Lydia's birth story - Part 1

Since a story really should begin at the beginning, here is a little background for those who don't know me so well... yet anyway.

Ben and I met at Highland Park Baptist Church and were married in 1995.  In July 1996, our son, Micah was born to two very young, very inexperienced, 20-somethings.  Hindsight always being 20/20, there are a lot of things I wished I had done different... like taking childbirth classes and being more prepared from the outset. 

Some years later, we chose to home school Micah and I met some mothers who <gasp> birthed their children at home! I was fascinated and asked tons of questions about their experience.  After hearing about the joy and PEACE experienced by these moms giving birth at home, I decided that, should God bless us with another pregnancy, I was definitely going to give birth at home!

Ben and I had always planned to have more children, but the years went by with miscarriages and disappointments.  However, we never gave up hope that God would surprise us one day.  We never did seek fertility treatments, having the personal conviction that we should not "tempt God" nor try to "force His hand", rather relying on His divine providence to know the best timing and size for our family.  Granted, as the years passed, we sort of just "gave up" -- or perhaps we just "completely surrendered".  We had peace that our one son was a miracle in of himself, and that perhaps that was all God was asking of us... ...that is, until November 2010. 

When we saw the positive result on the pregnancy test, we were thrilled!... and shocked!!  Miracle #1.  Here Micah was 14 years old, he would be 15 in the same month the baby was due! To tell Ben's family, we put the positive pregnancy test in a small box with a bow and took it to Thanksgiving dinner where we told them we had an early Christmas present for them.  As soon as Ben's mom opened the box, she immediately started shouting "No way! No way!!!" -- his dad was speechless, and the whole family was excited for us to have this miracle after so many years of waiting.  We sent the "gift" to my parents in Montgomery, Alabama, by way of my sister who was visiting them Thanksgiving weekend, and they too were ecstatic. 

Immediately, I set about finding a home birth midwife and hired Michelle Ray, who was also pregnant and due in May.  It was wonderful to have all my prenatal visits right here at home.  I was looking forward to having a peaceful, non-invasive, private birth for my baby in my own home, in my own bed.  I signed up for Bradley classes to have a natural childbirth.  I began making preparations to have the birthing tub liner sent and order the vitamin K and other prescriptions for the new baby.  I was going to be prepared this time around.... and it was going to be great!

That is, until the ultrasound at 22 weeks.

I had established a relationship with an OB - Dr. Michael Seeber - in the event of an emergency transport should something go wrong with the home birth (it's just a prudent thing to do).  I had also told Michelle that I would get a mid-pregnancy full-anatomy ultrasound to make sure that everything was okay with the baby and with me.  When I went to the appointment, the ultrasound tech made mention that the placenta was low.  Come to find out, I had complete placenta previa. 

Right then and there, my dreams of a home birth died. 

I was devastated.  Not only was I going to have to go to the hospital to give birth, I was going to have to undergo a Cesarean section -- major abdominal surgery.  Can't get any more invasive than that!

Dr. Seeber told me to become an expert on placenta previa -- he really had no idea who he was dealing with!  As a medical transcriptionist, I had learned how to do medical research.  I began researching the condition, how often it can resolve, when it needs to be reassessed, what other complications can arise from previas, how often hemorrhages really happen, whether or not hospitalization is necessary during the third trimester or whether bed rest could be managed at home.  I researched previa C-sections, and my Bradley teacher sent me a link to the "Family Centered Cesarean". 

Once I saw that video, I knew that is exactly how I wanted my C-section to be. 

Dr. Seeber was rather dubious at first, but once I sent him the video and the medical study information, he agreed that, as long as there were no serious complications, he would do everything in his power to make sure that I had the experience I was so desirous of, providing we were not dealing with an emergency situation.  I was so grateful, especially since I had already lost so many of my hopes and dreams.  If I was going to have to go through this, I was going to make sure that it would benefit not only me and my baby, but other women who had to undergo C-sections as well -- perhaps I could help to change the status quo...

During this entire pregnancy, I had so many wonderful people praying for me, and I know that those prayers were answered -- God is so good!  Not once during the entire pregnancy did I have a hemorrhage as a result of the previa-- Miracle #2.  I did not have placenta accreta, a more dangerous complication - Miracle #3.  Being without insurance, we qualified for help at the last minute - Miracle #4.  I was able to go to the hospital of my choice on the planned day of the C-section with no emergency issues - Miracle #5. 

And Miracle #6 -- The first family centered cesarean was performed at Parkridge Medical Center. 

See part #2 for the story of Lydia's birthday and pictures...