When I found out I was pregnant, I started reading all about pregnancy and birth. I was fairly certain that I could do a vaginal birth without drugs. I was more nervous about my DH being at work when I went into labor than doing it without drugs.
Along the way, my blood pressure and weight were just fine. In fact, my BP was pretty low. Everything was going fine. There was one thing that caused the doctor some concern. It turned out that I had a mid-point cord insertion, the only real complication for this might be low birth weight, so an ultra-sound was ordered to monitor the baby's weight. It was actually a little big.
This was fine in terms of the cord, but in other ways, not so much. If the baby (by this time we knew he was a boy) continued to grow in the current trend, he would be over 5000g and we would need to have a c-section.
At the next ultra-sound scheduled to monitor the baby's growth, the estimated weight showed that the baby wasn't gaining as fast and we were out of the C-section woods.
Everything continued just fine. We attended a childbirth class and I made the decision to go drug free. I didn't like the side effects for me or the baby. My DH was totally behind my decision and was hoping that I would chose to go drug free. I made out my birth plan and began to read everything I could on childbirth without drugs. I practiced Dr. Bradley's positions and relaxing techniques. When 38 weeks came along, we packed our bags, put them in the car and installed the car seat. We found an alternate route to the hospital, just in case. We sat and waited for the baby to came-well not really-we went to a baseball game and the Maine Wildlife park. When at the doctor's office, I was 1 cm dilated and not effaced each week.
I usually went to the doctor's office on Friday and my due date was on a Thursday. When making my appointments, I went ahead and made an appointment for the day after my due date. Since the baby didn't come on his due date, we went to the appointment at which we had an ultrasound to monitor my fluid levels.
After the ultrasound, a pediatric cardiologist came and told us that the baby's aorta looked large and an echo cardiogram after his birth would be given to check on it. The doctor didn't think it was going to be a problem, but if it was a problem, the fix was nothing to worry about. I am a worrier, so all I could think about while waiting for my doctor was my tiny baby having a bad heart.
When my doctor came to the exam room, he didn't look quite the same as he usually did. I thought it was because of the enlarged aorta. He told us that the baby didn't read the text book and had gained quite a bit of weight in the last few weeks. His estimated weight was 10 pounds, 10 ounces! The doctor explained that this estimate could be up to 15% off, putting the baby at between the mid 9 pounds to the low 12 pounds!
He recommended a C-section.
If he mentioned the enlarged aorta, I don't remember.
All I could think about was holding it together in front of the doctor.
He went on to explain, that we could try for a vaginal delivery, but there was a possibility of a broken collarbone and nerve damage, which could be permanent. He told me that if I were his wife, mother, sister, we could recommend the C-section. So we scheduled it. We were coming up in the Fourth of July weekend, so the section was scheduled for July 6.
When we got to the car, I had a peace come over me about the C-section. I knew exactly when the baby was coming and we had time to put everything in order.
To keep ourselves busy the day before the delivery, we cleaned our apartment form top to bottom and went out for a nice dinner. I had the best sleep of my pregnancy that night.
I was really nervous all the way to the hospital and all through the check in process. Our pastor came to pray with us and I felt the same peace wash over me as before. While we waited, we made a list of all the state capitals in alphabetic order.
When DH left to get his scrubs on I wanted to cry out for him to come back and take me home, we would wait until the baby came on his own. But, I didn't, I was determined to be strong.
While the doctor was giving me the anesthesia, all I could think was, "well, there goes the drug free birth." But, I really wasn't that bad. The worst part was all that cold soap. As the doctor's got started, I again began to think that I didn't want to do this, but, I told myself that it was too late now.
When DH came in, I felt much better. I felt the same peace that I had when I saw him as I entered the sanctuary the day we got married.
The procedure went fine and as the doctors cut his cord, "Brown Eyed Girl" was the song playing in the operating room. His cries were the most beautiful sound I had ever heard (funny how quickly that changes).
When DH brought him over to me, I couldn't stop looking at his perfect little face. He weighed 9 pounds 8 ounces. I cried.
I cried from happiness, yes, but also because I had missed out on all the things I had been looking forward to: the excitement of going into labor, having him placed on my chest, watching DH cut the cord, feeding the baby right away. I prayed and told the Lord how happy I was that He had blessed with a healthy baby and was able to go back to tears of joy.
His aorta is the perfect size.
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Beautiful story Joanna! I loved reading about it all!
ReplyDeleteShari