Birth story: Tamecka and Zoe, QLD

This is the story of how I had my very first brain tickle…and met my son. On the (very early) morning 27th of May my wife and I made our way to the hospital for our scheduled c-section. At 39weeks I was uncomfortable, experiencing pain and was just ready to birth our son. It was like being a child on Christmas morning for us and our extended family. Arriving at the hospital in the dead of winter, rugged up, masked up and carrying a lot of unnecessary bags we were ready.

Fast forward an hour, I finally got into my gown which relief due to heat on the ward to keep the babies warm. At this point the midwife came in to take my temperature, 37.7°, the panic! You have a temperature, you must have covid! Covid protocol initiated. My door had numerous signs put on it, WARNING! The midwife came back in with a Hazmat to inform us I would require a rapid swab, she took my temperature again, it was trending down without any medications, but it was too late she launched the protocol – at this point the door should have been about warning staff that hormonal and pregnant lady was in the room. Swab done, very gentle and not as bad as thought.

I was more nervous about that than my caesarean – because I was still having it right!? Wrong. My OB called, we lost our spot and while the results would be back in 4hrs there was no more times available and because he is also a fertility specialist and wasn’t sure when he could get it scheduled because he was also dealing with a lot of other hormonal women and the OR was booked out, must be a popular place. I cried, my OB asked me to go into labour so we could get a slot. Couldn’t will this to happen. Fast forward to lunch time, still no call, so I called “results aren’t back yet”, 3pm I called “rapid wasn’t ticked by the nurse it could be 48hrs”. At this point picture Edward Cullen crushing his phone to dust, but I needed it to call my OB. My OB followed up this because we were lucky to get a spot for the following morning at 7.30 but without the negative result I was banned from the hospital. We went to bed feeling disheartened, but my OB assured me he was on the phone dealing with it.

We received a text at midnight, results still not back, but he will call in the morning and for us to make sure we drive to the hospital and wait for his call. We arrive, park on the street because no way are we paying for hospital parking again. At 7.29am we receive a call “do you want the result? I’m really sorry, it’s…negative” hilarious man. On we went to the hospital, good temperature – made sure I was dressed for summer though. The moment arrives, I meet the most amazing anaesthesiologist, the cannula hurts more than the epidural going in which amazing. He was so attentive, Zoe attentive, I hate being centre of attention but this is the story of how I met my son after all. The party gets started. A bit of music, some chatter and laughter, did I mention our OB is a funny guy? Serious business now, our son, Owen Michael all 3.626kg of him, arrives screaming at 10.13am. My scheduled c-section didn’t follow the schedule (but neither does Owen) but the team present in that operating theatre that day were definitely meant to be the one presents when our son arrived Earth side. For me, my c-section was an amazing and calm experience and my body recovered brilliantly. I was up walking within 24hrs, I was pain relief free and driving within 3 weeks.