NAMAN’S BIRTH STORY

There were no uncertainties during my pregnancy. Around month six or seven, I had a tachycardia episode that blessed me (I say that with slight sarcasm) with weekly appointments to a fetal maternal specialist. Needless to say, we saw our little one very frequently on the ultrasound screen. Once we reached Week 34, our little guy was in breech position. I was heartbroken. While a vaginal birth is, of course, terrifying (all births are scary, especially first ones), I wanted to experience it. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being robbed of that opportunity. I tried yoga, Spinning Babies.. pretty much everything except for an ECV. Nothing worked. Many tears were shed, but I slowly began to accept that I would be having a cesarean delivery. I always liked to say “he just likes to be close to his mama’s heart.”

I went to the doctor so much and was pricked with needles so many times, that we started getting weekly “treats” after the doctor visits. Most often, we would visit Fox’s Donut Den for some donut holes. On this particular day, we planned to visit SATCO for some tacos after our appointment. We walked into our appointment at WomenOB on April 8 (37 weeks and one day) expecting it to be fairly routine, except for that exciting Group B Strep test (if you know, you know). I was called back to the nurse’s station and went to leave a urine sample. Unfortunately for me, the toilet decided to stop working right at that time… and not just stop working.. LOUDLY stop working. Right after that circus, it was time to take my blood pressure. The nurse gave me the side eye.. not a look you want to be on the receiving end of. I asked her if it was high. It was. Astronomically high. My husband and I walked into the exam room and barely had a chance to sit down before the OB walked in and told us we might be having a baby that day

A rush of emotions came over me. I was so ready to no longer be pregnant, but I was very overwhelmed with the idea of having a baby that day. We went across the street to the hospital, and I was admitted to the OB emergency room for observation. Luckily my blood pressure slowly lowered, and I was released after four hours to go enjoy those tacos after all!

The next Tuesday, April 12 (37 weeks and five days), we had another OB appointment. We made sure to have everything packed and ready in the car this time, just in case. My blood pressure was high.. it wasn’t AWFUL, but it was high. My OB decided today was the day. It wasn’t worth the risk of preclampsia, so I was having a baby. My husband and I went back to the hospital across the street. But this time, we asked to be admitted for a cesarean delivery (my sweet stubborn boy was still breech). It was about 11:00am, and our surgery was scheduled for 4:30pm. I was sweating with nerves. We took one last “bump photo” together. It was a long five hours with many nurses coming through to prep me for surgery. Finally, the nurse came to us and told us that my OB had to run to another delivery. The waiting game continued. Our surgery was postponed another two hours. I was starving and getting more and more nervous watching pregnant women go back for surgery and come out as new moms. Finally, around 6:30pm, my OB walked in and said it was our time to shine! Woo!

The nurses handed my husband his gear to get suited up, told us to kiss one last time, and wheeled me back to get prepped. First step was the spinal tap. Surprisingly enough, this was not the part I was most nervous for. The nurses did an excellent job making me feel comfortable. Once the spinal tap was in, a rush of numbness came over the bottom half of my body. It was a bizarre feeling.. one that is really difficult to describe. I do remember at one point I looked down and said “THAT’S where my legs are!?” because it definitely did not feel like that was where they were. I was most terrified that I might feel the cutting once they began. I continually asked them “are you cutting yet? how about now?”. The next ten minutes or so were probably the most bizarre ten minutes of my entire life. Being awake for surgery is gnarly. Nothing can prepare you for being alert and feeling the pressure, tugging, etc. while being cut open. I said, probably at least fifteen times out loud - “this is so weird.” I tried my best to find things on the ceiling to focus on as to not get nauseous or dizzy. After a few minutes, I heard the tiny cries. My little guy was out in the world. I couldn’t believe it. They dropped the curtain (which I was not expecting) to show me my son. My SON! That moment felt frozen in time. He was beautiful.

They took him over to the nurse’s station with my husband while they sewed me back up. I tried to listen and focus on all of the things going on - I didn’t want to miss a moment. My husband called over “April! He has side burns!”, and of course, the room broke out in laughter. Finally, we were both on the bed - me and my son - being wheeled back to post-op. That is the most surreal feeling. Just minutes ago, he was inside my stomach. Childbirth (any type of birth) is just absolutely amazing.

I had always heard to avoid cesarean births, that they are awful, that the recovery time will be so long and difficult. Those scenarios do occur for some people, of course. But I would go through my exact birth experience all over again, no question.