"The Emergency C-section" - The whole story ...

A couple of people have asked why I ended up having a c-section ... so here is the "behind the scenes" story of how Emma finally "left the belly" ...

As most of you may know, I was blessed with a fantastic pregnancy until the last couple of months of it. In those last couple of months, I had odema (swelling in my hands, feet, and legs) and protein in my urine. I also at one point had "higher" blood pressure, so my gp admitted me to hospital for observation to rule out "pre-eclampsia". I never did develop pre-eclampsia as I never seemed to have all 3 symptoms all at the same time.

Anyway, Emma's due date was April 23rd and it finally came and went. We had an appointment with our consultant (Dr. McKenna) the following day. He told us that he would induce me the following Tuesday morning if I didn't naturally go into labour before then. That evening we picked up my parents from the airport and had a few days to spend with them before the "big event".

On Monday evening (the 28th) I "checked" into the hospital to get ready to be induced. I was supposed to be given the "gel" (that can begin labour) at 10pm that evening. Shortly after arriving there and getting into a semi-private room, the midwife checked my blood pressure and it was quite high. Dr. McKenna was on call that evening so he came in and told us that he wanted to move me to the "high dependency unit" for that night so that my bp could be more closely monitored. So, down I went to the HDU and was finally given the gel at about midnight or so (I think). Joel went home to get a few hours sleep as the midwife said that probably nothing would happen until the next morning. I started to have contractions early that morning around 3am I think ... and at around 5am, they rang Joel and moved me to the labour room. I was in loads of pain, with inducing your contractions tend to come one right after the other without a break in between. So, Joel walked in to see me sucking back the "gas and air" and not "having alot of fun" (ha ha). Needless to say I had the epidural and if we ever decide to have another child and they want to induce me, I will sign up for it again straightaway! :0)

By about 2.30pm I had dilated to 9cm and Dr. McKenna decided to give me until 4pm to dilate the last 1cm. For some reason that last 1cm just was not dilating ... Shortly after 3pm we noticed the two midwives moving around the room and Dr. McKenna was back in to say that the baby's heartbeat had started to go "tacky" and they couldn't wait anymore for me to try to deliver naturally. I was very quickly taken to "theater" (operating room) and an emergency c-section was performed. Apparently, Dr. McKenna thinks that she was too big and that she was turned the wrong way which was why I wasn't dilating the full 10 cm. She had also started to pass her meconium inside me, which was why she started to show signs of distress. Emma came out very healthy and a good size (9.5 pounds) and we were both taken back to the HDU because I had very high blood pressure again.

Eventually, we were moved upstairs and my blood pressure was continually checked. That whole experience is a long story in itself. Needless to say I was very happy to come home with Emma the following Saturday. I am on medication for my blood pressure and we are praying that it resolves itself in the next few weeks. Meanwhile, Emma seems to be doing well. I was breastfeeding, but she has lost some weight and the pediatric doctor said today that we need to top her up with formula for the next couple weeks to make sure she regains her birth weight. Other than that, she is a very healthy girl.

So, please pray that Emma will "pack on the weight" this week, and pray for Joel and I that we will rest when she rests and that we will "not be anxious for anything". Thanks! :0)