Alex’s Birth of Claire

 

Claire's Story: Baby girl number 2!!!

From the start of it all ...3am I'm lying in bed and feel that things are different. I felt as if my period was about to start. Crampy. I lay in bed for about 3 hours, waking up Brad around 6. “Honey, something is going on,” I told him. I really didn't want to be the girl that drags her husband for a false labor alarm. Being the nice guy he is, he went and got dressed and headed to the Doctor’s office. On the way there everything slowed down and I was worried that I was wrong... no labor. We got there and they hooked us up to a machine to watch for contractions and nothing, very small contractions. I felt like I wasted everyone's time. Just to be sure, the Doctor wanted to check me. This is a moment I'll never forget. My Doctor said, “OH HONEY… You are at 4.5 cm dilated!” She was shocked! I was shocked, then called Brad back to the room and he was shocked! She told us come back later in the day. The Doctor wanted to see if I had moved along any further. We went home, double checked the bags and went for a walk. Then back to the Doctor, good news… I was a full 5. Since my body went into labor on its own and I was half way along already we thought, let’s play this by ear. Let’s try skipping the planned C-section and have her naturally; a VBAC.

 So on our way to the hospital, we're excited. We get settled in the room and then Bailey, my oldest, is off to Grandma’s. It's just me and Brad. I start progressing, but not fast. Just hanging out in the room. My mom showed up and we were enjoying the day. We were talking and laughing. They said drugs now or never, so I did. I wasn't happy about it at the time, later I was glad I did. I was talking and joking with my mom and Brad, watching my contractions on the monitors. Next thing I knew, things were going wrong really fast. One nurse came in and said they need to check the baby and a few more came running in after. They were whispering and moving me around trying to find the baby’s heartbeat. I could feel a lot of fluids. They already broke my water, but that’s what it felt like. It wasn’t water. Come to find out, it was blood. They threw an oxygen mask on me and I was scared. I heard my doctor whisper... She ruptured. She comes to my face and says, “Honey we are going to have a c-section right now...”

Next thing I know, they were running with me down the hall for an emergency c-section.
I had no time to think. I still wasn't sure what rupture meant and if it was serious. Once in the OR, the room around me was moving fast; they were trying to get me ready. I looked at Brad. He was dressed in scrubs, then I saw the nurse kick him out of the room. My Doctor kept asking if the anesthesiologist was ready. He was trying to get the epidural to kick in. He and my Doctor were going back and forth... ready?? Ready??? NO... then my Doctor said... “Knock her out!” He quickly threw a mask on and said take deep breaths. Remember trying to suck the medicine down. I was taking deep breaths. I wanted to no longer be in that situation. I wanted it to be over... I didn't care what over meant...just over. I began crying uncontrollably and then I was out. I woke up and was unsure of what happened to me and if my baby was alive. I just wanted Brad. I kept asking for Brad to be in the room. He came in and said everything is okay; the baby is going to a different hospital's NICU.  Oh and there is something really cute about her... She has three thumbs. I said WHAT! How is that cute? After seeing it, it’s cute. Still foggy… But with the news she was doing okay, I felt better. I hadn't seen my baby and I didn't know anything. I just knew that I wanted Brad by my side. He was the calmest face in the room. He didn't look worried, so I didn't need to feel worried, but I was.

The next couple days, information started to come in. During labor, my placenta detached from the uterus, causing the baby massive blood loss, over half of her blood was gone. When they pulled the baby out, she required immediate chest compressions and assistance breathing. My Doctor got Claire out within 3 minutes and they brought her back within 20 seconds. She was fighting for her life. She needed fluids and 4 blood transfusions.   She was transferred to a different hospital’s NICU and to be treated for possible side effects of lack of oxygen. It is for sure a day I won’t forget. Now the good part...Claire is doing great. She has no side effects and growing. She stayed in the NICU for nine LONG days, but now she is 4 months old and doing great. We have a date set for her thumb to be removed once she is 1 year old. So her adventure is far from being  over.

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tags: c-section, cesarean section, c-section stories, cesarean section stories, emergency c-section, NICU, hemorrhage, placental abruption, placenta separates early, c-section child birth stories, c-section childbirth stories, birth

Update on Monday, April 18, 2011 at 8:40PM by Birth Stories on Demand

Hi, Kelli here from BSOD, I asked Alex to give me a little more information about her condition and how that would affect future pregnancies.  I figure if I'm curious I bet some of you are too....

Here is her reply:

Placental abruption is what it is called. At my 8 week postpartum. My Dr( who Claire's middle name is after) said that once it happens it is more likely to happen again.  She said  medically speaking as a..... just I don't recommend it. The stress alone on me during the pregnancy would be very high. I would have to go every 2 weeks and have a lot of ultrasounds. My husband and I decided not to risk it. To risk my life or the baby's life. So he had a vasectomy. So I can just we decided not to. You can update the story. The great thing about her thumbs is in other countries its a symbol of good luck and it is not to be removed. We had alot of luck that day!