Megan’s Story: A first time mom’s cesarian after attempting ECV

Hey Megan! Can you tell us your story?

Oh boy… where to start?! The real story I think is my pregnancy, unfortunately!

First trimester came with a LOT of morning sickness, but it was met with so much excitement for this little surprise bundle of joy! Oh my gosh, what I wouldn’t give to go back and get to experience that all again, magical!

I am going to condense this next boring medical part as much as I can… I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (an issue with my connective tissue), so any pregnancy of mine is immediately labeled high risk. Another underlying health condition came into play and I had a heart monitor on for a few weeks. Nothing crazy! Around seven months pregnant, things started to go downhill… I was diagnosed with GD and all of a sudden I was testing my blood sugar and going to appointments CONSTANTLY trying to keep it under control. Next, I got into a car accident on the way to a wedding (I am a photographer). I rushed to the hospital after I wrapped up shooting because I had started to have contractions. This earned me a few day stay and talks of early labor (SO GRATEFUL that we didn’t have to happen!). I was then diagnosed with cholestasis. THIS WAS MISERABLE. I was up all night every night itching. Showering to stop the itching. Itching more. Oh my gosh, I didn’t sleep at all. They started testing my blood every week to keep on eye on that. It felt like one thing after another. I was pretty exhausted at this point and at the doctors about every other day.

Then I found out my little girl was breech. I remember that appointment so vividly. I was CRUSHED. I had dreams of a natural labor and had spent so much time preparing. I was DETERMINED to flip her. In between doctors appointments I started hanging upside down off of the couch for HOURS… chiropractor, spinning babies, massage, ANYTHING that might work to flip this baby!

We scheduled an ECV for 36 weeks. I got a lot of opinions about this. I had worked hard and been miserable for so many months to make it here. It felt like everyone was fine with me getting sliced open and losing out on my birth experience as long as the baby was delivered healthy, and that has stuck with me since. After a lot of research, I decided to move forward with the procedure. I opted out of the epidural and I’ll spare you the details but this procedure is PAINFUL. My baby’s heart rate dropped too low and they had to give up. I lay there for a few hours to keep monitoring her and I can remember listening to the woman next to me talk to the doctors about a labor plan after a successful ECV. I felt defeated and so so so guilty for putting my baby through this. I will never forget seeing her little heart rate drop and everyone stopping to watch the screen.

After the failed ECV I spent my last few weeks of pregnancy upside down off of the couch, at the doctors getting tests, & itching the heck out of my skin. Pregnancy was a real treat.

At 38 weeks they discovered low fluid on my ultrasound and I was taken in for an emergency C-section. I was so afraid. I do not do well with medical procedures. Thank goodness my mom had come with me to my appointment that day (that’s a whole other story) AND my best friend ended up at the hospital in labor the exact same day!

ANYWAYS!

My partner, Alex, arrived and it was such a surreal feeling waiting to go back for surgery. We had a whole plan for the C-section we thought that we were having and there we were, sitting in the prep room without any hospital bags about to become parents!

They wheeled me back alone and I had to sit butt naked on the operating table while everyone went around and introduced themselves. Why. They asked me what music I wanted to play and I requested that they delayed the cord clamping. I am SO BUMMED that I didn’t ask if Alex could cut the cord - is that even a thing in C-sections?!

Alex finally joined us and I remember holding his hand so tightly. He is a fire fighter and wanted to watch the surgery - I made him promise not to make ANY faces. ANY. They attempted another ECV once I was prepped for surgery. I was against it at first, but they assured me that they could get her out in less then 30 seconds if anything went wrong. That ECV also failed. She knew what she wanted!

I hate telling this story because I had a miserable pregnancy and a horrible birth experience. I will tell you something though… as soon as I heard that little cry it immediately turned into the best day of my life. Alex said that my face changed like someone flipped a light switch. That moment was worth everything. I would do it 300 times more.

My mom tells me the story of the night I was born often. She sat up all night and held me. I got my magical hospital night with our sweet little Camee and I still could cry thinking about it. I didn’t sleep a wink. I felt incredible. Recovery was a breeze. IMMEDIATE relief of my pregnancy symptoms, and SO. MUCH. JOY.

That is the overview of my birth! So many people I wanted to mention and thank. I had so much support and I would have never gotten through it without them! I will forever be grateful to have had the opportunity to carry our little girl and raise her with Alex. It’s more then I will ever deserve!

What surprised you the most about your experience?

The mental aspect of pregnancy I did not expect. I look back and don’t feel like I was even myself.

What tips or advice would you like to give other Mamas?

Rest as much as you can. Trust yourself and your instincts. Motherhood gets better and better every single day :)

Do you have any practitioner recommendations?

Dr. Maddi - Chiropractor

What does being a mother mean to you?

Being a mother means re-learning yourself and the world. You are given the greatest gift you will ever be given and it changes every little thing about you. It makes you a better person. I can’t adequately describe it. I’m not sure if anyone can!

Do you have any postpartum advice for Mamas?
Everyone is so different! You know your body and what you and your family need. Set the boundaries. Get some fresh air when you can!
I wanted to set crazy strict visitor guidelines, but I felt so amazing PP that I wanted anyone and everyone to come over and share the time with me! I was so full of joy! And I think that’s okay!!! Just do what feels right for YOU!

Follow Megan’s Michigan Photography Business here on Instagram@meggydphotography