddaughter...you are so loved!
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