My Birth Story - long - Pics added

For those that have read my wedding review on LIW, I promise this isn't that long!

Background . . . at 20 weeks my OB's practice shut down. (very long story that played out in multiple posts at the time). I thought I was going to have to find a new OB. My OB however decided since he delivered me 40+ years ago while he was still a resident, my little bundle would be his last delivery - so long as nothing went wrong.

Fast forward to 32 weeks and the start of toxemia/preeclampsia. I was throwing protein in my urine, my legs were swelling, and my abnormally low blood pressure was on the rise. I was sent for two non-stress tests, and a biophysical profile w/ a NST. I was alternating between working and taking days off to keep my feet elevated. My weekly visits were upped to twice a week for careful monitoring.

This was just the sort of thing going wrong I had feared would send me to a different OB. In fact, my OB had to call in another OB for "consultation" the first time I was sent to the hospital for the NST.

The BPP was done at 38w4d and the baby scored 8/8. The MD that performed the BPP however wanted a 24 hour urine to check protein levels. It was decided I could wait until the weekend so I didn't have to take time off from work to do this.

So, at 39w1d I drop off the urine, I have my weekly check-up and BAM . . . full blown toxemia, no questions, no games, it is time to deliver this baby!!

My OB tells me to go home, enjoy dinner with DH, don't eat after midinight, get ready for c-section the next day, and he'll call me in the morning. He said I was not a candidate for induction b/c there were NO cervical changes at all, no dilation, no effacement, and as a result induction would fail. I made him promise he would be there for the delivery. I go home and freak out.

Tuesday morning I'm waiting for my OB to call to tell me when to report to the hospital and really start losing it. I make DH call the OB, who says go to hospital now. Off we go.

We get to L/D and I'm told c-section will occur @ 3PM (it is noon). Great , three hours to sit in the hospital.

Well, we didn't get in at 3PM. I have no idea what the holdup was at that time, but at 4PM there was an emergency c-section of a baby in distress, which pushed me back further. And caused me no end of additional anxiety. Then, there was a problem with one of the machines in the delivery room so I had to wait until they cleaned the delivery room from the emergency before they could get started.

Finally, I got wheeled into the c-section delivery room. What I can say is that the anesthesiologist Dr. Tiffany Angelo (or D'Angelo - not 100% sure) was amazing. She explained every single little thing she was going to do, and how it was going to feel when I got in there. Then she told me what she was going to do a second time, right before she did it. She kept me calm while I was in there without DH and my OB.

I had two OBs in the room - mine and the "consulting" OB. DH was brought in and the two doctors got to work. I didn't even really know what was going on until Tiffany told me the incision was already completed. I found out later my OB did in fact perform the actual c-section, the other OB was assisting.

My little girl entered the world at 6:23PM on her daddy's b-day: December 4.
Notice the two MDs in the background.


The rest of my Huntington Hospital stay was less than a good experience. The overnight nurses were slow to respond to the call bell, and when they did answer they would say OK, and then not come back.

I was told that they keep women w/ c-sections together etc. Not so in my case. Both roommates were vaginal deliveries. The second one was actually brought into my room amid lots of noise etc at 3AM!!!

Baby is crying . . . to be continued. I realize, the only thing to add is to continue to complain about Huntington Hospital. I won't bore everyone. But to my second roommate Theresa - if you are a LIFer, I wasn't mad at you, and I'm still not mad at you!!!

Here is our little one posing with my OB.



Here she is in the safest place a little girl can be . . . her daddy's arms.


And at one week old.

Message edited 12/17/2007 11:42:00 AM.

Re: My Birth Story - long

Wow, Darlene!!! I'm glad to hear that your OB was in there at delivery for you! That must have saved some anxiety for you! And above all else, you have a beautiful baby girl!!!

Congrats!!!

Re: My Birth Story - long

Congratulations! What an experience . . . but it's all worth it in the end!

Re: My Birth Story - long

Congrats!!! Im happy that all is well and your DD is gorgeous!!!

Re: My Birth Story - long

Congrats on your baby girl!!

Re: My Birth Story - long - Pics added

Bump for pics

Re: My Birth Story - long - Pics added

Message edited 1/30/2009 9:50:40 AM.

Re: My Birth Story - long - Pics added

What a beautiful little girl!!

Your story gave me a little anxiety but I guess at 35w3d all birth stories are going to give me anxiety.

Congratulations!!!

Re: My Birth Story - long - Pics added

She's beautiful congrats!!!

Re: My Birth Story - long - Pics added

Congratulations!!
She's gorgeous!

Re: My Birth Story - long - Pics added

You had quite the adventure...but..OMG she's SOOOOOO cute!!!

Congratulations, again!!!!!!!!

Re: My Birth Story - long - Pics added

she is precious!!!

Re: My Birth Story - long - Pics added

Beautiful photos, Darlene!! Again, congrats!!!!

Re: My Birth Story - long - Pics added

OMG, she is so beautiful!! Congrats Darlene!!

Re: My Birth Story - long - Pics added

Re: My Birth Story - long - Pics added

Your daughter is sooooo adorable. It was so great that your OB stuck around to deliver her. That is a great story.

Re: My Birth Story - long - Pics added

congrats! she's beautiful!

Re: My Birth Story - long - Pics added

Congrats. She is gorgeous!

Re: My Birth Story - long - Pics added

Thanks for sharing your story! She is so cute. Congrats!

Re: My Birth Story - long - Pics added

Congrats Darlene! WOW I can't believe the man who delievered you delievered your daughter!
I enjoyed reading your story...I still don't know some of the abreviations but I got the gist of it

She is precious!

Re: My Birth Story - long - Pics added

congrats, what a beauty

Re: My Birth Story - long - Pics added

Well that was eventful...but with a happy ending!!!!! Your daughter is beautiful

Re: My Birth Story - long - Pics added

congratulations. Your daughter is beautiful!

Re: My Birth Story - long - Pics added

She is beautiful!!!! Congrats!

Thank you for sharing your story.

Re: My Birth Story - long - Pics added

She is perfect Darlene!!!