Saturday, August 30, 2008

10 Years Ago: Part 2

OK...sorry to leave you all hanging. I knew that I wouldn't have enough time to finish the story and it is a little fun to have a continuation. So I quickly checked into the hospital and they first asked for a urine sample. I was given a cup and I tried to get one. I told the nurse that it was all brown coming out. She quickly told me to forget it and get up on that table so they could take a peek. They determined that the "brown stuff" was meconium and we needed to figure out what was going on. They pulled in a machine and did a quick ultra sound. As you can imagine, they began to sound a little panicky about the baby.

The ultrasound proved that the baby was in a frank breech position. I had no idea that the baby was head up. We all decided that it was best to proceed with a c-section. The baby was starting to appear a little distressed and it was best to quickly stop labor and do an emergency c-section. I had never once even thought that I would have one. I had prepared for labor not surgery. I had taken the classes. I had emotionally geared myself up for the pain and the experience of a natural birth. And yet, that is not how it unfolded.***You can see from the picture that Tally's head was the last to come out. Hope the "real life picture isn't too much for my readers.***

After a quick spinal, I was in the OR and my doctor, whom I had really come to trust, was there to perform the surgery. Chuck was able to be by my side and I was awake and alert to feel the tugging and the pulling of the delivery. Of course I was thrilled and surprised that the baby was a girl. And a big girl at that. 10 pounds 22 inches and the most beautiful round head (no cone shape here). Tally Janae was born with in an hour of arriving in the hospital that morning. Her name was chosen with thoughtful consideration. Tally (short for Talitha from Mark 5) which means little girl. Janae means God has responded. Her name fits her perfectly. We had prayed for the blessings of a child for years and we were so glad that we were blessed with her. And God did respond with a little girl.

As for the beginning of life with a new born...well that will be next (part 3 and I promise that will be all). We didn't have the easiest start. There were some complications of that breech position that I had never even heard of until we were discussing things with an orthopedic surgeon. You would think that I have learned about having things all planned out...somehow my plans rarely transpire (good thing I can trust God for all the details in life).

11 comments:

Sherry said...

Those were exciting times! God gave you and Chuck the perfect gift tailor made for you. Our best Happy Birthday wishes to Tally!

Anonymous said...

Great story. I've been checking your blog all day for Part 2! What a face! She's staring so alert at Chuck. How special!

Ginny said...

I wondered what Tally's name is short for. One of my best friends' oldest daughter is named Talitha. She just goes by Talitha though.
Thanks for sharing your birth story, I always love these!

Rachel said...

Oh Cris...thank you for sharing with us your story, your emotion, your pictures!!! If we ever get that face to face meeting when you move I will have to share my c-section story with you (at least John's part)

Hope you are enjoying the weekend!

Lee and Bev said...

Somehow God continues to keep us in positions and situations where we have to continue to trust HIM! But I can't imagine life without that anchor of trust and faith that keeps me secure. How blessed we are to have Tally in our family!

Smith Schoolhouse said...

thanks for sharing Cris. I love real life pictures. You are lucky they let you take them, nowadays doctors are super picky about pictures of any procedure, including vaginal births.

Annie said...

I loved hearing this story! My first two were c-sections, too. (Isn't that funny - once again I forget that the others are ADOPTED). Anyway. I look forward to part 3. And I love Tally's name. I had also thought of Talitha as a lovely name...

Cheryl said...

she does look so alert in the picture with Dad!

Anonymous said...

Glad to read part two!!!!

Denise Punger MD IBCLC said...

I am sorry you didn't get the birth you planned for. Thanks for honestly sharing Tally's birth story and the photos. I can't believe they let someone take those photos in the OR.

Sarah said...

I haven't been making the blog rounds like I should. Thanks for sharing this story of your daughter's birth. I surely can relate to some of it! :) Both of my breech babies had to have an ultrasound to rule out the condition that your daughter had. I friend of mine that I met through la leche league has a daughter that was also breech and did have to wear the brace on her legs. It did make things harder for them I know.