Throughout my pregnancy with Adelyn I had the feeling that I would have a c-section. I never really said anything to anyone though and sure enough after 30 hours of labor and a baby in distress they took me off to the OR for a c-section. So there was never any question about this pregnancy - a scheduled c-section for me! Matt was down right giddy about it and I was planning on eating a nice dinner out just the two of us the night before. However, half way through this pregnancy I just could not shake the feeling that this baby was coming before my c-section date. So this time I started talking about it in hopes that by saying "I think this baby is coming early" out loud, I would be wrong and he would stay inside until Aug. 26th. You may remember my dream from a couple of weeks ago about how the baby would be born early, huge, and not cute at all. Yeah well, most of that happened. Born at 35 weeks and weighing in at 6 lbs 5 oz definitely counts as an early, huge baby. He's cute as a button though. So glad I was wrong about that! ;)
Midway through the morning of Aug 1st I noticed I was not feeling very good. When I really started to think about it I realized it felt like I was having contractions. Around lunch time I called Matt and left a message that went like this..."So I know I'm being paranoid, but I'm pretty sure I'm having contractions. Call me! Love ya! Bye!" Later that afternoon I was feeling even worse and after being advised by my doctor's office to go to triage we decided that it would be better to go at 7 pm than 2:30 am. I was also thinking that if I was in labor they would try to stop it since I was only 35 weeks and the chances of success would be higher the earlier we went. (On a side note to anyone who is pregnant or planning to be - if you go into labor after 35 weeks they don't stop it. They let you have the baby.) Thankfully, Darla was in town visiting a friend. She and Kinsley came over to watch Adelyn and off we went to the hospital.
(My last preggo picture before leaving. I'm was bigger at 35 weeks with Caiden than I was with Adelyn at 39 weeks.)
The first diagnosis was Braxton Hicks contractions. I don't think the sweet doctor whose name badge had "education" written on it appreciated my response of "Are you sure? Because this is exactly how my labor with my daughter started." Fast forward a few more hours and my doctor said, "Ok, you're labor is definitely progressing so I'm going to go ahead and call the c-section." She seemed a little surprised when I started crying and Matt started shaking. When she asked if we were ok I choked out through my tears "Yes, we're fine. We're just in denial and thought we'd have the month of August to get ready for this baby." Later she asked me if I had a diaper bag packed. My response..."I don't even have diapers. And our car seat is in the attic." "Oh", she said.
Caiden was born at 7:10 am on August 2nd and we were so thankful that our precious little boy was healthy and arrived safely. He was in some respiratory distress for the first 12 hours due to extra fluid in his lungs. This is not uncommon for babies born pre-term and even more so for c-section babies. Because of that he had to spend the first day in the transitional nursery being monitored. It was really hard not to see him that first day but Matt was able to go check on him whenever he (or I) wanted. We were also very thankful that my initial recovery was 100 times better than it had been with Adelyn. Being coherent has some real perks!
By Wednesday morning he was rooming in with us and ready for visitors! Caiden definitely took us by surprise with his early arrival. Matt & I were both in shock and denial through it all. We kept saying to each other "you don't understand - I'm suppoosed to have the month of August." The hardest thing for me was that I felt like I'd lost my last few weeks with just Adelyn. But there are some definite advantages too. Like not being pregnant the month of August, not starting pre-school and having a baby within a 24 hour period, and getting a whole extra month to "recover" before skinny jean season starts back up.
Obviously no one but the Lord knows why on earth Caiden needed to be born so early but here's our theory...Adelyn was born at 39 weeks, weighed 6 lbs. 6 oz. and was 20 1/4" long. At 35 weeks, Caiden weighed 6 lbs. 5.3 oz. and was 20" long. So, we've decided that my body only cooks babies to a little over the 6 lb. mark and then says "Alrighty, kiddo. You're outta here!" Who knows if we're right or not but IF (if, if, if, if) we have a 3rd child you better believe that when the ultra sound technician tells me my 32 weeker is 5 something pounds, I'll be packing my bags! (And buying diapers and getting the car seat out of the attic).
Welcome to the world, Caiden! We're so glad you're here and apart of our family!
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