Turner Cole’s Birth Story: A Pandemic Baby

For Turners birth story, I’d like to rewind back to 30 weeks of pregnancy, when I went to my regular pre-natal doctors appointment and my “fundal height” measured THREE WEEKS AHEAD. The fundal height is the measurement in centimeters from the pubic bone to the top of the uterus. The expectation isthat after 24 weeks gestation, the measurement matches the weeks of pregnancy. So while my weight gain was “on track”, my physician did think it was important to order an early “growth scan” or ultrasound to measure baby as well as the amount of fluid in my amniotic sac. Both things we expected to be “normal” but were important to get a baseline of at this point so it could be followed closely.

From then on (and after 3 subsequent growth scans), Turner consistently measured 2 weeks ahead of schedule in size. Any and everyone who measured him made sure to make a joke along the lines of me growing a line backer, which was as you can imagine cute but slightly intimidating. Now, Cam weighed 8 pounds and 11 ounces.. so I wasn’t particularly worried about birthing a “big baby” BUT as we neared the 38-39 week mark, T was already measuring over 8 pounds and we know that these growth scans can be + or – a WHOLE POUND. So to reduce the risk of me birthing a 10 pound baby, we decided that if all things were favorable, we would induce at the 39 week mark. This was also unique because we were in the midst of a global pandemic. So planning the delivery was actually a blessing in itself, to be able to control SOMETHING during these unprecedented times. At my 38 week appointment, we reviewed my growth scan results from the day before and discussed options. I was 3 cm dilated and 80% effaced.. and potentially carrying an already 9 pound baby. We were nearing what the CDC expected to be the “Peak” in Covid-19 cases for Houston, so we decided that it was best for myself and baby to induce at 39 weeks. At this point, Zach would still be able to be present during delivery and post partum (granted neither of us contracted Covid) and we wanted to take advantage of that before any hospital policies changed. There were women in parts of the country who were not allowed a support person at all (true warriors) and we wanted to avoid that risk at all costs.

Two days before we were induced, I got a call from the hospital I would be delivering at that I would need to be tested for Covid-19. At this point, Zach, Camden and I had been quarantined for almost 3 weeks so I had 0 fear that my results would be positive, but it was interesting to actually go get the test done. As an ICU nurse, I was aware of how the testing was performed and I was less than excited to get to experience it on the patient end. It wasn’t as terrible as I’d expected but it wasn’t enjoyable. I also felt relieved that they had made the decision to test all laboring moms.. for some reason I was feeling a little out of touch (but grateful for that) from the medical world. Under normal circumstances I would have been on the front lines, in the thick of this pandemic. So the fact that I was able to get tested and know that my results and others would be part of valuable research information and protection for others, I was doing a small part in this fight.

We arrived at the hospital the morning of my induction around 8:30. We got a room fairly quickly and things started to get moving! We met our nurse Beth, who was an angel, and discussed my goals/plans for my birth. She asked if I’d be getting an epidural and I told her “most likely”. I had originally had a goal of an unmedicated birth, but with the progression of the pandemic, the visitor restrictions and all of the unknowns – I had decided that since I knew how glorious an epidural was from my previous birth experience, that I’d want that pain free experience again. After getting my IV placed, my cervix was checked (still at 3 cm but 90% effaced), and Beth told me that my physician would be in to break my water. I was a little shocked by this, because I didn’t realize that physicians broke laboring mothers waters that early in the process. I’d always heard and assumed that it wasn’t done until closer to pushing time! Beth explained that with second time moms, and women who have already progressed in their own as I had (dilation wise) that rupturing the membranes can really speed up the process. It wasn’t until after my water was broken (around 10:30) that we discussed my original plan to labor unmedicated but that I KNEW how painful contractions without your waters can be. Beth then explained that I had the right to refuse my waters being broken.. and I felt a little disappointed in myself. I knew I’d had that right. And I didn’t ask any questions. But I do/did trust my provider whole heartedly and decided to just go with it!

The pitocin was started and the dose increased. I began bouncing on the birthing ball and swaying/dancing with Zach as much as I could. I made multiple trips to the bathroom (contractions make me need to empty my bowels.. frequently) and ate a popsicle or two. Beth told Zach and I that my physician would be back in 4 hours to see how I’d progressed, so I made a competition with myself to make it four hours AT LEAST before asking for the epidural (I know I know.. I’m ridiculous). My contractions were almost immediately exactly 2 minutes apart and really ramping up. I was doing my best to ride them like a wave and really relax and breathe through each rush. I was able to make it three hrs before asking for the epidural and once I did, it took about an hour for the anesthesiologist to get into my room to actually place it so essentially I was able to make my 4 hour mark! After my epidural was placed, I was able to get some rest. I was checked again around 4:30 and was 8cm dilated, at this point Turner started showing some signs of distress. Beth explained to me that it was most likely umbilical cord compression due to the lack of amniotic fluid to keep him floating, so it was decided that they would insert a catheter to replace some of that fluid lost. Thankfully it worked and Turner responded really well, with no more signs of distress. After that was settled, Zach asked me to “make a guess” as to when he would be born. I looked at the clock and guess 5:20pm. He raised his eyebrows and said, you really think so? And I stuck to it!

Around 5pm, I began shivering. This happened towards the end of my first labor and I had assumed that it was a reaction to the medication in my epidural. I mentioned to our nurse Beth what was going on and she said that it could be a sign that I was “complete” (meaning 10 cm dilated) so she decided to check my cervix again. When she prepared for the exam, she mentioned that I’d had my “bloody show” and was indeed 10 cm. It was time to push! She asked if I’d remembered how to push and positioned me to do some practice pushes, BUT after the first one, she said “woah woah let’s stop, he’s about to come!” My doctor entered the room shortly after that and Turner Cole was born in two pushes! At 5:22 pm weighing 8 pounds 12 ounces. His cord was wrapped around his neck AND around his body, so after he was untangled, he was placed directly on my chest for skin to skin. Because he was born so quickly, his little lungs didn’t get a chance to get squeezed through the birth canal which resulted in him retaining some fluid. The NICU team was called to assess him, but we were so lucky that he was able to stay on my chest and nurse. He latched like a champ and was able to get that first dose of colostrum. The NICU team was a little uncomfortable with his grunting and decided that he needed to spend some transition time in the NICU for observation, we actually didn’t even get to know his length until the next day because of all of their concern and assessments. 

When they told us they’d need to take him to the NICU, I sent Zach with him and the nurse. My epidural still hadn’t completely worn off so I wasn’t able to get out of bed at that point. Zach came back to our room fairly quickly, because due to Covid-19 precautions the NICU was only allowing one parent to visit every 24 hours and because I was planning to breastfeed, Zach didn’t want to take the “parent” role and then them not allow me in, so he didn’t even get to see where they had taken our little T. I was able to call down to the NICU after he was settled and speak to his nurse and get a game plan for me to get to him to nurse. She was concerned that he may need an NG tube and to be fed formula because his blood sugar was “borderline” low. I was able to pump 15 mls of colostrum as soon as I got to my post partum room and planned to take it down to the NICU just in case I wasn’t able to breastfeed Turner because of his respiratory distress. Luckily, Turner transitioned well and never required any oxygen support and I was able to visit him in the NICU every 3 hours to breastfeed him. He nursed like a champ and his nurses in the NICU said he was the “most content breast fed baby they’d ever seen.” Which of course made my mama heart so happy. We spent each visit nursing and FaceTiming Dad who wasn’t able to see his son for 12 hrs. He was released from the NICU to us around 9:30am the next morning and we got to begin our new lives together. 

All in all, Turner’s birth was a dream. Despite our families not being able to be there with us, we had a truly wonderful experience bringing him into the world. It was different than we’d planned and hoped for. And letting go of those plans and accepting (and even welcoming) the experience that we DID get with him was even more than we ever thought it would be. XOXO -JT