Thursday, August 27, 2015

Gabrielle Is Here

On Thursday, August 6, I had an appointment with my OB. It was also the morning I woke up vomiting. I really didn't want to tell him I had been throwing up because I knew he'd send me to the hospital for tests. But I couldn't really hide the fact that I was sick, so I came clean and sure enough, he sent me to the hospital.

At first, I was supposed to stay 24 hours. My blood pressure was too high, my blood sugar was off the chart, and I had protein in my urine. Diabetes aside, I had preeclampsia. The hospital decided to keep me for a week. I was mad. I really, really hate the hospital.

After a very boring week during which doctors, all with varying opinions about how to treat diabetes, poked me, changed my diet, changed my insulin, and assumed I had no understanding of my condition, they finally got my blood pressure down. But they still wouldn't let me go home. So I started pushing to schedule a C-section. On Sunday, August 16, I would have been 37 weeks pregnant and therefore full term. Sunday was also one of my stepson's birthday. My doctor was on call Monday August 17. We agreed to do the C-section either Sunday or Monday. During the week I was in the hospital, my baby dropped even lower. My OB sent me downstairs for an ultrasound and she was so low the tech couldn't get a good picture of her head. We did see her opening and closing her mouth which is an indication that she was practicing breathing. At the time of the ultrasound she was 8 pounds and 4 oz.

But on Friday, August 14 my blood pressure shot up again. This time the hospital gave me medicine to bring it down. I was allergic. Every time they gave it to me, I vomited. Which caused my blood pressure to go even higher.

I had the C-section on Friday afternoon. I heard my daughter cry before I ever saw her. I started to cry too because I couldn't get up and hold her. I cried when I saw her for the first time. I couldn't believe she was mine. I cried because she was so beautiful. I cried because I still couldn't hold her. I cried because my father had died. I cried because at that moment I loved my husband so much more. I cried because I couldn't talk. There was no words to express everything I felt.

She was 9 pounds even at delivery. It is estimated that had I carried her until my September 6 due date, she would have been close to 11 pounds.

We finally came home on the 17th.





I intend to keep blogging. But as I am yet to master holding my baby while doing things one-handed, it could be a while before I get to a regular posting schedule.

9 comments:

elizabeth said...

Congratulations! I wish you and your family every happiness. Gabrielle is a beautiful elegant name. You are a great mom! Please take care of your health so you can take care of your new precious baby.

Laura said...

Congratulations on your beautiful little girl! She's precious!
blessings
~*~

fluffy said...

I have been following your blog for a number of years, but never commented before. I just wanted to say CONGRATULATIONS ! I'm so happy for you and welcome to the world baby Gabrielle love fluffy x

Aine O'Brien said...

Oh my god she is beautiful!! And I love,love, love her name. I'm so happy for you and your family. :)

Chrysalis said...

Beautiful! Congratulations!!!

Andréann said...

She is beautiful and so is her name (I have 3 Gabriel in my family, mind you I'm from Québec!). I'm happy you both are safe. Congratulations to all the family!

Jeanne said...

Congratulations! She is absolutely beautiful! ♥ Glad everyone is doing well. :o)

Living in Muddy Waters said...



Mother, I love you so.

Said the child, I love you more than I know.
She laid her head on her mother's arm,
And the love between them kept them warm.

- Stevie Smith

Welcome to the world of Motherhood!

Unknown said...

Happy happy sweetie & best wishes to the new brood! 😘