Although I personally love the experience of growing a child, my body does not. Prior to this pregnancy I had birthed one full term daughter (now 14 years), miscarried twice, birthed another full term daughter (now 8 years old), birthed a pre term daughter (now 6 years) then miscarried yet again. We had not planned on any more and were in the process of ensuring this as a permanent factor. Due to my grandfather falling gravely ill, a life changing scheduled procedure was indefinitely postponed. News of my pregnancy came to us amidst a time of great sorrow for our family, with my grandfather’s passing only four (4) months previous. Because of my history, our only imminent feeling about this unexpected realization was apprehension.
Throughout all my pregnancies I have experienced many health concerns that have complicated my pregnancies progressively. Firstly, I developed eczema with my first pregnancy and it has never receded. With each additional pregnancy, the area of which my body is affected increases. I now suffer with anguishing eczema on approximately fifty percent (50%) of my body. Secondly, my current conditions of low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) and low blood pressure (hypotension) are exacerbated, and become harder to control especially in the early months of pregnancy. These conditions result in extreme fatigue, light headedness, and bouts of dizziness. Thirdly, I suffer from an irritable uterus that commences contracting as early as the end of the first trimester. Having such, the lines between Braxton Hicks, early labour contractions, and those that are attributed from an irritable uterus are very blurry – especially in the early stages of labour. Lastly, I have quick labours ranging from two (2) to four (4) hours in total.
Living in Kingcome Inlet, an isolated community nestled in a fjord, surrounded by mountains and alongside the river, has its benefits and challenges. Anyone having medical issues or conditions face great challenges in maintaining and responding to their respective needs: we do not have an emergency health facility; nor do we have doctors and/or nurses available in the community on a full time basis. I was categorized a high risk pregnancy this time around due to the fact that my previous child was born prematurely at thirty four (34) gestational weeks due to a spontaneous placental abruption. So, enduring the first half of my pregnancy was both scary and uncertain. In addition to my usual manifestations I began experiencing some other concerning complications at the onset of my prenatal days. I was flown out of the community at least once to seek medical care for extreme hypotension, and cramping. I lost nearly ten pounds – unknown cause, as I was not experiencing morning sickness. At some point, testing shown that I was leaking protein into my urine – again, cause unknown. Having said all that, the obstetrician had me relocate to the Comox Valley as soon as I reached the stage of viability – twenty four (24) gestational weeks.
Our entire family uprooted, and began our time of waiting for this little bundle to make its entrance on the world. We home school our children, and I worked on contract so it didn’t seem too much of an issue at first. We made the most of our time there, enrolling the kids in swim lessons and visiting my grandmother as much as possible. I was put on unofficial bed rest. We engaged in a business venture just months before relocation, which sadly came to a grinding halt during our time away from home. My employment situation went through some rough patches due to an uncontrollable source, and was threatened. The days turned into weeks, and the weeks into months and not an hour went by where I didn’t experience pain or discomfort. All the while, we waited – together, trying to maintain focus on the reason we were there; hoping that my body and our baby could wait long enough. Thirty six (36) weeks was the goal!
The day finally came when I was free to roam and be active as I wanted to be. By this time, I was in constant pain and not sleeping much at all. At thirty seven (37) weeks, in the early morning of July 12th I awoke to a strange sensation that I soon attributed to losing my cervical plug. I woke Clyde up, and told him to go to Tim Horton’s to grab a coffee so he could wake up as we’d be on our way to L & D soon. While he drove to get his coffee and some doughnuts for the girls, I calmly waited for him to return. I whipped up a few last work emails, and made a few phone calls. Shortly after 7:00am, we woke our eldest daughter up to inform her she was on babysitting duty as the time had come for us to go to the hospital. Still not in significant pain that was any different from what was typical for me, we ventured on our way.
En route to the hospital, my water started to leak – I have never experienced this with other labours before. We pulled into the parking lot alongside another woman in labour. Instantly my heart went out to her as she was hardly mobile, and carrying a pot in which to vomit in?! I scurried past her and straight to admitting – by this time I was completely soaked and imagine I was quite the spectacle. The other lady was smart and had pre registered, so she went straight up to L & D. After completing the necessary paperwork we made our way upstairs to L & D where we were met by inquisitive nurses. Realizing that I was likely to birth before the other labouring woman, the nurses were forced to move her out of the delivery area so that I could utilize it. I again felt compassion for this lady. The doctor came in shortly after to assess my progression – five (5) centimetres dilated. He was scheduled for numerous C-sections throughout that morning, and therefore informed my nurse that she may be on her own with this delivery. He indicated that he would check on us between procedures. After his first C-section was complete, he came to reassess me – now ten (10) centimetres dilated and ready to push as soon as I was ready. I was quite surprised at this information as I had only started to feel increased pain about twenty (20) minutes before. After an hour and a half of labouring, our fourth daughter entered into our world – beautiful and healthy. She weighed in at seven (7) pounds, and measured nineteen (19) inches in length.
While I laboured, the girls (Molina, Marion and Morgan) ate doughnuts for breakfast in our hotel room – which was our ‘home’ for the previous three months. They waited anxiously for their father to return with news of their new sibling which they had long awaited. By noon, we were all reunited in a hospital room where we discussed what to name our newest family addition. Unanimously, she was decreed M#4: Mackenzie! There we enjoyed the company of her, and each other with the contentment on knowing we had reached the light at the end of the tunnel, so to say. Despite all the trials and tribulations prior to her birth, it all was over – we made it together – focussing on the outcome, not the processes it took to get us there.
Throughout all my pregnancies I have experienced many health concerns that have complicated my pregnancies progressively. Firstly, I developed eczema with my first pregnancy and it has never receded. With each additional pregnancy, the area of which my body is affected increases. I now suffer with anguishing eczema on approximately fifty percent (50%) of my body. Secondly, my current conditions of low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) and low blood pressure (hypotension) are exacerbated, and become harder to control especially in the early months of pregnancy. These conditions result in extreme fatigue, light headedness, and bouts of dizziness. Thirdly, I suffer from an irritable uterus that commences contracting as early as the end of the first trimester. Having such, the lines between Braxton Hicks, early labour contractions, and those that are attributed from an irritable uterus are very blurry – especially in the early stages of labour. Lastly, I have quick labours ranging from two (2) to four (4) hours in total.
Living in Kingcome Inlet, an isolated community nestled in a fjord, surrounded by mountains and alongside the river, has its benefits and challenges. Anyone having medical issues or conditions face great challenges in maintaining and responding to their respective needs: we do not have an emergency health facility; nor do we have doctors and/or nurses available in the community on a full time basis. I was categorized a high risk pregnancy this time around due to the fact that my previous child was born prematurely at thirty four (34) gestational weeks due to a spontaneous placental abruption. So, enduring the first half of my pregnancy was both scary and uncertain. In addition to my usual manifestations I began experiencing some other concerning complications at the onset of my prenatal days. I was flown out of the community at least once to seek medical care for extreme hypotension, and cramping. I lost nearly ten pounds – unknown cause, as I was not experiencing morning sickness. At some point, testing shown that I was leaking protein into my urine – again, cause unknown. Having said all that, the obstetrician had me relocate to the Comox Valley as soon as I reached the stage of viability – twenty four (24) gestational weeks.
Our entire family uprooted, and began our time of waiting for this little bundle to make its entrance on the world. We home school our children, and I worked on contract so it didn’t seem too much of an issue at first. We made the most of our time there, enrolling the kids in swim lessons and visiting my grandmother as much as possible. I was put on unofficial bed rest. We engaged in a business venture just months before relocation, which sadly came to a grinding halt during our time away from home. My employment situation went through some rough patches due to an uncontrollable source, and was threatened. The days turned into weeks, and the weeks into months and not an hour went by where I didn’t experience pain or discomfort. All the while, we waited – together, trying to maintain focus on the reason we were there; hoping that my body and our baby could wait long enough. Thirty six (36) weeks was the goal!
The day finally came when I was free to roam and be active as I wanted to be. By this time, I was in constant pain and not sleeping much at all. At thirty seven (37) weeks, in the early morning of July 12th I awoke to a strange sensation that I soon attributed to losing my cervical plug. I woke Clyde up, and told him to go to Tim Horton’s to grab a coffee so he could wake up as we’d be on our way to L & D soon. While he drove to get his coffee and some doughnuts for the girls, I calmly waited for him to return. I whipped up a few last work emails, and made a few phone calls. Shortly after 7:00am, we woke our eldest daughter up to inform her she was on babysitting duty as the time had come for us to go to the hospital. Still not in significant pain that was any different from what was typical for me, we ventured on our way.
En route to the hospital, my water started to leak – I have never experienced this with other labours before. We pulled into the parking lot alongside another woman in labour. Instantly my heart went out to her as she was hardly mobile, and carrying a pot in which to vomit in?! I scurried past her and straight to admitting – by this time I was completely soaked and imagine I was quite the spectacle. The other lady was smart and had pre registered, so she went straight up to L & D. After completing the necessary paperwork we made our way upstairs to L & D where we were met by inquisitive nurses. Realizing that I was likely to birth before the other labouring woman, the nurses were forced to move her out of the delivery area so that I could utilize it. I again felt compassion for this lady. The doctor came in shortly after to assess my progression – five (5) centimetres dilated. He was scheduled for numerous C-sections throughout that morning, and therefore informed my nurse that she may be on her own with this delivery. He indicated that he would check on us between procedures. After his first C-section was complete, he came to reassess me – now ten (10) centimetres dilated and ready to push as soon as I was ready. I was quite surprised at this information as I had only started to feel increased pain about twenty (20) minutes before. After an hour and a half of labouring, our fourth daughter entered into our world – beautiful and healthy. She weighed in at seven (7) pounds, and measured nineteen (19) inches in length.
While I laboured, the girls (Molina, Marion and Morgan) ate doughnuts for breakfast in our hotel room – which was our ‘home’ for the previous three months. They waited anxiously for their father to return with news of their new sibling which they had long awaited. By noon, we were all reunited in a hospital room where we discussed what to name our newest family addition. Unanimously, she was decreed M#4: Mackenzie! There we enjoyed the company of her, and each other with the contentment on knowing we had reached the light at the end of the tunnel, so to say. Despite all the trials and tribulations prior to her birth, it all was over – we made it together – focussing on the outcome, not the processes it took to get us there.
