(Here is proud mama and the amazing Dr. John Morton)
Whenever anyone asked me when was my baby due, I would state matter of fact, “Valentine’s Day.” I knew I was due around the 13th, but Valentine’s Day had a lovely ring to it. I had my heart set on having a VBAC. We were having our baby at the same birthing center and with the same OB I had with my first pregnancy because it was an incredible experience. (See Waiting for baby girl – part 1)
I only had two ultrasounds during this pregnancy. One to confirm that yes, I was indeed pregnant and the other when I was almost due. The birthing center was also a teaching hospital and I made an appointment for my ultrasound there. The residents could learn and I could bring my then 3-year old too. She even got to hold the “magic wand” around my belly.
We were having another girl and were just waiting for natural labor to begin. On Wednesday, as I was getting ready for my OB checkup, my water broke a lot. I called my OB right away, and he said to stay at home to wait for active labor to kick in before going to the hospital. Because I was a VBAC, I’d be constantly connected to a fetal monitor. So I followed my doctor’s instructions. We sent our daughter over to my sister’s to await the arrival of our newest edition.
I felt a lot of back labor and my water was continuing to break. I checked in with my OB the next day. As long as I felt fine and didn’t have a fever, we could stay home. It was the same scenario on Friday too. We did go to the hospital that evening to check in. But I didn’t feel comfortable in the tiny labor room they had available and my husband didn’t like the duty nurse. We went home with the promise to return the next day if nothing changed. I was grateful to sleep in my own bed that night. But I was growing weary of the back labor and not progressing. And my daughter was with my sister for three nights already, going on the fourth, waiting for baby.
So we went back to the hospital on Saturday. I was given a somewhat larger labor room. They hooked me up to the fetal monitor, and the baby was strong and perfect. I was having sporadic contractions. Active labor never arrived. On Sunday, Valentine’s Day, we had another gentle cesarean. My OB was my support as I got my epidural shot. I felt grateful and comfortable, knowing that I was in good hands.
When my pink baby arrived, she let out a snort first instead of a cry. She was here, my Valentine’s Day baby, just as I foretold.
Healing Insights 