Go Get Her Husband! (have your camera ready!) It's Baby Time!

This blog post is a continuation to two previous blogs. If you would like to read them please follow the links.
Scar Tissue (that i wish you never saw) - Preparing for my surgery and getting to the hospital 
From Pre-Surgery Room to Operating Table - My perspective of Surgery day

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After my OBGYN told me they were ready to begin the C-Section, I remember laying still and trying to feel. I imagined what could be happening to my body. I had looked up the C-Section procedure after finding out my son was breech. On operating day, I looked at the blue partition in front of me. I felt nervous. Jittery from the spinal.

About 20 minutes go by and Dr. V comes to my side and tells me that he had asked the nurse to get my husband.

My husband walked in and looked pale. I could only see his eyes. I watched him walk in. He quickly scanned the room. Our eyes locked. He quickly came towards me, grabbed my hand and smiled.

Not long after, I see this HUGE creature come over the partition. That was epically scary! I was NOT ready for that. My son was big. But the shock of a purple baby coming out of me, in an operating room! Took me for a big 'ol loop. I was not mentally prepared for that. It all felt so sudden. I felt zero tugging. The nurse came around and placed my son next to me. I was able to hold his head next to mine. He was then whisked away, along with my husband. They were cleaning up our baby. I heard him cry.

That moment I saw my son for the very first time, it felt like there was no connection between him and I. I know, know that those feeling were more uncertainty than lack of complete emotion. It did feel strange to have him shown to me over the partition.

About 5 minutes later or so my husband and son were taken to another room. I wish they would of stayed.

In the process, the medical team was getting me ready to see my son. To get me sutured up took about a half our. The doctor did a great job of lining up my wound and closing it up with self dissolving sutures, instead of staples or other means.


 ***

My husband and I have recounted that day several times. I wanted to know his perspective as soon as I started caring about other things rather than the discomfort of having a C-Section and the newness of having a new born. He told me he walked in and looked into the direction of the operation. I'm sure he was told not to look. He almost past out twice during the birthing videos at Lamaze! Uuuuufff. So he tells me that all he saw was red. So lots of blood. Obvious, but having him tell it and to see his facial expressions, it filled the gaps pretty well. He then told me he thought I didn't look too good. Pale.

After meeting my son, the nurse took the baby, they went to the baby warmer that was in the operating room and started to get him clean. They gave him his first bath. The nurse said he had beautiful lungs. He cried, a lot. My husband and son were then taken to a waiting room that had partitions. It was the same room where he was waiting for me prior to our sons birth. My husband said my son was looking for food from the moment he was born. He loves to eat! Poor thing had to wait some time before I arrived. In the meantime my husband took pictures and video of him as they eagerly waited for me. My husband did not expect for the last part of the operation to take so long. He said he was beginning to worry. Specially since I had not looked so good to him.

***
In the operating room, I also felt like the procedure was taking a long time. I was not worried, because I felt fine, but I really wanted to see my husband and son. I wanted to hold them both. We had finally made it! 9 months of crazy adventure came down to a partition and a purple baby! Oh and a scar as a reminder.

After the operation I was wheeled in by the nurse to see them! Before I left everyone congratulated me and applauded.  We were off to see my son. Eeeek!!

-km

And Fetal Heart Rate Monitors?

I can't keep up!

I'm just going to post a portion of what The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wrote on its website (link will take you to the entire "consumer update" (article)):

"Fetal ultrasound imaging [2-D, 3-D & 4-D ultrasounds] provides real-time images of the fetus. Doppler fetal ultrasound heartbeat monitors are hand-held ultrasound devices that let you listen to the heartbeat of the fetus. Both are prescription devices designed to be used by trained health care professionals. They are not intended for over-the-counter (OTC) sale or use, and the FDA strongly discourages their use for creating fetal keepsake images and videos." It continues, “Proper use of ultrasound equipment pursuant to a prescription ensures that a woman will receive professional care that contributes to her health and to the health of her fetus.”


Now, what I find baffling is that this part was NOT reported. I sited two sources in a previous post that reported on the 3D/4D ultrasounds but nothing was mentioned regarding the fetal heart monitors! I found this out by going directly to the FDA website and searching 3D ultrasounds.

Ultrasound basics

What is the difference between 2-D, 3-D and 4-D ultrasounds? 

According to Medical News Today (medical news website):

"An ultrasound scan, also referred to as a sonogram, diagnostic sonography, and ultrasonography, is a device that uses high frequency sound waves to create an image of some part of the inside of the body, such as the stomach, liver, heart, tendons, muscles, joints and blood vessels. Experts say that as sound waves, rather than radiation are used, ultrasound scans are safe*. Obstetric sonography is frequently used to check the baby in the womb. 

* The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns against prolonged exposure when using ultrasounds. Specifically stating, "Ultrasound can heat tissues slightly, and in some cases, it can also produce very small bubbles (cavitation) in some tissues. The statement continues, "The long-term effects of tissue heating and cavitation are not known. Therefore, ultrasound scans should be done only when there is a medical need." 

In my research I found there to be a discrepancy in the maximum amount of time a mother should be exposed to ultrasound, sound waves. The time ranged from 10-20 minutes. The FDA particularly warns about 3D and 4D ultrasounds because some technicians, many of which are not OBGYN's, may go over in time and expose the mother and fetus as long as an hour. "In creating fetal keepsake videos, there is no control on how long a single imaging session will last, how many sessions will take place, or whether the ultrasound systems will be operated properly." (FDA)

So that's that, now here are the basics (finally!)

2-D Ultrasounds:

*Images are black and white
*You can often see streaks on the ultrasound
*Ultrasound can appear blurry
*May be difficult to interpret
*FDA warns against prolonged exposure - Specifically addressing 3D/4D ultrasounds
*These are often covered by insurance

3-D Ultrasound:

*Series of fetus images are combined to create depth and a "life-like" ultrasound of the fetus
*You can often see the facial, body features of the fetus more clearly
*May be easier to determine the sex of the fetus
*FDA Warns of prolonged exposure - Specifically addressing 3D/4D ultrasounds
*Often an out of pocket cost
*Most medical offices don't offer this feature

4-D or Dynamic 3-D Ultrasound:

* 4-D Ultrasounds are 3-D Ultrasound images that have been given motion, resulting in "motion" of the fetus.
*You can often see the facial, body features of the fetus more clearly
*May be easier to determine the sex of the fetus
*FDA Warns of prolonged exposure -Specifically addressing 3D/4D ultrasounds
*Often an out of pocket cost
*Most medical offices don't offer this feature

If you would  like to know more about ultrasound imaging, please click on this link.
You will be taken to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) site.



Take care!

-km


Sources:
www.fda.gov
http://americanpregnancy.org/prenatal-testing/ultrasound/
http://www.seebaby.org/helpful-information/gee-whiz/2d-3d-4d-whats-the-difference
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/245491.php

FDA Warns Against 3D Ultrasounds

When I was pregnant with my son, I had a couple of complications and needed to have ultrasounds taken of him, to ensure he was well. My mother warned me against the use of 3D & 4D ultrasounds. She informed me she had heard on the news that those types of ultrasounds were not safe for a fetus. I never intended to purchase a 3D or 4D ultrasound. I knew I had to pay out of pocket and I didn't want to spend the extra money. I also thought the 2D ultrasounds I received at my doctors office were phenomenal! I could see my son and was thrilled, regardless of the prominence of his features, or not. I also had my own reservations about the use of 3D ultrasound. The technology is fairly new and I did not want to expose my son.

The following article, researched by CBS News, does not go into great detail about these machine types, but it does state that any type of ultrasound my heat tissue and can cause unwanted complications. It's more food for thought, I guess.

If you are thinking about getting a "keepsake" 3D fetal image, please read the following articles.

This article can be found on the Yahoo homepage (please click on the link) which then takes you to the CBS News website.

Sioux Land News also reported on the FDA's warning.


Take Care!

-km