Timothy John’s Birth Story + Fresh 48 Photos

We welcomed Timothy John into the world on Wednesday, September 27th. He was born at 37 weeks + 2 days via scheduled c-section. If you’ve been following my pregnancy updates then you know I had several pregnancy complications that led to his early birthday, high blood pressure being the main cause.

We checked in to the hospital at 5:30 AM on Wednesday. They took Luke and I back to a room right outside the operating room. I had to change into a hospital gown, leave a urine sample and get settled into a hospital bed. A nurse came back and took my vitals, hooked me up to the monitors to check on baby and then drew blood. She attempted to put an IV in my arm unsuccessfully! It hurt so bad I actually almost passed out. I started sweating profusely and saw stars! She then put the IV in my hand. Thank goodness it didn’t hurt at all. I’m not sure why she didn’t start there. I’ve always had IVs in my hand. They pumped me full of a couple bags of fluids and antibiotics. It seemed like we just sat there for an hour and a half after that. They were waiting on my platelet counts to come back from the lab. Over the weeks prior my platelet count had gotten really low. If it was too low I would have to go all the way under for the surgery. Luckily they came back and were just above the cut-off level. I was able to get a spinal.

I then met with the anesthesiologist who explained the spinal. A spinal is a little different than an epidural. A spinal is just one dose of medicine that numbs you from nipples down. The needle does not stay in your back like an epidural. Spinals are used for scheduled c-sections because they are more effective at numbing and it’s a timed procedure so the medicine does not need to be continuous. Around 7:30 they took me back for the spinal. Luke was not allowed into the operating room at that time. Apparently a lot of husbands pass out and there isn’t enough staff to care for the husbands too! I thought this was funny but I wished he was there with me. The nurse held my shoulders while I got the spinal. It was surprisingly easy. The botched IV attempt hurt worse! I was numb almost immediately though. They needed me to move up on the table and I couldn’t do it! It was such a weird sensation. My brain was telling my body to move but I couldn’t! For the next 10 minutes or so I just laid there while a bunch of prep was happening around me. At this point I started freaking out a little. There was probably 7 people in the room cleaning my stomach, drawing on me, and talking about the procedure. All I’m thinking is where is my husband!? Fast forward another 5 minutes or so and my doctor comes in ready to cut me open, the blue curtain goes up and they finally let Luke in. Phew!

At 8:07 AM Timothy was born. I knew the moment he was born because I felt them pull him from my stomach. It didn’t hurt it just felt like a lot of pulling. Then a second later he cried. A nurse brought him to a table to the left of me and Luke was able to help clean him up and snap a few photos. Then they put him on my chest while they finished my procedure. After I knew he was well and breathing all I wanted to know was what color his hair was! I was really surprised by his dark locks. I was sure it was going to be either red or blond.

The surgery lasted about 20 minutes longer because I got my tubes tied as well. Once that was all done and they were stitching me up, Luke and the nurse took Timothy to the recovery room. He needed to be put under the warmer and have his blood sugars checked because I had gestational diabetes. His first blood sugar level was really low at 36. He had a bottle of formula right then to bring his levels up. We all stayed in the recovery room for another hour and a half or so until I could wiggle my toes. They had to make sure the effects of the spinal were wearing off. Because of Timothy’s low blood sugar we were instructed limited visitors and a quiet afternoon.

They moved us to our regular room, we met the nurses and got settled. At this point I was super itchy from one of the medications that was put in my IV and my heart rate was really low. They gave me oxygen and my heart rate slowly started rising. The good news is that my blood pressure was great throughout the whole procedure! I got an anti-itch medication through my IV and started feeling better. A few members of our immediate family were able to come back and meet him. Later in the afternoon, Luke brought Parker back to meet her little brother. She was so sweet with him. She kept saying she wanted to take baby brother home. By 3 in the afternoon it was just the 3 of us in our room resting and getting to know each other. I attempted to breastfeed several times but he wouldn’t latch. Because of his low blood sugars we had to give him a couple more bottles throughout the day. His blood sugar level rose to an acceptable level but his breathing was labored. They took him to the nursery for 3 hours for monitoring. Luckily he was able to come back to us for the night. He was breathing better and we all settled in for the night.

We spent the next couple of days recovering and went home on Friday around noon. Recovering from a c-section is HARD. I’m sure you don’t need all those details here but I’m on a lot of pain medicine still. If this post seems to drag on that is why!

Since we have been home, breastfeeding has not gotten any easier. He still wont latch. The nurses and doctors believe it’s because of his gestational age. They said he needs instant gratification from a bottle. He can latch he just chooses not to because milk comes from a bottle so much easier. My milk supply came in on Saturday and I have been pumping since. We are supplementing with formula every other bottle because my supply can’t keep up with my hungry little man! I’m hoping to meet with a lactation consultant some time this coming week. I can’t see myself being an exclusive pumper. Hopefully we can get Timothy on the boob!

I am so enjoying this little family of mine. Timothy fits right in and we are so in love.

Timothy John Afdem | September 27, 2017 | 8:07 AM | 6 lbs 15 oz | 19 inches long

All photos courtesy of Photos by SW