think we were given three different due dates throughout the pregnancy and in the end not one of them ended up being correct. There was the initial one which was May 26th then the dating ultrasound one for May 22nd, followed by going back to May 26th then a c-section date of May 17th only to welcome the ninja wiggler on May 10th, 2011.
May 9th was going to mark the beginning of our final week before parenthood and was supposed to be the time we were going to get everything organized, including: learning how the car seat works, packing the hospital bag, tidying up the house, going grocery shopping, doing my performance appraisal at work and looking at a new place. Little did we know, none of that was going to happen in the time frame we had allotted, if ever.
Sunday was mother's day and somehow we got treated to dinner by my parents at the Boathouse. I was feeling a little off that night but nothing major so had a very nice evening and came home to relax. On Monday May 9th, I went to the dentist for one final cleaning then went to do some paperwork with my mom for the Golf. Throughout the day I was getting these cramps or shall I say experiencing some discomfort but again, didn't think it was anything of concern but rather a normal occurrence so just continued on with the day. At times I would get these sudden hot flashes where I guess my face would go bright red and my mom would ask me if I was okay. Ya, I'm fine, I get these sometimes, nothing to worry about. Ha, like my mom wasn't going to worry so she continued to watch me that afternoon and make little remarks here and there. At one point she was ready to take me to the hospital but of course I refused, all was okay. I got a call from my OB's office wanting me to go get some more blood work so I said I would pick up the req tomorrow as I had an ultrasound at 8:30 and a non-stress test at 9am. I didn't see the point in racing to get it done when I could go ahead and do it all on the same day...my mom again was insistent I just go get it done but reluctantly accepted my refusal. After signing the Golf over to her, she suggested we head over to Delany's before I headed home. I never thought anything of it but looking back I think she had alterior motives and wanted to make sure I was okay. Afterwards I was on my way, again my mom reluctantly let me go and insisted that this was going to be the last time I drove as she was worried about me. Ya, ya, fine, I'm fine, lol, just some discomfort.
Needless to say I got home just in time to watch the hockey game before heading out to Antons for dinner. I was deadset on going to Antons before the due date as I had been wanting it for quite sometime and knew it would be a while before I would get out there again. Throughout the hockey game I was feeling even more off and the discomfort was getting worse but yep, you guessed it, there was nothing to worry about in mind. I had a c-section booked the following week so why would I go into labour or anything like that...baby must just be kicking up a storm in there.
I went to bed at about midnight, discomfort getting worse but there were no other indications of anything in my mind so no need to worry. I was able to doze off from about 12:30-1am so I was convincing myself there definitely indicating labour at this point as I wouldn't have been able to fall asleep if there was something else going on. However, at 1am it started up again so at 1:15 I got up to try to go to the bathroom and also look up on the computer if constipation felt anything like contractions. I had no convinced myself I was just constipated so tried to go to the bathroom. I remember coming out of the washroom and having to lie down on the floor because I was feeling some real discomfort and that seemed to help. I then lied on the couch for just over an hour and in my "research" came across a contraction timer so started to look at it. Well I was getting these "discomfort pains" every 5 minutes and they were lasting for about a minute. I was in some pain but still thought it was maybe just some constipation again. However, I brought myself back to reality a little more and just after 2:30am went back to bed and finally said to Ted, um, I think we need to do something...maybe just call the hospital. I told the nurse I was just experiencing some really bad cramping and had a c-section scheduled for next week but that at my last non-stress test they had said if I feel anything to call. Well the nurse simply said..."well, ya, maybe you should come in then"...so off we went. Kind of nice driving on the highway at 3am, no traffic whatsoever.
We must have got to the hospital at around 3:30 am and I had to get into a gown to be examined...on the way I just told Ted they would probably check me out then tell me to go home and take it really easy...riiiiiigggghhhttt. Next thing I know, the OB is telling us that I am 3-4cm dilated...doh...guess I was in labour all day...stupid, stupid, stupid. My indication was always going to be my water breaking or the sight of blood but none of that happened so to me nothing was going on. It wasn't until that point that I did see a little blood but reality still wasn't setting in. Ted quickly called my mom who I guess raced to the hospital & bbm'd everyone she could, "baby's coming". 4:30 am and there was one person who responded, Meg, you rock, lol...sorry to the rest of the Davies household who were sound asleep only to be woken up by Megan spreading the word.
I was all prepped and off I went to the OR...Ted following shortly after in his scrubs and the camera in hand. I was given an epidural and the surgery was about to begin. Apparently by now I was 8-9 cm dialated but a vaginal birth was far too risky, mainly because the ninja wiggler was deemed a frank breech. You have to love it when you are lying there having them cut you open while the anesthetist is asking me about my sister being a med student and we started up a conversation. It was actually a great distraction as I wasn't focused on what was happening on the other side of the drape so never fully grasped everything. I couldn't feel any pain but I could certainly feel them tugging inside and then a sudden release and the ninja wiggler was out but there was no sound. As I said before I never clued in, I was in such a daze that I didn't realize my child was born but I couldn't hear anything. At 4:54 am the docs told us we had a baby girl & that was it, no more info. Ted went off with the baby and I remained lying there while they sewed me up, still no word. Thankfully Dr Broker came back to let me know that baby was being taken to the special care nursery, she needed some help breathing initially but was now breathing on her own.
I was wheeled off to the recovery room downstairs but thankfully got taken past the SCN so was able to hold my little girl for a minute and was very relieved to see Ted and my mom in there with a great nurse...they all assured me everything was okay.
An hour later I was brought up to our room but the baby wasn't there, still in the SCN. I had to wait until the afternoon to see here because I needed to remain on my back. My mom stayed with Jade in the SCN to remain updated as the pediatrician ordered and ECG because he believed he had heard a murmur. All these things were being done with our baby and I didn't really know any of it but thankfully my mom was able to capture the moments and her and Ted were on top of it all. Ted was back and forth between the nursery so I was given updates and knew things were okay. When I was finally able to see my baby girl, my emotions were numbed. We already had her name picked out so it was written on the little card in her bed...Jade Gayle de Volder. I was sooo happy but this wasn't real to me, things happened sooooo fast. It was kind of hard seeing her with a little IV in her hand and still so quiet. I never saw her open her eyes on that first visit either, it wasn't until the evening when I finally got to see her beautiful eyes. After a short visit we went back to the room and the pediatrician came in to tell us what was happening. (I may be off in my sequence of events but it all happened at some point). Jade's blood sugars kept dropping and thus they needed to keep her on the IV to stabilize them. The doc also requested to be able to feed Jade some formula to keep her stabilized and get the nutrients into her. We didn't even hesitate to say yes, whatever was going to make our baby girl healthy, then please do it. Jade remained in the SCN until Wednesday evening when she came to room with us and by Friday we were both given the okay to head home :) I knew they always checked to make sure parents had approved car seats but I never knew what happened when the baby was under a certain weight. Poor Jade had to be strapped into her car seat, hooked up to the oximeter and spend an hour in the SCN so they could monitor her oxygen levels for the ride home. We had to take a few receiving blankets to create little bumpers to put along side her so she would not move around in the car seat. It sats dropped a couple of times which had us wondering what would happen but thankfully Jade passed and we were allowed to head home.
It wasn't until my last day in hospital and really when I got home that everything that had happened over the past week hit me. I looked through pictures and would just start crying realizing everything that had happened, Jade not crying at birth, having to spend time in the SCN...these are things that are "never going to happen to me". Now though, I just am thankful we have a happy & healthy baby girl and will cherish every minute.
Born May 10th, 2011 at 4:54am weighing 5lbs 7oz, Jade Gayle de Volder was discharged from hospital on Friday, May 13th weighing 5lbs 2oz. She had her first doctors appointment on May 17th, and she has already returned to her birth weight so is doing great. I guess that is what happens when she is woken up every 3 hrs to feed. Being the hockey fans we are, I must note that Jade waited until after the Canucks finished off the Predators to cause me any extreme pain.
I am so happy I delivered at Lions Gate. I guess the main reason was that my parents were able to really help us out when needed and my mom continually stopped in to bring us food or whatever else might have been needed; as well as sending home premade dinners for us for our first few nights at home. I still don't know where we would be if it weren't for all the support they gave us in so many different ways. I often feel very guilty for what they have done but I guess that's where their hearts are. We both have families who have been alongside us throughout the pregnancy and have been of great support. In addition to family, we also have some pretty amazing friends and definitely consider ourselves pretty lucky.
For me, Jade is a miracle and a dream come true that I never thought possible. Life throws us some real curve balls along the way and it is so easy to strike out, which I was all but certain I had done. I feared my past had taken my childbearing abilities away and I would never be able to experience a pregnancy or give my parents a grandchild. Though born May 10th, Jade will be celebrated each and every day.
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| Already to go in for surgery |
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| Ted's first sight of Jade after she was pulled out by her butt |
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| Proud new dad |
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| Jade waving to the world |
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| First time holding Jade for more than a minute |
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| Getting ready to try breast feeding for the first time |
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| IV now removed, Jade is released from the SCN |
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| Daddy getting to give Jade her first bath |
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| One of my favourite pics...my mom & Jade, my guardian angel & my little angel, with huge smiles... |
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| All bundled up and ready to head home |
