When I was around 32 weeks, we had finished up our hypnobirthing course and I had my unmedicated birth plan all ready. During a routine visit, my doctor was measuring my stomach and noticed I was measuring big so she ordered an ultrasound to make sure everything was ok. Two weeks later we went to see our sweet girl and found out that not only was she a little chunk, but she was breech. My doctor wasn’t too concerned because she still had a few weeks to settle into position. So I, of course, did everything I could to try to get her to flip. I’m talking chiropractic, bouncing on a yoga ball, doing exercises while upside down, the works. If you could find it on google, I tried it. The next week during my appointment my doctor checked my cervix and was certain she could feel Layla’s head but wanted to do an ultrasound to be completely sure. What she thought was Layla’s head was in fact, her butt (she definitely didn’t get it from me haha). The weeks following she still hadn’t flipped and we decided to not do an ECV because my doctor didn’t make it sound promising with her size as well as the risk of complications, so we planned my C-Section for November 13th.
The afternoon before my C-Section, I was at lunch eating my new favorite salad when I received a phone call from the hospital saying to show up at 7am the next morning. Having a cesarean wasn’t my ideal labor, but, If I wasn’t going to have to sweat while having my baby, I was going to look my best. So I went and got my nails dipped, lashes filled, hair washed and styled and proceeded to go to Costco to stock up on all my favorite snacks.
The morning of November 13th had finally come. My husband, Dylan, woke up emotional knowing that he was about to meet our daughter, and I didn’t want to cry… so as one does, I blasted Lizzo while getting ready. We got our bags packed and headed to the hospital during the most beautiful yellow and orange sunrise.
This day was so different from what I had originally pictured it would be like. I pictured my water breaking while on one of my frequent Target trips, grabbing our hospital bag and rushing with excitement, getting wheeled into the doors of the women’s pavilion at our hospital, but when we arrived to the hospital, I felt peace. We checked in at the front desk and headed to the second floor, picked up the phone to page the nurse’s desk and were shown to the pre op suite. My nurse had me change into my gown, I was hooked up to several monitors and listened to Layla’s heartbeat as I waited to be sent back to the operating room.
At 9am I was greeted with a smile as a nurse showed up with a wheelchair to take me to the operating room. She handed Dylan scrubs and said she would send for him when they were ready. We went down what felt like the longest hallway of my life, and arrived at the operating room. The room was cold and I was surrounded by so many people prepping for Layla’s arrival. I first received my local anesthetic which felt like a pinch, and was told the spinal block would feel like a bee sting but I only felt the pressure of the anesthesiologist’s hands. I felt warmth start at my toes and start to rise up the rest of my body, the nurse helped me lie down. They removed my gown and I laid naked on the table. Dylan walked in the room with a smile and was instructed to sit down near my head as they put up a curtain. I was probably more nervous about Dylan passing out than getting cut open, he’s known to get queasy at the sight of blood. I waited for the doctor to ask if I could feel a pinch or the coldness of ice, but it didn’t happen. All of the sudden I could feel my body moving as they were pulling Layla out, it was quiet until my doctor said “Wow! look at that head!”. At 9:33am Layla was born and our hearts grew by 8lbs 1oz and 19 1/2 inches long.
