Jude William Mitchell
6lbs 10 oz, 18 inches
May 11, 2015
5:27am
It all started on Mother's Day, May 10, 2015. I was 35.2 weeks pregnant and had already been having symptoms of preeclampsia. I had gone into the hospital prior to this day because of high blood pressure, but when my labs and urine came back okay they sent me home. I think I was paranoid and scared that I would end up getting sick again - just like the 2 times before. This is just how my pregnancies go. Dr. Wilson and I had a plan to get my vba2c and I was so scared that it wasn't going to happen because my body wouldn't cooperate.
So mothers day I woke up swollen, just like I had for a couple weeks now. Checked my blood pressure and it was still high, but not high enough to go to the hospital. I was told that unless it reached 160/100 then I shouldn't go unless I had other symptoms. So off to church we went. Asher was finally in primary and I was SO EXCITED for him to sing on the stand for mothers day! I made it just long enough to hear him sing and then I went home. I was so sick and uncomfortable. I rested until it was time to go to the in-laws for Sunday dinner. We went over and the whole time I didn't feel good. I had a pounding headache that medicine couldn't get rid of. I checked my blood pressure and it was 162/106. I told Cameron I didn't want to go to the hospital because I was sick of them looking at me like I was crazy. I was just going to go home and soak in the bath and try to get my body to relax. Jeni told us to just go to be safe and she would keep the boys. I figured it would be an hour or two and then we would be home.
On the way to the hospital I called my mom who had just flown up to Utah to visit Courtney and Tyler. Why wouldn't she travel, I wasn't even full term yet! I told her I would let her know what they said after I got checked out.
I got to my triage room and hooked up to the monitors. My blood pressure was still high so they drew labs and got a urine sample. My urine had slight protein in it and my labs came back high, but nothing alarming. I figured I was just going home to rest until my appointment with Dr Wilson on Wednesday. The next thing I know the on call doctor is in my room telling me that they are going to deliver him and asking when the last time I ate was. They planned on doing surgery around 3:30 am as long as the anesthesiologist was available. Cameron was so confused and I was in shocked. I started shaking uncontrollably and crying like a baby! He asked if the doctor could call Dr. Wilson and see what his opinion was. I desperately wanted a vba2c and I figured there was no way that was going to happen. She called him and he agreed that we needed to deliver right away before I got any worse. She also checked me to see if they could possibly start a foley bulb induction so I could have my vba2c. I wasn't dilated at all. I was having another C-section. Luckily Dr. Wilson said he would come in at 5 am to do the surgery. Cameron called my mom and she was freaking out! How could I have a baby when my mom is in a different state?! She said she would get back as soon as she could.
I was moved into a LDR which I had never been in before so we could get a couple hours of sleep. Cameron called Chase to bring us a few things since we didn't go prepared at all. I hadn't even packed a bag! The nurse came in and started me on magnesium. Let me tell you, that stuff sucks!!! I tried to get some sleep before it was go time, but I was so scared so there wasn't much sleeping going on. Dr. Wilson came in to talk to me as I was getting prepped. He calmed my nerves and made me feel like I was doing what was best for me to keep me safe and healthy. It 5am and time to go to the OR.
The doctor that did the spinal was super rude and made me feel stupid so luckily that was quick and he left. Now its go time. Dr. Wilson and all the nurses started counting everything, saying my name, what we were there for, etc. Cameron was brought into the OR shortly after. I told the doctor to just make sure that me and the baby didn't die. Dramatic, I know. I remember it smelling horrible and it was taking forever! I was so nervous because it was 5 weeks early and I just wanted my baby to be okay! He seemed to be having a hard time getting him out and even asked for the vacuum at one point. Jude was born at 5:27am . He was so cute! They took him over to evaluate him and put him on oxygen immediately. They weighed him and he was 6lbs 10oz. Everyone was shocked that he was so big for being so early! Cameron went with him as he was rushed up to the NICU while I was finishing surgery. The surgery ended up taking much longer then usual because my bladder had adhered to my uterus so when he pulled it away it got a hole that he had to repair. By the time I got to recovery I was able to move my legs because the spinal was wearing off. I ended up throwing up a few times in recovery which never happened after the other deliveries. Jeni and Amy came and visited while I was in recovery and Cameron was able to take Jeni to see the baby. Amy came to the nicu when I was being moved from recovery to my post partum room. She was able to take pictures that I will cherish forever. Seeing my sweet boy hooked up to so many monitors was such a different experience. I wasn't able to hold him or feed him because he had a feeding tube. Having a baby in the NICU is so different and something I hope to never have to do again. More on the NICU later, I need to go snuggle my baby now!
