Joseph's Birth

Repeat scheduled cesarean birth stories are pretty simple. I went to the hospital. They hooked me up with some drugs. A baby was cut out of me. Everything went fine.

Joseph's was almost that simple. Almost.

This pregnancy was labeled "high risk" and was incredibly hard both physically and emotionally. In order to prevent undue stress on the uterus, we scheduled a repeat c-section at 36 weeks 2 days. We came up with the date by looking at data on repeat c-sections and various uterine anomalies that would require early delivery. Our doctor basically told us that we were looking at a window from 34 to 38 weeks. We were not comfortable with delivering as early as 34 weeks, and we had already had a healthy 36-weeker, so we settled on 36 weeks.

Throughout the pregnancy, I had lots of additional tests, such as monthly ultrasounds and weekly NSTs to check the integrity of the uterus and the well-being of the baby. There was never any indication of a problem.

Three weeks prior to the scheduled c-section date, I started feeling strange pains around the scar site and into my cervix during braxton-hicks. I had an ultrasound the following day which showed no herniation of the scar. The PA told me that I was probably dehydrated. The pains continued off and on, but they always stopped and the baby continued to be active, so I tried not to worry.

The week before the birth, my husband asked me to take it easy. I hadn't been active at all in the pregnancy, but he wanted me to do nothing - not even pick up Benjamin, our 11 month old. I thought he was being overprotective. The night before the scheduled c-section, the pain became constant and very worrisome. The baby continued to move, so I tried not to worry. I was able to fall asleep, though I did feel pain all night long.

The next morning, when the doctor began the surgery, she found that my uterus was already opened, but not completely. The term is uterine dehisence. It is different from a complete rupture in that there is a small membrane intact over the uterus, called a serosa. In the doctor's words, "I opened you up and only saw placenta." The placenta was anterior, had attached over the scar site. A partial accreta developed, which probably helped to keep the placenta attached and the serosa from tearing.

Early in the pregnancy I had prayed and prayed that God would not allow the placenta to attach in the front of the uterus. I prayed that he would move it if it had already attached anterior. My prayers were strong, and I felt confident that God had heard me. During our first ultrasound, we discovered that the placenta was anterior and attached right on the site. I was so angry at God. My concern was for the risk of accreta and hysterectomy, and I couldn't fathom what God was doing to me. However, the accreta ended up being a blessing. God's way are different than ours.

Joseph's birth wasn't what we expected. His lungs were underdeveloped and he had a 7 day stay in the hospital nursery that was prolonged by hospital error. We brought him home on Christmas day. In counseling me about future birth control, the doctor used the term "ticking time bomb" to describe my uterus. This second rupture has overwhelmed us, and we have no idea where to go from here. My body is so broken and used up. Somehow, after all the dust settles and we can see more clearly, I know that God will show us the right way. Now, we just wait until that happens.