Maeve Joan's Birth Story

SHE'S HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Little miss Maeve Joan joined us on February 2 at 8:06 A.M., and we are OVER THE MOON WITH JOY. This little lady already feels like she has been part of our family forever, and I can hardly remember life before her.

And so, her story.

At our last appointment, I knew that I was about 2 cm dilated. I also knew that my husband was going out of town two nights before the c-section, and I was VERY nervous about this. However, despite having SO MANY contractions and a 4-hour period two nights before delivery where I legitimately thought I was in labor, Maeve decided to be very polite and wait until her scheduled arrival date. I have a feeling she will continue this trend and have impeccable manners some day.

We arrived at the hospital, as we did for Charlotte's c-section, at around 5:30 AM. I took one final bump picture and felt, as I always do, such a strange sense of bittersweet anticipation...I knew I would have my baby in my arms in a matter of hours, but I missed our special bond already! 

I changed into my hospital gown and sat down to pray. I prayed for my family, my friends, my blog friends, and anyone else I could think of. I also read my prayer meditation for the day. February 2 is the feat of the Presentation of our Lord in the Temple...what an awesome day to be born! It's also Groundhog's Day...Jesus beats groundhogs naturally, but both are pretty cool. The rhythm of my prayers and the peace of this awesome feast day brought me great comfort as I waited for surgery. Thanks to all who allowed me to pray for you!

For those of you who have read either of my previous two birth stories, you know that me and c-sections don't jive too well. They are a necessary evil - I have to get my babies out somehow! - but they activate my mostly dormant anxiety in an intense and sometimes scary way. On this particular morning, though, I felt like I was doing pretty well. I was a two-time-vet, after all! I could handle this! Until the doc walked in...then, I started shaking like a leaf.

Luckily, my baby sister (and Maevie's godmother) decided to take a day off of work to be there while the baby was being born! She walked into my pre-op room and I immediately felt better. She is such a goof and was able to calm me down just by being her ridiculous cheesy self. I so appreciated having her there, and it definitely helped me to breeeeeathe before the main event.

I always hate going into the O.R. alone, but that's how it works. They wheel you in without your partner (in my case, Tim) and you have to sit there and get prepped for 30 or so minutes with no one to distract you. It's one of the hardest parts for me. The O.R. is cold, and SO BRIGHT, and all of the doctor's tools are on full display as soon as you walk in. Still, I thought, I can handle this. I kept breathing and kept smiling and chatting with the nurses and anesthesiologist (all lovely, by the way) and mostly managed to keep my cool!

I've always had great epidurals during delivery, but this one was unpleasant in the beginning. As soon as the anesthesiologist placed the needle, I had shooting pains all down the left side of my body and my left leg began to shoot up involuntarily. Such a weird feeling! He assured me that it would even out in a few minutes, and it did, but in the interim I was in a lot of pain. Finally, the medicine took over and I felt my whole lower half go limp - another not-so-favorite thing. But still, I was hanging in there!

Then, my least favorite part of all - getting strapped down. I HATE having no control of my limbs, especially all of them all at once! They attached my arms to the table with velcro and all of the sudden my face was itching like crazy. At the same time, I felt my blood pressure tank and I announced that I was probably going to pass out. I thought this was the beginning of a panic attack, but actually, the anesthesiologist explained to me that this is a normal feeling and always happens in the initial stages of feeling the anesthesia. A break through! I will remember this for next time (God willing) and will remember that this is normal, and not to panic. Once he reassured me that all was well, I was mostly able to relax.

Tim joined me in the room and tried to distract me from surgery. A hard job, but he tried! It After about 10 minutes of surgery, I heard one of my favorite sounds of all time - a sweet, sweet baby cry.

Tim peeked around the curtain to announce the gender, but people, I'm telling you - I already knew. As soon as I heard that cry, I was even more convicted than I had been! He announced that we had another precious baby girl, our beautiful Maeve Joan, and tears began streaming down my cheeks. I had to wait a few minutes before I could see her, but Tim ran over to the warmer and described her to me from afar. Full pouty lips and dark hair, just like Kiki! A cute button nose, just like EIleen! Long legs, big hands, 8 lbs. 3 oz., and 21 inches long. I could not stop my happy tears from flowing and as I closed my eyes, the sun began to brilliantly stream through the windows behind me. Through my closed teary eyes, I could see the faint outline of Mother Mary against the sunshine. I thanked her for the gift of our daughter, asked her once again to consider all of your intentions, and then laughed as "Happy" by Pharrell started to play on the radio!

As they stitched me up, I was so desperate to see my baby girl! The doctor finally brought her around towards the end of surgery and I cried, again. She is so, so beautiful. She is the spitting image of both of her sisters, and I couldn't believe we had been blessed with ANOTHER beautiful girl! They finally finished surgery and wheeled me into the recovery room, where I was finally able to hold and nurse sweet Maeve. She came out hungry, like both of her sisters, and nursed like a champ on the first try. 

My immediate recovery was much easier than my recovery with the girls, and has basically continued on that path. Poor Maeve has jaundice, just like Kiki did, so we have had to supplement with a bit of formula while we wait for my milk to come in. But she has only lost 3 oz. and the doctor is pleased with that. So far, Maeve is the quietest and most content of my three girls. She loves to be held and cuddled, but even while in her bassinet, she barely makes a peep. My heart skips a beat every time I look at her. I cannot believe she is ours, like a missing puzzle piece of our family that we didn't even know existed. We are so, so happy and we feel so richly blessed.

And now, some baby pictures...because who doesn't love pictures of an adorable brand new baby!

Immediately after delivery!

9/9 on her Apgars, just like big sisters!

Dad with hearts in his eyes.

Always chillin'!

My version of heaven.

Oh happy day.

Angel.

My mom...my hero!...and her littlest granddaughter.

Can you handle that smush?!

Sleeping beauty.

Sister visitors!

Precious Maeve, I will love you forever.

And that's the story of our sweet little baby Maeve. Thanks to all who prayed for us, and please know of my constant prayers for you. God bless!!!!!!!!!!!