When giving birth, a single decision made in the nick of time can affect your newborn’s life. A first-time mom shares her baby’s cord coil birth story.
What can you read in this article?
- Why she spent two days on a lying-in clinic only to transfer and get a CS
- What is nuchal cord coil and how does it affect your delivery?
I was 26 years old when I became the parent of one. I had a cesarean section because I could no longer bear the difficulty of labor. Around 7 a.m. on June 2, 2021, I was giving birth in a lying-in clinic when I felt extreme pain in my back down to my pelvis.
I tried to deliver my baby normally, I continued to go to the labor room to get a dilation check but it was at 1 centimeter that time. I had to walk down the corridor and into my room to be dilated.
Did I mention that I was in the lying-in clinic for two days? There was no progress in my cervix. The midwife told me not to push yet and started laughing at me because I was crying in pain. I did what my body was telling me to do so I pushed. The midwife did an internal examination (IE) again to check and she said I was 2 centimeters dilated.
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She gave me a capsule called Primrose that helps prepare or “ripen” the cervix for labor. Time passed but there was still no progress in my cervix.
My cord coil birth story
Around 11 a.m. on June 3, 2021, I started having pain and contractions again and the pain got worse. Just to deliver my precious one, I decided to take surgery and we transferred to the hospital one and a half hours away from the lying-in clinic.
When I was admitted, they give me epidural anesthesia and I started to feel numb from my legs down. It was the first time I ever experienced that.
Finally, on June 3, 2:37 a.m, I was able to see and hear my little one crying one meter away from me. I was so excited that I called my baby’s name and I forgot that I was still on the operating bed. The nurse scolded me and told me not to talk because my surgery was still ongoing.
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When the surgery was over and I was transferred to my ward, I found out my baby was a double cord coil. Yes, a double cord coil baby. I wondered how it happened. Maybe my baby was the sporty type and he was doing some flips and tricks inside my belly.
Nuchal cord coil
According to Healthline, nuchal cord is the term used by doctors when your baby has his umbilical cord wrapped around their neck. This can happen during pregnancy, labor, or birth.
While complications arising from nuchal cord coil are rare, they can have an effect on your labor and delivery. The umbilical cord can become compressed during contractions and reduce the amount of blood that’s pumped to your baby. This is when your baby’s heart rate decreases. For this reason, medical professionals sometimes have to change the birth plan and think of the best way to deliver the baby.
READ MORE:
Mom of three experienced normal, CS, and VBAC—spills the beans on which delivery is the best
#AskDok: Paano malalaman kung nakapulupot ang umbilical cord sa leeg ni baby?
3 Umbilical cord dangers to watch out for during labor and delivery
I consider it a huge blessing that I resorted to having a cesarean section delivery, even though we had no idea that he had a cord coil. I had my congenital anomaly scan when was 26 weeks pregnant, but the ultrasound didn’t seem to detect cord coil in the baby. Nevertheless, I’m super thankful to have seen and touched my baby who was born without any defects. Thank God.
I spent three days in the hospital before I was finally discharged and it was all worth it for my little one. I am proud of myself because I went through this type of surgery at this age and got through it even when I didn’t know what to expect or what to do.
And while I wanted to breastfeed my baby, and I really did try everything – I tried using the single pump but it didn’t work; I took malunggay capsules to help boost my milk but nothing happened; I also bought lactation cookies but it still didn’t pan out. So, in the end I accepted that I am not a breastfeeding mom.
Not being able to breastfeed my baby triggered my depression and anxiety. I cried so much because of that. I was sad, overwhelmed, and nervous because I felt like I couldn’t provide for my child’s needs. It even got to the point where I wanted to hurt my baby, but I was able to get a hold of myself. I could say postpartum anxiety took a toll on me, but I’m proud that I was able to conquer it.
Image from the author
It also helped that every time we go to the doctor for my child’s monthly immunization and check up, we are assured that he is normal and healthy for his age. I realized that I should stay strong and stay the course for my baby. When he turns 6 months and he can start eating solids, I will do my best to feed him healthy food. Dito kami babawi.
Thanks for letting me share my first birth story. I look forward to sharing my second one, but hopefully, this time I can deliver him normally.