Ari Turns Two: Our Positive C-Section Birth Story… In Pictures {GRAPHIC}

On January 11th 2015 at 12:03 pm my sweet, silly, and smart little man turned two years old… Two YEARS!! Time flies.

I thought it was a perfect time to share our very abbreviated and positive C-section birth story with you all. Mostly in pictures, some rather graphic. I say positive C-Section Birth Story because we have ALL heard the nightmare stories of C-Section. But I can honestly say that even though I was going for a all natural home-birth. I would not change a thing about how my little man made it here to me!

I did have a wonderful team. Between my husband, Dr. Bootstaylor of SeeBaby Atlanta  (which is the back up OB for home-birth midwives in this area) and Brenda Parrish of Traditional Birth Services (my midwife) by my side, we were armed with lots of knowledge on natural birth and although I had a C-Section we made it as “natural” as possible!

If you can stomach it … I hope you enjoy! That bloody little babe has given me a life I never knew could be mine…

---

 

During the wee hours of January 11th 2013, (which was my due date) I woke up to use the rest room for the 100th time. I return to bed and just as I was drifting off I heard, or felt or both…a POP!

My eyes popped opened and I wondered if I was dreaming…I honestly hoped I was dreaming because I was waiting for Ari to turn head down so that I could have my home birth as planned.  I knew that if my water broke I would have to head to the hospital and prepare for a c-section. Although Dr. Bootstaylor would evaluate Ari’s positioning and tell me if I could try to deliver vaginally. I still wanted nothing to do with the hospital.

I went back into the bathroom and indeed my water had broken and to my surprise there was meconium in my water… which turned out to be no big deal!

I woke Greg. That was the weirdest thing…I was so nervous to tell him.

I said “Greg, I think my water broke”… He sprung to action called Brenda and we headed to the hospital after not too long.

We arrived and checked in. They made sure I was actually in labor and I just waited in bed.

Within a few hours the contractions kicked in and they kicked in HARD. I’m not sure if It was Ari’s breech positioning but this was much worse than I expected. The only place that I felt comfortable was on the potty!

 

 

 

 

Greg was there for me every step of the way, and even almost fainted when he thought my birth plan (which he posted in several areas) wasn’t being followed.

Brenda was there as well (pictures are thanks to her!) Even though I was destined for a C-Section she was there. That says so much about her!

Dr. Bootstaylor came in all calm cool and collected lol. He never gives off that fearful urgent vibe that some most doctors do. He did an ultrasound … and based on Ari’s type of Breech positioning ( which I believe was frank breech) vaginal delivery would not be the safest choice. Dr. B calmly presented me with my options but honestly with those contractions I was ready for the C-section.

Brenda reassured me that my contractions were not in vain … Ari would still get benefit from them even if I had to have a C-Section.

After what felt like forever Greg and Brenda suited up and I was WALKED to the OR. I was totally expecting to be wheeled to the OR but I walked and made it just fine. Although I was worried about dripping amniotic fluid along the way…

I sat on the operating table and Dr. Bootstaylor braced me by holding my shoulders and I had the spinal tap which didn’t hurt me at all. And just like that… all… pain… was… gone!

I was laid on the table…Greg and Brenda came in and it was party time.

Before I was even aware of it, the surgery was on its way! I’m really glad that I didn’t know when he started cutting because I would have been more anxious.

This is what was going on during that time…

 

And then…

I heard my baby for the first time!! Beautiful gruggles … such a sweet sound that I will never forget!!

 

Greg held him first.

Then it was my turn! It was hard to hold him because my arms were a little numb as well. Which according to the Anesthesiologist meant that I had a really good Spinal Tap… Brenda wanted him to start nursing ASAP and we tried right in the OR!

Then off to recovery…until I could move my legs.

Ari nursed…

 

…and got “checked out” after nursing was established with daddy right by his side. Ari never left our view… NOT ONCE! We opted out of the bath and a few other standard practices that were not necessary. One example is Erythromycin ophthalmic ointment to prevent ophthalmia neonatorum (ON). “The two main causes of ON are chlamydia or gonorrhea, both of which are sexually transmitted infections”… and I have neither. 

This is Ari the evening of his birth.

 

With Dr. B’s okay I was able to go home with in a day. Thank God because I HATE HOSPITALS!!

It was a beautiful day! I will never forget! I wish I would have lived in those moments and really relished them… because the following weeks and months were rough!

How was your C-Section? Would you have changed any part of your birth story? Let me know in the comments!