Natalie, Our Heart Baby's Story part 1

When I think about writing Natalies story, I get overwhelmed with the thoughts, emotions, and knowledge that was packed into those 41 days. However, if I do not write them down now, I may forget the memories all together.

Our adventure started July 2nd at 8:20 pm. We headed to PSL (Presbyterian Saint Lukes Hospital) excited, scared and clueless. I realize now, that some things in life you just can't prepare for. Neither Brandon or I, knew how we would react to our babies situation. We arrived 10 minutes after 9pm and could only get access through the emergency doors. Everything after that became a little slow.  However, the nurse practitioner told me that my body was already having small contractions on its own, and that they would start cytotec at 2:00 am. She joked that if she had started at 10:00 that most likely Natalie would come before the doctors would want her here. The later time would insure her delivery for noon the next day, but of course no guarantee. Until then we nestled in and watched many hours of Gilmore Girls!

I finally began to fall alseep (or so it felt) around 12:00 am and then automatically woke up before 2:00. Soon to fallow was the nurse with the fun little white pills. Then next came the Pitocine and after that came the rush of contractions. Around 5:00 am I begged for my epidural which gave me much needed relief. The guy who did it was amazing. I'm usually shaking and freaked out of my mind. He talked me through the whole process while talking about other things to ease our minds. After that, labor was breeze. At one point they thought I was having heavy contractions and realized that Natalie was moving a ton making it hard for the fetal monitors to read her vitals. So the Doctor Oliver Jones himself came in broke my water and threaded internal monitors on Natalies head. Around 10:30 am, I began to feel major pressure and an urge to bear down. I told the nurse I needed to poop which signaled right away "It's time!" After that, the room flooded with an audience of people. I can't even tell you who all of them were. There were the nurses and doctors for me, as well as the team for natalie, plus the undergrads experiencing a TGA birth for the first time. I seriously felt like I was on display. The plus side was I had a great cheer team. As I began to push Natalie would not stop wiggling. The nurses and doctor could see her head twisting around making it hard for me to push her out. At one point Dr. Jones sat down in a chair over by a wall and just acted like he was taking a break. I looked at one of nurses and said (in a voice Dr. Jones could hear) "is that an incentive for me to push harder?" she laughed and said "lets show him what we are made of." I then pushed as hard as I could and with a look of surprise on his face he jumped up and came to catch our little pumpkin. 

I only got to hold Natalie for about 5 minutes. When they first handed her to me I said "look a little Riley, wait this is Natalie." It was surreal, and she was so blue. I knew in a matter of minutes she would be leaving to the NICU.

See, she did have a Major cone head! This did not happen with my other two.

Born 7/3/14 at 11:31

9lbs. 9oz 20.5 inches long

They spent a little time getting her details and cleaning her up enough for transport. I got to look over and see her and Brandon head off to the next journey. Brandon's eyes were full of tears and I kept up a good face for as long as I could. Once they were gone, and my doctor had finished, that's when my mood changed. First the anesthesia started to wear off making me shake uncontrollably (my first time experiencing that) and then I began to cry. A nurse came in and told me to take more cytotec because I was bleeding like a sieve.  My Placenta was huge and I guess natalies umbilical cord was too big. They asked me if I wanted to keep it because it was so thick. I gladly told them no!

As I was recovering and waiting for my body parts regain control, Brandon got to watch the balloon procedure (balloon atrial septostomy) they did on Natalies heart. 

By 5:00 pm I finally had full function of my legs. When my parents showed up with the kids we headed to the NICU to visit Natalie. She was still recovering from her procedure. It was hard because I really wanted to hold her, but she was intubated and still under anesthesia. I of course began to sob again. All I wanted to do was hold and comfort my little angle.
July 4th was a much better day. We got to hold our sweet baby girl. Of course we had to be careful because she had an IV line in her umbilical cord. If pulled out she could have bled to death. Comforting hu? The 4th is usually my favorite time of the year, I was sad to spend it in the hospital, but glad that they let Brandon and I watch fireworks from a conference room at the top of the building.

July 4th in the NICU

July 4th in the NICU

July 4th in the NICU

July 6th in NICU with Riley

July 6th in the NICU

July 6th in the NICU

This Elephant is now chalk full of little notes from doctors and nurses who have cared for Natalie. My mom found it at St.Vincents and bought it for Natalie. Brandon and I loved the idea!

Day 7 in the NICU.

Day 9 in the NICU before surgery

The wait in the NICU felt  very long. We enjoyed the time we had bonding with Natalie. She was taking 90 milliliters of breast milk. She had the kindest nurses and one of them was Melodie. Melodie loved on Natalie as if she were her own granddaughter. She also put Brandon and I at ease. The night before Natalies surgery I began to fall apart. The whole time she was in the NICU I acted very enthusiastic and happy. The day of her surgery was hard. When the team came in to talk to me I fell apart. Dr. Leonard presented us with a willow figurine holding a gold heart. I clutched that figurine like I was holding onto to Natalies life. Melodie hugged me and just let me cry. As usual I began to apologize for my crying. Then Melodie looked at me and said "stop apologizing your hores are moaning." Brandon and I started laughing. She always knew how to lighten the mood.