Shane's Birth Story

Shane Christian
January 20, 2003
0801am
8 lbs. 9 oz. & 20 1/4"
38 weeks 3 days 

Shane was due on January 31, 2003......but since I was having a repeat c-section, we scheduled for 38 weeks on January 20th (a Monday). That was a special day, b/c it also happened to be my grandparents 59th wedding anniversary (they are deceased, and the day we buried them, was the day I also found out I was pg. with Shane).

Anyway, I got to the hospital at 530am. I had Troy, and my best friend Grace with me. I was checked in and given a room. I changed into my gown and then they hooked me up to the monitors and I just layed in bed. My mom and inlaws showed up soon after. Eventually I was given some nasty stuff to drink for my surgery, and they shaved me and put my catheter in....fun fun. I had my doctor and anesthesiologist come in and talk with me about the surgery and stuff like that.

I think it was about 720am or so.....and the nurse came in and told me it was time to go! I got up and walked with all my equipment in tow, to the Operating Room. That was weird. Being back in the OR made me a bit nervous. Last time wasn't a good experience, so I was quite nervous. I sat on the table and the anes. inserted my Spinal. That was not nearly as bad as I was expecting. They helped my lie down, and the Spinal almost immediately started taking effect. I could feel my body numbing from my toes and all the way up past my throat. That was really wierd. After a few minutes, the doctor asked me if I felt him pricking my and I said no. Then Troy was brought in and sat right next to my head. A couple minutes later I asked the doctor if they were gonna start soon and he laughed and said they were part way there already! Troy looked over the curtain and said sure enough, they were! I was so happy that I wasn't feeling ANY of it...not even any tugging. What was a little scary though, was not being able to feel myself swallow or breathe. I kept thinking I wasn't breathing and my chest was heavy, so I couldn't even *try* to take breaths. They told me I was indeed breathing, and okay. A few minutes later, my doctor told me Shane was almost out and they all commented on how cute he was (like I'm sure they tell everyone) and he was big and healthy looking! So out he came and I can't even describe the feeling when I heard his first cry. It was the most awesome thing ever! I was so jealous that Troy was over looking at and holding him and I couldn't. They did bring Shane over to see me, and he was so cute!! REALLY scratched up though. So Troy left with Shane and the nurse and after I was taken care of, they moved me to recovery. By that time, the Spinal was wearing off and I was given some Demerol. After I was monitored for a couple hours, I was moved to another room. All my family was there waiting, but I still had to wait a while to see Shane. That was hard...but well worth the wait! It was the best feeling holding him for the first time.