Well, let me start by saying, he is perfect! Frankie was born on his actual due date, May 21st at 12:29pm. He was 9 lbs, 2 oz, and 22 inches long! A big big boy! He is so beautiful, and such a good baby. He rarely cries, eats well, and is really alert already. We are completely, head over heals, in love! To see his first photo shoot, go to
http://www.bellababyphotography.com/. Click on Bella Baby. Click on view my pics, and enter the password 0521frankievillardito. They turned out amazing!
Now, for the rest. My birthing experience was horrible to say the least. We went to the doctor for a check-up on Wednesday, May 20th, at 3:00pm, and I was experiencing some nausea and had a headache. When they checked me, my blood pressure was high, and there was +2 protein in my urine. These are all signs of preeclampsia. (I am so glad that I didn't know much about preeclampsia at the time because only 5-8% of women get it, and it is the number one cause of deaths to a mother during birth! Your organs start shutting down.) My doctor decided that I should go the hospital immediately and to start an induction. We went and first I was given medicine to soften my cervix. Very unpleasant since they had to insert the medicine vaginally. Then, nothing was happening, and my blood pressure was getting worse, so they hooked me up to magnesium. It makes you have flu like symptoms, so I had the chills, but my head felt like it was 1000 degrees. Then, they had to insert a catheter. This was the worst part and hurt so bad because I wasn't medicated or anything. I felt EVERYTHING! Needless to say, they kept checking, and I wasn't dialating at all. They started the pitocin drip at 4am on May 21st, and checked back hourly. Nothing was happening, and I took a turn for the worse: my kidneys started to fail, and enzymes got into my liver. So, my doctor dropped the bomb and said I was probably going to have to have a c-section. I cried hysterically, and Brian had to help me get composed. ( I talk more later about how truly amazing my husband is!) Dr. Oh said she would give me an hour more (until 11am) and if nothing was happening, we would have to prepare for the c-section. The nurse suggested I get an epidural because it might help me dialate since I would be more reaxed down there. I got the epidural, and it doesn't mix well with the magnesium, so I felt even sicker, like I was going to throw up. They took my blood for the umpteenth time, and Dr. Oh came back. I had gotten worse. My doctor was so great though, and didn't let on how bad I was to me at least (I was also so drugged up that I barely knew what was going on). But Brian says he's never been so scared in his life. That even though Dr. Oh spoke calmly when she said we would have to do a c-section and that my kidneys and liver had gotten worse, the urgency was written all over her face. I thought that we would do a c-section later that day, but all of a sudden I was being wheeled in to the operating room and was classified as an emergency c-section due to severe preeclampsia. They even bumped a scheduled c-section to put me first. He was out quick and then whisked away to be attended to while I was stictched up.
On our way to the operating room, and meeting my son for the first time.
It was so weird because I was so out of it on the table, but the doctors on the other side were having a normal conversation during it all. Some of the things I heard were, "Whoa, look at that huge head," and "He's gotta be around 10 lbs, what a big boy!"
So far recovery has been horrible. I can't even sugar coat it. I was in the hospital until Monday. I am in a lot of pain, and can't do much of anything but sit or lay in bed (and when I say lay, I mean sit up since I can't lay down without it hurting.) I have to sleep sitting up, and I am really, really swollen. Everytime I move, it feels like someone is cutting into me all over again. The worst part is you all know that I am not a sitter. I am usually go go go, and now I need help just to walk to the bathroom. I can't even pick up my son myself, I have to have Brian hand him to me for feedings. I don't understand why women would ever opt to have a c-section the second time around, and now understand why some women stop at one kid after an experience like this.
Now about my husband. I knew I had an amazing husband, but I don't know if I truly realized how incredible he is. He has taken care of everything. He was a natural with Frankie from the very beginning, from changing him to soothing him. He has taken care of me and dealt with my numerous daily crying jags. He has taken over the cleaning, cooking (well, ordering and picking up take out : )), grocery shopping, diapering, bathing, laundry, etc. I can't even describe how truly blessed I feel.
Frankie's first pictures.
Frankie with Mommy and Daddy!
Meeting the fam!
Visitors! Meeting Frankie!
Great Grandma and Grandpa (Frankie's namesake) Sagadin meeting their first great grandchild!
Hospital Days! Just hanging out!
