Success Stories
These success stories are written and posted unedited by real patients who have expressed interest in sharing their experience at our office. Below is a very recent and motivational birth story. We have listed other sotires by category for your convenience. You can view them by pointing your mouse over the 'Sucess Stories' button on the bar above. Enjoy.
"I want to first say thank you for so generously supporting me through this process. I am so very blessed to have so many knowledgeable, and compassionate people in my life. So, here goes.......from me, to all of you, thank you, thank you, thank you.
Our labor process really started on Friday, the 13th of April, 2007, when our back up doctor backed out on us! I was nearly 42 weeks along and the baby was still riding high. At 40 weeks my midwife spoke with him to make sure he was still comfortable, as my baby's head had not engaged. He was still good, didn't want to induce (thankfully) and said we should wait and see what happens. As you know, I continued to get adjustments from Dr. B (and Kirsten) & added acupuncture with Jason to our "regimen."
At 41+ weeks we called to see if he would order a biophysical profile just to make sure that the water level and baby were still good. He picked up the phone, and said, "Is this Sarah? You need a C-Section." That is a direct quote! He had only seen me once, at the beginning of the third trimester, and
was not asking to see me again before jumping to this conclusion. By all measurements, the baby and I were perfectly fine. When I questioned him, he said that first time mothers should be sectioned at
41 weeks, because after that the baby is too big to be delivered vaginally and the water level is rapidly decreasing, thus the baby is in danger. He talked to my midwife, berated her about putting me and
my baby in grave danger because of the decreasing water level (totally unfounded info.), and told her to never call his office again or send any clients there. He then informed us that he would not be able to provide care for me.
Not exactly low stress at 41+ weeks!
We ended up getting the biophysical at UCLA, where they told us that everything, including water level, heartbeat, baby's positioning, and size looked great! The nurses and OB/GYN/Midwifery team were all confused as to why anyone would suggest induction or c-section before I was even 42 weeks.
The next morning at around 6 am I started having regular contractions. I woke Rodney at 8, once I was sure that this was "it"! After all, I didn't want to be the girl that cried baby. We took a long shower together and were thrilled that we were finally going to experience what we had waited so patiently for. We woke my mother and called Sue, our midwife, around 10 am. Rodney made us a delicious breakfast of eggs, sausage, and toast, while my mother began cleaning (for the 5th time that week).
When Sue came a few hours later, she examined me, only to find that my cervix was still closed tightly and not dilated at all. I wasn't too concerned, though, because I knew my contractions were getting longer and stronger, and coming closer together. Sue was going to go back home ( leaving me in the care of Meadow, her assistant), but decided to stay when she saw me exhibiting classic signs of transition. I was extremely nauseous, and having severe temperature fluctuations, including chills with trembling. As miserable as I felt, I was so excited that we were getting closer.
Unfortunately, around 7 pm, my cervix was still at 0 cm. I still wanted to stay home and had confidence in my body. However, the baby's heart rate started going all over the place. First, riding
very high, and then low, with decelerations during contractions. When I realized that the baby was unhappy, I agreed that we should go to the hospital.
While ultimately our experience at UCLA would prove to be positive, our first impression was not good. We were told (by a UCLA midwife with her arms crossed) that I should go back home and take a shower and a walk, since I was technically not in labor until my cervix was dilated to 3 cm. At this point my contractions seemed unmanageable and were coming right on top of each other. I knew I couldn't handle the car ride again, and that something was wrong. The UCLA midwife insisted that this was just early labor that was worse than I had anticipated.
Thankfully, a young resident discovered that there was indeed a very real complication. Because of a cryosurgery (the unnecessary result of an abnormal pap.) 7 years ago, a small (but strong) piece of scar tissue was holding my cervix shut, like a staple! She explained to me that it did feel like it was thinning, but might take a couple days to break! I was weeping, because I knew I couldn't labor like this for two more days, and thought I would end up with a cesarean.
Sue suggested that an epidural might allow me to rest through the night, while possibly progressing. Feeling somewhat defeated, but trying to avoid surgery, I agreed to the epidural. The hospital, however, would not agree to administer one (or even admit me) because, by their standards, I was not in labor! However, they kept offering morphine! We were so frustrated.
Witnessing all of this, the resident who had discovered the scar tissue asked if she could examine me one more time. She then pushed through the scar tissue manually, during a contraction. I screamed
and felt as though I was levitating off the hospital bed. It was by far the most painful part of the labor, and exactly what we needed.
My cervix instantly opened to 3 cm, I was admitted to UCLA, and an epidural was ordered. The day seemed to have flown by to me, but I was exhausted and so grateful to be able to rest. Also exhausted by the events of the last two days, Sue and Meadow went home to sleep, my mother put my hair back and went to sleep on the couch, while Rodney fell asleep on his knees, next to the hospital bed, holding my hand.
By 5 am, just a few hours after being admitted, I was almost 5 cm. dilated! The baby was still high, so we agreed to a low level of pitocin. The drip was started at 1 mg. Around 7:30 am, my water broke. Each bit of progression was celebrated, as we felt a vaginal birth was possible (even probable) again! The midwife who had told me the night before that I was not really in labor came in to check on
me. She said (with her arms crossed, again), "Well, you got everything you didn't want." I replied with a smile, "Well, I haven't had morphine or a c-section, and feel much better than I did last
night, because I got to sleep."
At 2:30 pm I was 8 cm., and the baby was finally at +2. Meadow & Sue had been back since early that morning, and everyone was happy and excited now. The pitocin was increased slightly. By 5 pm I was
completely dilated!
I talked to Sue about how to push with an epidural, and was told by the nurse that first time mothers may push for two hours or more. I knew I didn't want that. With the first push noticeable progress was
made and the doubtful UCLA midwife exclaimed, "Wow! What a strong woman!" I was so spitefully happy to have finally impressed her and proven her wrong. After 12 contractions (and three days of battling the system), Naiya was born at 5:38 pm.
She was calm, strong, alert, and beautiful. Born 1 day before the 42 week mark, she weighed 8 lbs. 3 oz. and had a full head of black, curly hair.
So as it turns out, Naiya knew just what she was doing by not engaging until the last minute. She just had to wait for the rest of us to catch up and figure out what was going on.
This was not the birth I planned, expected, or desired. But this is the story of how my daughter came into this world, determined and strong, and I love every bit of it.
Thanks to each of you again. I'm so glad you all were a part of this.
With so much gratitude, appreciation, and love,
Sarah"
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