Elizabeth Ernest Birth Story Pt. 3
- 2022
- May
- April
- March
- February
- January
- 2021
- December
- November
- October
- September
- August
- July
- June
- May
- April
- March
- 2020
- September
- August
- July
- June
- May
- April
- March
- February
- January
- 2019
- December
- November
- October
- September
- August
- July
- June
- May
- April
- March
- February
- January
- 2018
- November
- October
- September
- July
- June
- a mom's story (5)
- acupuncture (1)
- amc theatres (1)
- amniotic fluid (1)
- apgar score (1)
- armco park (1)
- babies and bagels (1)
- baby (36)
- baby fair (3)
- bath (1)
- bereavement doula (1)
- birth (45)
- birth class (8)
- birth doula (24)
- birth partner (10)
- birth photographer (2)
- birth plan (25)
- birth positions (16)
- birth story (18)
- Birth Story (1)
- birth support (31)
- birthmarks (1)
- bloody show ()
- blue ash (2)
- bowling (1)
- braxton hicks ()
- breakfast (1)
- breast engorgement (2)
- breast feeding (13)
- breastfeeding positions (5)
- breasts leaking (1)
- bump advisors (1)
- butler county (5)
- c-section (9)
- Calcium (1)
- certified birth doula (23)
- cervidil (1)
- cesarean section (6)
- childbirth (16)
- childbirth class (10)
- childbirth international (2)
- chiropractor (3)
- cincinnati (31)
- cincinnati baby and beyond expo (1)
- cincinnati baby expo (1)
- co-sleeping (1)
- cobb theatres (1)
- colic (1)
- contractions (2)
- coronavirus (1)
- crying (1)
- date night (5)
- dayton (12)
- delivery (4)
- depression (1)
- diaper bag (2)
- dilation ()
- DNC (1)
- donut trail (1)
- doula (34)
- Each Stage of Pregnancy (1)
- effacement ()
- engorged breasts (1)
- entertainment junction (1)
- epidural (9)
- exercise (1)
- family fun (2)
- foley bulb (1)
- Folic Acid (1)
- fontanels (1)
- fort hamilton hospital (1)
- free service (1)
- frisbee golf (1)
- gestational diabetes (1)
- half price books (1)
- homebirth (2)
- horomones (1)
- hospital bag (1)
- husband (5)
- Iron (1)
- jaundice (1)
- jordan panzeca (1)
- kangaroo care (1)
- kettering health network (1)
- kristen zumberger (3)
- labor (31)
- labor comfort (24)
- labor interventions (3)
- labor positions (18)
- labor stages (5)
- labor support (32)
- lactaction (1)
- lanugo (1)
- latching (1)
- lgbt (1)
- liberty center (1)
- lightening ()
- loveland castle (1)
- mason (10)
- medicated birth (11)
- meghan nowland (1)
- membranes rupture (2)
- mental health (1)
- midwife (1)
- mik production (2)
- milia (1)
- miscarriage (1)
- mom tips (4)
- moms (6)
- moms group (1)
- mongolian spots (1)
- morning sickness (1)
- movies (1)
- mucus plug ()
- music (1)
- natural birth (17)
- nesting ()
- new baby (9)
- new sibling (1)
- newborn (2)
- newport on the levee (1)
- nicu (1)
- northern kentucky (2)
- nursing (6)
- Nutrients (1)
- nutrients (1)
- ohio (6)
- pain management (11)
- perinatal loss (1)
- pitocin (2)
- placenta (5)
- placenta encapsulation (2)
- postpartum (18)
- postpartum depression (4)
- postpartum home visit (3)
- postpartum visit (1)
- ppd (1)
- pre labor (1)
- pregnancy (38)
- pregnancy complications (4)
- prenatal class (4)
- prenatal visits (5)
- purple people bridge (1)
- rainbow baby (1)
- roller skating (1)
- services (3)
- sexuality (1)
- siblings (2)
- skin to skin contact (1)
- smale riverfront park (1)
- social media (1)
- spinal anesthesia (1)
- spinning babies (1)
- spouse (2)
- stillbirth (1)
- stillborn (1)
- stretch marks (1)
- summit park (1)
- supplies (2)
- tamara kankowski (22)
- tandem breastfeeding (1)
- teen mom (2)
- teen pregnancy (1)
- testimonial (2)
- the banks (1)
- the web (1)
- toddler (2)
- tooth fairy (1)
- twins (2)
- vaginal delivery (11)
- vernix (1)
- Vitamin A (1)
- Vitamin B12 (1)
- Vitamin B6 (1)
- Vitamin C (1)
- Vitamin D (1)
- wahlburgers (1)
- warren county (4)
- water birth (4)
- water break (3)
- west chester (6)
- workshop (5)
- young adult class (1)
Elizabeth Ernest Birth Story Pt. 3
My final c-section was an emergency one, and completely different than my previous c-sections.
The procedure itself was much more intense due to the seriousness of the situation. Due to a complication from my pregnancy, the operation had to be rougher, and the anesthesiologist upped my medications as a result.
However, I had a bad reaction to anesthesia, sending my pulse to 31 bpm and blood pressure to 81/50. What this meant is I had to spend over 2 hours in recovery alone.
Since the machines were monitoring me, I only had a nurse check on me twice. At the time I felt very lonely and afraid.
My husband was with our son in the NICU. I had foolishly told my doula that I didn't want to have her present if I had a c-section because I felt like it would remind me of my failure to VBAC.
I greatly regret this and highly encourage anyone with a doula to have them present even if it's an emergency c-section. You never know what complications might arise and, in those moments, I would have given anything to have a hand to hold or someone to let me know my son was alive.
My recovery was very quick, largely pushed by my OB team. I was expected to be off all pain medicine by 3 days postpartum and given driving permissions as soon as my feet are swelling went down to where I could move my ankle. I was back to normal activity by 6 days postpartum and the incision healed very well.
My experience with pregnancy and giving birth may not have been typical, and it certainly didn’t match my expectations, but it taught me a few valuable lessons and made me a stronger mother. I am glad I chose to use a doula as I needed all the support I could get. If you are thinking of using a doula during your pregnancy, I cannot recommend it enough.