| Birth Story |
| My pregnancy went perfectly well. No complications in any way. That is, until my 39 week check-up on Friday, November 1st. My doctor, Dr. Drummond, couldn't find my cervix or the baby's head when doing the routine internal exam. He was pretty baffled. He thought that perhaps the baby was breech and had me go over to the hospital to get an x-ray (since Stettler has no ultrasound equipment) to see what position the baby was in. The x-ray showed that the baby was head down. Dr. Drummond then did another internal exam and was still confused and so sent me on to Red Deer (the nearest city 45 minutes away) to have the obstetrician on call there to examine me. I got to Red Deer and upon examination, the obsetetrician, Dr. Razvi, decided that it felt as if there was a large ovarian cyst that had descended below the baby's head, thus blocking the way of the cervix and keeping the baby's head quite high up. He ordered an ultrasound which confirmed his findings and measured the cyst at 10 to 12 cm in diameter! Eew! He explained to Michael and I that it was common for women to have these cysts when pregnant, but unusual for one to get this large and to go this long undetected by exams and previous ultrasounds. He said that the only way to remove this cyst was by surgery and that there was no way I could deliver my baby vaginally with this large cyst in the way. The only option, he said, was to take the baby by cesarean section and he wanted that done as soon as possible, not wanting to chance me to go into labor and put mine and the baby's health at risk. Dr. Razvi also explained that it was most likely this cyst was benign, not cancerous, but that it was possible that my right ovary would have to be removed along with it, but that he would do his best to save it if possible. He told us to come in Sunday morning (two days later) and that as soon as there was a spot in the O.R., he would perform the C-section. That evening, bewildered by all the news and sudden change of events, Michael and I had lots to digest. I had a difficult time sleeping that night, thrilled with the fact I was going to meet my baby soon, but feeling a lot of anxiety over having to have another C-section and what to expect. (My first child was delivered by C-section after a 14-hour labor, my second was a successful VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) and so I had every reason to believe I would have a nice, normal vaginal birth with this one.) Sunday finally came and we got to the hospital at 8 a.m. as instructed. The nurses put an I.V. drip in me and also a catheter, which really hurt to put in and burned like nothing else for the next three hours or so. It was terrible! We had to wait until the afternoon for the O.R. to be free. Soon the nurses came to get me prepped for surgery. The anesthitist carefully explained to me everything regarding the spinal block I would be receiving. Then a pediatritian came in and explained to me what will happen after the baby was taken out, and that typically a cesarean-born baby takes a little more effort to get them breathing, and so not to worry. Both these doctors were very kind, and assured me not to worry about anything and that only the best of care would be taken with my baby and I. Soon I was wheeled into the operating room, where the spinal was given, and other preperations made. I was surprised at how relatively painless the spinal/epidural was - just a quick poke of local anesthetic and then a bit of pressure and it was done. Almost immediately I felt a warm, heavy sensation over my lower half. They put an oxygen mask over my nose and mouth, the curtain was drawn, and Michael - all dressed in scrubs - was let into the room. The procedure began. All I could feel was some movement, tugging and pressure, but no pain. However quite soon, I experienced a couple side effects from the spinal. I got nauseated a couple times during the procedure and they had to give me something to throw up into. Also, I suddenly got very itchy everywhere on my face! They had to let go one of my arms so I could scratch my nose, cheeks, eyebrows, and everywhere I felt itchy. Strange, huh. Anyway, after opening me up, the doctor was surprised to find the baby footling breech, when a day and a half ago, the baby was head down! They quickly got the baby out, but not without her gulping a bit of fluid on her way out. Michael assured me it was a girl, which we knew from a previous ultrasound. She made no sound as they whisked her away to a nearby heat lamp where they gave her oxygen and 30 seconds worth of chest compressions to get her heart and breathing going. They were suctioning out fluid from her nose and throat. The anesthetist was beside me and assured me that the baby was just in a state of shock, but that everything was fine and under control. When they had her under control, they brought her to me for a moment and allowed me a quick glimpse of her and a kiss on the forhead and away they took her to the ICU. Michael went with them. I was later informed that there they measured her oxygen levels, blood glucose levels and heart rate. They had to give her some formula right away through a tube into her stomach to raise her sugar levels which were rather low. It was there, Michael tells me, that she had her first cry, which was rather weak and pitiful. Meanwhile, the surgeons finished the rest of the surgery, and had to take out my right ovary along with the dermoid cyst, which was sent off to pathology for a report, which later confirmed it was a benign Dermoid cyst. I was very drowsy by the end of the surgery because of the anti-nausea medicine they gave me through the I.V. I was then wheeled into the recovery room where I pretty well slept the whole time. I was there for over an hour I think. Finally I was brought back into my hospital room and got to have a good look at my baby for the first time. Of course, it was love at first sight. She looked so tiny, and yet so beautiful! We stayed at the hospital for four days, and I had a lot of Demerol and Tylenol 3's to cope with the pain. Jayna so far has been a good healthy baby, nursing well and sleeping well. We are so happy to be home now! Her big brothers are crazy about her. And myself? I couldn't be better. I finally have my GIRL!!!!! Written November 8, 2002. |
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