Carol Joy's Birth Day!

While the memory is still fresh, I wanted to record as much as I could remember about Carol's birth. This is a long post, but good to have to remember by! I don't think I was too graphic!

A time-line of Carol Joy's Birth Day!

After a long and difficult pregnancy that included intense, all-day, get on prescription meds morning sickness until after 20 weeks, resisting the urge to find out if we were having a boy or a girl, a hospital stay in December due to bleeding/slight tear in the placenta, major Braxton-Hicks starting at 32 weeks that required monitoring in the hospital on top of all of the normal, exhausting, aching side-effects of pregnancy, I was actually feeling really good leading into the last few weeks of my pregnancy. I was amazingly more comfortable and had more energy at 9 months than I did at 7-8 months. I was really thinking and planning on working up through my due date and wasn't anxious or deperately desiring to give birth early any more.

My due date was Friday, April 9...the Friday after Easter weekend. Easter weekend was a big one in our family-- the annual Moody family get-together on Easter day on top of all of Daniel's responsibilities at church as the choir director there. So I really needed to get through Easter for the sanity of my family! Both Emma and I had Good Friday, April 2, off from school, so we enjoyed the day together and celebrated one of our last Monty-G3 days together with a special Chuck-e-Cheese lunch with Daddy, along with a great nap for Emma and mommy in mommy's bed (always a sweet time of snuggling!). Easter came and I felt great-- at our family get-together a lot of people couldn't believe that I was due in 5 days! For some reason, the only time I can eat whatever I want and not gain a lot of weight is during pregnancy. I put on about 35 pounds with Emma, but I swelled tremendously with Emma- having a July baby will do that, I think. I lost so much of it almost immediately as the swelling went down. For this pregnancy, I had gained 26 pounds, and looked smaller at 9 months than I did at 6 months with Emma because I had almost no swelling this time. On Easter evening, we even had the energy to make it over to Daniel's parents house for dinner and fellowship outside on the porch.

MONDAY, APRIL 5:

Because I was again off from school (yay for Easter Monday holiday when you teach at a Christian school!), I let Emma (and myself!) sleep in before I took her to daycare. I had a doctor's appointment that afternoon and needed some time to myself to wrap up my maternity plans (and also get that last minute pedicure as a treat!). Emma came in around 8 and I had gotten us up, dressed, and on our way (after stopping at the donut shop for a treat for Emma) around 9. When we got to her daycare, our normal procedure at this stage of my pregnancy was for me to grab hold of her in the car, but she would jump out and I would guide her to the ground beside me.  This morning, however, I just wasn't aware of my surroundings and as she jumped, I automatically took a step back to give us more room for her to land beside me. Well, I didn't take into consideration the curb next to me, and when I stepped back, my foot slipped and we were quickly falling to the ground. I landed in a sitting position, and Emma landed next to me (not on top, thankfully!) and I was able to cushion her fall a little bit... I definitely got the brunt of the impact.

Well as any mother will tell you, your instinct steps in and you are only concerned about the well-being of your child, so I immediately took a crying Emma in my arms and ignored the (literal) pain and soreness in my bottom. We sat for a while on a bench inside while she settled down, and went into class fine. I was getting pretty sore by that point, but wasn't bleeding or anything so I decided to continue with my day and just keep an extra eye out on my body. I was still feeling movement of the baby, which was reassuring.

I treated myself to Grandy's for breakfast while working on AP Calculus plans. When I was done I was extremely sore and took some Tylenol for the aches. When I went to the bathroom, I had some bloody discharge just like I had in December, so I called my doctor's office to see if I could come to my afternoon appointment early and wait to be fitted in to see my doctor. They told me to come on in and I called Daniel to let him know what had happened. He was just on his way to go to the opening day of the Texas Rangers but being the amazing husband that he is, quickly passed on those plans so he could come to the doctor's office with me. (We do have season tickets so there will be plenty of games to see!)

I got to my doctor's office around 11 and was preparing to wait for a while until I could be seen. However, I was quickly called back by a nurse and told that my doctor wanted me to go ahead and go to Maternal Observation to get on monitors. My doctor's office is attached to Harris downtown, so it was a quick walk through the cafeteria and up the elevators to maternal observation, and that's where Daniel met me. My doctor also happened to be on call that day/night, again why she went ahead and sent me over, and I was very glad to hear she was on-call! After getting the all-important insurance information from me (ugh), they got me hooked up to the monitors about 11:30.

There is no more comforting of a sound when you are pregnant than the sound of your baby's heartbeat! The baby sounded great, but the baby was still really high, hadn't dropped at all, although I was dialated to a 1. This was weird to me because with Emma, even 3 days before I went into labor she was high and I wasn't dialated at all. The nurse mentioned that this baby was up in Canada, meaning the baby had a long way south to go before coming home!

At this point, they took a lot of blood work to run a test to see if the baby's blood cells were intermingled with mine. If they were, that meant that the placenta was torn and we needed to get the baby out. But, this blood test could take up to 6 hours to get the results, so we settled down for a long afternoon on monitors. We watched the Ranger game on TV instead of live! I was getting immensely sore due to the fall and we changed my positions a lot during these hours. I was able to get some pain meds, and that helped considerably. During this time I did make the painful decision to go ahead and call in my maternity sub to start the next day. I love teaching, I love my school, and I love my kids so this was a very emotional decision for me, especially realizing that this meant I was really done not only for the school year, but for (prayerfully!) several years to come. I'm ready to be a stay-at-home mommy, but it was still an emotional decision to make! I'm also slightly stubborn and I had a goal in my brain that I WAS going to last through my due date...well God had other plans!

During this time, I had a few Braxton-Hicks but nothing major. Then around 3:45 I had one that still wasn't as intense as I remember real contractions being but it was definitely more intense. Daniel said he could tell in my face that it was stronger. Well, the nurse came in and suggested I use the bathroom and change positions to see if that would help. As I got up out of bed, two things happened at the same time: the Rangers came from behind and won the game in the 9th inning, and my water broke! Daniel had to watch the replays to really see how they won the game!

The nurse commented how long it had been since she had a patient whose water broke on its own, which was weird to me since my water has broken naturally now with both girls! Although this was different because I wasn't laboring at all when it happened- I was definitely in labor with Emma when my water broke!

So it hit us that yes, we were going to see our baby in the near future! It was a very surreal feeling and it felt so sudden. Because Emma came 2 days after her due date, it was weird to be having this baby a few days early. Daniel and I just kept looking at each other, smiling and laughing about the joy that was about to come. It was a special moment just anticipating the arrival of our little boy or girl! I think you go with the flow a little bit more with your second child, so we hadn't even discussed who would be in the delivery room with us, etc. We also talked that even though most people thought this was a boy (especially because my pregnancy was so different), we really had no idea! We also commented that Emma was born on the day of the World Cup Finals in 2006 and this one would probably be born on Baseball's Opening Day. But no, we weren't going to name our child after a Rangers' player as some of our friends suggested! I was still not having labor pains (which again was weird to me) so we both happily called our friends and family to let them know! Blessedly, Daniel's dad had just arrived at DFW airport from a mission trip to Africa around 2:30 that afternoon- so I kept my promise and held off having this baby until he got back (barely!!).

So eventually I got sent to a delivery room, and by this time Emma had arrived with her Aunt KK (my best friend, Kristen) and she was SO excited that the baby was coming. She was also excited that she was finally going to be able to open the gift that she had spied in the back of my car a few weeks earlier, one that was her big sister gift for the hospital.

I still wasn't in full labor, just having minor contractions that I barely felt. But I got all "hooked" up- IV, etc. My doctor had already approved an epidural since this was my second delivery, so I decided, why not? Let's go ahead and do it! With Emma, my labor and dilation actually sped up once I got the epidural, so another reason to go ahead with it. While we waited for the anaesthesiologist, Emma opened up her present to find Candyland, a viewfinder with many Disney Princess reels, and a Disney Princess etch-a-sketch. She was excited! I also had several bags of fluids put through my IV to make sure I was fully hydrated. The fluid was cold though, and it is such a weird feeling having that cold fluid start running through your veins. I was shivering uncontrollably quite badly and had to have some extra blankets!

I couldn't believe how quickly the anaesthesiologist arrived-- but my nurse said that on weekends (when Emma was born) there is only one on call and right now there were two hence my wait time was not over an hour like previously. So Daniel stayed in the room while I got the epidural. I really think epidurals are more painful for the people having to watch it (i.e. Daniel) than the ones getting it. The hardest part for me is getting up into the sitting position, facing the side of the bed and sitting Indian style! It's hard to do that with a big preggo belly! Once I got the numbing shot, I really didn't feel anything but knew the needle was pretty daunting by the faces that Daniel was making in my side vision! The epidural went in fine, and we were on our way to numbness at 7:00.

After the epidural was in and starting to work (it takes about 30-40 minutes to feel the full effects of an epidural), I not only had a catheter inserted, but my doctor also came in and put monitors directly on the baby's head and next to him/her. This was amazing to me-- she literally reached up and put an electrode on the baby's head! The head one got a more accurate reading of his/her heartrate and the other was put inbetween the baby and the uterus wall to get a more accurate reading of my contractions (which again weren't really full out contractions yet). She also started a flush because when my water broke, there was mirconium in the fluid (i.e. baby poop!), and wanted to flush out any remaining mirconium. Since my contractions still weren't active, she also started me on pitocin to start my contractions. I was measuring at a 2 by this point, but the baby was still really high.

So all of this got set up and we settled down for the long haul. Emma hadn't had dinner yet, so Daniel took her and Aunt KK down to the cafeteria to get dinner while my parents stayed with me. Then all of a sudden my nurse had me rock over to one side for a few seconds and then rock to the other side. She also put a oxygen mask on me and really directed me to take long deep breaths. I did as I was told but could tell she was worried about something. I asked if something was wrong and she said the baby's heartbeat and dropped and she was trying to get it back up. They paged my doctor and when she arrived just a minute later, the heart rate had come back up. Apparently the heartrate had dropped to the 50s (normal baby's heartrate is 130-140). They stopped the pitocin, and my doctor observed for a while, and told me that for some reason the heartrate had dropped, but it was back up and she didn't forsee it happening again. She also told me that I was in a race with the woman next door- we were both at about the same place! She told me to relax and she left the room.

Well, almost immediately after she walked out, the nurse had me start rocking to either side again and yelled out in the hall for someone to get Dr. Williams again. The heartrate had dropped once again. Dr. Williams came in and immediately I could tell a change in her face, the concern and worry. She watched for a few seconds and then gave the diagnosis-- "Csection...stat".

Immediately she left to go get scrubbed and the nurses started unhooking me from all of the oxygen, IVs, monitors etc. I couldn't believe I was going to have to have a c-section. I had such a great labor and delivery with Emma and the thought of a c-section had never even crossed my mind. I was really in disbelief, and then it hit me how fast everyone was moving...and what that "stat" meant. My dad had called Daniel when the heartrate started going crazy, so he was luckily just coming into the room as they were wheeling me out. I didn't get to say anything to him, but I did get a glimpse of him.

They were quickly wheeling me into the operating room- I remember seeing the sign on the door as we went in and that freaked me out even more than I already was. Right as I got into the OR I asked the question (thinking I probably knew the answer but dreading it all the same) whether my husband was going to be able to be in here or not. He wasn't. From his perspective, he was walking behind us when a nurse tersely told him he couldn't follow us anymore. Needless to say he was shocked and not the happiest of camper!

When we got into the OR, I remember seeing everyone moving so fast and seeing my doctor getting her gown on, mask on, etc. They wheeled me over to the thin operating table and asked me if I could move over as fast as possible. Epidural or not, I think I moved pretty quickly-- the nurse even commented on it!

One thing that has always freaked me out about watching c-sections on Baby Story on TLC or seeing friend's pictures after a c-section delivery is the way the table is set up. It is a thin table, with extensions for your arms. It always reminded me of the type of table you see portrayed in movies for lethal injections. They strap your arms down and get ready to pump drugs through your system! So yeah, that thought reappeared in mind at this point...not a good thing since I was really starting to be really scared and freaked out and feeling alone.

In thinking back, I honestly thing this was the most scariest experience in my life. Now, the night that Emma was admitted to the ER and we didn't know what was wrong with her and they were bagging her to give her oxygen is definitely in the #2 position, but I think this edges it out just slightly. I think now having been a mother and coming so close to losing my precious baby, and knowing how much I love her and how my life would be incomplete without her made the fear of the possibility of losing this one intensify. And also, on a personal note, I gathered that they were going to have to put me under general anethesia and cut me open...which was a scary thought on a self-serving level, too. As the anaesthesiologist put another oxygen mask on me, I just started praying outloud, through my tears that were definitely coming down at this point.

So my right arm was strapped down but the left arm extension wasn't put in place yet so my last memory of my arm is just holding it up! They put the protector/shield sheet up in front of my face and the last memory I have is this interchange (which is now quite funny to me...now.) Anaesthesiologist to my doctor: "Don't start cutting yet, she's just numb she's not out yet" (my epidural still hadn't had time to fully work!) My thoughts "Yes, please don't start cutting yet!"...and then I was waking up in the recovery room.

Looking back, I am honestly amazed how fast things went. I remembering seeing all of the nurses, doctors, etc in the OR and how quickly and efficiently they were working from my prospective. Honestly, from the time my doctor called for a c-section it took a minute to get me on my way to the OR, and then I was only awake in the OR for 2 minutes at the most. Daniel said that after they whisked me out, it was less than 5 minutes before a nurse came back to tell them "The baby is here....It's a girl!" (Daniel, even in his state of shock, was able to ask how I was doing! The nurse said I was doing fine!)

Sweet Carol Joy Montgomery was born at 7:44 pm on Monday, April 5, 2010 (Easter Monday!). She weighed 7 pounds 2 ounces and was 20 inches long. She had great apgar scores upon delivery and my doctor could find nothing physically wrong that might have caused the drop in heartbeat. The cord was fine, placenta was intact, everything was healthy.

While I was still being taken care of, Carol did get taken to my labor room where Daniel and my family were gathered. We have two great videos of Carol's appearance to my family, Daniel holding her for the first time, Emma holding her for the first time (they were the only two to hold her that night), and the formal announcement of her name. I'm so thankful for those videos so I could watch at a later time since I was knocked out at the time!

We also have a short video of Emma announcing that she has a baby sister...and the joy on her face is so precious! She was so excited...almost immediately after Daniel picked her up she was asking if she could hold the baby!

Carol Joy is named after Daniel's late aunt, Carol Shelburne. Aunt Carol was everyone's "favorite aunt"...at least that's what she insisted to all of her neices and nephews! Daniel's mom is one of 8 children, and Carol was the youngest. She never married, was an elementary teacher, and LOVED all children. Unfortunately, she passed away from cancer five years ago this May. Not only did I really like the name "Joy" for a middle name, Aunt Carol was full of joy, so the middle name seemed appropriate. (And you can't have too long of names when you have a long last name! hence Emma Rose and Carol Joy!) While we had told several people of our names for both a boy and a girl, we hadn't told Daniel's mom the girl's name. We wanted it to be a surprise blessing for her if the baby ended up being a girl, and her reaction that we caught on video brings tears to your eyes.

So...back to me! They ended up taking Carol up to the nursery so I could come into the labor room for recovery. Only one person could stay in the room with me at a time as I came out of anaesthesia, so most of our family left except for my parents, Emma, and Aunt KK (my father-in-law was extremely jet lagged by this point and needed to get some sleep understandably!). I think Daniel was by my side when I first started rousing awake...but honestly I'm just not sure! It was so blurry! I was also shaking uncontrollably again as I was coming out of anaesthesia. I do remember Emma coming in and giving me a kiss and she could see that I was ok before going to Aunt KK's house to sleep. And when I saw Kristen I vaguely remember telling her what to tell my sub for the next day.....I claim light-headedness due to the anaesthesia on that one! I also remembering having to ask my nurse about 3 times whether we had a boy or girl. "You said it was a girl...right?" -- that sort of conversation! I do remember asking about her apgar scores....where that came from in my medical knowledge I don't know. I also remembering asking if her heart sounded healthy.  My doctor did come in to talk through everything with me about what went on, and why she decided for the emergency c-section. Blessedly when I saw her again in two days at the hospital she sat down and said "Well, let me answer any questions you have because I am sure you don't quite remember everything we talked about immediately afterwards!" Totally true!

She said that the combination of reasons led to her decision to take the baby as soon as possible. The mirconium, not really knowing if my placenta was still good due to the fall that morning, the heart rate dropping, and the fact that I was no where near close to delivery all factored into the decision. She did say she was worried, and so I'm glad that I was at the hospital and able to get such quick care and safe delivery, even though a c-section was not want I had desired. She didn't think the fall started the process, she believes that Carol was just ready to come out on that day that just happened to coincide with my lack of balance. She did say that there should be nothing to keep me from trying a VBAC if we have another child, especially since Emma arrived the normal way. There was nothing physically keeping Carol from being delivered normally.

Eventually I was conscious/stable enough to be moved to my recovery room with Daniel and my mom joining me. Once I got settled there, I was finally able to see my baby girl. I didn't get to see her precious face until after 11 that night...but the wait was worth it! Immediately the love a parent has for a child swept over me! I thank God that he blessed us with a healthy baby girl. It still is hitting me sometimes that A) I am the mother of TWO children now and B) I am the mother of TWO girls! In the Montgomery family line those girls are just so rare, you never would have suspected that we would have two!

So obviously, Carol's arrival was not as we dreamed/expected/planned. We didn't get that moment together of just us finding out if it was a boy or girl. Daniel didn't get to actually be in the delivery room or cut the umbilical cord. I didn't get to experience in person Emma's first glimpse and holding of her baby sister. (Again, SO thankful for the videos, though!) We didn't get to announce her name together. And man....I really wasn't expecting to have the recovery pain that I have gone through with a c-section. I used to think before Emma that I wanted a c-section...it didn't seem as scary as actually pushing a child out. But after Emma's birth and especially now....that's the way to go if at all possible!

Even though we have these regrets, there are so many things to be thankful for:
1. We have a healthy, perfectly formed baby girl.
2. Carol had an echocardiogram read by a cardiologist at Cooks and everything was formed perfectly.
3. We have been able to spend Carol's first weeks at home and not at the hospital.
4. With Emma, I had an easy pregnancy/delivery and then her first year was so so difficult. I would much rather go through a difficult pregnancy and delivery process like with Carol and end up with a healthy child than have to go through the pain of watching my child suffer again. I would much rather take it on myself.
5. If I hadn't of fallen, we wouldn't have been at the hospital when my water broke. Daniel would have been at the Rangers game, and I probably would have been driving around with Emma.
6. I didn't have to go through hours of labor before having a c-section. In fact, I didn't labor at all. The only time I was really uncomfortable is when my doctor put the sensors on Carol's head because Carol was still so high up in my belly.
7. If I had labored and given birth in the middle of the night, both Emma and my best friend wouldn't have been there to experience the exact moment of her birth. Having my daughter there and experiencing that first-hand is precious.


As we (try) and settle into a routine, I am so thankful for the memories and experiences I really am experiencing for the first time with a child at home. I am able to nurse Carol, which I wasn't able to with Emma which was so important to me to be able to provide for my child. I'm still waiting for that darn umbilical cord to fall off so we can give her a bath - Emma's cord was cut off and used as an IV site at Cooks. Just different experiences that in some ways I feel like a first-time parent....with a 3 year old! Emma loves to hold and kiss "Baby Carol"...except when she is whining and that's when she is happy to pass her off to a parent!

Both of my daughters are precious gifts of God to me, and I am so thankful for them both.

Now...we might have to get a dog for Daniel so that he can have someone to wrestle with since he still hasn't gotten that boy...yet! :)