She’s having a baby, not a bomb: Confident mom & OB

My name is Courtney Larson, and although this was just my second baby, I am no stranger to the birth world as a birth photographer myself (Inloveness Birth Photography). I have seen what some would consider ‘the impossible’ and witnessed the power of a woman’s body. So, when I was told my daughter was breech at 36 weeks, I had a lot of thinking to do! She could turn, or she may not! I knew, with no doubts, that she wasn’t going anywhere.

I began searching the internet for any and every option I had. Would I have to give up a vaginal delivery? How was I to care for my 13 month old after a c-section?
I am not sure what website (and I wish I had known about mybreechbaby.org then) convinced me, but I felt strongly that a c-section was not in my cards. I found one of the last trained OB’s in breech delivery, Dr. Thompson, and began my exhilarating journey to D day.

I did not try somersaults or cold peas on my belly. All of it seemed pointless when I felt SOO strongly she wasn’t going to flip. (Ok, ok, I tried it one day, but only until my husband almost peed himself watching me hang upside-down off the couch!)

I was like a lab rat at our hospital. Every nurse and resident doctor stopped by our room to see the woman with a planned breech delivery. The intern skipped into my room like a giddy school girl and recounted us the story how she won rock, paper, scissors with her coworkers to get us as her patients. Everyone was on cloud 9 or on edge.

My immediate nurse asked me a few times, “So, are we going to be delivering in the OR?”
I replied that it was up to my OB, and I didn’t care where. When my OB did arrive, the nurse asked her the same question. My OB grinningly responded, “She’s having a baby not a bomb. This room is fine.”

I was having a baby. A beautiful, 6 lb 15oz baby. I think I counted 5 people who checked to see if I was ready to push. My nurse said, “You know how they say ‘As soft as a baby’s bottom?’ Well, I have no idea where her butt stops and your cervix begins!” The consensus was that it was time!

We all laughed as the intern, who delivered my daughter with guidance from my OB, screamed “She’s pooping on me!”I pushed for 5 minutes, and 5 contractions. My daughters silly little legs popped out and then her perfect face. My last push was purely with laughter from just the joy of knowing that I was delivering exactly how I had planned. And I am so thankful for those around me that supported me. Turned out that my daughter’s umbilical cord was too short to allow her to turn….and not her stubborn personality, although that’s there too.

Being present at other womens’ births is my job. Being supportive of each ‘crazy’ decision they make is my life’s passion. Thank you for letting me share my story!

Warmly,
Courtney

Davy Carmichael
Born 12/18/12, 6lb 15oz, 19”