Liam's Birth Story

Liam had always been breech. Everytime I felt him kick it was down low in my pelvis. When I was 35 weeks along in my pregnancy my doctor had me schedule a procedure where they would try to turn him. We scheduled this for may 9th. I would be 37 weeks along.  My mom came into town to be there for the procedure. It was may 8th, the day before the procedure. I had been dilated to 3 cm for 2 weeks and had been having some pretty strong contractions, but nothing that was regular.  My mom, my friend Jessica, and I  decided to go get pedicures that night. I had been having contractions all day and we thought it would be a nice way to relax and take my mind off of the pain.  As soon as we sat down in the chairs my contractions started to come about every ten minutes.  I was chatting with my mom and Jessica and didn't think much of the contractions because I had been having them for so long. I figured they would slow down, because they always had.  I decided to get dragonflies painted on my toes because I was sure they would bring me good luck.  When we got up to leave I had a really strong contraction and couldn't even concentrate on the conversation.  I told my mom this and she wanted to go to the hospital right away, but I wanted to go home and eat. So we all went to my mom's condo (which was in St George and close to the hospital) and had dinner. 

Jessica and I at getting a pedicure. Little did I know this would be my last pregnant picture.

My mom told me not to eat just in case I was in labor and had to have a C section that night. I told her that is why I wanted to eat, because as soon as we got to the hospital I knew they wouldn't let me and I was really hungry. During dinner I timed my contractions and they were every 5 minutes. My doctor told me to go to the hospital when they were every 5 minutes. My bags were already packed and in the car for the procedure in the morning, so my mom and I headed to the hospital. Chris was in Cedar City at work, I called him and told him what was going on. I told him not to come yet, and I would call him once we were at the hospital and let him know what was going on.

We got to the hospital and they checked me. The nurse said I was still only 3 cm dilated and Liam was still breech. They would monitor me for an hour and then see if I had progressed at all. The contractions were coming about every 2 to 3 minutes apart now. I called Chris and told him not to come because I hadn't dilated anymore, but he said he would head to the hospital anyway.  An hour passed, my contractions got stronger, but I was still able to talk through them. The nurse came in and checked me again and I was still at 3 cm.  She called my doctor and he said to send me home and get some rest and we would try the procedure in the morning. I told the nurse I didn't think I could sleep through the pain of the contractions, so they were going to give me something for pain and to help me sleep.

 I called Chris and told him they were going to send me home. He said he would just come and pick me up at the hospital. My mom was very upset and told me that I was in labor and to tell them I didn't want to go home. I figured that I could either sleep at the hospital, or sleep at home and I would rather sleep in a comfortable bed. The nurse came in to discharge me and give me instructions about the medication they were going to give me. I told her I was afraid that my water would break at home. This was a fear because with Liam being breech it meant that his cord could come down first and his blood and oxygen supply could be blocked off. She told me that my bag of waters felt very intact when she had checked me, and that I shouldn't worry about it breaking tonight.  And right then I felt a huge gush of water. I told the nurse and she checked, sure enough my water had broken.  She left to call the doctor to hurry in to preform a C section. I called Chris and told him to hurry to the hospital because we were having the baby that night.  

It was all a blur of activity then.  A nurse came in and started an IV while another nurse was having me fill out paper work. My contractions started to get really bad, and I started to shake really hard.  Chris got there and I held his hand through the contractions. I cried and told him how bad they hurt. With every contraction there was another huge gush of fluid.  Chris was really good and told me to breathe. My doctor came in to check on me and the first thing he said was "what is all this water on the floor" He couldn't believe how much fluid I had lost. The contractions were right on top of each other and we had to wait for the anesthesiologist to be ready for me in the OR. Finally they came and got me and told me they were ready for me in the OR. I got up and walked down the hall to the OR. Another contraction hit and I leaned over the OR table and just rocked back and forth while the anesthesiologist set up. Chris had to wait outside while they gave me the spinal block. I hated that he couldn't be there with me.  The OR nurse sat in front of me and held me while I got the spinal block and I just wished that it could be Chris instead of her. The anesthesiologist told me I had to sit very still, which felt impossible because I was having really really strong contractions, but 2 or 3 contractions later he was done and they laid me down on the table and got me prepped for surgery. 

Liam coming out

7lbs 4 oz

They finally let Chris in and I was so relieved to see him. He sat down next to my head and we waited.  It took a lot longer than I expected for them to get Liam out, but finally I heard a cry. Liam was born at 12:16 am May 9th, 2012. He weighed 7 lbs 4 oz and was 19 in long. I couldn't hold Liam for about an hour because I had to be stitched back up and wheeled down to the recovery room. Chris held him next to my head so I could see him but my hands were strapped down so I couldn't touch him.  Finally when I was in the recovery rom I could hold him and feed him. He was such a champ and latched right on and ate. It was a long and exhausting night. I really wanted a natural birth, but when it came down to it i did what it took to get him there healthy.