Introducing Siena Joyce Whitfield

Well I am sitting in my hospital bed and thought what better to do from here than to introduce all our family and friends to our newest family member. Siena Joyce Whitfield was born Friday August 13, 2010 at 2:24pm weighing 4lbs 15ozs. And now for the story.

As you all know my waters broke in 16 May at 19wks pregnant. Since then I have been coming to the hospital twice a week to have blood tests and swab taken amongst other things but those are most important. I have also been on an antibiotic to prevent infection. Last week on Tuesday was no different. I came to the hospital, listen to baby, had Bloods done, did a swab and went home. The nurse said if there is anything wrong we will call you. I heard nothing. Which was what I expected. Friday was my next appt. I had a really bad night so even though we needed to leave for the hospital at 9:50 am at the latest Lee let me stay in bed until 9:30. He then came up and said we have to go in 20 minutes. Why don't you cancel today since you don't feel well. I said no I'm ok but as son as we get back I'm going to go to bed. I decided not to shower because I could do that in the afternoon too. I got dressed, brushed my teeth, slapped on a little make up and deoderant and off we went. We got to the hospital about 5 minutes late so since Lee was taking the kids to the park I said "I love you guys. No times for kisses but I will see you in a few minutes." I hobbled upstairs and into the Day Assessment Unit. She said can I have your notes. I passed them over and she then took me into the room qnd closed the door. I thought weird they never close the door. She then pulled up a chair, again weird, and said I checked all your test results from Tuesday and we have a problem. Your swab showed a very large growth of Strep B. Now I know what this is from being American. It is very dangerous for baby if its not caught but in the UK they don't test for it they only did for me because of my waters having been broken. Look up what it is in Google if you are from the UK. Anyway if you have Strep B as long as you get antibiotics before the baby is born it is ok. Problem in my case was I had been on antibiotics for 13 weeks and for some reason it stopped working. Plus because my waters were broke and it had been there since at least Tuesday it was likely around the baby. the Nurse said we need to deliver your baby as soon as possible. What did I do? Broke down. Not cause I was scared for baby. I knew she would be ok. But the immediately was scary plus I was so worried about Kaylee and Spencer. I didn't know what we were going to do with them. I rang Lee asked him to go home take the kids and get my hospital bag and then started ringing loads of people. I got the bishops daughter to come and watch the children. We were lucky because Lees brother and his wife were coming for a visit that night so they came and had the kids, saying that I was stressed cause house was such a mess. And i called my mommy. I didn't care that it was the middle of the night. When a girl needs her mom she needs her mom. They then took me to delivery to wait for Lee. When he got there they decided a natural delivery would take to long so they took me to the operating room. After 8 tries. They finally got an IV in me. Just as I passed out. Yep I passed out. Apparently my blood sugar as to low. Once I cameo they gave me the spinal and Siena was born probably 15 mins later. She even cried which I thought was fantastic. All I saw of her before they whisked her away was all her black hair. I was then taken to the ward and Siena was taken to the Neo Natal Unit. I am doing a lot better today. Anyone who thinks a C-Section is easier than a natural delivery is wrong. Both have goods and bads. But the recovery from a section is hell. And that on top of the afterbirth contractions = worse than hell. Plus I wasn't able to see my baby for 24 hours after she was born.

Siena is still on Neo Natal. She will be for weeks. But she is doing great. She is such a fighter. I bet she comes home in 4ish weeks. Which isn't long. She is on C-pap at the moment with 35% oxygen. Her lungs aren't as developed as they would like but that's ok. They will be. She started today with her feeds 1ml of milk an hour. They are increasing it every 6 hours as long as she is tolerating it well.

I go home tomorrow and just the same as with my other two children I will be going home without my baby. I'd like to say it is ok and it is easy but that would be lying. I am not allowed to drive because of having the C-section for 6 weeks. So when we come down we will have to come as a family. I know people have done it before but how many have done it with all their children? Needless to say I'm jot looking forward to it at all. I've already shed some tears and tomorrow their will be more. I already love Siena so much. The love a mother feels for her children is instant and from the instant I saw all that black hair I knew I didn't want to leave her. But I also know it is best and that in a few short weeks she will be home. I've not held her yet either. I am hoping to do that in the next few days. I can't wait to bond with my baby properly.

I love you Siena. I am so grateful you will be my princess forever.