I want to first say a thank you to all of the May mamas (and the "I'm pregnant" mamas) who sent me such support and gave me great advice as my pregnancy unfolded....As of 11 am on May 5th I successfully defended my dissertation and earned my PhD. On the way home, we stopped by the chiropractor for my 17th attempt to help the baby turn using the Webster method (on top of my 4 sessions of accupuncture, the homeopathic pulsatilla, and my endless hours upside down on my inversion table). I had also scheduled a 2-hour session with a "Birthing from Within" mentor for the next day to explore unresolved issues from my first birth which may have been getting in the way of baby turning. I also had an external version attempt scheduled for May 9th.....
of course, baby had other plans. At around 2:45am on the 6th I awoke as my water broke. I called my DH from the bathroom and instructed him to call 911 as I got on hands & knees (hips in air) on the floor and called a friend to come sit with DD (who was coming down with something and had already been up once that night) and called my parents. I didn't even know which hospital the ambulance would take me to....I instructed DH to get me some underwear and pants, print out the birth plan, call the midwife, and grab the labor bag. At this time, the flashing lights could be seen in the cul du sac, and I made a dash downstairs (pulling on my pants along the way) unlocked the door, and assumed my "bottoms up" position on the living room floor.
The paramedics were really nice, and I was put on the gurney (back down) and wheeled out. DH stayed behind to wait for my friend. In "the rig" I was put on a heart monitor for me and for babe, asked a bunch of questions, and put on an oxygen mask. I was trembling and really scared by it all. Then I was again put in bottoms up position (which is challenging with an oxygen mask on your face). I was wheeled into the hospital and went through all of the procedures I never wanted to deal with...baby was still transverse breech and I was being prepped for an emergency c-section. I was extremely grateful for all of the c-section advice I had been given here at MDC. I felt somewhat prepared and informed-I asked good questions, and DH and I had had an opportunity to discuss what might happen so that we were both prepared. I spoke with the OB about wanting an incision that would allow for the possibility of future VBACs, but she explained that with a spine-up transverse breech, such an incision would not give her enough room to safely get baby out...I knew going into surgery that I would never have another vaginal birth. This was difficult for me to accept, but I'm trying to keep things in perspective.
DH held my hand throughout the surgery as my sweet DD was pulled from my body. It was not the way I had ever imagined birthing, but it is the way DD came into the world and it is how I will welcome any future children.
Alina Brielle is beautiful and a wonderful baby. She was 7lb 7oz and 19.5" long at birth-bigger than her sister by 4 oz. and .5" despite arriving 12 days earlier than her sister did (relative to their due dates). My recuperation has been slower than I'd like, but I am healing and feeling more like myself. DD #1 has taken well to her big sister role, although she has had a tougher time adjusting to a mommy who is not 100%. Every day gets better as our growing family adjusts to a lot of changes all at once.
Again, thank you to all who provided support, advice, or who took the time to read my posts and think about me and my family. I wish all of the May mamas luck as your families grow, and a very happy mother's day!
of course, baby had other plans. At around 2:45am on the 6th I awoke as my water broke. I called my DH from the bathroom and instructed him to call 911 as I got on hands & knees (hips in air) on the floor and called a friend to come sit with DD (who was coming down with something and had already been up once that night) and called my parents. I didn't even know which hospital the ambulance would take me to....I instructed DH to get me some underwear and pants, print out the birth plan, call the midwife, and grab the labor bag. At this time, the flashing lights could be seen in the cul du sac, and I made a dash downstairs (pulling on my pants along the way) unlocked the door, and assumed my "bottoms up" position on the living room floor.
The paramedics were really nice, and I was put on the gurney (back down) and wheeled out. DH stayed behind to wait for my friend. In "the rig" I was put on a heart monitor for me and for babe, asked a bunch of questions, and put on an oxygen mask. I was trembling and really scared by it all. Then I was again put in bottoms up position (which is challenging with an oxygen mask on your face). I was wheeled into the hospital and went through all of the procedures I never wanted to deal with...baby was still transverse breech and I was being prepped for an emergency c-section. I was extremely grateful for all of the c-section advice I had been given here at MDC. I felt somewhat prepared and informed-I asked good questions, and DH and I had had an opportunity to discuss what might happen so that we were both prepared. I spoke with the OB about wanting an incision that would allow for the possibility of future VBACs, but she explained that with a spine-up transverse breech, such an incision would not give her enough room to safely get baby out...I knew going into surgery that I would never have another vaginal birth. This was difficult for me to accept, but I'm trying to keep things in perspective.
DH held my hand throughout the surgery as my sweet DD was pulled from my body. It was not the way I had ever imagined birthing, but it is the way DD came into the world and it is how I will welcome any future children.
Alina Brielle is beautiful and a wonderful baby. She was 7lb 7oz and 19.5" long at birth-bigger than her sister by 4 oz. and .5" despite arriving 12 days earlier than her sister did (relative to their due dates). My recuperation has been slower than I'd like, but I am healing and feeling more like myself. DD #1 has taken well to her big sister role, although she has had a tougher time adjusting to a mommy who is not 100%. Every day gets better as our growing family adjusts to a lot of changes all at once.
Again, thank you to all who provided support, advice, or who took the time to read my posts and think about me and my family. I wish all of the May mamas luck as your families grow, and a very happy mother's day!
Many 
to you while you recuperate from your unplanned surgery, take extra special care of yourself mama! I hope nursing is going well for you!
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love the name!
