Monday, August 20, 2012

Marie Isabella Gilliam | C-Section Birth Story

Last night at 6:05 pm, our baby girl Marie made her entrance into the world weighing 4 lbs 11 oz and measuring 16 and 1/2 inches.  She was born at 33 weeks.

When I woke up Saturday morning, I thought it was going to be a typical day here in the hospital.  Typically my days consisted of 3 meals, 3 snacks, a non-stress test to look at baby, and getting my vitals checked occasionally.  However, right around lunch time I started getting some lower abdomen pain and some cramping.

After my NST (non-stress test) they decided they needed to further monitor me over in labor and delivery.  Around 4 pm, my contractions got much stronger and my pain continued.  They made the decision that leaving me contracting was not worth the risk of bleeding for me and Marie.  So they started setting up for a c-section.  They didn't want to try to stop the contractions because of the pain I was experiencing as well. They just needed to get Marie out.

Before we headed to the OR for the C-Section, several people came in and asked me a hundred questions. I was a little overwhelmed, but continued to ask the Lord for peace and he really helped calm me down throughout the process.  We headed to the OR about 545 and Marie was born 20 minutes later.  They did a spinal instead of an epidural and I was so numb that I didn't even know they had started the procedure or that anything was happening to me at all. I didn't even feel any pressure like they had said I would.  I was so thankful that the Lord really took care of my nerves and pain as I was very overwhelmed with the process and really could have had to be completely knocked out if I hadn't trusted the Lord.

After she was born they brought her to me for a few seconds so I could see her and then Kendall followed them to the NICU while they sewed me back up. About 6 hours later I finally had feeling in my legs again, so  we went for a little walk and then the nurse took me to the NICU to see my little girl.

It was absolutely amazing that she was so perfect! Although I go home tomorrow, she will probably be here for a few weeks.  They want to get her to be able to breathe completely on her own, to be able to maintain her body temperature, and to be able to feed on her own.  Once she gets there she will be able to come home with us! We can't wait til that finally becomes a reality!



































She looks just like her daddy! Hopefully as she grows she will get a few more of mine :)

Love you!
Erica
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4 comments:

  1. Praying for your beautiful baby girl!

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  2. Darnetta (darnetta_bolton@yahoo.com)August 23, 2012 at 8:24 AM

    Congratulations on your baby. I hope you are well. I had placenta previa with my first and was on bed rest in the hospital for 4 weeks. I am glad all is well. I also cloth diapered my 3rd and 4th. Those diapers are too cute...did you use patterns?

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  3. Darnetta,Thank you so much! I actually don't use any patterns for my diapers, I just take the basic measurements online and make my own pattern. However there are several patterns out there that people really like. I hear about Rita's Rump Pocket diaper a lot.

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  4. Hi.

    I am one of your mom's followers. I wanted to share my blog with you... very similar situation. Only difference is that I had twins. If you start at "Happy Birthday" you will see the similarities. I hope her stay is short and sweet like ours--- 2 weeks!

    http://marchbabies.blogspot.com/2009/02/happy-birthday-february-19th.html

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