Trish's Story.My Positive C-SectionsMy first birth was not a planned c-section. My son was due July 3, 1989, that day came and went….on July 10th he finally decided that it may be time to join us on the outside…*S*. So as any new mother going into labor for the first time, I thought this won't be so bad. What an awaking for me!! I didn't say anything to anyone about my contractions until the next morning, because they were so far apart….and when I laid down, they would stop. So now it's the 11th and I'm getting scared….wondering why the contractions haven't gotten bad. Around noon I decided to let everyone in on what was going on. My mother suggested we go to the hospital, I agree, wanting to meet my son….and just the pure excite of this pregnancy being over. I arrive at the hospital around noon…..they check me….and send me on my way…only being dilated to a 3…they wouldn't admit me till I was a 5. So not wanting to get all the way and have to turn back around, we walk the halls of the hospital….and outside….for what seemed like hours. We go back periodically so they can check me…finally I'm a 5…they admit me and I'm put in a bed…not to get up again for 48hrs. Labor progress…..and I'm realizing now….this isn't what I want to do, I tell them I think I'd rather be home….they laugh….like they've heard that before. I'm now a 9….almost there, and my cervix starts to swell, so doctor "large" hands decides he can lift this lip on my cervix and I can start pushing…..Oh this is the fun part. My son is facing the wrong way….face up or face down…can't remember which he's supposed to be facing, so again doctor "large" hands thinks he can turn the little guy. To say the least this didn't happen. Time seemed to stand still for me…although there were many people going in and out, I couldn't tell you what was going on…by that time I'm begging for pain medication. They give me relief ….I've now been without sleep for close to 24 hrs…being up since the night of the 10th….I guess from the excitement of going into labor finally….I couldn't sleep. I think it was about 2 _ hrs into the pushing they finally decide….after my sons heartbeat kept going up and down….it was time for a c-section….Oh anything to get this kid out of me!! So now it's 4 hrs into pushing….they've set up the surgery room….I'm still pushing going down the hall…as you ladies know….pushing is just something the body does naturally and you can't stop pushing. Now I'm in surgery…It's about 8:15 in the morning…..Thank God!….spinal is administered….RELIEF!!! I've never felt anything so good….no more pain I thanked everyone in the room…..and my son will be here soon! They pull him out….he's a 7lbs 12 oz. 19 _ in., healthy and I'm so excited to hold him….but with all the labor I've gone through and the length of it….and having my arms tied down…I just get to see his little eyes looking back at me. So recovery is over they're wheeling me down to my room…we stop by the nursery to see my little man….the nurse lifts him up for me to see……he decides at that time….to have his first bowel movement….they got a good laugh out of that. I didn't get to hold my son till about 6:00 p.m. that night….tired I guess…not really caring who came and went or who I saw….I slept the whole day! The only part that I didn't like about this first c-section was that I didn't get to bond with him right away. But we did nurse when the time finally came, I think it would have been better if he could have nursed right away. This experience wasn't as horrible as I first thought, I wasn't let down by the fact that I couldn't have him naturally, I was just glad it was over. #2 C-sectionHaving been through the c-section process before….I kinda of knew what to expect with the birth of my second son. I opted for a repeat section….having read a lot about uterine rupture….and not wanting to take he slightest chance of something happing. Although my doctor tried to get me to go VBAC….I wouldn't go for it. We set his b-day date for October 30th, 1992. That day came….we walk into the hospital….to say the least I think I was more nervous this time than with my last son. We do all the check in stuff….fill out papers and what not….and we get wheeled down to delivery. There's my doctor waiting for us….the epidural is inserted….what a weird feeling….I didn't even know with my first son….I was having a contraction when they put in my spinal. So get over that ….and we're under way. Minutes later….there's my little man…7lbs 2 oz. 19 in long...the pediatrician comments on how he thinks he's over due….how he determined that…..has slipped my mind. Daddy is emotional….mama is emotional….but this time I got to spend more time admiring my new son, he looked me in the eye….what a feeling….to have this little person….probably wondering what in the world is going on. Recovery time was pretty much the same as the first time around…..I didn't get to nurse him until several hours after I got into my room, which I vowed to make different if I was ever to have any more children, but at the time I hadn't planned for any more. My recovery was so much better this second time around…..I knew what to expect….getting out of bed for the first time was no piece of cake…but after that initial step….things get extremely better. I would walk up and down to the nursery..…to retrieve my son….they came and got him for everything….had to weigh him after a dirty diaper….had to weigh him after I nursed him…I never really quite understood that. But to say the least….I don't remember having a very hard time with recovery….to problems at all…other than a little pain…and of course tylox does do wonders for that!! I'll fast-forward to the #3 child…not a planned pregnancy….because I didn't believe I would ever be able to have any more children…in the spring of 1996 I had an ectopic pregnancy and lost my left tube. So when I found out I was pregnant again….I was very happy….ecstatic more like it!!! I wanted a girl so bad…..I prayed….and prayed to God…to grant my wish for a girl. One month into the pregnancy….I hadn't even seen my OB yet….I started to have massive pain in my side….and started bleeding……so off to the emergency room we go….I'm petrified ….my husband panicked…he took me to the garage where they keep the ambulances…..why I'll never know. The on call doctor….confirmed the pregnancy and told us that with a hcg level like I had…which was 8000, that there was no chance of it being in my remaining tube. He told us there was nothing he could do…and all I could do was wait this out….threatened abortion he called it….how cold and unfeeling could someone be…I knew that was the medical term for a miscarriage….but I sure wished they'd change it. I visit my doctor the next day….she has to do an internal ultrasound….because of the pregnancy not being very far along. To our surprise….there are twins….OH my…..I knew they ran in our family…but never though that it might be me to have them. The doctor was not optimistic….she couldn't find a heartbeat in either one….there was also a growth…which she couldn't explain, but thought maybe it could even be triplets….Oh no….this is not what I was expecting.…I trusted her completely…she being a high risk doctor anyways. She says…let's wait for a few days….it may just be to early to see the heartbeats….me being only maybe 4 weeks along…..if that. So she sends me to the lab…to have blood drawn…to see if my levels rise….this was Monday…we aren't scheduled to come back for another ultrasound till Friday…..this was such a horrible experience I would never want anyone to have to go through what I did. Tuesday came….the levels came back a whopping 14000….so we knew that the babies were growing….this whole time in between Sunday night and Tuesday morning I've been bleeding, and it was quite heavy at times…..this is when I put all my faith in God….and I spent most of that time on my knees praying….just let me keep one baby….just one …and make it a girl….boy there was a lot of begging too!! We lost what I think were two babies Tuesday night…..from what the doctor told me to watch for….I won't go into the graphic detail, but it was the worst experience I've ever had to endure. I had to wait till Friday morning for the second of my many ultrasounds….waiting was agony…I prayed the whole time. The doctor comes in…..does the ultrasound….anther internal….yuck! My doctor says….there it is….and on the screen was the most beautiful sight….a fluttering in one of the sacs….there were two sacs still there…but no heartbeat in the other…..I was so happy….but she was quick to say that she didn't think it was viable pregnancy, due to the fact that I was still bleeding quite heavily. So we go through an ultrasound each week for 4wks….each time getting to see my little peanut grow and grow. On about the 5th or 6th week of pregnancy…I finally stop bleeding. What a relief. My doctor just can't believe that we still have a heartbeat…after all the bleeding….and two infections to boot! So we finally make it past the 12th week of pregnancy…and my doctor thinks we getting close to being out of the woods….for loosing the baby. She finally gave me a due date….April 24th….but with this being a for sure c-section…I'm not taking any chances at all trying a vbac with this baby. She sets a tentative date for the 14th to take the baby via c-section. I have 2 more ultrasounds scheduled for the rest of my pregnancy….we had 8 in all. The next ultrasound was scheduled for Dec. 23rd. This time a regular us technician does the exam….she does all the measurements….and then turns to me…."would you like to see what the sex is" Well sure I do!! I ask her is she can be positive what it is…..she says…I already know the sex….and was 100% sure….she says….meet your daughter Mrs. Fine…..Oh the tears flowed…..I couldn't wait to tell my mother, well and the rest of the family. So now we know my prayers were answered….. So now on to the delivery….she was scheduled for the 14th of April….but daddy had other plans….he was feeling a little zealous one evening…April 7th….somehow my water broke….*S*….and I thought….well lets see if I go into labor….with no luck….and only 4 contractions by morning….I called my doctor….she's furious…because I've waited so long….we headed to the hospital to have our little girl. Since we weren't on the schedule that morning …..they had to do it as an emergency c-section…but I was prepared for anything knowing I would soon be holding my precious gift from God. Not 5 minutes into the surgery…Ashley Jordan took her first breath….and let me tell you…she has some healthy lungs on her!!! They heard her screaming down the hall. She was 6lbs 5 oz. And 18 in long I felt a lot more tugging and pulling than I remembered with the last two children….but no pain I was so emotional….I cried through the whole surgery…which scared them…because they thought I was feeling pain. I had an excellent doctor…very caring and very personal. This time I demanded that they bring my baby to me in recovery…they did….we got to nurse probably an hour or so after she was born….and she was a pro…she knew exactly what to do…she was a hungry little girl!! My experiences with c-section were as positive as positive could be….yes I experienced pain….afterwards….and there was some discomfort….but I believe that there is pain and discomfort with any birth…no matter how they arrive. Not all women's' experiences are positive….I believe that the frame of mind your in at the time has a lot to do with it, your going into expecting a natural birth….and you end up with something totally different, that does have to be a let down for some. I'm glad that this surgery exists….for if it didn't….I wouldn't be here today, or any of my 3 children….how they came into the world doesn't matter to me….or that I didn't get to experience the "natural" way. The natural way of birth for me is c-section….and many other women too…..we just have to accept that and thank God for the gift of life he has given us. Thank you for letting me share my stories.
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