Aurora's Birth Story
This pregnancy was similar to my last, with little Everett born January 2015. Long, hard and gross. Very gross. I think I was sicker than I've ever been with little R in my tummy. I was hospitalized (briefly) with strep throat and had countless viral infections (mmm... pink eye, multiple times). Happy to say little R made it through and appears to be one happy and healthy babe, but we're skipping ahead here...
Unlike with Everett, Aurora was a planned baby. Ryan and I knew we wanted another child. Our families knew. Work knew. It was thoroughly planned and lucky for us, it didn't take long to conceive. I'll admit it: a planned pregnancy is a little less exciting than an unplanned one! I had been taking the vitamins, laying off the sauce and habitually peeing on sticks for a couple months before the wonderful confirmation came.
Like I said before, the actual pregnancy on me was rough but since baby was doing okay in my belly the doctor thought that attempting VBAC (vaginal birth after C-section) might be a good idea. It is said to lessen recovery time among other things. Though I wasn't super into the idea of VBAC based on what had happened during Everett's birth (emergency C-section/a whirlwind story), the idea of going for it naturally was still somewhat appealing and a shortened recovery time was definitely up my alley. I did have another baby (Everett, 2 years and 2 months) at home, after all.
We had discussed this early on and I had months to do some research and really make an informed decision. All the while, I was working full time. I know, I know. I work on the radio. It's not a physically intense job by any stretch but believe me... When you're exhausted, your brain & mouth don't tend to work as well as they used to and I was exhausted! Sure beat being unemployed though - as was the case when I was preggo with E. That was another level of stress I'm very happy I didn't have to deal with this time 'round.
“Birth is a trip. It’s a mental, physical and emotional journey that is personal to every person who experiences it first hand.”
I stopped working at the end of February. The plan was to schedule a C-section but to be open to VBAC if I went into labour early and things were looking good. Baby was measuring big (85th percentile) near the end which made the possibility of delivering her naturally seem very, very frightening for me. I'm little and she, like her brother, was BIG.
Nearing my C-section date I got very "inside my head" about all the things that could go wrong. I was thinking a lot about death; what if she didn't make it? What if I didn't make it? What if we both died? I was also worrying a lot about how this new addition to the family was going to affect little Everett. My first baby! Our little surprise who quickly became my whole friggin' world; how was he going to react to a new baby? Would I love him less? How could I make sure everyone got the right amount of love and attention?
So many unanswered questions and I was also freaked out about going into labour naturally and having to experience a vaginal delivery I didn't really want to have but does choosing a repeat C make me lazy? A bad mom? Am I robbing baby of a natural entry into this life? Seriously. These are the thoughts that were going through my mind which is why, nearing her arrival, I blocked out all baby talk. My apologies to those of you whose text messages and e-mails I didn't return.
March 20th... the wait is over.
Ryan and I headed to the hospital for an 8AM check in. While waiting for a room in Labour and Deliv. we bumped into the OB who'd be delivering our baby. Shout out to Dr. Garber, by the way, who was totally right about a scheduled C-section being a wildly different experience than an unscheduled or emergent one. He was on his way to deliver a baby (via C) the hard way. That news kinda helped to calm my nerves. I made it through a difficult C with Everett, so today should be a slice of cake, right?
Velia was the first nurse who helped us out once we made it to the pre-op/waiting room. She is really awesome and I told her about this blog so "HI VELIA - If you're reading this - you were one of the best parts of our journey!" I got a little queasy and had to lay down when the IV went in. Yes, I hate needles. Muchly.
8AM... 9AM... 10AM... we were joined by another couple (separated by a curtain) awaiting their C-section. Knowing other people are undergoing the same scary thing as me has always been something I found calming. I was also watching the clock because I had asked my coworkers at the radio station to put on a special song for Aurora's arrival, scheduled for sometime between 12PM and 1PM.
Shortly after 12PM we were escorted into the OR. Well, I was. Ryan had to wait until the anesthetist said it was okay. I've never WALKED into an operating room before so this was a first! The room was intimidating to say the least but I knew I wasn't the first who'd be experiencing this today. Shortly after hopping up onto the bed, I asked the medical staff to tune the radio to 106.1 CHEZ. You see, during Everett's birth I asked the same and got to rock out to an epic playlist during his spontaneous arrival. I was really into the music and not working for Rogers Radio at the time so it was quite the keepsake when Robin (Harper) and Steve (Colwill) answered my request for the playlist.
You don't see much when you're lying there so it was very nice when Ryan was let in. It was also super nice to know the person heading the surgery! Last time was a major blur - it all ended well, but it was really scary in comparison.
Everything below my breasts was warm and fuzzy and then completely numb. The time between going numb and the countdown to baby's first cry I find the most intense... You know it's ON and your life's going to change within the next 30-45 minutes.
There was a lot of pushing, pulling and talking with the staff. Everyone in there was great and, just like I told them pre-op, I forgot most of their names. Except Heather! Heather was there during E's delivery and she actually remembered me thanks to the radio connection.
Aurora "Rory" Stardust joined the outside world on March 20th at 13:13 weighing 8lb 6oz to U2's New Year's Day.
Her brother, Everett was born January 9th at 11:11 weighing 9lb 6oz to AC/DC's Dirty Deeds (Done Dirt Cheap).
The whole procedure was a truly great experience. She came out a beautiful, healthy baby girl and I managed to pull through okay. There might be some scar tissue ickiness going forward with it being my second C-section so this will be my last birthing rodeo. Like - FOR SURE.
Everything I was told about scheduled C-sections was absolutely true. It was a cool, calm and collected experience - POST OP. Prior to, I was anything but cool, calm and collected. Birth is a trip. It's a mental, physical and emotional journey that is personal to every person who experiences it first hand. I dealt with it on my terms this time and am absolutely grateful to the staff at the Civic Hospital, Dr. Garber and his team, Velia (that heated blanket you gave us in recovery is possibly the greatest invention ever) and the staff in the Mother Baby unit who took such stellar care of us.
Friends and family - thank you for the support you've given us over the past several months. Thank you for allowing me to ignore you, to hermit and to have the experience I wanted to have. I put myself (and baby) first and highly recommend you do the same if you are on or planning to begin your own birth journey.
A special shout out to Robin and Jacki from CHEZ for sending me Rory's playlist which you can see by CLICKING HERE.
Jadon and Anias making a "QUICK recovery": Update!
Anias McDonald, left, stares at his brother Jadon for the first time since the surgery that separated them.
An update on Jadon and Anias via CNN Health
“Separated twins: After hardest surgery, the quickest recovery”
November 22nd, 2016
Like millions of people worldwide, I’ve been following the story of Jadon and Anias McDonald. Conjoined twins, separated (recently) after a grueling 27 hour procedure. Read this blog post for some background on the story:
That brings us to today’s update. In the four weeks following the boys’ surgery, Mom (Nicole) and Dad (Christian) have not seen their babies without large bandages atop their heads. Well, for Jadon, that is no longer the case! For a brief moment while Jadon was having his bandages changed, the McDonald’s got to see their boy’s head.
Jadon McDonald smiles and waves at his father shortly after his head dressing was removed / CNN Health
“It’s the most amazing thing. I just can’t even believe it. And look at his little hair. On top, it’s growing in!”
“Hey there, my man. You sure are handsome. Look at you. You look like a perfect little boy.”
Anias has been on the mend as well, though progressing more slowly than Jadon. Dr. Goodrich (the amazing surgeon who performed the separation) explains that with twins joined at the head, there is always a dominant child. This child does double the work, their heart and lungs work overtime to keep both boys alive. Anias is the non-dominant child. This explains his post-op struggles with breathing and eating (which were an issue pre-op as well).
Despite that, Dr. Goodrich says both boys are doing very, very well and “ahead of schedule” when it comes to their recovery which “makes everyone happy.”
“Historically, this will be the fastest (recovery)” which he credits to being “Just good kids”.
Goodrich informed the family of the successful separation at about 3 a.m. on Friday, October 14. “Well, we did it,” he told them.
The boys are 14 months old and set to move to rehab shortly after Thanksgiving (US). Jadon is ready to go now but the medical staff have agreed it’s best to keep the boys together at this stage so they can pursue rehab in a similar capacity. Anias does not have the same range of motions as Jadon but caregivers believe he will get there.
Unlike most children their age, Jadon and Anias have not reached the typical milestones like crawling, lifting their heads, standing or attempting to walk. The surgery has set them back to infancy. Luckily, Mom is a pediatric physical therapist!
A poem in the boys hospital room reads:
I’m your twin
You’re my twin
We stick together through thick and thin
No matter what I do
I’m always stuck with you.
With both boys being “way ahead of schedule” in their recovery, the family knows it will be a long road. Lead plastic surgeon Dr. Oren Tepper says that Anias will eventually need more surgery to try to create a new skull cap out of bone from his hip or rib. He will progress, for the next few years, just fine so long as he wears a protective helmet. Both Jadon and Anias will be wearing helmets before going into rehab.
“They’re really doing a lot better than I’d hoped. The whole world has gotten behind these kids.”