On Thursday July 14th I went in to my OB, Dr. Lee, for my 38 week check up and during the exam Dr. Lee started to suspect baby was not head down. She wheeled in an ultrasound machine and took a look. Sure enough, baby was butt down and head up. We started talking about a procedure to turn the baby but the ultrasound measurements showed slightly lower than desired amniotic fluid levels, although still at a safe level, and a large baby. Dr. Lee sent me home to lay down for the evening and drink lots of fluids in an attempt to bring up my amniotic fluid levels so that on Friday morning she could attempt to turn the baby in my stomach.
Dr. Lee advised me that there were three possible outcomes:
1) If my fluid levels were at an appropriate level than she'd attempt to turn the baby but that the odds were probably 50:50 that the procedure would be successful. If the turn was successful than we'd continue on with the pregnancy as normal and wait to go in to labor.
2) If my fluid levels were at an appropriate level but the baby couldn't be turned then we'd schedule a c-section for sometime around my due date, Friday July 29.
3) If my fluid levels weren't high enough to attempt the turning procedure than a c-section would be scheduled and Dr. Lee would monitor my fluid levels every two days to make sure they didn't drop to unsafe levels.
None of those things happened. Instead, I went home from the appointment on Thursday, drank tons of fluids and rested on the sofa. Early Friday morning Jason and I went to the hospital in Corvallis and I was admitted for an external cephalic version, the fancy name for turning the baby while still inside of me. I made the mistake of watching videos of the procedure on YouTube and it was a little creepy looking so don't do it if this is an option for you. Once in the hospital, Dr. Lee checked my fluid levels again and not only were they not up to an appropriate level but they were much, much lower. In fact, they were so low that Dr. Lee was concerned and decided to put me on an IV for a few hours to see if the levels could be brought back up to safe levels, at which point we would revert to option 3 (see above). However, she decided to "schedule" a c-section for later that day just in case. With the IV in place to continue hydration they strapped me with some monitors for the baby's heartbeat and contractions. At this point, Jason and I became a little hysterical. Jason frantically called my mom, who had just left Portland with my step dad for a family gathering in John Day, and told her "she had to get here!" She and my step dad turned around and headed to Corvallis as quickly as they could. Jason also called his parents so they could be at the hospital for the arrival of their first grandson.
After several hours, with all of the IV fluids in my system, Dr. Lee checked the levels again by ultrasound but they were still extremely low. So the "scheduled" c-section was happening. Jason and I were excited but couldn't stop giggling in panicky voices. I mean, we thought we had more time. For what, I'm not sure, but we thought we had more time. We thought we'd take the day off from work, go to the hospital, maybe attempt a procedure, maybe schedule a c-section, go get Indian buffet for lunch and then maybe go see Bridesmaids later that evening. Instead, we were having a baby!!! The house was a mess, we didn't have any toiletries or a change of clothes, and the guest bed wasn't set up for my mom's extended stay once the baby arrived.
The parents all showed up in time and my mom and Jason's mom came to visit in the labor room before the surgery. Then, at about 11:45am the nurses came in and had me change in to a hospital gown and then took me away for the surgery. Jason and my mom changed into sterile outfits, hats and booties and waited to be allowed in for the surgery.
Once in the operating room the nurses got me ready for a spinal tap. It was really cold in the operating room and I started shaking, in part from the cold and in part because I was nervous. They wrapped a warm blanket around my shoulders and the anesthesiologist prepped me for a spinal block. The spinal block was administered and it really wasn't too bad. They laid me down on the gurney and after that I became numb pretty quickly. They set up a curtain so I couldn't see anything and then my mom and Jason came in to the room. They got started pretty quickly, with Jason sitting next to my head to keep me company and my mom watching the surgery around the edge of the curtain. I was really glad to see Jason since I was starting to feel a little panicky.
Once Jason was there I calmed down and started to feel really excited and emotional. They started the c-section and I heard the doctor say "there's a foot" and "there's a scrotum and butt." It took her an extra minute or two to get the baby's head out since it was so big and was kind of stuck under my ribs. I heard my mom say he was out in a teary voice and then we heard his cry. It was the most beautiful sound I've ever heard. I can't describe it. My whole life changed in that second. I can't describe it any better than that. I looked at Jason and both of us had tears in our eyes. At 12:25pm our son was born. They held my baby's face over the curtain briefly and I saw his little eyes and then whisked him to the warmer.
My mom and Jason hurried over to see him and I craned my neck to get the best view I could. At this point Jason announced the baby's name was Max Tiberius and everyone oohed and ahhed. I couldn't see much at this point so you'll have to ask Jason but I did see him perform the ceremonial cutting of the umbilical cord. After a few minutes they wheeled the baby to the nursery and Jason went with them while my mom hung out with me as I got sewn back together.
Once I was all stitched and stapled they wheeled me to my room and I waited for Jason and the baby. Then, Jason wheeled Max into the recovery room and I finally got to hold my baby with Jason by my side. And that's how Max was born.
