A tale of 4 caesareans – the last section

C section 36 weeks

This month is Caesarean Awareness Month, and I have decided to share my 4 very different caesarean experiences. You can read my first birth story (the crash section) here, and how my second baby was born by premature section at 34 weeks here. My third birth story tells of my early section at 36 weeks, and you can read that one here.

After Max’s birth, we knew we wanted one more baby. Gemma and Jacob are 2 years apart and have a fantastic relationship, and we wanted Max to have a brother or sister around his age, to be his playmate, his partner in crime and his confidante. I fell pregnant fairly soon after we started trying, and enjoyed the first half of my pregnancy, apart from some morning (or all day) sickness.

We didn’t find out the sex this time – the only one of our four babies to be a surprise – and we had a fantastic 4D bonding scan at 28 weeks

As with my other pregnancies, I measured large for dates from about the half way point – but this time I measured FAR too big. I was put onto weekly doppler scans to check the flow of blood through the umbilical cord, and fortnightly growth scans. I was diagnosed with polyhydramnios (excess amniotic fluid) and closely monitored. My consultant came to see me at my 32 week appointment and actually said “I think your baby will make an appearance sooner rather than later – be prepared”. I was terrified!

From that point I was in and out of hospital a lot. For scans and consultant check ups, and at 34 weeks I was admitted to hospital in suspected labour. I was given 2 doses of steroids to help strengthen the baby’s lungs and a pre-term labour swab tested positive. There was a good chance I was going to go into labour early again. I wasn’t ready – I SO wanted a chance at holding my baby after birth, a chance to avoid SCBU.

I managed to hang on until 36 weeks and 2 days, when my waters went. There was no doubt at that point that baby was coming. Everything was a blur – I remember being told to get onto all fours on the bed in case of cord prolapse. I remember being wheeled down to theatre for the epidural, knowing that Kevin wasn’t there and that he was going to miss it. He did.

At 6.03pm, my beautiful baby girl was lifted into the world. At 6.05pm, Kevin burst into the theatre. He was able to cut the cord, he was able to see her, pink and healthy. She was placed on my chest while I was stitched up, and Kevin wheeled her into recovery in her little cot. We had done it. A baby in our arms rather than in a SCBU cot.

Because she was a little premature, her blood sugar levels were monitored closely – they were too low at one point, but we fed and fed and fed and within a day they had shot right back up. 2 days after her birth we came home with our little girl. I still felt like I had failed her by not keeping her in for longer, not making it to term, but I am so grateful that she was born so well. Finally, after 4 pregnancies and 4 C sections I had given birth to a baby who was able to stay with me.

Eliza is now a mischievous, inquisitive 10 month old who brings a smile to our faces every single day. We are incredibly lucky, and our family is complete.

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9 Comments

  1. April 28, 2016 / 12:31 pm

    Ahh, lovely story! So glad everything went well and your family is now complete! I have three and was lucky enough not to need c-sections. I’m not sure I would have had so many if I had. xx

  2. April 28, 2016 / 1:01 pm

    What a lovely ending to your story. I love that you are just happy and grateful with what you have. Birth experiences are rarely what we hope or expect them to be but our healthy children are what’s really important.

  3. April 28, 2016 / 2:04 pm

    Congratulations on bringing such a delightful little one into the world 🙂 I love reading birth stories (as a young non-mum, I admit it’s a weird habit) x
    Zoe Alicia recently posted…Be Free From Your BudgetMy Profile

  4. April 28, 2016 / 8:11 pm

    Beautiful birth story….neither of my births went to plan, what with one deciding to put in an appearance 10 weeks early and the other being delivered by emergency c-section 4 weeks early. Don’t ever feel like you failed by not keeping them in to full term, our bodies are capable of incredible things….you grew 4 humans and they’re all perfect and healthy!! xxx

  5. April 29, 2016 / 9:14 pm

    What a lovely birth story. I never had the experience with cesarean.

  6. May 1, 2016 / 4:40 am

    This brought tears to my eyes. I’ll never forget seeing you at The Baby Show and then you going into labour that day! You have 4 lovely children and it’s great that you’ve shared each of their birth stories, which will definitely help other mums xx
    Hannah Budding Smiles recently posted…The A To Z Challenge // Self Care – ZMy Profile

  7. May 1, 2016 / 5:46 pm

    What a lovely birth story and at least you got to have a snuggle with her when she was first born 🙂

  8. May 1, 2016 / 9:45 pm

    Beautiful story Kate, so happy she was able to stay with you!! I know she’s 10 months now but congrats again mama 🙂 xx

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