…..Continued from Part 3
I was dilated to 10 cm, and it was time to push. The midwife returned, and the supplies was brought in. Everything was going so well, until a few minutes in. After a few pushes, the baby’s heart rate started dropping.
The midwife told us that a drop in the heart rate was normal at the very end, but when she instructed the nurse to call the hospitalist, I could sense that our time was limited. I asked if she was preparing for a C-section. “It’s just a precaution,” she replied. “I really think you can do this, but you have to push really hard.”
I’m not sure what was actually going through her mind, but I appreciated her positive attitude. And even if she didn’t have much faith in my ability to deliver naturally, I’m grateful that she didn’t advertise it. Can you imagine what would happen if she had the habit of telling laboring moms what was really going on in those final minutes? It’s would be almost certain to end in panic and C-section if a mom were told. “There’s about an 80% chance that you’re going to be cut open in a few minutes, but give it one final try, and we’ll see what happens.”
After a couple of very hard pushes, the baby was born. The total “push” time was less than 10 minutes, compared to over an hour with my first baby. I found out later that the midwife had made a tiny cut to get him out quickly, and I was grateful for her quick decision making. I was also grateful that she didn’t tell me as it was happening.
With my first birth, the baby was placed on my chest immediately after delivery, but that didn’t happen this time. I heard the nurse say, “Do I need to push the button?” And the midwife responded, “Yes.” I watched the nurse run to the wall and push a button labeled ‘CODE BLUE.’ That’s when I knew something was wrong.
A team of NICU specialists flooded the room. They must have been told to wait in the hallway because they were there in a flash. As our baby was whisked off to the warming tray in the corner, I saw that his face was dark blue. He wasn’t crying…or breathing at all.
I burst into tears as I realized what was happening. It was truly the most terrifying moment of my life. Mr. Handsome stood beside me and stroked my head as the team in the corner worked on our son. He seemed very calm, so I asked him later if he was scared when he saw the baby’s dark blue face, expecting him to say that he knew the whole time that everything was going to end well. But he admitted that while he appeared calm on the outside, inside he was panicking.
The baby made his first cry a minute later. That doesn’t sound like a long time, but to us, it felt like an eternity. And when you consider that the average baby cries within 10 seconds of delivery, one minute is a very long time. It was still a very “wet cry” and did not sound good. The NICU nurses continued sucking fluid out of his lungs for almost 10 minutes. It was difficult to have to wait so long to meet our son.
When they brought him over and laid him on my chest for the first time, I was so relieved. One of the nurses explained what had happened. The cord had been wrapped around his neck and had tightened during delivery, thus restricting blood flow. His initial Apgar score, which measures how well a baby tolerated the birthing process, was 1/10. But she assured me that because he scored a 9/10 a minute later, there wouldn’t be any lasting effects from his lack of oxygen.
To Be Continued…
Regina
ELLIE! What a scary experience for you two! I’m so glad your precious baby is okay. I probably would have tried to get off the table to see my baby!
Diana
Oh my. How very scary! Thank God your baby is fine now. Very very traumatic thing to go through.
Paula
Is there a part 5 to your birth story?
Ellie
Yes. 🙂
Elda
Can we please have part 5?
/
How terrifying! The look on your face tells it all. So thankful to see you holding your little son.
Anonymous
I don’t know how they could assure you at that point that there would be no lasting effects. The baby has an entire lifetime to get through, not just one or two Apgar tests. I wish you well but I would be vigilant.
Ellie
The truth is that every baby has a chance of developing issues later in babyhood/childhood, because many issues aren’t detectable right at birth. We choose to trust God with every aspect of our kids’ health. Even if this baby does end up having a developmental or physical challenge, that won’t change how much we love him, and it won’t change how much God loves him. He is perfect little gift from God, and we are so thankful for him.
MarriedUK
What a silly remark. What are you basing this on? Apgar describe the condition of newborn immediately after birth. If a baby recovers, there is no correlation with later problems (I know about this stuff professionally). Ellie and Mr H will obviously watch over their baby, in the same way that they cared for Little Buddy. However, they don’t need to fret unnecessarily. Ellie- take care of yourself! And don’t worry about baby bear. He is in wonderful hands ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Anonymous
All the trauma of carrying and delivering your baby, are you later going to try for no. 3? Just curious.😮
Ellie
We would like to have more children, if possible. Probably won’t rush into it, but at some point 🙂
Tiffany
That sounds very scary Ellie . My vbac baby also had her heart rate drop during birth and I had to push really hard too . I think at first I was scared to push with my first couple of pushes and I was only using laughing gas since I arrived at the hospital at 10 cm. I was afraid of the pain and I think I was using a little too much laughing gas and they wanted me to take the mask off . Her cord was also around her neck .
How are y’all adjusting to having two ? Thank you so much for sharing your birth story .
We found out recently that we are having twins and I am super nervous . It’s still pretty early on though and my last pregnancy was a miscarriage . I used a midwife with my vbac baby , but I found out I have to use a OB this time .
Ellie
We are adjusting very we. Thank you for asking!
Congratulations on your twins! That is very exciting, but I definitely understand being nervous. When are you due?
Tiffany
Early October , but I think delivery might be earlier with twins and I seem to go a few weeks before my due date, except for my first I delivered after my due date .
Do you think the aspirin helped your blood pressure from not getting too high sooner than it did this time ?
I did read that you have an increased risk of high blood pressure with twins .
Ellie
Fall babies, that’s fun!
It’s hard to say if the aspirin specifically made a huge difference. I started taking it mainly to help with possible clotting issues that could have been causing my miscarriages, but also for blood pressure. But it is becoming widely used by Obs because of the good results and low risk, so I felt good about it. There were also some studies that said baby aspirin helps avoid severe covid side effects.
Anna
Dear Ellie,
I am so glad that you are all ok now. I had tears in my eyes reading this.
Sasha
We had the exact same thing happen with one of our babies. She is now almost 7 and doing great. Please take care of your mental health postpartum, I don’t think the reality of the situation sunk in for me until later and it was tough for awhile. With my next delivery, my doctor had a crash cart outside the delivery room and a NICU nurse attend so that my baby could get help right away if necessary. These situations don’t tend to repeat, but having the supplies and nurse really helped me relax and enjoy the delivery (which did go just fine).
Anomonous
Sounds like you had a good midwife but could you please explain why you did not have a doctor do the delivery.
Ellie
I like the midwife model of care. They have fewer patients, so they spend more time with each one, both at appointments and during delivery. I really like the idea of having access to all the latest medical care at the hospital, but having a midwife attend. All of the major hospitals in Nashville have midwives.
MarriedUK
In England midwives deliver all “low risk” babies and doctors are not routinely involved in birth. The outcomes are better. Having cutting edge medical facilities nearby but not in the room sounds perfect 😉
This story was absolutely heart wrenching. Well done Ellie! You’re a hero.
Diana
Most practices I know of use midwives for natural births and doctors for C-sections.
Gabrielle
How scary! I’m so thankful everything is okay know!
Federica
Oh Ellie, so relieved to know that your little boy is here safely and you are well. Those must have been truly terrifying moments. Praying for your and your whole family’s continued well-being and health.
Sarah
Praise the Lord for His protection over this situation and new little life!
Anonymous
That had to be so scary!!! I am so thankful to God that your son is ok.
Marilyn
thank God your baby is doing well. God bless. Will keep him in our thoughts and prayers.
Joan,Marion and Marilyn
Cindy
I’m so glad your baby is okay. My little boy was born in very similar circustances, he’s 40 now. Praise God for his goodness!
Stacey B
Praise the Lord that everything went well after. Enjoy your boys. God bless you and your family.
Kay
*tears* God is good! My husband was also born with the cord around his neck and should have died during the pregnancy as well, but for miraculous intervention from God!
Ellie
Wow! What a miracle.
Anonymous
My daughter-in-law had the same thing but somehow God didn’t deliver that type of miracle to her and she has a disability.
Anon
Your experience sounded similar to the birth of my 2nd child. He was breech and it was not discovered until he was in the birth canal. There was no cry for about a minute, then we were relieved to hear his cry. We have had some difficulties with his development, but God has kept us through it all. He is 27 now.
Anonymous
There is nothing wrong with a C-section. You made it sound like it’s the worst thing, and it sounded almost disrespectful to all C-section mamas out there.
Anonymous
How in the world is it disrespectful? I know plenty of women who have had c-sections. I don’t know of a single one who would have chosen to have one. C-sections are for emergencies. Of course, they are scary and not chosen!
Anonymous
A c-section is a major abdominal surgery, so they are not the most desirable route of delivery, and it can be scary to need one. There was nothing remotely disrespectful to mom’s who have had c-sections in her post, why would there be something wrong with people who’ve had c-sections? If anyone thinks that, they’re pretty weird…
Anonymous
Most women prefer to not have a c section after laboring. She wasn’t disrespectful at all (I have had multiple c sections myself).
Anon
I have had 3 sections for my 3 children. The first one was due to the cord being around my son’s neck. The following were because they didn’t do VBACs where I lived. As already mentioned, C-sections are for emergencies. I don’t feel disrespected when mom’s talk about wanting to avoid one. I wanted to avoid mine! It wasn’t meant to be. I’m grateful for the means to have my children through surgery, but it’s not the means preferable to most.
Justine
Dear Ellie,
2 births, 2 terrible stories, but 2 that survided, that is the most important, and I am super happy U 3 did!!!!!!!! I am happy U are happy, now U are safe, and sound!!!!! Love U 4 loads!!!!
Ellyn
My second born was also induced and a fast labor. I only pushed for a few minutes, in comparison to my first born where I pushed for hours.
When he came out, he was blue and not moving. Doctors and staff rushed him away but very quickly told me he was fine.
I was so shocked at how quickly everything had happened, I didn’t really worry too much about his appearance. But he also recovered so quickly. It scares me to think what if I hadn’t pushed so hard to get him out, would we have a different outcome if it had taken a minute or two longer? Scary thought.
My second born is now almost 3. He’s thriving on every level. He’s about the 99% for height and is right on track with all of his developmental milestones. I’m
Sure your son will be the same! 🙂
Paula
When will Birth Story part 5 be ready? I really appreciate your Duggar/Bates blogs Ellie, thank you!
Ellie
Coming soon. 🙂