The McGarys: January 2011

I was admitted to Hoag Hospital on Friday December 3rd, 2010 with preclamcia. Once there, they gave me magnesium to lower my blood pressure and broke my water. After about an hour they started the induction with pitocin. I was having major contractions and with each one I would get sick and throw up. After being checked multiple times I progressed to 4 cm and it was time for my epidural. (best thing known to man!) After my epidural, I was doing great until my blood pressure dropped. It dropped to 57/23, an alarm went off and nurses and doctors came running in. I got 2 shots of adrenaline and it slowly went back up. That was really scary. After that happened every time I had a contraction the baby's heart rate would go down. The doctor on call (Dr. Agnew) came in, sat at the end of my hospital bed & kindly said "we need to do a c-section, the baby's not doing too well when you have contractions. We will start in 30 minutes" Holy cow, 30 minutes!! Andrew jumped into action and called his brother Adam to come down & give me a blessing before the surgery. He made it just in time. Andrew got dressed in his "surgical gear" and then they wheeled me into surgery with Andrew waiting in the hallway until they were ready for him. (which btw seemed like FOREVER) Here I was laying on a surgery table with my arms stretched out and everyone is talking while prepping me. Then they lifted a sheet up, and in came Andrew. (I was so glad to see him again) Andrew came in and took a seat next to me, holding my right hand. Then it all began...I was terrified and told Andrew to just look at my face and talk to me about anything. He chose Hockey. (surprised? I'm not) Then all the doctors started talking about sports with Andrew. (HELLO!!! I'm in surgery right now and THIS is what we are talking about?!) All I felt was tugging and pulling. No pain, no discomfort, nothing. Next thing we knew, at 6:49am Dr. Agnew said "HERE SHE IS!!" and out she came. Screaming at the top of her little lungs. I was trying not to cry because my belly would move. LOL. They took her, cleaned her up and allowed Andrew to cut the umbilical cord. As I was getting "put back together" we found out she was 6 pounds, 1 ounce and 18 inches long. Andrew left with her and I was put into a recovery bed and wheeled into recovery where I joined Andrew & baby Azlin for our "Golden Hour." I had the shakes really bad from the epidural and had to have warm blankets put all over me. I couldn't hold my precious little girl for most of that hour. Finally at the end, I could hold her and we were wheeled up to our room. As we were turning the corner to our room, my mom saw us...started crying and came over to see her newest (and #19!) granchild. It was a whirl wind of visitors after that and 27 hours later we were sent upstairs to our mother/baby unit to recover for the next 3.5 days. Azlin's birth was chaotic and full of love. We can't wait to raise her and love her forever.