Zoe was scheduled to arrive to us on July 10th, Exactly 9 months and 1 day after our wedding. This "math" has resulted in smirks, raised eyebrowns, "cultural refrences", and we heard a lot "You didnt waste anytime" style comments.
At our 18 week ultrasound in February which was a little after 18 weeks cause I also managed to squeeze 3 weeks of Jury Duty into this year (story for another day) we were diagnosed with placenta previa . We have follow up U/Ss and were ultimately scheduled for a C-Section on June 21st at 37 weeks. It was at 35 weeks we had another u/s showing my placenta had moved "just enough" that I could precede to has a vaginal delivery. With all the ultrasounds we got plently of screentime with Zoe or as she was affectionately known then "BruJu" but we always stuck by our decision to not find out "boy or girl" till she entered the world. So the waiting game began.....
July 10th
This was taken on my due date at the same park we did our wedding pictures, as it was easier to walk around with my big belly than it was in my wedding gown and heels I assure you I am not in labor
July 10th came and went without a hint of labor, so it was a week of Drs. appointments, Non Stress Tests, and inquiring texts messages. and we were scheduled to check into South Shore Hospital Thursday evening (the 14th) to begin induction.
BruJu decided to throw us another curveball I woke up around 8:30 that morning "damp". It wasnt that "gush" I had imagined.. I knew it was the real deal but decided to stall... Called Roberta and she finally confessed to my suspicions she was pregnant, BBM'd Ginny who had Zoe's Future Black belt Buddy one month earlier about the possibilty my water broke, FINALLY called Marisa (obviously) this I had to do cause everytime I had called her for the past month I had to dissapoint her by telling her I wasnt calling because I was in labor... She convinced me a call to the Dr. was in order. They told me to come right in.
Waking up Bruno to go to the Drs. Office was straight out of a sitcom. The need to wake him was by now means my state of labor but that there was a opening at the office and I would get right in. Please bear in mind I was extremely skeptical that it was finally happening. With no panic I tapped my sleeping husband on the sholder and told him we had to "go to the doctor". Bruno sprang into action running into the bathroom, grabbing up our bags. I stood there insisiting I wasnt sure and we could come back for everything.
I didnt take much of a look for the Dr to assure me my water had infact broke but i was till not dilated... But cause my water had broke I still had to go right to the hosptial (Good Call on the Bags, Bruno). After spending some time in 'Triage' a place I really didnt understand the point of, I got the nurse to let go to the cafeteria for lunch before checking us in. I needed to "go somewhere" before being in my delivering room for what I knew would be a very long time.. I was right
This picture pretty much sums up how I left about triage
After lunch, we checked in. This is where things get hazy. Started simple enough, IV for fluids etc, monitors for contractions and Baby's heart rate. And we wait. and apparently watch House cause I swear it was on the whole time I was in labor. We did a lot of walking the halls of the Maternity ward, I would know every baby's name in the floor by the time we got there. I convinced Bruno to go get my cell charger and an iced coffee. More walking, some birthball bouncing. One lap of the the ward got a rough not because of labor pains but I realised it was still somewhat light out. I had been in the hospital what felt like forever, had made no progress, and the sun hadnt set yet! I cried, ask Bruno to take me home, He hugged me and suggested we stick it out.
My Last Iced Coffee and My last smile for awhile
At around Midnight, I finally relented and started pitocin, not sure how much sleep I got through the night. I talked with Bruno, did rounds with Dr. House, watched those monitors, finally started to really feel labor. But still very slow progress. One thing I know I didnt do a good job of was keeping people posted on what was going on. I feel badly about that cause I know a lot of people were getting worried but between bad cell reception and lack of progress then lots of pain. So for all of those who I did worry, I Love You and I am Sorry but I am sure you understand
About 24 Hours after discovering my water broke things were getting REAL. This is the part where the story things become a bit unclear. The pitocin finally started doing its job, I was dialting and really feeling the contractions and finally decided I was ready for an epidural.
Funny Story: The sound the "machine" for the epidural makes sounds like a cat meowing, I swear it does. Ofcourse I thought the pain meds made me think I was hallucinating a cat. It wasnt untill I got the courage to ask Bruno if he heard it too I realsied it was the epidural. I was scared if I mentioned it they would take the meds away.
From here it went down hill: Miss Z was coming sunny side up (basically forehead first) they Drs were great trying to get me in a position where she would turn. By the time I got to 6cm (yes only 6) her heart rate was dropping with contractions. I wasnt progressing fast enough, her position wasnt changing, and my water been "broke" for awhile. They let us put it off for awhile but soon we ended up signing papers for a C-section. It was a so surreal agreeing to it and asking when we would go to the OR and the Dr. say it's be about 5 minutes.. after all that just 5 more minutes?? I was really heart broken I didnt get to have the "real" childbirth experience, not even a single attempt to push and still am but at time "enough was enough" and it was time to get our BruJu out so we could find out who she was.
The OR was cold and scary (a little Fire in The Sky-esqe) Bruno wasnt allowed in till the very last min. I swore they were already starting, Bruno said by the time he sat down he could hear "suction". Pleasant, right? The plan had always been for Bruno to announce Boy or Girl. So Finally the Big Moment came and Bruno says "Its looks like a girl" he apparently was a little scared to look and see more of me than he was ready for when looking at our baby for the first time :). I couldnt believe it, I was so certain we were having a boy, though secretly I harbored wanting a little girl SO bad but Bruno had always been right: we had our little girl. and I heard about her hair before I ever laid eyes on her. I think the first thing I said was "Oh that is so your child" to Bruno.
Full beautiful brown hair, Zoe Linda Ferreira entered the world on July 15, 2011 at 2:51pm. 9 lbs 1 oz 20.5 inches long.
She may be flipping off the Drs. for removing her from that nice warm womb here
From here it is all bliss, save for the part where I was incredible exhausted and kept falling asleep in as the got me sticthed up. This frightened Bruno. Fair enough. The same nurse Jen, was with me in recovery, as she was in the last hours in the delivery room as well as the OR. She was really wonderful. It was such a great feeling to finally get to the Maternity ward, Zoe got checked out in the Nursery and Mom, Lena, Marisa, Haley and Lily all beat Zoe to my room. I was so proud introduce my Mom to her Grand Daughter whom we gave her middle name.
Our time with our first Visitors was short. Then for the first time ever it was just me, Bruno and Zoe. It really was an awesome feeling. The realization of a dream come true.
Recovery was rough, learning the ropes of infant care was too but the Nurses at South were awesome. Especially Barbara and Irene, they really got us going. and We were so touched by all the family and friends who were so excited to meet Zoe.
