Shaun and I would like to introduce Mack Bennett Rhodes. This has seriously been a dream come true and we couldn't be happier. Friday May 25th is the day that we were able to welcome this sweet pea into the world.
I woke up at 4 in the morning and had some carnation instant breakfast and some granola and then tried to go back to sleep. I woke up to eat because due to having a scheduled c-section I was not able to eat or drink anything 8 hours before having surgery. I was not able to really fall back asleep as all of these thoughts were racing through my head. Fear, excitement and feelings of inadequacy kept creeping through my head. I also kept thinking about my hospital bag and the feeling that I forgot something.
So finally at 7 am I got out of bed and showered. I then repacked my hospital bag along with the diaper bag and made sure that the camera was charged. I curled my hair and made sure that my make up was on point, after all we were going to be taking our first family photos. The fact that everything about my baby's birth was planned I had the luxury of getting ready. After getting all ready, Shaun packed and ate breakfast then we were ready to go.
I suddenly realized that I was really going to miss my cute baby bump. Not necessarily miss not being able to move around but I was going to miss baby Rhodes kicking me all the time. I was going to miss those sweet baby hiccups that would keep me up in the middle of the night. I was going to miss knowing that no matter what baby was safe and sound inside of me. I was going to miss knowing that baby was always by my side. Ok now I am getting dramatic...I will blame the hormones. I was going to set up the tripod that Rocky and Rachelle got me for my birthday inside the house to take one last baby bump picture. However Shaun suggested that we set it up outside our apartment. Oh did I mention it had been storming like crazy being Oklahoma (It is Tornado Season). So we set up the tripod underneath our roof and took some last bump pictures.
Then we headed to the hospital. Shaun forgot his retainers so we had to turn around and come and back and get it. Which made my anxiety even worse, knowing that we might not make it on time. We were scheduled to be there at 10:15am. Shaun asked me if he wanted me to be dropped off since it was raining, to which I replied no we have an umbrella. Right when we parked it started to DOWNPOUR. Then I changed my mind ha and he dropped me off.
Panicking of course instead of waiting for him I immediately was shown how to get to the 6th floor and headed that way. Shaun called and asked where I went. I told him that I was worried that I was going to be late. When in reality we had a few minutes to spare. Shaun then met me on the 6th floor. I was at the check in desk and I began filling out all of the paperwork. Of course my hand was shaking and Shaun kept making fun of me and also telling me to calm down and that everything was going to be ok. Once I finished with the paperwork they told me to go back out in the waiting room and that once my room was ready they would call me. They put all of my wrist bands on and then Shaun and I went out and waited.
After what seemed like an eternity (Which in reality it was probably only 5 minutes) the nurse called Shaun and I back. We then went into a room and I had to undress into a hospital gown. I then sat on the bed and they began by hooking me up to an IV. They also wanted to double check that baby was still breech (That is the reason why we were having a c-section). Shaun and I both knew that baby's head was still on my right side. They got the ultrasound out, Shaun then asked,"You guys want to make a bet on where the head is?" ha Sure enough baby's head was on my right side and baby was still Frank Breech.
They checked babys heart beat everything was fine. It did not like the contractions though. I had been having contractions for a while now but yesterday I would have about 3 an hour none that were painful by any means. Just uncomfortable. Then the waiting game began. Dr. Goff came in and answered all of my questions. One of my main concerns...which was a stupid one was that I would feel when they were cutting me. Ha he reassured me that they were going to give me a spinal and that he would pinch me real hard before starting. He also said that I would feel a lot of pressure but nothing that would hurt. He also told me that a lot of women report the worst part being when they started my IV.
Above is a picture of Dr. Goff and I
Above is a picture of Dr. Goff and I
We then waited as go time was quickly approaching. I got more and more nervous as we were getting closer to 12:00pm. Then they came in to tell us that there was an emergency c-section that they had to do first. Great that gave me more time to worry. At some point the Anesthesiologist came in and answered some more of my questions and said that we would get going soon. Then at 1:40 ish pm we were about ready. They then lifted my bed up and wheeled me out. Shaun put on his huge blue jumper scrub outfit that is ONE SIZE fits nobody on and we headed out. He held my hand and then we wheeled down the hallway. There became a point where they said ok now you wait out here and we entered the operating room. I did not like the fact that Shaun could not go in with me. I immediately started to panic.
We got into the room and the nurses started spatting out all of these numbers. Charting EVERYTHING out loud of what we were doing and when we were doing it. I think the thing that got me the most worked up were all of the SUPER BRIGHT LIGHTS!! They then lifted me onto the operating room table. I felt as if I was in a movie. Dr. Goff was in the room which was comforting to see a familiar face. Then they were ready to do the spinal. They sat me up and I had to bend over. Dr. Goff was right there every step of the way. The anesthesiologist was at my back placing some idodine stuff and then there was a nurse in front of me who I had to lean into. I literally had my face in her boobs and she held me still so that I could get the spinal. It definitely was not comfortable I felt this weird zing sensation. They then laid me down.
Once that was done they then welcomed Shaun in thank goodness. He immediately came by my side. I felt this numbing sensation all the way down my legs. Weirdest feeling. Shaun had my camera out to take pictures. He was looking over the drape. Dr. Goff then said, "I am going to connect your incision scars to your hernia scar. He asked me if I preferred that or if I wanted to have an additional scar. I told him that I did not care and to do what he thought was best. Dr. Goff then starts singing Happy Birthday, and then all of a sudden he says, " We have a baby." Shaun was watching the whole thing. The anesthesiologist was at my head the entire time asking me how I was doing.
I like to think that he is screaming, "Mom I am here!"
Before I knew it there was a baby being shown to me over the blue drape!! Dr. Goff said, "Well what is it?" I saw that it was a boy and I quickly said, " IT'S A BOY!" He was hanging upside down. He disappeared and then within seconds he re-appeared over the drape and Dr. Said, " He wants a kiss from Mama!" I then kissed baby on the nose. This is something I will NEVER FORGET! This is the moment I realized that I was a Mother! I will forever have the title Mom. (Look at me I am crying just writing this post) Seriously though it makes me so emotional thinking about it. I got to hear that beautiful baby boy cry. They then carried him over to the warmer, cleaned him off. Shaun went over there with baby and took pictures and even got to hold him. Shaun said that when he saw the baby in the warmer he was overwhelmed with emotion. This was one of the two times that he said that he got emotional. He also said that all of these pictures of the details are things that we felt emotional towards and wanted to make sure that he captured them. I feel bad that I had Shaun take all of these pictures, however I had to cancel our birth photographer due to the fact that I was having a C-section she was no longer allowed in the room. The only way that I was able to have these photos was to have my husband take them. I have to say that he did an AMAZING job and I am going to treasure these always!
Meanwhile I was being sewn back up. I began to feel nauseous. I quickly told the anesthesiologist and she grabbed a barf bag and held it against my mouth. I then began dry heaving for what felt like 13 minutes is what I told Shaun after the fact. He then told me that the entire C-section procedure start to finish was only 15 minutes and that from incision to birth was only 2 minutes. Crazy how fast that was. Luckily I did not throw up. Shaun told me after the fact that there were 2 times that he got really emotional in the operating room. I was a hot mess. So many emotions. Once they were finished cleaning him up they swaddled him up and they were able to bring him by my head and I kissed him some more. Then Shaun, Baby (Unknown name at this point) and I all took our first family photo. (See below) My heart was full.
Trying so hard to open up his eyes for the first time.
Check out his legs, Breach babies like to spread their legs out since they have been in the pike position for so long.
Peace out!
Cutest little foot print
18 inches long
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They then blew up some mattress beneath me and they all counted at the same time and lifted me up from one bed onto the bed that I was going to be on in my hospital room. It felt so weird. I also think they overcompensated for my weight as I was slammed onto the other bed. They immediately placed baby on my chest for skin to skin. Oh this was magical. Baby was not crying at all and just laying on my chest looking at me with what looked like to be blue eyes. I could have died and gone to Heaven.
We got back to the room and baby laid on my chest just looking me straight in the eyes. Oh it was so precious. Shaun snapped some pictures of me and baby. Immediately baby figured out on his own how to nurse. Baby nursed for an hour and a half. It was not bad at all. Then they swaddled him and Shaun was able to hold baby. Oh my heart melted and grew 5 times! I could see how much love Shaun already had for this baby. We did not know what to name him yet.
This is when we were back in our room after we were able to breastfeed for the first time, which Mack did like a Champ!
This is when we were back in our room after we were able to breastfeed for the first time, which Mack did like a Champ!
Also I had Shaun and I both turn our phones on airplane mode. I did not want any sort of distractions because I knew that people would be blowing up our phones wanting to know how everything went. I wanted to bond with baby and Shaun without any distractions. Baby had some poopy diapers, Shaun changed his first diaper. (New born poop is the funniest) I did not see it but black tar like. Shaun had fun learning how to change a diaper and did it happily. I think there is something to be said when it is your own kid. We both just had so much love him.
Around 7 oclock or so we were chatting about a name. For the longest time we decided that if it was a boy we would name him Bennett. However in the past month Shaun for some reason has been OBSESSED with the name Mack. We were going use another middle name but it was also a one syllable name. Nothing sounded right. Then we thought how about we use both of the names that we liked. MACK BENNETT RHODES! It clicked! We both looked at each other and loved that name!
Shaun laid baby out and put him in a red swaddle that I had just for him. Shaun laid baby out on a blanket and did a mini photo shoot. We decided on a name and then sent out a mass text to our family. We wanted to make sure that we had a name set in stone before announcing our baby to the world. It all just felt right.
Baby Mack Bennett Rhodes
Born at 2:14pm
5 Pounds 11 Ounces
18 inches long
You have won our hearts no question. Since his birth weight was so low they were constantly checking him. He had low glucose levels so they had to continue to prick his poor little heal and draw blood and have it tested. I had a catheter in and could not be right there next to him during these little pricks. I wanted to cry. Luckily Shaun was there with him the entire time. Then we would swaddle him and hug and kiss him like crazy after. Shaun would make sure to cuddle him. We would try to nurse but often after being pricked he had no interest in nursing but would just cry. Oh man it broke my heart. I had the catheter taken out in the middle of the night. Getting up to walk for the first time was painful. I was trying to nurse every 2 hours and also he would be given glucose orally and getting pricked. We had to supplement with formula because of his levels.
Shaun actually got to spend a lot more time with him then I did. However I loved watching them bond. Shaun said to me at one point, "Kaitlin, God is good." He said I love this kid SO MUCH!"
"I could seriously hold you all day, if you were anyone else's kid I would be tired but I just love you SO much!"
"You are all mine." As he hugs and kisses baby Mack!
I have a few more things saved on my phone. But honestly the first night was a blur and REALLY hard especially because we were running on no sleep and seeing this poor guy get his foot pricked. However I could not be happier. Everything ran smoothly. The nurses kept coming in every 2 hours or so and pushing really hard on my stomach. They were checking to see if my Uterus was hard or not. It was causing contractions that hurt like CRAZY since my uterus was trying to back to its original size. The pain meds were great once they kicked in.
These pictures I will treasure forever. I am going to add more pictures from the actual day. Oh also I think that we watched a few play off games or NBA Basketball. Anyways I love Shaun. He really is my ROCK and I could not done it without him. His love is so strong and he is someone who loves to serve everyone. He has served me more than anything this week and this day. He even helped me with pumping. He is so Christlike and I am lucky to have married him.
Mack Bennett Rhodes You are truly blessed to have him as your daddy.
Him and I love you Very VERY much!
Grateful.
