Mary Macrina's Birth

Mary Macrina was delivered by C-section due to complications. Sensitive readers may find the story below disturbing.

Shortly after midnight on July 6, April woke Eric up to say she was bleeding badly. Since our doctor—with whom we had planned a homebirth—was out of town, we quickly sped off to the nearest hospital, Provena Mercy, leaving the sleeping children in bed.

Hospital staff took April up to the maternity ward, where a monitor was attached. The baby's heartbeat was strong, but unreassuringly flat. An ultrasound showed the baby to be in a breech position (head up), nearly transverse (side-to-side) and that the placenta was very low.

Soon the heartbeat began to show variation, and a Caesarian section was planned for 3:00 a.m., after the doctor delivered another baby at another hospital in the area.

The surgery was performed as planned and went well, though April lost a great deal of blood, requiring transfusions the next day. The baby was very healthy and calm, and began nursing well a few hours after her birth.