This is the story of how June gave birth to Koen: A perfect mama bringing a beautiful boy into the world.

June went into labor on Saturday, 7/14/18, at about 7pm.  Her water broke in the bathroom.  It was a lot, enough that we caught a bunch in a large bowl to keep it off the floor.  We tested it with the amnio swap and it turned deep blue confirming our suspicions.  We called the midwives and sent them a picture of the swab.  We were so excited: Our boy was on the way.  The midwives arrived around 830 and confirmed.  She was dilated to a 2 so they advised getting some food and rest during this early labor phase to prepare for later.  Like kids on Christmas <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.glow.android.eve">eve</a> we hardly slept from excitement.  We watched part of a movie (step-brothers and half of pineapple expression) until around midnight and then attempted to sleep.  We were up about 5 Sunday morning and she started having much stronger contractions.  The midwives returned about 8 and started getting prepared.  We labored at home until just before 11 before going to Tonjua's house.  At this point she was dilated to a 5.  Once we got there June was really bearing down with her contractions.  She changed positions on cue with her body's needs.  Even the midwives commented several times how in tune with her body she was, not needing any coaching or suggestions on movement or position. She did several hundred squats, moved from side position, hands and knees, birth ball, and the tub.  She was incredibly strong. It was truly an amazing experience to be her birth coach and support.  She labored good and hard, making excellent progress until about 8pm.  Around this time Koen rotated himself to face her stomach instead of her back.  Though the back labor was intense it only became a problem once her lower back locked up.  We knew this was a risk because of her previous back injuries and problems.  Her pain became so intense that it stopped her dilation progress and she was begging to go to the hospital. She later commented that all her labor pains were really not that bad at all compared to her back spasms.  We attempted to get Koen to rotate until about midnight.  We then made the decision to go to the hospital and get an epidural.  Our plan was to get her enough relief so that she would be able to loosen up and make progress again.  We went to OU children's and arrived shortly after midnight Monday.  The epidural did help some but she apparently has some sort of resistance to it.  Anesthesia had to be called back 3 times to adjust the dosage.  Even then, with pushing the extra dose button regularly, she still had bleed through pain and could easily move her legs.  She got into a squat on the bed with little assistance.  She rested and labored back and forth and by 11am Monday morning she was dilated to a 7 and nearing an 8.  This was good progress.  Not as fast as at home but still progress.  The day continued much like the night.  At 5 that evening they checked her again.  Her progress had stopped at 7 cm.  Then the Dr's suggested a C-section.  We listened to their concerns and took some time to talk about it.  Her water had been broke for nearly 48 hours and her progress had been stopped for at least 6 hours.  Her contractions had reached a pattern that they were either strong but too spaced apart or close enough together but lacking the strength to push him out.  She developed a fever as well.  Koen however remained the same.  Nice steady hear rate, no signs of stress or infection.  She had labored so long and so hard that her uterus was simply exhausted.  With her water being broke for so long and a fever setting in stopping her labor so she could rest and try again was not an option.  In the end we opted for the C-section.  Though it was the opposite of what we wanted when we started out we still had our top two priorities: Healthy Mama, Healthy Baby.  We told the doctors around 6.  They began prepping her OR and just before it was ready they had an emergency C-section and we were pushed back.  This happened again at 8.  Then again at 930.  During this time they discussed their concerns about the epidural.  It had been relatively ineffective.  Normally if a patient has an epidural they use that line, change medication and dose, and everything goes smoothly.  If they don't then a spinal block is used.  They decided to test it and see if the medication change would be effective rather than restart from a spinal block.  They gave her half the dose of lidocaine and tested her feeling with an ice bag down both sides.  She couldn't tell it was cold just like its supposed to work.  They finally took her back just after 11pm and gave her the rest of the dose.  I was brought back a few minutes later.  June did exceptionally well.  Lots of pressure like expected but the pain was blocked.  Until they externalized her uterus.  ( Koen was already out.  Happy, healthy baby.  Barely made a sound.)  They do this in about half of their operations.  Gives them more room to work.  They take it out, remove the placenta, and work the uterus "extremely vigorously" to get it to contract, shrink, and reduce bleeding.  June was screaming bloody murder.  Said she could feel everything they were doing.  I remember the look on her face and in her ey

es. Panic.  We later found out that there is a small percentage of people this affects.  When the uterus is taken out it registers different nerves.  Nerves that are above the point on the spine that the medicine is injected.  She had no relief at all while they worked on it. The anesthesiologist gave her several injections within a few minutes in an attempt to stop it.  One of them finally worked but with so much pain killer in her system she was heavily sedated.  Koen went through all of his newborn checks like it was a walk in the park.  7lbs 13oz.  Lots of hair.  His mama's beautiful brown eyes.  I brought him over to June who could barely stay awake.  He knew his mama.  They cuddled faces and he was placed on her chest.  Got his first latch and suckle just fine.  He stayed on mama for the whole ride back to the room.  She was so sleepy.  Together we sang him his lullaby and he remained skin to skin for a long time.  It was a long hard journey for mama and baby.  Things may not have gone according to plan but in the end we have a beautiful, happy, healthy family.

Love you June,

Keven

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