C-Section Birth Stories: Alyson Merritt
1. Please share the circumstances that led to your c-section birth(s):
Everything was “normal” up until my 38-week appointment. It was a rainy day and I told my husband he could skip this appointment and keep our three-year-old at home. Things quickly turned “not normal” when my OBGYN could not find my son’s heartbeat on the Doppler. They immediately sent me over to Labor and Delivery. My husband rushed to meet me and maybe it was the nerves and panic I had inside but by the time we were all hooked up in Labor and Delivery, my son's heart rate was stronger than ever. Still, my OBGYN was concerned enough to schedule us to be induced in two days. The morning of our induction was easy. We had breakfast and checked into the hospital like we were checking in to a hotel. I was relaxed, full, and ready to lay down. Pitocin was started and I still was feeling great and the baby’s heart rate was staying steadily strong. My water broke and contractions finally were to the point where I was ready to either break my husband’s hand or get an epidural. I chose the epidural. At this point, everything had been fairly similar to the labor with my daughter.
A few minutes after the epidural, I told my husband I was feeling really weak and queasy. The nurse said it was normal and she’d bring me some ice chips. By the time she got back, I really started feeling faint and my blood pressure dropped drastically. They gave me medicine to bring it back up but then it dropped again. I remember the nurse and my husband talking to me but I felt like I wasn’t really in the room. Finally, they were able to keep my blood pressure steady and I started feeling a little better. Only soon after, I felt a funny feeling in my pelvis and I felt wet up my back. This seemed strange after just having my epidural. I asked my husband to come to check my sheets and he teased saying “you probably just peed the bed”. However, when he lifted the sheet the look on his face turned to pure panic. He yelled “Oh my God, it’s blood. It’s everywhere!”, and took off into the hall for a nurse. Two nurses came in and I could tell from the look on their faces after seeing the sheet things weren’t good. I knew this wasn’t supposed to happen. We were just settling in and I had just started feeling well again. The nurse looked at the monitor and noticed our son’s heart rate had also dropped and she had to move the monitor from my pelvis up to above my belly button now to find his heartbeat. We assumed he had flipped. The urgent call was made to my OB and she came running in. Another sure sign this wasn’t right. She looked at the sheets, towels, monitors and within a split second said, “Alyson we believe the baby has possibly pulled the placenta away from the uterus and we need to do a c-section for your baby’s and your safety”.
I will never forget that moment. I didn’t hesitate at all. I wasn’t one for birth plans. I just always wanted an easy delivery and a healthy baby, just like my daughter’s had been. As they unplugged all the wires and prepped me, my mom came in completely unaware of what had just happened. The tears flowed and before I knew it I was looking up at white lights and lots of people in scrubs. Finally, my husband was there holding my hand and rubbing my head. I still kept thinking is this really happening to me? Within minutes I heard the sweet cry of my son, Connor. Everything was fine again. I was so thankful to the nurses and my doctor who kept me calm and knew what was the right thing for my son and me at the time. Altogether, from the time my husband lifted the sheet to the time I saw my son was 20 minutes. To me, that is a record. To me, those 20 minutes were life-saving and they will forever be special.
2. What surprised you the most about having a c-section?:
The scar on my body. I hated it at first. I wouldn’t even look at it in the hospital. I didn’t want to know what was holding me together. I didn’t even want to touch anywhere around it. The day I got home from the hospital, I was in my bathroom and looked. This taped-up line went from hip bone to hip bone and was red and ugly. I cried a lot. With my husband’s help and giving myself enough recovery time to finally see healing, I started looking at the scar completely differently. This was a surgery I had just had to save my son. I feel like this is something to be proud of. It will forever be a reminder of that day and I don’t mind that.
3. What kind of support do you feel you received (from friends, family, healthcare team) after your c-section(s)?:
We were not prepared for the recovery. I didn’t realize how much you used those muscles for every little thing. The support I had was amazing though. We had to remake our living room downstairs into our bedroom. We had meals made for us and family members visiting to help out. My OBGYN and nurse from the hospital called to check in with us.
4. What’s your #1 piece of advice/encouragement for a new c-section mom?:
Learn to love your scar. Yes, it may take a while, believe me. Learn to see it as something to be proud of.
5. How do you believe having a c-section birth(s) made you stronger?:
Having had both types of deliveries I am more impressed with women who have had and recovered from c-sections. I believe any type of birth makes you a mother.
Name: Alyson Merritt
Your Profession: Teacher
How to Connect With You on Social Media: @alysonmerritt on Instagram