I was so afraid of you. I told my doctor I would do everything possible to avoid you, and God knows I did. For 11 hours. Turns out, you saved Lennox‘s life and you saved my life. Sometimes the things we are most afraid of end up saving us, literally.
I’ve never shared my birth story and I don’t know if I ever planned on doing so, but I was so inspired by a girlfriend’s post the other day that it really got me thinking. Her honesty, eloquence and support of Cesarian births made me want to step up and continue the conversation. Help even just one mother who is struggling with the outcome of her child’s birth and let her know she is not alone…
After nine months of telling my OB/GYN that I did not want a Cesarian birth, at 10 AM on March 1, 2016, after 11 hours of labor and trying my damnedest to have a natural birth, that is exactly what I was facing. I remember my doctor said he had a surgery upstairs and would be back in a couple of hours and if the baby seemed to be in distress, we would have to start thinking about having a Cesarian. Every time I had a contraction Lennox’s heart rate would drop. The magical nurses (and I say magical because these women were sent from above) helped me experiment with at least a dozen positions that might help support Lennox as he entered the birth canal. It didn’t work. Nothing worked. I tried. I tried so hard, but he was not supposed to be birthed naturally, he was supposed to come into the world via C-section. We came to find out that his umbilical cord was very short. Every time I had a contraction and Lennox made his way down the birth canal, the umbilical cord would pull on him, causing him to lose oxygen and dropping his heart rate. Now if I had forced the issue and not listened to my doctor we may have had a very different outcome. The biggest danger I learned is now so obvious to me. If I had pushed and pushed for Lennox to have a natural birth there was a very high chance the umbilical cord would have torn and The outcome would have been devastating. I don’t even want to think about it. I am so grateful for medical advances. For doctors that support what is best for the baby AND mother and in return save lives. Every woman who has a C-section whether it is a choice or not, deserves the support and love she would receive if she were able to have a natural birth.
Thank you, God for bringing my beautiful baby boy into this world the safest way possible. Thank you for showing me that my birth story is just as real as the mother who gave a vaginal birth. Thank you for Cesarion‘s and all the lives that are saved by performing them. It’s not to say that I didn’t mourn not having a natural birth. I did. But when I look at the bigger picture, when I look at Lennox and know he is here with us because of doctors who wanted what’s best for us, I am 100% complete with my story. “Our” story… 🙏🏻
What a wonderful and inspiring story, Amy!
I loved reading your story. More than that I am happy for your wonderful family. I am so blessed to have met and worked with you years ago. You are sill so dear.
Signing for Susie and me
Love and care,
Chip Hipkins
Thank you for sharing your birth story Amy. I didn’t plan for a c-section either.
I had a terribly sick pregnancy. I just told the drs I wanted to do what was best for baby boy and me.
I had developed: Hyperemesis Gravidarum… extreme morning sickness. In the hospital 5 times in 4 weeks. Then Placenta Previa. Where the placenta blocks the cervix.
Then high blood pressure came.
Which then in 2 weeks of 2 ultrasounds, it showed Hunter was no longer growing, because the placenta was dying.
Admitted to the hospital via ambulance to the one in the city that takes babies earlier than 36 weeks gestation.
Told it could be a week until delivery. Then 48hrs than within the next day. I had developed HELLP SYNDROME. Something very scary. Has to be induced, and given an epidural. Epidural was to help lower the BP. Each time I had contractions, Hunter’s heart rate slowes right down, sounded like a train slowly starting to chug along.
Hunter was born 2 months prematurely. Due Jan 22, 2019… born Nov 19, 2018.
He was off oxygen within 3 days. Started sucking a soother day one. Apparently for boys it takes longer for them to learn how to breathe and swallow/suck. He needed to be off tubes/wires to come home and earliest he could come home was 36 weeks. That was Christmas Day. He came home that afternoon.
He was born at 30 weeks and 6 days gestation.. for the next while and a bit, you go based on actual and corrected age for development. So he will be 2 months behind corrected, but he could be doing much better. He is doing awesome. Today we are 24 weeks old and 13 lbs. 6 months old(4 months corrected) on the 19th. He is in 3-6 months clothing.
Thank you again for sharing your story. You did what was healthiest for you and Lennox. Thank you for sharing photos of him and your family.