Addie Maries Birth Story

Hold on to your hats folks this is going to be a crazy ride
If you know me and how crazy my other 2 births were you won't be surprised by this one; Addie made a grand entrance. People keep asking me if I plan on having any more kids and my response is " Maybe if they stopped trying to kill me!"

Flash back to the beginning; as soon as I found out I was pregnant I wanted a VBAC. I had had 2 previous c sections, and I REALLY desired to not have to have the c section recovery and to be able to be given the chance to labor on my own and do what my body was created to do.

No Dr here in the hat wanted to take me on. VBACS require the DR to monitor you constantly for potential uterine rupture. The chances of that happening are really low. my scar was the right direction, my placenta was located at the back of my uterus away from my scar and i had no pregnancy related complications; there was no medical reason for my to have a c section other then the DRs telling me no.

Midwives recently opened up their practise here in the Hat and a wonderful wonderful lady named Terrie took me on. She did not have hospital privileges yet and it was my hope she would receive them before it was my time to have my baby however due to politics and really stubborn drs here she still does not have hospital privileges ( so frustrating! ) She had done many VBACS even VBA2C or even 3 or 4. She gave me the confidence that my body wasn't a lemon and I should be able to be given the opportunity to do what I wanted with my birth and my body. She referred me to drs here in the hat ( who just made me cry telling me i was basically going to kill myself and my baby) and i even went to see a dr in Calgary, who told me it was recommended I have a repeat c section ( he was a surgeon so of course that would be his recommendation)

Blake got his transfer to the Lethbridge office that we had asked for over 2 years ago and it was coming beginning of April. He would be out in Fernie for the summer doing a project there and was supposed to leave april 4th and then would try to come back in time for me to have the baby. I was stressed - i was trying everything to bring her earth side before he left. He got told he wouldn't have to be out in Fernie until the 6th or so of April and went to work on the 4th here in Medicine Hat.

I had a crazy day- I accidentally dropped 2 4L jugs of milk on my feet at Walmart and was also stressing about trying to get our house ready to put on the market and Blake leaving. I started feeling crampy thought maybe i was getting the stomach flu ( just my luck i thought! )

Blake got home a little after 5 so i decided I would climb in the bath and see if that helped me feel better. As i was sitting down i noticed some drops of blood in the water; i freaked and stood up as more blood continued to rush down my leg. I yelled at Blake to call 911 he had been home maybe 5 mins. ( in hind sight i wish i had just called my midwife to come access me but having had a "placental abruption" (more on this in a later post) with Jaron I was worried something might be wrong. The ambulance came and picked me up as Becky arrived to watch my boys and Blake came with me... i was having  contractions nothing too painful i was just worried i could no longer feel her kicking , and i was having a mini freak attack!

I arrived at the hospital to find the DR on call was the one I did NOT want taking care of me but of course had no choice in the matter ( which drs CONSTANTLY reminded me my whole pregancy that they make all the choices , not me ) She informed me I was bleeding heavily ( which i wasn't) and would be rushed to the OR and be put under for an emergency c section. I SO did NOT want to have another c section, with Jaron I was able to have a spinal. Addies heart rate was fine and my vitals were fine they were all just freaking out and upset at my midwife. They were accusing me of trying to labor at home and trying to get my midwife in trouble ( they even wrote a letter of complaint and everything, silly drs!) it was a crappy scary situation. Anyways they brought me into the OR and put in the catheter before i was under ( which was a great last memory before going to sleep ) i was not a fan of any of the Drs or the anesthesiologist ( who was the same one who poked Todd 7 times for his spinal and gave him a spinal headache)

I was in surgery for 2 hours and lost 4 L of blood ( you have about 5-6 L in your whole body) I received 2 transfusions, and in order to get the bleeding to stop they basically inserted a type of balloon to put pressure on the walls of my uterus to stop the bleeding. i also had 2 drains put in to try and drain more fluid. When i woke up no one talked to me i didnt know if i had a girl or boy , i felt butchered and in pain, and alone. The dr never did come talk to me (have i mentioned how much i hated her?) Terrie was there though and waited for me to get out of Surgery, until they brought me Addie from the NICU with Blake and my Mom. She weighed in at 6 pounds even , 19 inches and dark curly hair ( so unlike my other 2 pale bald babies!)

She was about 5 hours old when i first got to hold her and by that time they had fed her formula and she was super sleepy from the drugs they gave me to put me under she didn't want to nurse. They also  put the IV in my elbow so i was un able to bend my arm which made nursing all the more difficult. I was in so much shock i had a girl - We didn't find out but i was sure convinced it was going to be another boy! I was in so much more pain this time around and I was battling against blood loss as well.. it was a rough few days . i had her monday night and was out by thursday at noon. I wanted out of the hospital  ( the dr even discharged me without coming to see me ; shows how much they really cared about me )

In a scary situation I know I was watched over by my Heavenly Father. Blake was able to be here , and also be at home to call the ambulance, I lived, Addies apgar scores were great and she wasn't affected by it. The day before I had the promptings to make some freezer meals, and pack a hospital bag ( i was barely 37 weeks; and wasn't really wanting to even go to the hospital ) I was so convinced i was having a boy i brought dinosaur onesies and boy blankets . I had made a trip earlier in the day i had addie to Walmart and bought some cute girl hats just in case :P Blake was able to then get 2 weeks off work to help me which was a lot of help, but now that he is in Fernie its hard to be here by myself with 3 kids!

My midwife was a great strength to me, even recovering from a c section she was there to help out and made house visits to come check up on me, it was great. I grew to love her and if you are pregnant in the Medicine hat area i HIGHLY recommend you go see her - even if you are planning a hospital birth she is able to be a support person there with you if thats what you desire.

I will be doing an update about her condition shortly; as its getting exhausting explaining it to everyone individually hah! so stay tuned and learn more about our crazy hectic life ! hah!

and a few pictures just incase you weren't sick of them yet ;)

Family of 5!!