The Birth Story of Severus Danger

The coveted date of 10.10.10, almost as exciting as 09.02.10. It's the day people want to get married, the day some people wish to die, and the day about 90% of the still pregnant women in the October 2010 birth club, wished to deliver their babies (Christian included)...

Not I, said the Village Idiot. And I said it loud and clear.

How many times am I going to have to smile and nod at "Cool birthday!" "Oh, wow! What an awesome date!" "You know, that only comes around once every 750 million years!"...?

With Samara having been born on New Year's Eve, I thought the Powers That Be had enough of their fun until Mercutio was born on Cinco freakin' De Mayo. Now that Michael Jackson is dead, everyone knows he and Caesar share a birthday. (Though, ask Christian and everyone should have already known that day as Judgement Day in the Terminator movies.)

Knowing that the chances of another biological child are slim to none, it seems the Powers That Be had its parting shot at me...

Severus Danger was angrily born into the world on 10.10.10 at 1:07am.
Weighing in at 5 pounds, 7.7 ounces and measuring 17 1/4 inches long.

I woke up on the 9th feeling, as usual, pretty run down. But with the added cramping and contractions, the searing pain in my incision sites had worsened.

I had wanted to go out, take the boys (who are both sick) to the park or something so they weren't as cabin feverish as we were, but the weather was awful so we all stayed inside and a nap was the most productive thing I'd done.

When I woke up from the nap, the contractions were worse and becoming regular. At the peak of these contractions, my lower half would feel like it was being skewered. I grimaced my way through dinner, like I was going to skip dinner, and when I finally wanted to curl into a ball and roll myself off of the deck, I gave Labor and Delivery a call.

I spoke this time, to a completely different physician, Dr. Bearer of Bad News. She had asked me if Dr. Evil was planning on delivering Baby at the hospital I'd been going to for months, and since I had been going there for months, I told her that I assumed she was and had not heard otherwise.

This seemed odd to her, but still she told me to head over.

And then she called me back, 5 minutes later. She said that she spoke with the nurses and that they "Haven't delivered a fourth Cesarean since.... ever!" which immediately makes my face explode.

I don't know if I mentioned, but I'd been going to that hospital, for MONTHS! Not only had every Doctor I dealt with known I was to have a fourth Cesarean, but so did every nurse. And not one of them told me to travel to the other branch because I'd be delivered there.

Sensing my annoyance at her suggestion to scour the rainy wet, night streets in search of this unfamiliar hospital, she promptly told me that Dr. Evil was somewhat new to their specific branch and that she may not have been aware. The other branch was not only bigger, but it also had a NICU, ICU and blood bank attached - just in case I hemorrhage during surgery, or Baby's lungs were not fully developed.

She gave me the worst directions I'd ever been given, I thanked her and broke the news to Christian, who was even more peeved than I was.

After dropping the big boys off at their Ueli's, we headed to this hospital and made it to the OB Triage, which was nothing more than a claustrophobic box. And what I'm about to say sounds totally dickish, but I was used to being in a birthing suite, not a triage unit where random people kept trying to poke their head in through my door and curtain. I knew none of the nurses or doctors, I was livid!

The first Doctor I met, Dr. Chewbacca (trust me though, his real name is worse) checked my cervix, told me nothing had changed since what I described to him from my Monday appointment. and he walked out with no news at all.

Christian and I, the old pros that we are, sat beside one another - both occasionally glancing at the monitor, he watched game trailers and I texted in the three minutes I had between contractions.

After about an hour, I met with another OB, Dr. Soft Talker. He asked me where the pain was, asked how much it hurt, looked at the monitors and as he was walking out, informed us that he was going to come up with a plan.

Within 20 minutes he was back. The Cesarean site pain troubled him, especially knowing that it was getting worse. At 36 weeks and 5 days gestation and in as much pain as I was in, he didn't really feel like we should make a valiant effort to stop the contractions. I hadn't dilated further, but there was always a huge chance that I just don't dilate. Which I guess could be possible since I have never been further than 1.5cms.

He said we could try one dose of Turblahblahline, and if that didn't work, we'd move on to delivery.

Christian and I looked at each other, laughed and I said "Well, I think we can accurately gauge where this is going. Are you okay with this?" and my husband looked into my eyes as he always does, and says "Are YOU okay with this?"

Dr. Soft Talker interrupted and asked to be filled in. I told him about my last hospital trip a week ago, and how even after all the drugs I had, I was still sent home having contractions. I let him know that I was open to trying, but that he probably wanted to be sure that if delivery WAS the next step, that everyone was ready for it.

And sure enough, an hour later, nothing had changed except for me being jittery. Dr. Soft Talker said "I think we need to just have a baby." Christian and I nodded at one another, the final seal of approval, and it was settled.

And then I panicked.

Not only were there 3 minutes until 12am, 10.10.10 - but I was so certain when we walked in and my cervix hadn't changed, that we'd be monitored, drugged and sent home as usual. I had geared myself up for that, and now the whole plan had changed.

Now the plan included surgery. And the delivery of a baby born at 36 weeks, 5 days gestation. Christian held on to me as I was asked a hundred thousand million questions, and his presence was my peace in those frenetic moments.

Albeit brief, I did find myself with some time alone, in which I reflected upon my resentment at having to be delivered by a team of Unknowns, acknowledging my anxiety over the surgery ahead and finally, allowing myself to feel the excitement of nothing ever going according to plan.

I will spare you the "gorier" details pertaining to Severus' birth, but I will say that Drs. Chewbacca and Soft Talker were both amazingly gracious, going out of their way to make sure I was not in any discomfort. By far, the best Cesarean experience I have had.

Before I realized it, there was a familiar pressure and I heard a gurgle-y baby cry!

The baby warmer was in my eyeshot, so I even got to see a little of the process. Christian cut the rest of his umbilical cord, and was in Daddy heaven as he took pictures of our son.

The nurse noticed that his skin was a little too splotchy, his extremities weren't turning pink, so as a precautionary measure they decided to whisk him away to the NICU to keep an eye on his circulation. But not without first allowing me to see my baby, face to face!

Christian went with him, while I was mended. When I got into the recovery room, there was still no word on how Severus was doing. So I made small talk with the exceptionally sweet nurse that was taking care of me.

Meanwhile, in the NICU...

Severus recovered too.

Over 24 hours later, we are both doing well. I am already moving, and apparently impressing nurses. One called me "amazing" because I fought for the removal of everything I deemed unnecessary, whenever I deemed it unnecessary. I, personally call that "impatience" I'm vying for the first trip out of here, but I appreciate the compliment.

Severus has dealt with some low blood sugar issues, which he is continuing to rebound from, but other than that he is wonderful. I am going to guess that Caesar sent him some tips on nursing, because this Minion is an old pro. He has his "Woe is me" drama hands down pat. And he looks just like Mercutio to me, but without the mega cheeks.

I am stricken with awe. I always expected a baby, I always knew I was going to love him. But again I am dumbfounded and humbled by the experience; from the shock and anger of initially learning I was pregnant, through each stage of pregnancy, to admiring the gentle way my husband cradles our infant, greatly wishing our daughter was here and watching Caesar and Mercutio transition to big, and bigger, brothers.

These gifts are priceless, I don't feel even remotely worthy of them and yet they were given to me.

I knew I was right to trust my instincts (though by mere days, we did not make it to term, just as I'd predicted) and my son. I should have also known he'd side with his father on a birthdate of epic win.

Welcome to the world, Severus. Welcome to our family. May the Gods of Sanity bless you, my love, because you're going to need it...

Comments

[Nikki]

As usual!! You were very right! So very cool! I am super jealous, even though its scary you still get to experience the "I wonder what day my kids going to be born" I have to have a repeat c section and its boring knowing I am going to be delivered on the 16th on November! lol. Oh, and of course, hes a doll!

[pamela]

He is perfect perfect perfect!