Birth: Putting Things Into Perspective

Two different Pregnancies, Two Different Outcomes

By Kylee

Even before I was pregnant I knew I wanted to have a midwife take care of me and my baby, I also knew I wanted a natural water birth. I know, sounds crazy, why would someone deny pain medication? I don't have a reason except, maybe; I wanted to test my pain tolerance! When I did get pregnant I soon learned that a natural birth would still be possible but there would be a good chance it would not happen, and it didn't. I was pregnant with fraternal twins and developed pre-eclampsia, I was put on bed rest and then at 37 1/2 I went to the hospital for a scheduled induction. My blood pressure was through the roof which then indicated I would have a c-section. I was ready to meet my boys and done being pregnant, hence I wasn't too heart broken by my "plan" not playing out. An hour after arriving at the hospital my twin boys were delivered and very healthy, I on the other hand was in a daze and in a lot of pain. I had a doula, a midwife, nurses and my husband plus two new babies coming at me in recovery and all I wanted to do was yell "stop" and slow everything down. Too many people, too much going on! The recovery of the c-section was hard and very painful, what hurt the most was I couldn't even get out of my bed to hold my babies.

Five years later we welcomed another little boy! When I got pregnant with Emerson, I was certain about having a VBAC, the same midwife, and no doula. This time around I didn't have my heart set on a plan, I knew the different birth scenarios that could be played out and with the Grace of God what was mean to happen would happen. Throughout my pregnancy I was calm and patient and knew that he would come when he was good and ready, and he did. A day before his due date I went into labor in the wee hours of the morning, by 5am I decided it was time to wake my husband and head to the hospital. I was blessed with a wonderful nurse and midwife that coached me through the contractions and up until pushing it was quiet and boring. At 11:51am our third boy arrived into the world and I had done it, a vaginal birth after a cesarean and without any pain medication! Shortly after I WALKED (could not do that for 5 days after C-Section) to the bathroom and sat in the Jacuzzi tub with my little man, my mind was clear and it was definitely not the whirlwind that the C-Section was. It was amazing and most of all I felt amazing. The pain was minimal and it was the birth experience I had envisioned.

I know that not everyone's experience is what they envision, I experienced both. I can only hope that by sharing my two experiences, a mother-to-be or an after birth mommy will be happy with their experience for what it was. For me it was my faith in God that guided me through both my experiences and more importantly, I have three very healthy boys which is the end result that really matters

**Please let me know if you would like to share your birth experience and be apart of my blog series, "Birth: Putting Things Into Perspective" Feel free to contact me via email at 3menandalady06@gmail.com. This will not only give someone the opportunity to have a voice, but to educate someone on their options as a woman and mother.**

P-man's Birth Story

Birth Story

We arrived at the hospital at 5:30 a.m., and they began prepping me for surgery. It took them three pokes to get my I.V. started...OUCH! I started getting a little apprehensive about surgery since my first experience with W was awful (you can read W's birth story here: W's Birth Story). However, I started feeling a lot better after discussing all my worries with the anesthesiologist. After drinking that awful drink, etc it was time to walk back to the O.R. We started walking back, and was able to give W a hug and kiss before he became a big brother...I was a crying fool during this time. Got back to the O.R. and they started my spinal. It took them about 10-15 minutes to get it in. I had no issues with this whatsoever, and actually could breath. They gave me a little lesser dosage than the average, just because I'm pretty short, which helped the spinal stay where it needed to. I did get claustrophobic as my lower half was going numb, and got a little anxious. With the music blaring and all the staff (including my OB) singing along, I started feeling a lot better. I did feel a lot of tugging, etc, but overall felt really good. I didn't have much scar tissue from my first section, so it only took 15 min. into delivery to deliver P-man. They got him out, I heard clear fluid, and his blaring cry was the best sound in the entire world. After they got him out of my uterus, my doctor immediately gave him to me to kiss him a few times before tossing him over to the nursery staff. He was beautiful, and I was bawling a ton during this time. After doing his APGAR's, which were 8 and 9, the handed him over to my hubby, and he just kept P-man's head right by mine the entire time. The only time in the O.R. P-man wasn't by my side was during his initial assessments after he was delivered and when they weighed him. They finally got me all put back together and I was wheeled to the recovery room. My experience during my csection was awesome. I never had any issues with having any difficulty breathing, and never once got nauseated. While in recovery, P-man got to stay with me the entire time, and they brought a nursery nurse and warmer to my bedside. They did his first bath, vitamin K shot (not fun for mommy), eye gel, etc all in front of me while I was recovering. I even got to nurse him ASAP (with the help of Jesse...he had to hold him for me), and he latched for a good 30 minutes. I couldn't really hold him due to my shakes (which were resolved with a little help from demoral). I was in recovery for about two hours, and I was finally able to go to my room. I was there for three full days and two nights. My pain was managed by Motrin only, and I wasn't in severe pain. I'm very thankful for a great experience. Even though it wasn't a VBAC like I hoped and dreamed, it was still a very beautiful and moving experience for both my hubby and I.

Birth Video *graphic*

Natural C-Section

Natural Cesarean Section?! You all are probably scratching your heads. I know I did, when I came across this YouTube video. It's not what you think, the mother did not have a csection without the use of drugs. However, she did get to experience a csection that pretty much mimicked a "natural" delivery.

How is that even possible, to "mimic" a "natural" delivery?! This form of csection is being used in the UK. It consists of course of an OBGYN, anesthesiologist, and a midwife. Yes, a MIDWIFE! The anesthesiologist places the spinal like he would in any csection, and the OBGYN makes a normal surgical incision into the uterus. Instead of lifting the uterus out of the mother to get the baby out, he "mimics" a vaginal delivery by finding the head of the baby, and lifting the head out first, shoulders, torso, legs, etc. This helps the baby "squeeze" out any left over amniotic fluid in their lungs (this normally doesn't happen during routine sections, which is why many babies experience respiratory distress, etc). By doing this, it only adds on about two extra minutes or so. While the OBGYN is lifting baby out, they drop the surgical drape, so the mother can witness her child being brought into the world. As soon as the baby is delivered, baby is then placed on the mother for skin-to-skin contact. The midwife is right there at the mother and baby's side, so both can be monitored closely. During the skin-to-skin contact, baby usually wants to try and nurse, which helps their breastfeeding relationship get off on the right "breast"...get it...breast...foot...breast...ya get it, right!? This is very important, because in many cases (my first csection included), breastfeeding after a cesarean can be challenging. Baby's cord is still not clamped and cut, which is another "natural" part of birth. It's only beneficial for the baby to still have two different sources of oxygen. It's finally clamped and cut (by the father of course) when the OBGYN removes the placenta from the uterus. Baby is still on mother's chest until it's time for her to be moved into recovery. During that time, that's when baby is placed into the father's arms for their height and weight check.

I think this "natural" cesarean section is wonderful, and should be performed here in the United States. Even though my second csection was way better compared to my first (you can read about W's birth story here: Birth Story) , I really wish I could of had that special bonding time. As much as I would like to attempt a VBA2C, that's just not possible, especially when hospitals are having a difficult time as it is accepting VBACS. Who knows what will happen when that third baby comes around... only time will tell.

As for right now, we can all enjoy being mothers-to-be, new mothers, mothers with experience, etc. We all know what's right for us and our children, because we are in control of our own destiny. Giving birth is such a miraculous experience, and I only wish for the best possibly labor and delivery for everyone. Sometimes, we have a few bumps in the road that will prevent that from happening, but being able to look into those baby eyes, smell that baby smell, and kiss those baby toes makes, whatever the delivery method, OH SO WORTH IT!!!!!!

Here is the video: