s7714
06-21-2005, 12:27 AM
(a.k.a. the story of my very speedy, somewhat scary and totally unplanned VBAC.)
The newest addition to our family arrived two weeks early on 6/12!
Sophia Holly weighed in at 7 lbs. 1 oz. and was 19 1/2 inches long.
I felt my first contraction a few minutes before midnight on Saturday night. At about 12:20 am my water broke, with a somewhat alarming bloody show, so within seconds we headed for the hospital.
My arrival at the maternity ward sent them scrambling as soon as I mentioned I was supposed to be a repeat c/s, because of the bloody show. My OB was still on her way, so they had an ER doctor come up. I was complete +2 upon arrival, and Sophia’s heart rate was low, so they immediately started telling me to push. Once I was on oxygen, her heart rate went back up, so things calmed down a little, but every time I’d stop pushing or a contraction would stop, she would rise back up. (I of course was concerned that she was “stuck� the same way DD #1 had been.) At that point they said to breath through the contractions and not push and they were preparing to whisk me in for an emergency c/s as soon as things were ready.
Well, little Sophia decided she just wasn’t willing to wait for that c/s…I honestly can’t say I consciously made the choice to push—it was really more like my body just took over from my brain—but after trying to breath through several contractions, I found myself giving a huge push and heard my husband excitedly yelling “You’re doing it! You’re doing it!� The next thing I knew, I felt Sophia slipping out and I opened my eyes to see a little wrinkled baby in the doctor’s hands! Everyone in the room, including me (and my OB, who walked in the door literally seconds after she came out), was practically in shock that I’d managed to so suddenly push her out. They took her away to suction her lungs because she’d swallowed a lot of blood, but other than that she was totally healthy and thriving. She arrived at 1:10 am, just a little over an hour from the time I had my first contraction.
A minute later, the placenta was delivered, and the cause of all the blood was revealed. A tiny little spot of the placenta had started to rupture. I don’t think the reality of the situation set in for myself or my husband until the following day when all the nurses were telling us how much of a scare I’d given them (and how much gray hair I’d given them as well.) In retrospect, I realize how alarming the situation really was, and am so thankful Sophia ended up arriving safely albeit MUCH more quickly than expected. I am still amazed as well at the fact I ended up having a VBAC delivery considering I hadn’t planned on even trying that route.
We’re home now and all is well. DD #1 is adjusting fairly well to Sophie. She loves to hold and touch her, but of course has been a little out of sorts with Mommy disappearing so suddenly and the influx of visitors. Sophia is the exact opposite of her big sister in looks and has taken after her father with black hair and olive-ish skin. Here’s a couple pictures of her and her excited big sister!
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/27577.jpg
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/27578.jpg
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/27579.jpg
Jennifer
Mommy to
Annalia 3/03
Sophia 6/05
The newest addition to our family arrived two weeks early on 6/12!
Sophia Holly weighed in at 7 lbs. 1 oz. and was 19 1/2 inches long.
I felt my first contraction a few minutes before midnight on Saturday night. At about 12:20 am my water broke, with a somewhat alarming bloody show, so within seconds we headed for the hospital.
My arrival at the maternity ward sent them scrambling as soon as I mentioned I was supposed to be a repeat c/s, because of the bloody show. My OB was still on her way, so they had an ER doctor come up. I was complete +2 upon arrival, and Sophia’s heart rate was low, so they immediately started telling me to push. Once I was on oxygen, her heart rate went back up, so things calmed down a little, but every time I’d stop pushing or a contraction would stop, she would rise back up. (I of course was concerned that she was “stuck� the same way DD #1 had been.) At that point they said to breath through the contractions and not push and they were preparing to whisk me in for an emergency c/s as soon as things were ready.
Well, little Sophia decided she just wasn’t willing to wait for that c/s…I honestly can’t say I consciously made the choice to push—it was really more like my body just took over from my brain—but after trying to breath through several contractions, I found myself giving a huge push and heard my husband excitedly yelling “You’re doing it! You’re doing it!� The next thing I knew, I felt Sophia slipping out and I opened my eyes to see a little wrinkled baby in the doctor’s hands! Everyone in the room, including me (and my OB, who walked in the door literally seconds after she came out), was practically in shock that I’d managed to so suddenly push her out. They took her away to suction her lungs because she’d swallowed a lot of blood, but other than that she was totally healthy and thriving. She arrived at 1:10 am, just a little over an hour from the time I had my first contraction.
A minute later, the placenta was delivered, and the cause of all the blood was revealed. A tiny little spot of the placenta had started to rupture. I don’t think the reality of the situation set in for myself or my husband until the following day when all the nurses were telling us how much of a scare I’d given them (and how much gray hair I’d given them as well.) In retrospect, I realize how alarming the situation really was, and am so thankful Sophia ended up arriving safely albeit MUCH more quickly than expected. I am still amazed as well at the fact I ended up having a VBAC delivery considering I hadn’t planned on even trying that route.
We’re home now and all is well. DD #1 is adjusting fairly well to Sophie. She loves to hold and touch her, but of course has been a little out of sorts with Mommy disappearing so suddenly and the influx of visitors. Sophia is the exact opposite of her big sister in looks and has taken after her father with black hair and olive-ish skin. Here’s a couple pictures of her and her excited big sister!
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/27577.jpg
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/27578.jpg
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/27579.jpg
Jennifer
Mommy to
Annalia 3/03
Sophia 6/05