When the little one was born I was blogging, but not in the same way as I am now. That blog is shut down but I have all the posts. This post is the one from the hubby on the day the little one was born. Enjoy!
Getting to know the Little one
24/07/2008 08:08:21
Ok, the hubby here again as guest blogger while Dawn is in hospital. I'll go through the gruesome details and give an update on the girls.
Dawn had been in labour for three days by Tuesday. It was all getting pretty intense, but didn't seem to be going anywhere. She'd be down to five minutes apart then back up to ten minutes apart (with her contractions). She was a week and a bit overdue already so the decision was made to go ahead with the c-section. The decision was the easy bit of course. We went down to the labour suite at about one, got prepped, suited up and everything. Then the emergencies came in, so it was 4pm by the time we got into theatre.
Last time, giving Dawn the spinal injection took a minute. This time it was a nightmare. They couldn't get the right place and it was hurting Dawn like mad. At one point they hit a nerve leaving her feeling like cold water was flowing down her left leg. They ended up bringing in the senior anaesthetist to take over. He got the spinal in, but it only blocked one side. This left them two options; an epidural or a general. Dawn was so brave, she was hurting like hell but insisted they go for the epidural, meaning more needles in her spine, despite the pain, as she wanted to be conscious when the little one was born. They got the epidural in with a lot less trouble, and went for the op.
Originally we were going to have some young guy do the surgery. The top doc, Pauline Lynch, who delivered Adam and has looked after Dawn all through the pregnancy, took over and did the op herself. We're glad of that because she did her usual sterling work and... well it just felt right.
The little one screamed before they even got her out of Dawn. She screamed while they held her up for us to see and touch; she screamed while they took her to wipe her down and cut the cord; she screamed as they carried her over to us and put her in my arms next to Dawn's face. Then she stopped screaming and pulled faces at us instead. That was the moment where every future battle I may have with the little one over clothes, parties, pocket money, anything really... was lost, once and for all. She's already won and my new address is 'twisted round the little one’s finger'. I'm going to fight like hell to stop her from knowing that for a while though. :)
So Dawn was patched up. The op itself went really well, but it's still a second c-section in two years so it's taken a lot from her. She’s being breastfed and took to it straight away. In fact she's a brilliant baby. She only cries when she wants something or when she's annoyed at being prodded around by medics. If me or Dawn pick her up though, she calms down pretty much straight away. Of course the other babies in the ward are screaming all the time. I've noticed that if they DO stop, the little one does a little scream, just one or two of them, and the others all start up again! The girl has potential!
So we've been looking after her, changing her (My god the girl is an alien. The stuff in her nappy could be used to resurface the m1 - all of it! And possibly half the m6 as well - you need an angle grinder to get the damn stuff off her.) Dawn is walking round now - has bullied them into taking drips and catheter off her and is embarking on her 'I AM going home by Friday' campaign. I'm sort of staying out of that one and focussing on cuddling the little one lots.
The little one’s hair and eyes were a lovely rich brown when she was born. She's changing to blonde and blue eyed now (as babies do). I'll get a batch more photos today to put up. Thanks for all the messages of support from you all. They really are appreciated. Dawn will be back soon no doubt and can give her own version of events, including the tale of Darth Winger, the gas and air queen from the next bed! :)
