Ty Simone’s Birth
On Wednesday, March 7, 2007 at 3:00 p.m., I felt what I qualified as a possible labor contraction. After sharing this could-be revelation with Gary, I decided to drive to my CHOICE appointment. I saw my midwife Kelley and told her of my potential labor. Upon examination she determined the baby was nestled very deeply in my pelvis. She also felt my uterus surging. I asked her if the baby was posterior, because my back was beginning to cramp. She assured me that baby was not posterior. Then, she asked if I wanted a vaginal exam. I declined, not wanting to be disappointed if a closed cervix was discovered, thus falsifying my belief of productive labor surges. Even though I was 2 days beyond my due date, I had yet to experience a birth show as I did twelve or more hours before the births of both Tess and Tobey. Was I in labor? I decided to ponder the question more deeply on my drive home. As I drove 71 South, I felt another surge. Upon pulling into my garage, I felt yet another one. I was beginning to believe this was it. Upon giving Gary an update, he believed also. But, first, I had to use the restroom. “Yea! Birth Show!” I exclaimed. I am having a baby soon. “Call the midwives!” Gary exclaimed. I called Kelley at 4:45 pm and shared my progress. She asked if we wanted her to come now. I told her that it was not necessary; I believed that we still had plenty of time. I decided that it would be wise to bathe my kids. Gary needed to make a few business calls. We would check back later. No sooner were Tess and Tobey in the tub, than I decided that I needed to begin relaxation. Gary looked into my eyes and said, “Call the midwives!” I called them, and then ascended to the 3rd floor to get into the bath. As I was relaxing, Gary is simultaneously bathed the girls, gathering up the odds and ends for a relaxing homebirth, and placing adhesive carpet protection on the floors. Kelley and Nina arrived at 5:40 and began preparing the room. After an hour, they entered and check the baby’s heart tones as I was in the tub. Nina asked if I want to be checked. I declined. At 6:55, they checked the baby’s heart rate again. Gary entered and insisted that I be checked. Nina checks my cervix and informed me that I was complete, but she felt a butt. Kelley and I were shocked. Nina conceded that perhaps a lot of hair could cause the head to feel softer. As I marveled that I had experienced a total of ten painless surges to get to complete, I decide to get out of the tub. I moved to the toilet to relax through another surge. At 7:00, I asked Gary to get the essential oil blend Valor to rub on my feet. Valor is touted as being beneficial in aligning the body, allowing for optimal positioning, as well as empowering the physical and spiritual bodies. Gary shook the oil bottle expelling one drop onto his finger. He touched the drop to my foot and immediately, my membranes released. Fortunately, I was sitting on the toilet. As my water released, I felt a strange sensation. I told Nina and Kelley that it felt lumpy. Nina said, ”Let’s check it.” The toilet bowl was filled with meconium. I was ushered to the birthing stool in the guest bedroom. Nina performed another vaginal exam where she confirmed the baby was breech. It was then we had the talk. I felt comfortable birthing a breech baby at home. The midwives had the skills and the necessary equipment for the most common issues. Gary was reluctant, but agreed to continue with our birth plan. At 7:27, the baby had not been birthed. With the rate of the labor, this was surprising. Nina checked me again. This extended for a few surges, which were becoming distressing. Nina informed us that she felt a butt and a foot that she tried to reposition to no avail. It was then that the surges became painful. The baby’s complete breech position, sitting cross-legged, put intense pressure on my pubic bone with each uterine contraction. My body’s surges served only to push her wedged body against my pelvis. She was in an undeliverable position. At 7:36 p.m., I surrendered, “We have to go.” At that moment two men in police uniforms came up to my room. Without our knowledge, Gary had called 911 and his mother to watch Tess and Tobey. I was quite surprised having a police escort down to the foyer. Then the firemen arrived. Their mental states were in complete juxtaposition to my own calm HypnoBirthing energy. “How did she get down here?” “Were you trying to have the baby at home?” “Why isn’t she sitting?” “I need to examine you!” the fireman barked as he slammed a dining room chair down on the foyer floor. “That will never happen.” I calmly replied. “We need to get her to a hospital.” Nina informed them. “I am her midwife. She is fully dilated. The baby is breech and is not descending.” “The squad isn’t here.” “The I’ll take her in my car. I am not sure how much time we have.” Nina told them. Nina and the loudest man stared at one another. The group tension deescalated. The uniformed individuals became much calmer. The authoritative tone taken by Nina must have comforted them; it was familiar. The ambulance arrived. I was placed on a gurney and put into the back. Gary, Nina, and the medics agree that Nina should ride in the back with me while Gary rode in the front. With sirens wailing, I tried to maintain my relaxed state and go within during each painful uterine contraction. We arrive at Grant Hospital at 8:00 p.m. The doctor on call examined me. She concurred with Nina that the baby is in the complete breech position. A cesarean section was imminent. A call was placed to Dr. Bokor. I was given Terbutaline to stop my uterine contractions. I was shaved and disinfected while countless individuals, many who have not cut their fingernails, performed intermittent vaginal exams. At 8:25, I was wheeled back to the operating room. Dr. Bokor arrived reassuring me that everything will soon be fine. It was then that I began to emerge from my concentrated effort to maintain during each aching contraction. Dr. Bokor left to ready himself for surgery. The anesthesia team rolled me on my side and began describing the spinal medication that they would soon be administering. The first stick numbed nothing. The second stick, I told them, numbed only my right kidney. The third stick, I informed them, numbed my left kidney. The fourth stick was apparently in the proper location as my lower body became numb. It was now evident to me that I am about to have a c-section. I began to yell orders at the surgical team regarding no clamping/cutting of the umbilical cord. They look at me as though I am speaking a foreign language, which to them I probably am. One nurse finally responds that I need to take that up with Dr. Bokor. Upon his return, I did. He retorted that he needed to assess the situation first. “Are you numb?” Dr. Bokor asked. “I think. Are you going to put my right leg down?” “It is down. I just pinched you very hard. You must be numb.” Gary entered the room. The floodgates unleashed. I was so sad for the beautiful, serene homebirth lost to my baby. I was terrified my girls would be frightened of experiencing the calm luxury of a homebirth that their views will now be tainted. I was saddened that I was having a medicalized birth to extract my child from my womb rather than having her exit vaginally. Will her lungs and abdomen function properly due to lack of compression while exiting the birth canal? I was certain that Gary is carrying his own fears regarding the health of his wife and baby. I began to feel an intense pressure on my chest. I was having difficulty breathing. Did they give me too much anesthesia, paralyzing my lungs? Was I going to die? Then, Dr. Bokor told me I would feel some pressure in my chest as they removed the baby. They shielded us from the procedure, the birth of our baby. We did not see her as she emerged. Did she have vernix on any part of her body? Was she peaceful? Were her hands gripped tightly into fists? “It’s a girl.” “They are lying!” I told Gary through the still flowing tears. I knew we were having a boy. Everyone knew we were having a boy. Gary was talking to me, platitudes of some sort. I could not hear him. “Go to baby!” I ordered. He followed the nurse, who is wiping and wrapping our baby, to the table where erythromycin is applied to her young eyes. Dr. Bokor looked over the sheet to ask “sutures or staples?” I told him that I have no idea. This was something I had not researched. “Whatever you think.” Gary brought the baby over for me to see. As I looked at her, I had no overwhelming instant emotion. I wondered if bonding with this baby would happen. We were taken back to the recovery room. What an inappropriate name. So much recovery was ahead of us. Nina and Kelley entered. As they listened to my drug-tainted story, Nina unwrapped Ty and removed my surgical gown for that necessary skin-to-skin contact. Instantaneously, she began to nurse. An overwhelming emotion overtook me. Bonding would not be an issue. I am in love.