Katie Caroline Brandley-Birth Story

Katie Caroline Brandley

7/12/2020

4:58 a.m.

6 lbs 2 oz

19 1/4 inches

Our sweet Katie girl was born early in the morning on July 12, she was just over 4 weeks early so the whole morning took us by surprise!  Katie's labor started at 3:55 a.m. when I had gotten up to go to the bathroom and my water started leaking.  I went and laid back down in bed to see if contractions would start and sure enough, about 10 minutes later, I had a contraction.  I stayed in a bit of denial and decided to wait to see if more contractions would come, after all, I wasn't even 36 weeks yet!  I couldn't be in labor.  After three contractions I decided, okay, I'm probably actually in labor.  I called my Mom and Dad who were supposed to come be with our kids while we went to the hospital.  Neither of them answered their phones!  I went and woke Louis up and told him I was in labor, he said "really?"  We were both surprised that it was happening so soon!  Since my parents didn't answer their phones Louis called his co-worker Mike to see if he could come sit with our kids.  He said he could so we told him our garage code so he could get in and we headed to the hospital.  Thankfully it was the middle of the night and we could just leave our kids asleep at home for a few minutes. 

My contractions weren't that bad and they weren't too terribly close together yet.  When we got to the hospital they had a couple of nurses at the entrance to take our temperature and give us a mask to wear.  We stopped at the front desk and I gave them my name before the labor and delivery nurse, Megan, came out to take us back.  When we got to the room I changed into a gown and laid on the bed to be checked.  I was at a 7, which for me typically means I'm having a baby in the next 10 minutes.  After being checked I got to have the COVID test done.  It was something I really didn't want to have done while I was in labor, but there I was.  It wasn't as bad as I expected it to be and was done very quickly.  

After the test was done Megan asked if I wanted an epidural.  I told her of course I did, but I didn't know if there'd be time to get it.  She said she'd go call the anesthesiologist and see how quickly he could get here.  Once she left the room contractions all of the sudden were non stop and I could feel the pressure of Katie coming.  I told Louis she was coming and he called out to the hall that the baby was coming.  Megan ran back in the room to help me and had Louis pick up the phone in the room to call the front of the hospital to get another nurse back with us.  He called and passed on the message then came to be by my side as I gave one really long push and Katie was here!  She was born at 4:58 a.m. after just an hour of labor.

The morning was kind of a blur, it seems like it was both longer and shorter than it really was.  There are things I don't remember, the doctor was called at some point, I don't know if it was before or after Katie was born.  I know another nurse eventually came into the room, I'm pretty sure it was at least a minute after Katie was born.  

Katie was able to be laid on my stomach for a minute or so after she was born as Megan and I rubbed her back and tried to help her breath and cry.  She would cry off and on, but it wasn't consistent and her coloring wasn't great.  After Louis cut the cord they took her to the other side of the room to suck her lungs out, give her oxygen, and continue to rub her back to encourage her to breath and cry.  My doctor came and helped deliver the placenta and to check me out.  They ended up giving me a shot to help with my bleeding.  (I can't remember what it is called, but I don't suggest getting it if you have an option!  It made me nauseous for hours and I ended up throwing up on my way into the recovery room)  Once the pediatrician got to the hospital they moved Katie into the nursery to get her some more help.  Louis went with her and I was left alone with just a nurse in the delivery room.  

It was hard not knowing what was going on with Katie, but I knew she was okay.  About an hour after the took Katie I was able to be moved to the recovery room (this is when I threw up) and make a stop at the nursery to see Katie.  She was hooked up to high flow oxygen, a heart rate monitor, and was laying on a warming bed.  She also had an IV set to start giving her antibiotics and fluids.  I was able to hold her and nurse her for a little bit before going into my room to rest.  Louis headed home at this point to go relieve his co-worker and wait for my parents to wake up and see their missed calls.  Funny story:  Louis' co-worker's wife is a nurse and she ended up being called in because of me!  They said "We just had a 'stop and drop' we need you to come in"  She responded with "I know, my husband is watching their other kids!"  

After some rest I went to see Katie again and they had switched her to a CPAP machine to get her more oxygen.  With that in I wasn't able to nurse her anymore, but I was still able to hold her.  I ended up having a connection with the pediatrician that was on call.  His aunt was in my ward growing up, her and I even share a birthday!  Dr. Capener is a really good doctor and I was very happy he was there because we were able to ask him to help Louis give Katie a blessing.  At this time with COVID-19 still very prevalent in our community they are not letting any visitors into the hospital when you have a baby, so we wouldn't have been able to ask my Dad or someone else to come help with it.  Just before lunch time Louis and Dr. Capener gave Katie a blessing.  It was short and very sweet and a moment I am grateful we were able to have to help Katie get stronger.

The nurse that delivered Katie

The afternoon that Katie was born another baby was brought into the nursery, so we had to start wearing a mask when we went in to be with Katie.  Katie did really well with Louis and me holding her and it increased her oxygen levels.  Late that night she was able to be taken off the CPAP and put back onto the high flow oxygen.  That night was rough getting up every 3 hours to go into the nursery to feed her, I didn't sleep well in between and so I ended up getting very little sleep. 

The next morning came with good news!  They had started weaning her down off of the oxygen and she was mostly on full room air!  Later that day she was able to be taken off of it completely and come be in the room with us.  She still had her IV in, but other than that, she was cord free!  They were having us stay at least 48 hours to hear about her blood cultures, but with how things were progressing it looked like we would be good to go home after those 48 hours and not have any extra time in the hospital.  

Katie is now off of her IV, she has a car seat test to pass and has to get her blood sugar tested one more time, but then we should be good to go home!  For a preemie, this has definitely been the best case scenario.  We are so grateful for all that prayed for us and for her and we are so grateful for the wonderful doctor and nurses that we've had here!