Ashley’s story is also available on her blog at: http://madeforyourpurpose.blogspot.com/2018/06/olivers-adventures-womb-to-world-birth.html?m=1
Awaiting Oliver’s arrival was such an anticipation and a cluster of emotional moments. Originally I had planned to have Oliver naturally. From the beginning of the pregnancy, I wasn’t so fixated on needing to have the birth detailed exactly how I had wanted it to be, but I didn’t realize how quickly all of my plans would fly out the door.
We had a smooth pregnancy over the course of those 40 weeks; tons of morning sickness from week 9-21, but after that it was smooth sailing. My midwife regularly checked on Oliver, and his little heart beat was strong and was sweet music to our ears. In Sweden, they only do one ultrasound in week 21. If there are no causes for concern, then that’s the only time you’ll get to see your little one before they make their official appearance; pretty crazy compared to the American routine I knew of. So in week 21 we found out Oliver was a healthy baby boy and announced his gender at church the following weekend.
Approaching week 32, my midwife did the regular check ups and measurements and at that time had mentioned she couldn’t really feel if Oliver was head down or not, but that we would check again the following weeks. Because Oliver was always moving, I felt “kicks” in both my lower stomach and also by my ribs, so even I couldn’t tell myself. My midwife planned to go on vacation so by week 36-38 I had a replacement midwife who didn’t notice anything off.
Week 39 was here and I was ready to get this little guy out! He was getting too big and making me run to the bathroom all the time–pregnancy was not cute anymore lol.
My due date was March 1. On February 28, I noticed some bleeding. Concerned but not alarmed, they had me go to the hospital for a check up. The doctor confirmed everything was alright and did an ultrasound just in case. At that point she happily looked at me and said, “you do know your baby is breech, right?” What?! ..I just started crying. I knew what that meant seeing how my due date was the next day, a csection. I wasn’t against epidurals, but a csection! I was terrified! I quietly cried as she explained why it’s safer to have a csection than try to birth a breech baby, then prayed and got myself together and called Kaspar. There was nothing I could do; so I surrendered to trusting the other plan God had to bring Oliver into this world.
So there we were, sitting in a preparation room and being told the way the procedure would happen the next morning at 7:00am. I’m grateful that I didn’t have too much time to overthink everything. I was a bit relieved to know exactly when Oliver would be coming! No more waiting!
That night, Kaspar and I packed up the stuff we needed to stay extra days in the hospital, prayed, and went to sleep.
We woke up around 5 am the next morning, called a taxi and headed to meet our little boy.
At 6:30am they prepared me for surgery. I nearly passed out with the IV in my hand, I can’t stand seeing things in or coming out of my body.. prayed some more, God gave me strength 🙂
I was rolled through the hallways and into the surgery room. A million thoughts cross your mind, but I shoved them out and tried to focus on Oliver and seeing his little body for the first time. They allowed Kaspar to stay with me the whole time; I was so grateful to hold on to him as they administered the spinal medication that would numb my body. After about 10 minutes, there were about 10 people in the surgery room prepared to bring Oliver into the world. And just like that they made the cut as they said the typical movie line, “your going to feel some pressure.”
With Kaspar by my side, we heard a little baby cry and were so shocked! did that just come out of me?!I cried as I heard his little lungs scream in panic having no idea what just happened to him. He was perfect.
7.6 pounds. 52 cm long. 10 fingers and toes. grateful.
The next couple days were a blur of emotions, little sleep, and learning life with a newborn. Oliver was having trouble gaining weight, so we stayed a total of 5 days and finally we were discharged.
No one told me the part about leaving the hospital, it was terrifying! Learning now that there were no more doctors and nurses around to tell me what to do, we were on our own to face the world and do our best to protect our newborn son.
With more prayer and surrender to understanding that God is the only protector, I realized I cannot be in control and that was ok.
As days turn into weeks, and weeks into months, I am so grateful. Oliver is incredible, and Kaspar is an amazing ‘papa.’