Mira's Birth Story

I consider myself a very lucky momma. I was blessed to be able to experience the birth of my two children in two completely different ways.

Ellie was born at 40 weeks and 1 day. I was sent to the hospital for a routine non-stress test at noon. By 4pm I was in labor, by 8:15pm I was pushing, and at 8:21pm, Ellie Paige made her grand entrance. Her delivery came on so fast and furious I had no time for so much as an Advil.  It was as natural a birth as you could ask for. (No part of which was by choice) Thirty-six hours later, we walked out of the hospital as a family of three.

Mira's birth was slightly different.

My local OBGYN, the doctor who delivered Ellie, was no longer my primary physician. Due to the nature of Mira’s case and the high risks that would be associated with the delivery and her immediate care, I was now a patient of the Maternal Fetal Medicine department at CHOP. The ONLY department in the entire hospital for adults.

Thankfully, from our house to CHOP was a little over an hour, so the regular appointments during the last trimester weren’t terribly inconvenient, given the circumstance. Week to week, the timing and execution of Mira’s delivery changed. First 36 weeks, then 38, natural birth to an induction to finally landing on a scheduled C-section at 39 weeks.

Several reasons for this decision:

1.       Mira’s head was measuring in about a month later then her gestational age. (I’ll let you figure that out on your own)

2.       Even though Mira would be considered small, her in utero stats told a different story. At 36 weeks, they were already estimating she was 8 pounds.

3.       Because this was my second baby, and my delivery with Ellie was FAST, they were worried I wouldn’t be able to get to Philly on time, should I go into labor on my own.  Because of the unknown nature of Mira’s condition once delivered, they really wanted her to be at CHOP where she would receive the best care possible.

So 39 weeks it was. July 14th. Bastille Day!

Scheduling the C-section felt a bit like scheduling a hair appointment, but the type A side of me was happy I was able to plan for care for Ellie, pack properly and blow dry my hair before the surgery (HUGE BONUS).

Just before sunrise on July 14th, we headed down to Philly. I would love to say Evan and I spent the hour car ride talking about our journey to this point, or how excited we were to finally meet this little girl, but we actually spent most of it making sure we agreed on her name.

8AM- I was settled into my room. I watched Orange Is The New Black on my iPad and tried not to think about how my life was going to take a sharp pivot (again) into an unfamiliar direction of motherhood. 

10:30AM- It was go time! The nurses escorted me down the long hallway (or at least it felt very long) to the operating room. I remember it being very bright and VERY freezing. There were about 15 doctors and nurses standing around waiting for the main event.

I want to point out that with Mira’s diagnosis of Achondroplasia, the doctors didn’t know exactly what condition Mira would be in after birth. There was a high chance she would have respiratory issues, so they had a very large team waiting in the connecting NICU ready to act fast in the event she needed immediate medical attention. I was told early on not to be surprised if I didn’t hear her crying and to prepare myself should something go wrong.

11:00AM- I was given the spinal block, the blue curtain went up and Evan was allowed in. Some of my friends who have had C-sections told me they felt pulling during the surgery. I felt NOTHING. It took me by total surprise just minutes later when I heard them say “Evan stand up, she’s almost out.”

11:10AM- Baby cries. Lots of them, and LOUD. I swore you could hear her across the river, in Jersey. She was here and she was letting everyone know it. The doctor’s whisked her away, and I was left just counting her cries and thanking god she was putting up a good fight!

11:30AM- I saw that gorgeous face for the first time. I got to touch her sweet hand for just a few seconds before they wheeled her away to the NICU. While I know it was so she could get the best care possible, NOTHING prepares you to have your baby taken away from you right after birth.  There is absolutely nothing natural about it.

One of my favorite pictures from the operating room, just moments after Mira's birth. Of course I love how beautifully chubby she is, but I love even more how it shows some of the doctor's in the background standing around chatting. Doctors who were preparing for the worst, and now had nothing to do!

12PM-6PM- This was the not so fun part; recovery. Not just any recovery, because in order to be reunited with Mira, I had to be able to stand up (without throwing up) and get into a wheelchair in order to be allowed to travel the 4 floors beneath where my room was to the NICU. Hour by hour I started to regain feeling in my body again, and soon I was ready to go!

5 hours old in the NICU. 9 pounds, 15 ounces, 18 1/2 inches long.

7PM- Evan wheeled me down to the NICU to properly meet our daughter. At first, I was nervous to see her hooked up to so many machines; the oxygen, the feeding tube, the heart monitor. I wasn’t used to the beeping and the wires and the tape. None of that mattered when Mira was placed in my arms. My heart nearly exploded and I was so grateful that she was here and she was ours. We locked eyes and she instantly grabbed my finger to reassure me she was going to be alright.

We made it my love. You and me. We got this.

 Evan and I packed and prepared to stay in Philly for at least a month. We had made arrangements at a local extended stay, were on the wait list at the Ronald McDonald House and had a backup plan of staying with a good friend of the family in a nearby suburb until Mira could be discharged. My mother would be living at our house taking care of Ellie and Cooper (our dog). We left our house on the morning of July 14th not knowing when we would return. No one, including the doctors had ANY idea of what condition Mira would be in, or how long she would be in the NICU. They said they would know everything within the first 24 hours following her birth, so all we could do was prepare as best as we could and then wait.

Day 2 in the NICU and I was able to sit in on the doctor’s morning rounds, and when they got to Mira’s room, the doctor looked me in the eyes, smiled and said, “she is a revolution.” We were told Mira was breathing and eating on her own and saw no reason to keep her longer then my required 4 day hospital stay. 

We were going home with a restored faith, a months’ worth of luggage, but most importantly, with our healthy, beautiful baby girl.

5 days old. Headed HOME!