On February 1 I found out that the baby had suddenly turned breech. I had two options: C-section or attempt an external cephalic version and then induce while she was head down. Both would be done the next day. That was overwhelming for me and I wanted to give her the weekend to turn on her own so the doctor agreed to that. Meanwhile she studied up on breech births in case I went into labor over the weekend, knowing my labors are fast. Saturday and Sunday my and Nathan's entire families as well as a few close friends fasted and prayed for me. Monday I went to the doctor and was disappointed to find out she still hadn't turned. We scheduled the ECV (to turn the baby) for the next morning.
That night at 1:40 I woke up Nathan after having a strong contraction. I thought breech labors would be long so I wasn't in a hurry, but Nathan was. He got dressed, grabbed the suitcase, paged the doctor at 1:52, and we left shortly thereafter.
After we got settled in our room at the hospital the doctor came and checked me. I was 8-9cm which means minutes for me (she should have known that considering she hasn't caught any of my babies), then came back in and announced she was going to do a c-section. She didn't want to take any risks with a breech and there was no other proficient doctor in the hospital. Nathan and I weren't ok with this seeing how far into labor I was and how much we'd fasted. If I wanted a c-section I would have scheduled one last week. The next few minutes were a rush and blur of an anesthesiologist, someone talking about a catheter, and lots of other people. I was thinking, "They're all talking nonsense. We're not doing a c-section." They started wheeling me out of the room and I thought maybe I felt a slight feeling of pushing. I mentioned this but the nurses said, "Don't push." I looked at Nathan and his face said, "Go ahead." So I turned on my side and all down the short hallway I braced my hands against the railing and quietly pushed one super long push as hard as I could. Then her whole body came out and after we entered the OR doors I said, "I think she's out." I lifted the blankets and everyone hollered, "She delivered!" The doctor came running and delivered her head. The cord was around her neck and underneath her arm. I sat up and was overwhelmed with gratitute that she was born and the entire stress of a breech baby was over. I was elated. I could have jumped up and gone home right then. I couldn't wait to tell everyone that the fasting and prayers worked. It was 2:32am. The doctor held her up and said, "Breathe, baby, breathe." I realized she wasn't breathing and said a prayer. Then she let out a tiny cry. The doctor said, "I need a suction somebody!" Someone ran into the nearest room and grabbed one. Someone else came to clamp the cord. It was all so fast. They whisked the baby into the closest room and quickly gave her a c-pap to help her breathing. The anesthiologist came up to the bed and said, "She delivered?" Everyone started laughing and congratulating me on avoiding a cesearan and saying they couldn't believe how fast it was. They made me feel good and for my entire hospital stay I was known as the one who had a breech baby in the hallway. Every personnel had heard the story.
This was the first picture we got because the camera was back in my room and the baby was in an OR room. Look at those breech legs! She was frank breech--butt first with her feet up by her head, not footling breech where the feet come out first.
Daddy cutting the cord a second time.
Giving her a c-pap to help her breathe. Breech babies don't get their lungs squeezed like vertex babies and often need help getting going. Afterward they sent her to NICU to be checked out but they sent her back in 10 minutes saying, "The Fellow didn't want her." (A fellowship is after residency) She never had any breathing problems after those first few minutes.
Our smallest baby by far.
It'll take awhile for her to learn to keep her legs down. And we'll check on her hips at doctor's appointments to make sure they're growing right.
Stats: Makenna Holladay6 lbs. 13 oz
Born at 2:32am
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
The next morning Nathan went home to get the kids.
I'm glad he took these pictures of them coming to see me. I love the excitement on Kylie's face.
Madalyn and her little Makenna buddy. Everyone agreed she should be first to hold the baby.
Thomas
Kylie
Spencer
I love Alexis' face in this picture despite the head in the way.
Kaitlyn- no longer the baby
Getting ready to go home Wednesday morning.
In reference to my other post, she was born on an odd day, one that nobody picked. Yet, she was born on a Tuesday, so now 5 out of 8 are Tuesday babies. (A nurse said it was full moon and there was a record number of babies born that night. I know it wasn't the moon but Heavenly Father.)
Last week when I found out I might have a scheduled c-section Nathan says, "There goes your good story." But I was unwilling to give up. I have been praying for months that she come at the right time, in an unique way (I didn't mean that unique!)--meaning water break at church or something, and that it would be a great experience for the whole family. No one was coming to help us this time and I wanted it to be a special bonding experience, especially since Nathan gets 2 weeks off for paternity leave now that he's got a real job. A c-section wouldn't be an answer to those prayers. I'm so glad everything worked out. There were so many miracles that I know it was God's will so that we would acknowledge His hand in all things. For example, if we had gotten to the hospital 10 minutes earlier they would have had me under the knife. If the doctor had gotten there 10 minutes later nobody would have known how to deliver the head (she had studied up) and Makenna could have died. The doctor was quick to resescuitate her and now Makenna is healthy and well. The doctor said her cord was really short and if f we had done the ECV the following day she wouldn't have turned, which would have ended up in a scheduled c-section. If she had turned it would have ripped the placenta off the top of the uterus which would have ended in an emergency c-section. She was glad we hadn't done the ECV afterall. Since all of my babies have been big--in the 8 lb range, I am convinced that Makenna would have come this week but God intervened and let her be born just to avoid the ECV and c-section. Those are the main miracles we saw and are so grateful that all of our prayers were answered.
