Emery: The Birth Story and More

     On April 14, 2014 at 12:00pm Adam and I walked into the hospital for my scheduled induction. I was full from eating at my favorite Chinese place just before we arrived! I was also anxious and a bit nervous and scared about stepping into the unknown part of parenthood. It seemed surreal that we would be coming out of the hospital with a baby in the next couple days! However, that's not exactly what happened. I don't think anything could have prepared us for what was about to occur next. Our life was going to change in more ways than one.

Around one in the afternoon, we started the induction. They broke my water and put me on Pictocin. I was ready for it. I couldn't take being pregnant any longer. I was always so tired and my feet and legs swelled up terribly throughout the week leading up to the induction. And of course, I wanted to meet this little person who decided to be fashionably late.

I have to say, I was a trooper. I went hours without the Epidural...or maybe I am just crazy?! Adam admittedly liked how I handled my contractions. He was massaging my hands to help me relax. And when I contracted, I had a lot of strength to put toward massaging his hands. haha! Anyway, this induction wasn't going well. The Pictocin was stressing my baby out and I wasn't dilating without it. After thirteen hours of labor, our only option was a c-section. Of course, I cried a little and asked Adam to give me a blessing. A C-section is not something anyone would ask for. It's a scary reality. But the strange thing is, I wasn't surprised. I kinda had a feeling it would come to this all week.

Next thing I know, I am in the operating room. Any moment now, we will meet our baby. Adam sat next to me holding my hand with his head tilted close to mine, reassuring me everything was going to be okay. Just a few minutes later we heard our baby let out her first sweet cry. This has to be one of the sweetest moments a couple can experience in life. I felt an overwhelming love for my husband and could feel our bond growing even stronger. We had made a baby! Without even seeing Emery yet, I already loved her. She took my breath away, my beautiful baby girl.

Grandparents are the best! One of the nurses made a name sign for Emery, I wish it didn't get water on it :(

During the labor, I had contracted a fever. Because of this they wanted to pay close attention to me and the baby to make sure we didn't get an infection. Our two-day recovery was rescheduled for four days, we wouldn't be discharged till Saturday morning. So, we enjoyed our next few days as a family in the hospital. 

First time Adam changed her diaper by himself and  I hear "Whoa! what is that?!" "No no no, don't put your foot in it!" Ahh! I got it on my hand!"

I was pretty out of it after the C section. Thank goodness Adam was there with me by my side every moment. He had taken off from work and school to take care of me and the baby. He immediately became pro at diaper changing, swaddling, bottle feeding, etc. He needed no practice being a dad. 

As the days went by, the swelling in my body had escalated. I looked like the Michelin man! I can't count how many hours my husband massaged my feet, legs, hands, back. I was in significant pain.

 Around Thursday I got another fever and had an anti seizure med hooked up to my IV. The doctor was concerned I may have preeclamsia. Other than that, I don't remember this day, the medication was not fun - it made me tired, loopy, and even more swollen.

Friday night came around and we were ready to leave in the morning. We strolled the halls with Emery so I could strengthen my legs again. But it seemed as though gravity pulled every ounce of blood in my body down to my feet and legs! The nurse walked in the middle of the night seeing me crying while holding Emery. Maybe she thought I already don't like my baby? I was hysterical. But my legs and feet were so swollen that I couldn't stand up and my skin felt like it was going to burst! I felt helpless. Does it really get this bad after giving birth?!? 

Adam awoke and saw how upset I was. He let me lay in his couch bed because the hospital bed was hurting my back. We elevated my feet once more and he started massaging them. He told me to take deep breaths, relax and just go to sleep. However, we noticed my breathing was off and it sounded like I had fluid in my lungs. A new nurse came and checked my vitals and determined I wasn't getting enough oxygen. Though it didn't seem to concern the nurse who had been monitoring my vitals throughout the entire morning, this nurse immediately recognized that there was something wrong. 

Things rapidly went downhill from there, and honestly it was all a blur. Soon after the nurse checked my vitals, I started coughing up blood. And then everyone got serious about my other symptoms. Initially, they thought I had pneumonia. What a terrible feeling it is to think you can't be in the same room as your baby because you could get them sick. They put Emery in the nursery until they were able to rule that off the list. One by one, they wheeled in different machines to test me. Chest X ray, EKG,  Echo-cardiogram, and a CT scan. My blood pressure and heart rate rose significantly. They finally noticed that the swelling was grossly abnormal and put me on diuretics to drain the fluid. I ended up losing 15 lbs in fluids the first day!

My doctor came in the room and immediately ruled out

 pneumonia, all of the occupants of the room let out a sigh of relief as they removed their surgical masks. But his next diagnosis was less-welcomed news. He said it appears I have an enlarged heart and it's not function correctly. This resulted in the heart pumping fluid back into my lungs, and they would need to take me to the ICU immediately in order to monitor my condition. Emery, however, was doing great, and she would have to be discharged. I watched my husband make the  call to his parents. I couldn't imagine what he was feeling, but I could see in his eyes how hard it was to split up our little family so soon.

Our special day was the complete opposite. I watched the nurses help Adam pack everything up and prep Emery to be discharged. I can't explain how sad it was to have my baby separated from me just days after she was born. Saying goodbye was heartbreaking, I knew she was in good hands though as we turned her over to my in-laws.  I was scared, I didn't know what was happening to me. But Adam - just like he was during my C section - was by my side holding my hand and reassuring me everything was going to be okay. His faith kept me strong enough to handle everything at once. 

I was able to see my little girl on Easter Sunday! Adam did an awesome job at entertaining and uplifting me in the ICU. David came to visit us the day I was admitted to the ICU, what a good friend!

 By Sunday, they were able to diagnose me. I had a mild case of postpartum Preeclampsia, and the worse news of all, I have developed a form of congestive heart failure called postpartum (peripartum) Cardiomyopathy. What is that you ask?

 "Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a rare type of heart failure that occurs during pregnancy or immediately after delivery. The damage weakens the heart muscle and causes the heart to become enlarged. As a result, the heart can’t pump blood properly throughout the rest of the body."

I had an episode of the condition Sunday morning. I woke up early around 5:00am. Not being able to sleep I just sat there when all of a sudden I felt my heart race. I looked up at the monitor and within seconds my heart rate rose from 94 BPM to almost 160. While that was happening my blood pressure also sky rocketed. I couldn't breath. I couldn't speak. My breath was shallow and then I started coughing up blood again.  I hope I never have to relive this. 

In very few words to sum up my feelings, It sucks. There are a lot of lifestyle changes ahead of me to manage this condition. I try to stay positive in light of this new obstacle. Not once did I ever ask God "Why me?" I don't need an explanation. However,  I am still human and need to cry here and there because of the reality of it. I'm 25 and now have a blood pressure monitor and heart rate monitor along with multiple RX on my nightstand to help me manage my heart. Not ideal in the least bit. But, like President Uchtdorf and the scriptures have taught us - be grateful IN all things. 

After 9 days, we were finally able to go home as a family.

We are definitely grateful for the the events that took place during Emery's Birth. Without the complications of labor bringing me into my c section, we would have never stayed long enough to help me discover this terrible heart disorder. We would not have been at the hospital at the same time a fellow ward member when he was rushed to the ER to get an emergency surgery (Adam was able to give him a blessing within minutes of him calling the Elders Quorum President informing him of his condition). He was also able to give other blessings to patients nearby.  Though difficult as the situation was, I wouldn't change a thing . We came out of this experience with many lessons learned, more of an appreciation for everything we have and encounter, a better understanding of the Plan of Happiness, and a beautiful baby girl that has given me so much joy I couldn't imagine possible. She is my sunshine. (Have we mentioned what a good baby she is?!? Another blessing...)

Famillies are Forever

It's been wonderful being home again, together.  I love being a mom! I still have a long recovery ahead, thank goodness I have my little bundle of joy, my loving husband, my family and friends to help us get through it. Our parents have been so supportive. We love them so much!

Message from Adam:
As Charlene said, Postpartum Cardiomyopothy is not something that anybody desires. However, before we left the hospital, we were able to speak with a nurse who specializes in cardiovascular disease. She informed us that we are actually quite fortunate - as this particular heart condition has a 50% mortality rate. We are extremely grateful that nobody told us that before she was recovering - as the news alone probably would have killed me. She said Charlene's test results looked good, and she is on track for recovery.

Words cannot describe the terror that Charlene felt during this time. The grace in which she handled these trials was truly remarkable. She accurately has outlined this past week - though of course, it is impossible to infuse these words with the fear of what she actually experienced. I married an amazing, powerful woman for whom I am eternally grateful.