Anna Corinne Medved

Anna's birth story.  It's taken a few months for me to process.  I agonized over VBAC  vs. repeat cesarean for my entire pregnancy.  I believe in living as naturally as possible and I believe in the power of natural birth.  I believe that natural birth is what is best for both mama and baby.  But I was scared.  Jacob's birth did a number on me, physically, mentally, and emotionally.  It left me feeling scared, incapable, and completely out of control. The number one thing I wanted with Anna's birth was to feel in control. The last thing I wanted was to go through 20+ hours of labor and then head to an emergency c section.   After so many months of agonizing over the decision, I decided to schedule our cesarean 4 days before her due date.  By my calculations, this was actually 4 days after her due date.  My OB (whom I LOVE!) assured me that if I went to into labor prior to my cesarean and things were going well, we could have a vaginal birth.  If I didn't progress or labor didn't start naturally, then I would have a scheduled c section.  This was a win win for me.

It was a very surreal week.  I was hoping and praying for my body to go into labor.  

Father, I trust you.  If I am supposed to, let me go into labor. Please help me.  If not, I trust you and thank you for cesareans.  I trust you. I trust you.

This was my chant for that week.  It was a busy week.  I knew she was coming either way and I had a lot of things I wanted to do.  I contracted on and off all week.  They were tolerable, but very uncomfortable, but I knew she was ready.  I was comforted by that. I was not dilated and she had not dropped at all.   On Wednesday night, I knew that I would not be delivering vaginally, and was so nervous.  My brother and SIL came to care for Jacob the night before and we went to bed, knowing that we would be getting up very soon to meet our little girl.  We went to hospital, checked in, they hooked me up to an IV, and asked me  a million questions.  I was supposed to go in at 7:30, but it was 8:00 before they got me in.  Minutes after this pic was taken, I got up and walked myself into the OR, scared to death and wishing it was over and I was holding my baby.

Overall, the cesarean was really great.  I had a spinal, it worked well, and the section was very fast. NO PAIN! I hardly felt anything.  My doctor was comforting, my anesthesiologist had a funny name and was young and sweet.  My BP kept dropping and I continued to get shaky and nauseous throughout the entire time, but I survived.  The main thing was that I didn't feel any pain.    My OB said,"Jared, you are going to want to see this."  Jared stood up, looked at our baby.  I looked at his face and he was in complete awe.  He sat down and I asked what she looked like. He said, "I don't know." See?  Surreal.

I immediately noticed that we didn't hear crying.  All we heard was gurgling and suctioning.  To make a long story short, they finished my cesarean and continued to suction her.  They said she took a big gulp of fluid, which happens, but she had to go to the nursery for continued treatment.  I barely got to see her and was devastated and very worried.  I immediately started praying for her, Jared followed her, and the doctors finished me up and got me to recovery.  I was so glad to be done.  

In recovery, my BP was up and down and they continued to care for me.  I had no idea that while I was waiting in recovery, feeling awful, that my baby wasn't breathing well on her own and needed oxygen and tons of suctioning.  Jared was with her the whole time.  He and the doctor finally came down an hour later and said she was doing better, but needed to stay on room air for 30 minutes for her leave the nursery. If she didn't, she would have to go to the NICU.  Statistically, breastfeeding is much more difficult to establish and succeed in if baby is in the NICU.  I was so scared.   It was 10:30 and I prayed for a half hour.  At 11:05, she came rolling in with Jared and the pediatrician.  I've never in my life felt so relieved and thanked God immediately.  Her O2 was 92, they put her on my chest to latch, and her O2 shot up to 100!  We finally got to meet, she latched effortlessly, and all was right our world.  

 I fell SO HARD for her.  So totally in love.  She was such a peaceful and sleepy newborn and I truly felt that I was in heaven.   I couldn't believe how easy it was to bond after a better birth experience.  I must have said "I'm so glad it's over" a million times.  She was on my chest and everything was perfect.

Anna Corinne Medved

Born October 22, 2015

8 lbs 5 ounces

20.25 inches

So much love in that hospital room.  Any mother would tell you that the first few days of meeting your new baby are magical and there really is no other way to describe it.  We simply fell so deeply in love with her. And that kind of love is so powerful.

Another post to come on Jacob meeting Baby Sister!

Father, thank you for this most precious gift!