All in Due Time :

The Delivery

Stacie was at 32 1/2 weeks and in the hospital. They planned to take the baby at 34 weeks, so they already knew she wouldn’t be carrying the baby to full term. That night after dinner, Stacy started to feel sick and feverish. The nurse told her they probably would have to go ahead and have the baby that night because the baby’s heartbeat was running high. They were concerned about the heart rate, thinking the baby might also be sick.

The nurse came in to take Stacie up to the delivery room. Stacie was nervous and caught off-guard by everything that was happening. Luckily her mother and family were there to support her. They put in the catheter, knowing they had to do a C-section because the baby was breech and couldn’t be delivered vaginally. They asked her about allergies to medications and then the doctor scheduled to do the c-section arrived. They had met Dr Rolfe when they first came into the hospital. He was a wonderful doctor. Scott put on scrubs and was ready to come into the room. The interpreter arrived at that time and was there with them. Stacie doesn’t clearly remember the rest of the delivery because of the medication.

Scott picks up the story by saying he was expecting that night to be just another night of bed rest for Stacie. When the nurse told him it was time, he couldn’t really grasp what she was saying at first. He recovered his wits and went up to the room. They gave Stacie an epidural. She was nervous but sat quietly and got through it ok.

Scott was ready with his video camera. They allowed him to take it in with them. He filmed the whole thing (not all the gory details). In the delivery room, they set up the drape and started the C-section. Scott wasn’t bothered by watching the surgery. It was just like they’d seen before on the TV show “A Baby Story” on TLC. Scott was totally engrossed in the whole procedure. At one point the doctor leaned over to look at something and Scott (who was just behind the doc) leaned along with him so he could keep the shot clear. The medical team came rushing over, thinking he was fainting. The whole procedure just mesmerized Scott.

Scott felt bad for his son because when the doctor actually delivered him the baby’s head wouldn’t come out. He came out feet first. Because Stacie didn’t have any contractions, her muscles were very stiff, making it harder to finish the delivery. The doctor had to really pull on the baby to wrestle him out. Scott was kind of shocked at how rough the doctor was because he always thought babies were very fragile. He was a bit concerned as he watched all of this, but had to assume the doctor knew what was best.

After quite a bit of tugging, the baby’s head finally came free and he was out. Stacie’s interpreter let them know right away that the baby was crying, a sign that everything was fine. The interpreter said that the baby looked perfect. The baby was bigger than they expected for a preemie. They’d had an ultrasound the week before so the doctor could prepare for the surgery. At that time, they thought the baby would be about 3 pounds and 15 inches. Turned out the baby was actually 5.3 pounds and 18 inches, which is pretty big for a baby born at 32 1/2 weeks.

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