Lillian's C-section Birth Story

I wanted to share Lillian's birth story before my current lack of sleep causes me to forget it.

As you all know, I was planning to deliver naturally with Midwives who I had been seeing most of my pregnancy. I loved the midwives and was really looking forward to giving birth with them. When I found out Lillian was breech, I was moved over to an OBGYN that partners with my midwives. He was an old colleague of my mom’s (who is also a Dr), so at least I had some background with him. I tried to come to terms with having to have a c-section, and with the help of some online friends I was able to calm most of my fears. Feb 2, 2011 arrived and I was excited to meet our little girl.

DH and I arrived at the hospital at 4:30am. I was the only patient scheduled that early so I was alone in the pre-op area. They brought us back immediately and the prep started. I had to change into my hospital gown and rub down my stomach with a antibacterial cloth. Once that was done, the nurses started an IV so I could get two bags of fluid in me before the surgery. They then started going over a barrage questions which helped pass the time. Before I knew it, it was 5:30 so the anesthesiologist came in to talk to me. We went over how the spinal block was going to be administered and how I would feel after it had been administered. After talking to him, it was almost time to be brought back. DH got his scrubs on and I was wheeled back to the OR.

When I arrived in the OR, the anesthesiologist was waiting for me along with my OBGYN and a host of nurses. I started to get pretty nervous at this point and was shivering quite a bit. The anesthesiologist decided it was time and had me sit up so he could administer the spinal block. The administration of the spinal block was actually fairly painless. He administered a local anesthesia which felt like a little bee sting and then administered the spinal block which I didn't feel at all. They then helped me lay back down. Slowly my legs got heavy and when I couldn't lift them anymore the procedure began. Shortly after it began, they brought DH in.

Having a spinal block was totally weird. You can't feel pain, but you can certainly feel that something is going on down there. You also get very cold so the top half of me was draped with warm blankets and I had a tube that blew hot air on top of them. I actually felt very cozy. After about 18 minutes, the doctor told me that I would feel them bearing down by my ribs and that Lillian was going to be born. They invited DH to stand up at this point to see her being born.

At 6:48am, they pushed her out and she was delivered in the breech position. She started crying almost immediately which was a big relief. I, of course, cried. It was a pretty amazing thing to hear. They didn't peek her over the curtain for me to see so I didn't get to see her right away, but DH followed her to the warming station with a camera in hand. He watched as they wiped her off, suctioned her lungs, ect. He snapped a few photos and brought them over to me so I could see her. Finally, after getting her ready for transport to the nursery, they brought her over to me. I only got to see her for a min and then she was off. That was kind of disappointing but I was happy DH was able to be there with her.

It took them roughly another 50 mins to put me all back together. Once they were all done, they wheeled me back to a post op recovery room. I got there roughly at 8am. I asked that they call the nursery to tell DH I was back. He was under strict instructions from me to bring my baby to me as soon possible so we could start breastfeeding. The minutes kept ticking by and I was getting really anxious. She didn’t get to me until around 8:45 (turns out she was being used as a example for nursing students so the teacher was going really slowly explaining everything).

As soon as she got there, they tried to have us start breast feeding. They worked on getting her latch onto me. It wasn’t working well and I was getting really frustrated. I was worried too much time had passed and that we wouldn’t be able to get her to latch. They kept calling lactation, and the nurses tried to help me in the mean time. I was getting so discouraged. Finally the lactation consultant showed up and was able to get her to latch immediately. After a short feeding session, they took her back to the nursery for a bath (DH had asked them to postpone that so I could get her sooner) and I was wheeled into my recovery room.

It wasn’t the birth experience I had wanted, but was definitely an amazing experience none the less.

Right after delivery...

Here we are 48 hours after delivery...

Proud Parents

DH, Lindsay, & Lillian

Happy Birthday Lillian

Hi All! This is Lindsay's sister Kelley posting on her behalf.
I couldn't be happier to annouce that Lillian was born this morning.
She is 7lbs 6oz and 18 5/8 inches long. Mom and baby are doing well.

Better late than never!

I finally took a couple pictures of Lillian's room. Its not complete because we are still missing the crib which obviously makes the room, but here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure!

View from bedroom door

Glider & book shelf

Ella wanted in the photo shoot

Cute lamp I found at World Market

Dresser, with some local artwork

Lillian's closet. She has WAY too many clothes.

Location where crib will likely go. We may redo the room layout depending on how it looks once it gets in. For now there is a pack n play set up for naps if we want to use it.

Even though we don't have a crib yet, we were fortunate enough to receive this beautiful cradle. Its going to be Lillian's primary bed until she moves into her crib.  Its set up in our room for now.

2 weeks from today

2 weeks from today, DH and I will be welcoming our little baby girl to the world! Last Thursday we went in for an ultrasound and the Dr confirmed the Lillian is still breech. He said because of the fluid level around her the likelihood she will flip at this point in the pregnancy is pretty slim. Assuming she doesn't flip this week or next, we are scheduled for a c-section at 6:30am on Feb 2, 2011.

The doctor is on vacation Feb 4, 5, and 6th. Although I am not due until Feb 7th, he didn't want to risk me going into labor while he was gone and having one of his partners perform the surgery. He didn't want to do the c-section on the 3rd, since he'd be leaving the next day so Feb 2nd it is!!! So little Lillian will be a ground hog which seems appropriate since she doesn't want to poke her head out. She'll also share a birthday with my father which is pretty cool!!

I was pretty disappointed at first because I have been dreaming about a natural birth since I first got pregnant, but in the last few days I've come to peace with the situation. I've been doing lots of research on c-sections, breastfeeding after c-sections and recovery from c-section. I have my weekly appointment tomorrow and have about 25 questions for the doctor. Let's all hope its a patient man.

2 weeks and counting!

Frustrated

The baby still hasn't turned head down. If she doesn't turn, I'll have to have a c-section. The midwives and the doctors they work with will deliver a frank breech baby (which she is), but not if its your first vaginal delivery. I'm 36 weeks today so I have a little time for her to turn, but we're getting down to the wire. I have my weekly appointment with the midwives Thursday, and if she hasn't turned by then, I'll have to meet with one of the OBs they work with and get an ultrasound so we can establish a game plan.

Can't something just go normal for once? I really really really want this baby to come into the world the traditional way. There was something about conceiving with so much help that has really driven me to want to experience a birth with as little intervention as possible. And now I feel like my body may be failing me again. Its so discouraging.

To add insult to injury, my mother could not be happier. I swear. She was never comfortable with me seeing midwives instead of a OBGYN. Which is ironic because her sister was a midwife before she passed away, so she knows what training they have and how capable they are. But never the less she is a doctor, so she's wants me cared for by doctors.  She's told me like 6 times that i should just go ahead and schedule the c-section date, and that this baby is not going to turn. I'm like, oh geez, thanks. Way to think positive.

Obviously I'm going to do what's in the best interest of the baby, but I just wish she would turn so I could at least try to deliver her vaginally with little intervention. Please say a little prayer for us.

Enraged

I am sooooo annoyed. I ordered my crib and dresser in September, at the time it was supposed to ship late October. October rolls around and I get a post card from them stating the furniture has been back-ordered until end of December. I call freaking out and they promise me we'll get it at the end of December. After calling in early December to check on the order, they decided to split the order since the dresser was in stock. So the dresser is here. I called today because I still hadn't gotten a shipment notice on the crib and they tell me now its back-ordered until the end of FEBUARY!!! I am so angry I could scream!!!

Of course the agent couldn't tell me anything other than I am at the top of the list and definitely should get one from the next batch. Which is of course what I heard about the December delivery. So now with 5 weeks to go I have to figure out what the hell I'm going to do!!! Grrrrr.

I can return the dresser and find a new set for the room. But with 5 weeks to go, how likely is it that I can really get something good in that short amount of time. Or I can just suck it up and wait for the crib hoping it comes in during February/March. I have a bassinet that I can use for her to sleep in before the crib gets here, but I am just worried she won't like it and we won't have a back up option.

I swear I am so mad I could SCREAM!!!