Life on North King Street: Harrison's BIRTHday

I wanted to make time to share this story before I start forgetting all of the small details. I wanted to share it for people who are nervous about delivery, especially a c-section and I just want to reminisce the best day of my life, the day my sweet baby boy was born. My c-section was scheduled for 11:30 am on Monday, August 10th. I had never been so nervous in my life as I was the weeks and days leading up to the day I delivered. I woke up at 7:00 Monday morning took a shower, scrubbing with surgical scrub, probably 10 times longer than I needed to but wanted to make sure I was WELL prepared. I got ready like I would any other day, took my very last chalkboard picture and my husband and I packed the car and dropped our dog, Penny off at my parents house. We arrived at the hospital at 9:00am and quickly went up to labor and delivery where the awesome staff wasted no time getting things started. I got dressed in a hospital gown as soon as I got to our room and the nurses hooked me up to the monitor so we could hear Harrison's heartbeat and started my IV. They started me on my first bag of fluids and we waited for some of my family to arrive. At 11:00 I told a friend (and fellow labor and delivery nurse) that I didn't think we would start on time since we only had 30 minutes to go and no one had been in from the O.R. yet. Within 5 minutes everyone started coming by, my wonderful Doctor, the OR nurses, the anesthesiologist and I was walking down the hall by 11:25. I felt SO calm, I couldn't believe I wasn't crying or freaking out. I owe it all to God, there is no way I would have made it through the day without all of the praying I did. I walked into the OR and everyone was so friendly. They immediately asked me to sit on the bed so they could administer my spinal block, which was what I was the most nervous about. It went so smoothly and didn't hurt at ALL! I was so relieved, I started to feel my legs get warm and the staff moved me into position on the table. Then I waited, and waited and it felt like forever but was really only about 10 minutes. I began to feel extremely nauseous because my blood pressure was dropping and I started vomiting. It was the worst part of the whole experience since I was temporarily paralyzed and strapped to the table, flat on my back. The staff gave me something for nausea and the feeling quickly passed. Before I knew it my doctor walked in and started to prepare. I know I told the staff 100 times not to forget my husband. They want to make sure you are completely numb before bringing your spouse in. Soon my husband walked in and I immediately felt better. My doctor began the surgery and within about 5 minutes I asked what was taking so long and they just told me "he's almost here". The whole bed began to shake, apparently because he was so high (and breech) it took a few staff members pushing and pulling to get him out. At 12:03 pm I heard "he's here" but no cry, the room the silent. I LOST my mind for a second and started yelling "why isn't he crying" and the staff told me he was just looking around the room and within seconds I heard him cry for the first time. It was the most amazing moment of my life. I had never felt love like before.They held my little boy up for me to see and quickly took him away to recovery, where my husband followed with him. They finished stitching me up and I went to recovery with my baby and husband, It was such a surreal feeling, watching my husband hold our baby. It was an indescribable feeling that I will never forget. Our family was allowed back within the hour and our photographer came up to capture some of the most cherished moments of my life. I will love these pictures forever. I have never felt luckier than I did they day we brought our baby into this world and we couldn't love him more if we tried!