Unexpected Labor & Delivery

We went to the hospital for the follow up ultrasound for my low-lying placenta (marginal placenta previa) and also a routine OB appointment.  The OB appointment was first and went well, I was measuring right at 33.5 weeks. Good blood pressure and no concerns or pain so we were on our way.   We then headed over to the Maternal Fetal Medicine OB for the ultrasound which was also a growth scan.  Dr Ylagan did our ultrasound scan and found that his head was measuring on track but his abdomen and legs were under measurement.  We expected the shorter femur measurement as that is typically seen in children with Down Syndrome.  However, she seemed much more concerned with the smaller abdomen.  She proceeded to test the outflow of the placenta and she found that there were several spots that had limited or lack of flow.   The doctor decided it was best to admit me to labor and delivery to monitor Beau for 48 hours.  She said she planned to run another growth scan on Saturday to see if there are changes.  A non-stress test (heart rate monitor and contraction monitor) were strapped to my belly.  They will constantly track me for 48 hours.

Friday night into Saturday I was up ALL night.  I sent Andrew home to get some sleep and take care of the dogs – thank goodness, at least one of us got some rest!  Beau was being a stubborn boy and his heart rate was dropping about one time an hour.  A healthy rate for him was around 130 and he would drop below 100.  Every time he would drop the nurses would rush in and have me flip to my other side to get him moving and kick back into gear.  It was a little scary but every time it worked!  They said as long as it came back up it was okay; if it dropped below 80 for up to 6 minutes I would be rushed into emergency c-section.  On Saturday afternoon we had another ultrasound/growth scan and the doctor saw the same results as Friday’s.  She said she would now like me to stay until Monday and we would run the ultrasound one last time before discharge.   I was given two doses of a steroid to boost Beau’s lung function in case he does need to come out early.

 As time passed I grew more and more anxious about being discharged knowing my son’s heart was dropping and I could wake up in the middle of the night and he might not be breathing.  As much as I didn’t ‘want’ to deliver him 6.5 weeks early, I knew it would easy my anxiety about what might happen at home.  I just continued to hand it over to the Lord to calm my heart and direct the path that the remainder of the pregnancy would be.  Saturday night into Sunday was the same thing.  However, they had me sleep with an oxygen mask to over-oxygenate Beau.  It worked because I definitely got more sleep but unfortunately, Beau continued to drop his heart rate, how around two times an hour (doubled from the previous day.)  Dr. Ylagan came in again on Sunday morning and said they were going to run a BPP test (Bio Physical Profile) which is a 30 minute ultrasound that tests 4 areas.  Doctors, nurses and the anesthesiologist started coming in to have me fill out paperwork and get ready just in case.  Dr. Love came in to talk through the test with us and give us the details she was going to be looking for.  It tests amniotic fluid level, gross motor skills, fine motor skills, and practice use of lungs for 30 consecutive seconds.  Each area gets either 0 or 2 points, and to keep Beau in the womb we had to score 6 points.   By noon I had not felt Beau move even one time and I was starting to get nervous.  Dr. Love returned shortly after 1pm.  She did the test and in that 30 minutes she only saw him move one time – no fine motor skills, no use of lungs.  We scored a 2 for good amniotic fluid…. Beau was coming out! 

From there it was whirl wind of people rushing in the room and rolling me away to the operating room.  My nerves really set in.  Andrew had to go get ready and would meet me in the OR right after they begin. They got me into the freezing cold OR, and it was a series of roll here, do this, arms out, etc.  The epidural came first… I had to sit up and roll my back forward; after the stick and a short burning sensation, my toes were almost instantly numb.  From there it crept up my back until I could no longer feel my lower half.  They laid me back with my arms spread out on each side and the blue curtain was held up separating me from the doctors.  There was a large tube with warm air that lay right under my neck to keep me warm.  I hated being laid back and not being able to see anything while I had to listen to them talk through the procedure to one another. I felt tugging and pulling on my abdomen which was such a strange feeling!   Some stress relief came when Andrew finally showed up in the room.  He got to sit right next to my head and though he could not see over the curtain, he was able to take pictures.  Within minutes I heard the most glorious noise of my life, the squeaking cries of my son entering the world at 2:47pm!  Instant tears roll down my face!  I am a mommy! From the time Andrew called my mom to tell her I was going in for an urgent (but not emergency) c-section, Beau was delivered 29 minutes later!  The doctors pulled him to the side for a quick clean up and called Daddy over to cut the cord.  They carry him around and I get to give him one quick kiss before they whisk him away for evaluation.  He has the most beautiful face I have EVER seen and a nose that is as cute as a button! 

From there I’m stitched up and rolled to a room to ‘come down off’ the medications so I can move. Slowly I can wiggle my toes again, then lift my knees up, and eventually scoot my entire body.  I am brought to my new room for further recovery until they come to tell us Beau is ready for our visit.  Andrew got to go to the NICU first and brought back some first photo shots of our son.  Soon after I got to make the visit myself!  He is perfect…. Pink and breathing on his own… our little miracle man.  Our journey of parenthood begins....  

Beau Maverick was born on September 15, 2013

3 pounds, 9 ounces

16 3/4 inches long

Psalms 139:13-16 For you formed my inward parts; 

you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. 

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  

Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.  

My frame was not hidden from you, 

when I was being made in secret, 

intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 

Your eyes saw my unformed substance; 

in your book were written, every one of them, 

the days that were formed for me, 

when as yet there was none of them.