Beau joined the Major family on Feb 2 2015 at 3:01 pm. He weighed 8 lbs 2 oz and 21 inches long. He came out the same height as his sister but weighing just a bit less.

I went in for my normal twice weekly NST on that Monday and they felt that my blood pressures were consistently higher than they normally were and since I was just 3 days away from my actual c section date (2/5), Dr. Donna Richie suggested that it would be best to just go ahead and bring him on out especially since he was already full term. I called Chris and told him the news. He had to drop Naomi and the dogs off at Ma’s and he was on his way to me while simultaneously trying to get his shift covered that he had later that evening.

Needless to say, I was terrified knowing that it was happening sooner than it was supposed to. I felt so much apprehension and fear of having to repeat the horrific events of last year’s c section. And then I realized that I hadn’t even had a chance to kiss Naomi goodbye that morning because I had to sneak off while Chris watched her. And it made me so sad. I wasn’t prepared mentally and emotionally to go that day. Chris calmed my nerves down a lot when he showed up. And before I knew it, I walked into that OR. Chris had to sit out for a little while as they prepped me, and everything happened so fast that I realized as I was walking to the table that I hadn’t kissed him in case it was my last kiss and I was so regretful and sad about it as I was getting prepped.

It was such a surreal feeling walking into that sterile OR. I almost felt as if  I was walking to my death. I know, I’m being dramatic, but thats how terrified I felt.

The anesthesiologist, Dr. Wapner was fantastic. He listened to my concerns about being nauseous  and really kept me from throwing up. The scariest part of the ordeal was the initial spinal block. Whatever medication he used I felt instantaneous and my legs immediately felt heavy and I felt so drowsy as I was laying down, almost like I was slowly passing out but desperately trying to hang on. I was diaphoretic and scared that I was slipping. And he came to me and asked me what my normal heart rate was and I told him 90s and he said right now my heart rate was in the 40s, so he worked on bringing that back up. Chris came in and sat next to me head and rubbed on my head trying to comfort me cause he knew I wasn’t feeling well based on how I looked. But Dr Wapner reversed it all, and I started to feel better. They had already started working on cutting me open and I liked hearing the conversations around me because it let me know I was still a live and still a part of this world. Pretty soon they had him out and the first thing Chris said was, “Does he have hair??” I haven’t asked him about it, but I thought that was a funny first thought. My first words were, “he’s still a boy??”

They wanted to place him on my chest for skin to skin time, but as soon as they did, i started to feel sick and nauseous . Dr Wapner said it was because they were sewing up the perineum and that I would continue to feel that way til they were done. So they took Beau back and gave him to Chris. I felt better once they were done, and they rolled me into recovery where I saw Chris and Beau. Recovery this time around was amazingly different than my first time. With Naomi, I was so passed out from all the meds they pushed to knock me out so I wouldn’t be nauseous and throw up. This time, I was alert and completely awake and ready to hold my baby.

My recovery time has also been a lot faster than the first. I was up and walking on my own the day after, and I have not had to pick up narcs for pain. I am not hunched over and walking super slow as I was the first time. It’s just an all around better experience and I am so glad because it makes the possibility of having more kids less scary.

During our stay, I was able to get Beau to latch and nurse him and for the first time ever, I heard him gulping down milk and just chugging, and it was amazing! I felt so accomplished and happy.

Beau had elevated bilirubin levels on the second day, so they put him under double phototherapy lights. It was really hard to see him in there, and not be able to hold him all the time. To hear him cry in there, but not be able to pick him up and comfort him. My heart ached to have him under there for almost two full days. But it kept his levels at bay and not elevated so they discharged us home the next day.

The following day, we had a peds appt and Curran thought he looked well, and wasn’t concerned about his yellow appearance since he gained 2 ounces from discharge date (7.6 to 7.8).  YAY!

So we went home and of course, as with Naomi, we had to freak out about something. Chris was carrying Beau doing skin to skin, and I guess I was staring with a weird look on my face and Chris asked whats wrong, and so I asked him, “why’s he still so yellow?” We considered taking him to the ER for a bill check, but called the pediatrician, Joyce , nurse hotline, and a pediatrician from Tarzana. All of whom told us that Beau was not high risk and should be okay. The pediatrician on call told us that jaundice could stay in the system for a month and it would be okay. So we decided not to go to the ER. Beau got lucky.

So I continue to breastfeed in hopes that he’s actually getting something. It’s so hard not knowing how much he’s actually getting. We had follow up appt with Curran for a weight check, and lo and behold, he is now 8 lbs 3 oz. I was thrilled and relieved .

Now it’s all about reading up on Baby Wise and seeing if we can get Beau to eventually sleep through the night as well as Naomi did.