Have I got A Story For You! Breech Baby Born in the Hallway on the Way to OR For C-Section

I've been so excited to share my story since I had written all about how I love birth stories and the timing of everything. Unfortuantely I've been sick since I got home from the hospital so this is the first chance I've had. Here goes!
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 Holladay

6 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.

January Accomplishments

Thomas learned to ride a two-wheeler on the first try.

Kaitlyn potty-trained in one day. Wahoo! I didn't have the energy I had with the others to read, sing, and be super excited about it, so I'm glad she caught on quickly and that she has 5 older siblings who love to cheer her on.



I don't know why this ended up down here, but here is a video of Thomas riding. The part where he wiggles his handlebars a lot is because Spencer was doing that all the way around the cul-de-sac and he wanted to try it.

The Baby's Birthday

With less than two weeks till the due date, we are all guessing when the baby's birthday will be. Everyone's first choice is today, January 31, because we don't have any January birthdays and we already have Madalyn's in February. So far all of us have our birthday in our own month. The kids thought if we have 10 kids plus 2 parents we could have a birthday in every single month. Nice plan, but it doesn't appear that this baby wants to come early. I'm feeling great today. So we all picked a day around the due date, February 10, that we're guessing. Most of us like even numbers and Madalyn's is the 4th, so we didn't pick that.
February 6- Alexis
February 8- Mommy
February 9-Kylie
February 10- Daddy
February 11-Spencer
February 12- Madalyn
February 16-Thomas

Some things we've been thinking of:
The girls and I were also trying to avoid picking numbers that we already have birthdays on (in different months.) We have a 3,4,7,10,12,13,16,17, and 30. What do you have in your family?

Groundhog's Day would be fun. I was hoping Madalyn would be born on 2-2-02, but she waited two more days. (She was 7 days past her due date of January 28.) Now I could have this baby on 2-2-12.

All of my babies except one were born at the beginning of the week:
Sunday-Kylie
Monday-Madalyn
Tuesday-Spencer, Alexis, Julianne, Kaitlyn
Friday-Thomas
So odds are this one will come at the beginning of the week too. My first choice would be the beginning of the week after my due date so that I will have done 2 out of my 3 sharing times in primary. That would be ideal. But that means she would be born on the 13th or 14th. Nobody wants her to be born on Valentine's Day. Since most of my babies are late and most are born on a Tuesday, that's probably what's going to happen! We'll see!!
Now you see how limited our choices are: most prefer an even number, beginning of the week, not a number we already have in our family, not Valentine's Day. What do you predict? We can't wait to find out. That's the best part about the last 2 weeks: the anticipation! My doctor is begging me to induce but I say no way! I've waited 9 months to know which day God is going to send a new little spirit into our home. I absolutely LOVE the last 2 weeks. Every day I wonder, "Is it going to be today?" or "What if I went into labor right now?" I would hate for that fun to be ruined by a planned birth. Besides, each of my children have come into the world with a wonderful story that I know the Lord had planned. From my water breaking at a neighbor's apartment as he told us the story of his wife's labor to paging Nathan while he was on night float and him getting to announce to his team he was leaving because his wife was in precipitous labor, all of the stories are unique and special. I wouldn't trade them for anything. I can't wait to find out this little one's!

December Happenins

In December I take all the kids on Mommy Dates. Usually it's a one-on-one time where they pick out a present for a sibling whose name they drew. I also take them to a restaurant of their choice. I love and cherish these dates and look forward to them. We also do them in the spring where they pick out a summer outfit at Once Upon A Child.

Spencer picked Chick-Fil-A and wanted Thomas and Kaitlyn to come with him so that he would have someone to play with on the playground. The boys had drawn Kylie's and Alexis' names and bought them the same things: My Little Ponies, so it worked it out.

Madalyn picked Ruby Tuesdays where we got a small lunch and a chocolate cake to share.

Alexis had gone first (sorry these are out of order) and had picked Panera Bread. She got a giant cinnamon roll and talked the entire time, taking most of it home for later.

Kylie baby--sat while I took the kids on their dates. The next morning while Nathan was still home I took Kylie and she chose Panera Bread also but I forgot to take a picture.

Madalyn took these and a bunch more of Kaitlyn eating fudge and showing us (as well as smearing it on the fridge.)

Doing the Nativity on Christmas Eve

The presents Santa left as seen before the kids saw them. From left to right it was Spencer, Thomas, Nathan & Marcie (sharing the corner couch), Alexis, Madalyn & her buddy in my tummy who she wanted to put out a stocking for and who got a dress and paci, Kylie and Kaitlyn on the long couch.

The kids lined up ready to go down to see what Santa brought on Christmas morning.

The family after church on Christmas

Kylie, Alexis, and Madalyn

This week we went to Washington DC to visit some friends from BYU with 8 children. The first night we saw the temple and the program they had there.

The second day we went to the air and space museum, Nathan's favorite.

Waiting in line to go into an airplane.

Nathan playing a game with 8 of the 14 children that were all in an 1100 sq. foot house plus basement.

Four little girls playing a game together.

The third day we rode the metro. Thomas didn't believe us that the train was underground but once he saw this huge escalator he believed us. It was a great ride.

Madalyn and Thomas

Kaitlyn and Kylie

Alexis and Spencer

Country Music Capital of the World

The first week of December I drove the kids 11 hours to Nashville, TN to visit my sister and see this beautiful city. We had a great time. My camera rarely cooperated so we got few clear pictures. The highlights were seeing downtown, seeing ICE!, touring Gaylord Opryland Hotel, and seeing where all the famous people live. (My sister knows each of their houses and occasionally stalks them.) One of the big reasons we came was to see her perform in a Messiah concert and a Christmas concert which were both amazing. It was a wonderful trip.

Since my sister is single living in an apartment with a friend, beds were tight but she generously let us take over her bedroom. Here three kids share a bed.

Two more kids in a bed. (Later I move them to the floor so that I can have their bed.)

Kaitlyn in her pack 'n play wearing a dress over a shirt that she put on herself and wouldn't let us switch for a jammie shirt.

Trying to take a cute picture of the kids at the Messiah performance. A lady watching nearby said I wasn't holding the camera still (after I complained that it was blurry.)

She told me to hand over the camera and she would take a good one of all of us. Ha!

I don't think it's the steadiness of the camera holder. It's the cheap camera. I was about to throw it away that night, I was so frustrated that every picture was awful.

My girls and I at the Christmas concert the next night.

On the way home through the mountains we stopped to cut a Christmas tree down and surprise Nathan with it when we got home. It was hard to find a place that was open on a Monday and when we finally did we had to hike aways to find a decent tree. All of this made our trip turn into 13 hours. But it was a lot of fun.

Spencer cutting off the lowest branches

Decorating the tree.

November Happenins

Kaitlyn wearing Daddy's socks
Trying to put on one of her dresses and some jewelry. She always says, "Pretty" after she gets herself ready.

Wearing Kylie's shirt.
Whenever she sees this shirt in the clean clothes on the couch she has to put it on.

It's really a 3/4 sleeve shirt, but it looks like a dress on Kaitlyn.

Spencer finally pulled one of his top teeth out right before heading to scouts.

Thanksgiving with Nathan's parents and little brother who came. Kaitlyn was napping and Thomas hid under the table when Nathan took the picture. I couldn't believe we all fit around this 4 person table.

Nathan got cheap tickets, but had to work, so I took the kids to our first football game.
It was really fun even though we lost.

Thomas is on the far right and Spencer took the picture.