I started to get dressed without putting on deodorant, lotions, etc per instructions. It felt strange. I did my hair, but didn’t do my make up or bother putting in my contacts. Ryan was starting to get ready too. He was going to wear one of his phrase print t-shirts that I think a teenaged boy would get in trouble for wearing to school. I reminded him that we would be taking a lot of pictures today, pictures that would be looked at by many eyes. He decided a plain t-shirt would be more appropriate. Good choice.
I thought about any last minute items to pack in my hospital bag. I was ready 45 minutes before we were supposed to leave. I didn’t have a thing to do. Those were long minutes. Ryan was still getting ready. Maybe I would’ve shaved my legs, or folded some laundry, or done some dishes. But I really couldn’t concentrate. My mind was all over the place. I really started to feel unprepared for the day. But I had done all I could do.
By the time Ryan was finally ready, I asked him to pack my bag and pillow out to the minivan, which was waiting at the ready with carseats installed. And I was itching to go. One last thing before we leave: take one last side shot of mom’s tummy. I look back at that picture now and am so completely glad we took it. I felt big, but I didn’t feel that big. Such a good picture to show for shock value!
Ryan and I locked the door and walked hand in hand to the minivan. I reminded him that the next time we were both here, we would be bringing two babies with us. It made both of us pause for a moment. It was all so surreal.
We drove to the hospital, with the light of dawn and the slow flow of traffic. There was a sense of urgency, but we weren’t in a hurry. We arrived at the Labor and Delivery Entrance in plenty of time to have me slowly waddle to the doors. I picked up the phone and told the woman on the line that I was there for my c-section. The doors opened and we walked in. I went to the desk and they smiled and said they’d be right with me.
My nurse for the pre-op stuff was a nice lady who, of course, knew my mother. The aides and other nurses all knew my mother. Everyone introduced me to the next employee as “Kristi’s daughter, you know the one that’s having twins.” I was among unfamiliar friends. I was there to deliver Kristi’s grandbabies. This was my name for a while. I honestly didn’t care. There was too much going on in my mind.
Ryan and I were escorted to a room. I was to undress and put on a double size gown (it covered most of me), pee in a cup, and lie in bed until the nurse came back in to start the IV.
She came back and tried to start an IV. The first stick she thought she ‘got it’ but the vein blew and I ended up with a key lime sized bruise on my arm for about 9 weeks. She then ‘got’ the second stick just fine. Boy was it uncomfortable. I’m not scared of blood or needles, but that thing hurt! It hurt for a long time.
She asked me all the usual questions about first pregnancy, no miscarriages, blood type, weight, height, fetal movement, medication, contractions, and other symptoms like headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. It was a flurry of boring questions I had answered many times before. Everything was status quo.
I was expecting a lot of visitors while all of this was going on. Since my mom knew the ins and outs of the system and the winding hallways, she was supposed to be there early to usher in the in-laws. Basically, she would be their tour guide and tell them what would happen next. My in-laws must have been excited because they got there just a few minutes after my IV was started. Mom was no where around. I felt bad, but the in-laws were too thrilled that it was ‘time’ to care. They were there and the babies would be there soon.
Once my father-in-law, mother-in-law, and 14 year old brother-in-law were in the room and updated as to the current happenings, it was time to get embarrassing. The nurse asked, “Did you shave your pubic area?” I’m sure my face went bright red thinking of my father-in-law and brother-in-law standing there listening.
“Um. I tried.” “Well, let’s see how you did.”
I went from embarrassed to mortified. I looked right at my in-laws and said, “PRIVACY PLEASE!” They backed to one side of the room and the sliding curtain was drawn.
She whipped back my gown and said, “Well, it’s crooked, but it looks like you tried. Let me just finish up for you.” Sigh. I was humiliated. I was 8 months pregnant with twins and had just met my father-in-law 11 months earlier. I was way past uncomfortable and just beyond horrified. She had no tact or sense of privacy. I am so glad there was a curtain there, but I would have preferred a sound proof wall. She turned on the buzz cut style electric trimmers and proceeded to “finish me up.”
Now, because of my job, I deal with a lot of annoying people. Some citizens I honestly wish would lose the phone number for the police. I enjoy helping people who need help, but some days…! Well, let’s just say I like my “Hold” button. But this nurse topped every single annoying person I've ever talked to. She loved to hum and “La La La” sing-song style to herself while she wrote her notes down.
Why did I tell you that? Because she hummed and LaLa’d to herself while buzz cutting my pubic hair. Just sit back for a moment and imagine that. Your in-laws are standing six feet away from you, separated by a thin curtain. Your husband is trying to take each moment in and remember it to tell stories for the kids. And your nurse is having a good old time buzzing your privates. Now, that is…, I don’t know WHAT that is.
Isn’t it interesting the small things you remember?
Well, the trimmers were turned off and I was re-gowned and the curtain was pulled back. At least now everyone knew that I had freshly shaved privates.
It would just be a few minutes more. In the meantime, my mom showed up and took the in-laws on a quick tour of the floor. Why couldn’t she have been even five minutes earlier?
Ryan and I were told to wait there and the c-section room would be ready for me shortly. I had to wear a hair net surgical hat and Ryan was handed booties, a hat, and a gown to wear. We took a few more pictures as we waited.
The nurse walked in. “Rachel?” It was time. Ryan helped me off the bed and helped hold the back of my gown closed while I slowly moseyed down the hallway to the c-section room. I gave my mom a hug and she said she would make sure that the in-laws were well taken care of.
As a last minute bonus, my mom asked the charge nurse if she could ‘catch the babies.’ During a cesarean section, the doctor pulls the baby out of the womb and passes the baby off to a nurse waiting with a sterile towel, the ‘baby catcher.’ I had heard my mom use the term before. I had heard her tell stories of her catching other babies. Why not mine? I never even thought of this fun little option until Mom asked me if it would be okay. What a fun story to tell to the babies: the first one to hold them besides the doctor was their grandma! Thankfully, the charge nurse that day agreed, as long as my mom clocked in for the delivery and gowned up as necessary. Done!
No comments:
Post a Comment