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This is our sweet William Locke Weiland! We call him Will, Wills and Willyo (Scarlet’s version). He was born on Nov.10th 2014 at 11:15 am via C-section at 5pds 13oz and 18 /4 inches
We decided on the name after deliberating between two options - one classic traditional and one trendy edgy. But after seeing him and reflecting on all that he has already been through we thought that the meaning behind the name was perfect.
William:
Strong-willed warrior and resolute guardian.
Locke:
Is actually Nate’s Mother’s Maiden last name.
Pre - Birth and Delivery
As many of you know, this pregnancy has had issues from around 20 weeks when the placenta slowly started to separate from the uterus wall. I was immediately put on bed rest and instructed to be on my back for a minimum of 4 weeks after I noticed some suspicious bleeding. It sounded awesome at first but when reality set in and I had my hands full with a toddler who at the time was just starting to run, I noticed life on ‘bed rest’ was near impossible. I did the best I could and worked hard to take it easy.
I wanted to be able to birth this boy and take him to at least 24 weeks where he is considered ‘viable’ by medical standards. To make it to 38 weeks was a miracle for our family. But then came the next challenge - the doctors discovered that he was breech and after hearing about the risks of a breech vaginal delivery I refused to take a chance and tried everything to get him to flip around in the remaining weeks that we had. We did acupuncture, moxibustion, evening exercises with an exercise ball, we even agreed to an External Version also known as an ECV which also did not work. But as it turns out post delivery docs discovered that the cord was wrapped around his neck in the womb. It is a true blessing and a joy that he didn’t turn in the womb as harm to him may have been immense. Pinching of the cord and strangulation are major risks of ECVs and would have caused major trauma to him, or me. I’m so glad he stayed put.
So c-section it was. I was somewhat ok with this - obviously I had fears but you hear about all of these celebs doing it and that the incision is only a little slit that you can hide with your bikini bottoms once healed. But my experience has been quite different. Although we got to choose the date and I was mentally prepared to deliver this way, we have had about a million and one struggles as a result of what occurred Nov.10th
Birth Story
Nate and I arrived at the hospital early Monday morning. I was prepped with an IV (after around eight attempts and five different nurses trying to get this thing into my arm - I have rolling veins) so the anesthesiologist was paged. He did the IV in one shot. I was then told that I would receive an epidural for the ECV attempt. I was terrified since I laboured and delivered Scarlet au natural. I did NOT want needles going into my spine but told myself I needed to be brave to safely deliver our son. So after getting it I realized I was only numb on one side of my body because I had a spinal block. The epidural only took on the right side.
I could see it in the anesthesologists eyes. He wasn’t happy. My spine was inhibiting the drugs to get to the left. He wanted it to be redone. So, attempt number two the epidural makes it’s way to my left. I then have the ECV where docs are manually pushing and massaging my stomach on the outside in an attempt to flip him on the inside. It was a failed attempt because of the cord. Off to the operating room for a C-section and a spinal because the doc didn’t trust the epidural for the abdominal surgery.
We get there and I have the spinal - a much more intense ‘numb’ than the epidural. I can feel my blood pressure getting higher and I’m not relaxed at all. Needle after needle after needle in my spine was just terrifying;. To make things worse, Nate is not with me during these procedures. Who knows why but he was asked to wait outside the operating room until the surgery was going to happen. He changed into some scrubs (which might I mention were extremely sexy and really the only positive thing about being in the operating room) and it was time to get started.
I’m laying on my back, totally numb from my breasts down to my toes. Feeling good, feeling somewhat relaxed. I can hear my heart rate beeping on the machine in the background and the doctors begin the surgery. I’m feeling calm and notice I’m starting to get tired and the heart rate beeping is getting slower and slower. I don’t really remember much of the next few minutes but all of a sudden the doctors start talking loudly and I can see that Nate’s face is watching the machine behind me. All of a sudden, it feels like there are cold snakes and spiders crawling up my back and neck and spine all the way up to my brain and I feel this wicked horrible explosion in my head - like the worst headache I have ever experienced times a billion. Like, way wayyyyyyy worse than giving birth naturally. I thought I was dying it hurt so badly. I heard this woman screamed out loud ‘my head! MY HEAD!!!’ at top volume and then I realized:
Oh My Gosh - that’s MY voice…
My blood pressure had spiked through the roof. It was out of control and there wasn’t anything the anesthesiologist could do about it because Will was still attached to me.
But once he was out, I was given a pain medicine cocktail which got me relaxed and eventually get me sleepy enough to drift away. I don’t remember the next few hours very well.
Day two at the hospital was fine until more symptomatic findings started to present themselves in me. Blood Pressure wasn’t dropping well and the docs suspected that I may have suffered post pregnancy hypertension during the c-section.
Day four we were set to go home and then had another surprise. I had a bit of a dizzy spell and the nurse took my vitals and wammo. I was on major monitoring because of the blood pressure number. A doc came in with an anesthesiologist and said that they wanted to do a number of tests to rule out a brain bleed that may have occurred during the operation.
BRAIN BLEED?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!
Like, as in a possible Aneurysm?
yup.
Ok. oh dear sweet Lord my saviour and one that I rely on completely, what is going on?!
There were questions as to whether or not I should even have the CT scan because of a dye that had to be injected into me which would affect nursing for the next 24 hours. I could decline and risk having a stroke or worse a blood clot in my brain forcing a seizure. Or I could accept and risk not being able to nurse my underweight newborn babe for a day which to him is like 3 months.
We chose to go ahead with the scan and I pumped and dumped for the first few times following the test and then fed Will before the 24 hours was completely up.
The test came back negative. Thank goodness. We’re sent home with major rules and regulations but at least we get to leave.
Day five we end up back in emergency. I’ve had another spell and the public health nurse that was looking at Will took my vitals. We were rushed to the hospital. I was examined almost immediately by an emerg doc who listened to the story and took my blood. Turns out he discovered high liver enzymes which suggested gall bladder stones.
???
After an extremely detailed ultrasound of my torso, it was ruled out that I did not in fact have gall stones, but next came the kidneys surprise. The question on the docs mind was were there any proteins in them that might be affecting my head and my abdominal pain. So after waiting 12 hours in the ER with a newborn - nope nothing found there. So we were discharged and have more appointments booked all week long with Obs, gynos, you name it.
It has been a total roller coaster nightmare and the worst of it is, I feel like I am missing some of the precious early weeks that Will has as a baby, but on a positive note, the time that we are at home and away from doc appointments and the hospital I value even more. I’m so grateful to be here at home when I am and so eager to be here to stay. If and when we have another child, I will hope and pray from the get go that I can have a vaginal natural delivery because this ‘celeb’ c-section option that we were stuck with couldn’t have been more challenging. But Will was born to be brave and I need to take a cue from him.
The gorgeous view from our room
Moving forward
Now that we’re finally home for good (fingers crossed) we have really been leaning on our parents for support. They have been incredible. Doing everything from spending and entire week with Scarly here at the house including the nights (thank you so much Mom) to grocery shopping and cooking a roast dinner for us (Rob, Chris - we love you) to kicking the soccer ball around the living room while I scarf down a meal (thanks Dad). We are working with daily struggles and challenges. For example, contrary to Scarlet, William is so little that his sucking and nursing off of me has been a difficulty. But we’re working hard to make things happen and we’re doing our best.
I’m also really trying hard to:
It’s always such a struggle for the girl and her type A personality. I’m working on that too.
I’ll be doing a weekly postpartum follow up because I thought it would fun to continue with a few updates after having baby - almost like a fourth trimester check-in. Here is a revised version of the pregnancy update questions. I also am implementing a FOURTH TRIMESTER RULE BOOK for myself that I will do my best to abide by and remind myself of daily. Hope you enjoy!
ONE WEEK POST-PARTUM
How are you feeling?
Very vulnerable. The c-section didn’t go according to plan - my mental state is still a bit off.
Sleep?
Fear and anxiety have been keeping me up - not the baby. I need to let go of what happened.
Nutrition?
Back onto the healthy eating for the most part. Nate’s parents and my parents have been angels and bring or make food often. It’s so great.
Any weight loss?
This week I lost 8 pounds (baby, fluid, placenta, etc) putting me at 135.
Best moment this week?
Meeting Will and coming home.
How is Scarlet coping?
She is doing so well. She was with my Mom for most of the week and my Mom said she had a few cries and asked for ‘Mommy’ but other than that had been her regular self. When she sees me holding Will, she occasionally cries and we can’t even have her in the same room when I’m nursing or she looses it. Granted, it is only week one and we’ve really only been here at home for a day or two - I need to give her lot’s of time.
Baby Will?
Is a little sweetheart. He is very small and unfortunately has had some difficulty breastfeeding (very different to Scar so this was new to me). We made the choice to supplement with formula on day one. His sugars were low and he needed to have his heel pricked and poked every three hours after a feed. This was torture for all of us. He’s finally getting better boob feeds in with the football position. Not my favourite but I’ll do anything to get him to swallow the breast milk. His jaundice has plateaued so we’re happy about that. Things are looking good.
His weight?
He’s had the typical newborn weight loss putting him at 5pds 4oz
His disposition?
Lovely!
What are you looking forward to?
Right now? Just getting back to some pain free walking, cuddles with my kids and major love from Nate.
Fourth Trimester Rulebook: I will do my best to implement these rules for the next three months.
1. I will be kind to myself, my mental well-being, my body and my heart.
2. I will do my best to let go of the cleanliness of our house.
3. I will ask for help and ask often.
4. I will do my best to sleep or rest when the baby sleeps.
5. I will resist the urge to feel guilty when I am not with Scarlet and Nate. I will value and cherish my time with sweet baby William.
6. I will not workout or be physical ;) for at least 6 weeks
Love and hugs to you all
Kate
XOXO
