Meeting Kade Ethan…

I’m slowly catching up on blogland, and I know I’ve missed so much whilst I’ve been consumed with love for Kade. 

I’m sorry that I’ve not been there for some of you who faced dark times and I’m sorry that I’ve not been around to share the joy that some of you have gloried in… I’m hopefully in a better rythym now and hope to be caught up very soon!

How is it possible that it’s been 11 weeks since my life changed?  How is it possible that it’s been a full 37 weeks 5 days of pregnancy and 11 weeks of having my little boy here with me?  Time.  It flies.

Many of you have emailed and asked how we are doing and for an update and I guess I should start at the beginning.  With my gorgeous boy’s birth story.  Its gonna be a long one so get some tea and settle in…

On Monday the 30th May I had my 37 week appointment with my Obgyn.  Our little boy was measuring at 4.3kg’s already and knowing that this could vary at birth by as much as a kilo we decided to book a c-section for Wednesday the 08th June as he was gearing up to be a big baby.  We decided that should I go into labour on my own before that date I would labour and try my hand at a natural delivery but to be honest nobody really expected our boy to come before the 08th.  He was nice and snug in my belly.

I finished work on the 31st and was excited to have some me time before our son arrived.  Time to get his nursery complete.  Time to swop some duplicate gifts we had received and some time to sleep.  

On Thursday the 2nd June, I was pretty uncomfortable all day and night.  Baby boy was lying VERY low and when he moved my cervix got pretty sore.  But I was not worried.  Just uncomfortable and as anyone who has been pregnant can attest those last few weeks are pretty uncomfy all round.

On Friday 03rd June I woke up and started getting ready to meet my friend who had just found out recently that she was finally pregnant for a day of shopping.  She needed maternity pants and I needed to sort out all the gifts etc.  I went to the loo and when I wiped I had blood on the tissue paper. I was like “what?” and could not quite believe what I was seeing.  My first thought was panic.  Blood for me has traditionally not been a good sign, but I told myself it was my bloody show, I called my midwife and we had a chat.  My obgyn was going away that weekend and she told me that I could come in right away for a c-section before he left for the weekend or I could see how I went considering I was not leaking amniotic fluid and was feeling pretty good overall. 

I chose the latter option – I had shopping to do!  AND I hadn’t yet packed a bag and everyone knows that it can take AGES before the baby comes after a bloody show.  Right? 

I then took the last photo of myself pregnant with my BlackBerry.

I had an awesome day shopping with Tam.  Well when I wasn’t complaining to her about how sore my back was getting and when I wasn’t complaining about the darn Braxton Hicks contractions that were getting pretty darn consistent and slightly painful.  Yes, I was in serious denial.

 Eventually after lunch and hearing Tam tell me for the 50th time that she was sure I was in labour we went home.  I called Cliff and told him “I might be in labour” and that we needed to go to the hospital just in case, and that I was packing a bag and there was no need to rush.  In the car we called family and told them that it was probably a false alarm but that we were headed to the hospital.

We got to the hospital and walked to the labour ward.  We told them I might be in labour and they told me it was not a great time as they were out of beds.  I was like “um, well if I am in labour this baby needs somewhere to be born” and they stuck us in the little side room to put me on the monitors to check if I was indeed in labour.  At this point I was still thinking I would be going home for the weekend and that we would meet our son on the 08th.

The nurse explained to us that anything above 20 on the monitor was a contraction and that they would keep me on the monitor for 30 minutes or so to ensure that I was in labour if I was having contractions.  Well.  My readings were reaching between 75 to 85 and were coming at 3 minute intervals.  Sure labour.  I was excited and pretty scared – I wasn’t ready – he was only supposed to come on the 08th – we hadn’t even finished his room properly!

At this point the nurse started asking me about my contractions – were they not sore?  I said yes they’re pretty uncomfortable and sore and then she said your blood pressure is not good.  My heart dipped.  I asked about labouring and going onto have a natural delivery.  She called the matron who took one look at my BP and told Cliff to get me admitted immediately and for him to change into scrubs cos our baby would be born immediately via emergency c-section.  My BP was dangerously high.  200/116!

Within 20 minutes I was being wheeled into theatre and the on call doctor, midwife, anethetist, paed etc were all getting me ready to meet my son.  Cliff came in (he looked HOT in his scrubs by the way) and we were in a daze.  Before we knew it we would be meeting our SON! 

Waiting for my spinal whilst having a contraction

The spinal was the worst part of it all.  It hurt like a bitch for 5 seconds.  Give me contractions anyday!

Cliff held my hand and took some photo’s. 

Then they started cutting me. 

I have a highly developed sense of smell and I remember telling the anethetist that the smell of them suturing whilst cutting was getting to me.  I remember watching Cliff watch them cut me open all the while praying that our son would be born healthy.  I remember thanking God for this experience, for our boy that would soon be born.  I remember telling them over and over that I wanted skin on skin should baby be healthy enough to do it.  I remember thinking over and over to myself  “this is it Samantha, your life is about to start”, I remember the midwife telling me it was nearly time. 

And then she told me that our son was coming out of my womb.

I remember the anthetitist telling me that I didn’t want to miss this and that he lifted my head and shoulders so I could see my son being born.  What happened next is the most defining moment of my life.  They took my son’s head out of my body and as they started lifting him out, he opened his eyes for a second and our eyes met.  I just felt the tears slide down my face at that point.  He looked at me.  My boy – our miracle looked at me.

Then all hell broke loose – he was NOT happy about being taken out of my tummy, his cries and screams were the most amazing thing I’ve heard.  He has a deep voice.  I was crying.  Cliff was crying.  And our boy made a massive wee all over the place.  Such joy and wonder.

They placed our son on my chest and I could not stop kissing him and loving him.  My heart felt like it was going to explode out of my chest with love for him. 

They took him away and did his apgars, Cliff cut the cord and closed me up. 

My BP at this stage was sketchy but I was high.  High on having met our boy at long last.  After 6 IVF’s and over 7 years of waiting, he was here.  Our miracle boy.

Our gorgeous, wonderful, amazing, perfect miracle boy.

Kade Ethan Young.

Our little Clam.

Finally, we were a family of 3.