Orson's Arrival Story

 Well, Orson turned 15 months old yesterday. I have ignored this blog for quite some time. Anyway, here's Orson's story. 

While I had pre-eclampsia again with Orson, it was much later, as the maternal-fetal-medicine specialist we met with for a pre-conception appointment had said would likely be the case (we spent a lot of time deciding whether to have another after LeRoy). 

My mantra through Orson's pregnancy was "every pregnancy is different." And it did feel different. People actually saw me pregnant! It was much harder being pregnant with a toddler. My symptoms were similar and we knew we were having a boy again. We had to find out this time because we both find boy names challenging. 

When I found out I was pregnant, I unfollowed all the NICU and pre-eclampsia content on my socials. I knew what could happen. I didn't need the reminders while pregnant. Per my OB's instructions, I started taking baby aspirin at 12 weeks. My blood pressure had come back down between pregnancies and, while it was higher than recommended, it was not high enough for a chronic diagnosis or medication. I knew I'd be monitored closely, and I had a lot more appointments - extra labs, biweekly, and then weekly, ultrasounds in the 3rd trimester. 

Third trimester

I hit 28 weeks and I was fine. My blood pressure stayed down. It was weird, and a milestone and I didn't have as much time to process it all with a toddler, which was probably for the best. My OB mentioned a possibility of making it to 39 weeks if I didn't have any issues. Though, we knew realistically it'd probably be 37 at best - the recommended delivery for gestational hypertension.

I hit 31+2 and was the most pregnant I'd ever been. I actually got very visibly pregnant and I talked to strangers about my pregnancy, something I hadn't done before for several reasons. I hit 34 weeks and was excited; that was the first major goal. Also, I was getting uncomfortable and didn't know how people were pregnant for 40+ weeks. Seems wild to me. 

My feet were so swollen towards the end; I figured I heating towards gestational hypertension at least.

The most pregnant I'd ever been.

I hit 36 weeks and there it was. Elevated blood pressure. Gestational hypertension again. My labs were fine, however, so it was not pre-e yet, but I knew I'd be delivering at 37 weeks. I hoped it could be 37+2 or something so it could be on a Monday vs a Saturday (easier with LeRoy in school). I spent all week waiting to find out from my OB when exactly I'd deliver. Finally, Thursday I learned it had to be exactly 37 weeks and they scheduled my C-seciton. So much notice for a schedule C-section. Luckily, my mom had a heads up and was able to come down to watch LeRoy. 

The C-section

From wanting a "natural birth" with LeRoy to having an emergency C-section, I pivoted and went with a scheduled C-section for Orson vs a TOLAC (trial of labor after C-section). While I'd briefly grieved not experiencing labor with LeRoy and felt I couldn't relate to most birth stories, I ultimately wanted the predictability, didn't know how I'd handle a TOLAC, and figured labor was an experience I didn't actually need to have. 

My C-section was scheduled for 9 am, which meant I had to get there at 6 am. It actually happened at noon due to the OB getting held up in labor, so I was super hungry by then. And, I had gotten very little sleep the night before. LeRoy slept terribly, I had pre-surgery jitters, I guess, and I had to be up at 4 am to drink Gatorade. 

The surgery itself was straightforward. I gave the CRNA music for me to listen to. It was all calm. Orson needed some help breathing right away, but nothing he had to go to the NICU for and he was able to go to the PACU with me. It was so different having a newborn placed on my chest.

Recovery

Shortly after getting to the post-partum room, Orson needed to go the nursery for all the tests and he was under a heat lamp briefly. Mike went with him. I tried to eat some sherbert while they were gone but threw it all up and had to call a nurse in to help. Shortly after, my BP started spiking. The team tried a med I knew hadn't worked for me last time. It didn't again. They wanted to put me on magnesium and I really wanted to avoid it. Eventually, they landed on two meds that brought it back down. 

My blood pressure had reached severe pre-e levels again, but I was so glad it was after delivery this time but still in the hospital. 

It took a while to get the right meds to stabilize my BP for discharge, and once I got home I was on BP meds longer than last time with more of them. Luckily, I'm back to my "elevated but not high enough for a chronic hypertension diagnosis" state now. 

Nearly everything was different now. I had a baby in the post-partum room with me! None of us slept the 2nd night, which I absolutely didn't know about from before. I was able to try breastfeeding right away (ultimately I pumped again as he was a sleepy 37 weeker, but still). He came home right away at the same weight, and a similar age, LeRoy was when he came home - 5 lbs 12 oz.